Crate and Barrel vs Apt2B: Who Has Better Couches?
Want to know which brand delivers the perfect blend of style and comfort in their couches, Crate and Barrel or Apt2B? Join us as we unravel the mystery of who claims the throne in the world of cozy seating. Let's unravel the ultimate couch clash!
Alex Back | Couch.com CEO & Founder
Step into the world of luxurious lounging as we compare Crate and Barrel against Apt2B. These sofa giants are ready to showcase their best in the realm of home coziness and style. Buckle up for the ultimate couch clash that will redefine your living room comfort.
Side By Side
Features
Crate and Barrel
Apt2B
Made to Order Lead Times
4-10 weeks
2-4 weeks
Free Shipping Option
White Glove Delivery Option
$279-$399
$149
Return Option
Warranty Included
Financing Option
Crate and Barrel Credit Card
Bread Pay
Assembly Required
Varies
Large Fabric Selection
Free Swatches Available
Manufacturing Origin
USA + Import
USA + Import
Avg. 3-Seat Couch Price
$$$
$$$
In style versatility, Apt2B takes the lead by offering a broader range of couch styles appealing to various tastes compared to Crate and Barrel. When it comes to durability, both brands hold their ground, ensuring long-lasting comfort for buyers. Apt2B's focus on sustainable practices gives them an edge over Crate and Barrel in terms of environmental consciousness. Moreover, Apt2B's value proposition shines through its tailored customer experience and emphasis on domestic manufacturing.
BRAND #1: Crate and Barrel
Crate and Barrel, founded in 1962 by George and Carole Segal, emerged from a passion for simple, beautiful, and practical housewares discovered during their European honeymoon. With over 60 years of experience, the brand has become a household name, celebrated for its modern, timeless style and high-end aesthetic. Boasting a wide range of products for the entire home and numerous physical stores across North America and internationally, Crate & Barrel has solidified its position as an aspirational brand for those seeking a touch of elegance in their living spaces.
Crate and Barrel | Brand Summary
Crate & Barrel is a brand name that everyone knows. Crate and Barrel collaborates with artists and designers worldwide to curate globally inspired designs. Everyone has a sense that they’re a high-end, somewhat luxury brand with a price point that’s not outside the realm of attainability. They have a modern, tasteful-yet-inoffensive style that works well in most modern homes.
Crate and Barrel outlet stores are elegant and chic, but does that same style translate to their online shopping experience? Lackluster customer focus and dodgy transparency detract from an otherwise beautiful selection of couches.
Crate & Barrel, a household name in home furnishings, offers a stylish selection of sofas that blend modern flair with classic appeal. However, the allure of their elegant designs is tempered by some notable drawbacks.
The lack of a clear warranty policy raises concerns about long-term support. Additionally, the restrictive return policy for custom orders, coupled with inconsistent lead times, can lead to frustration for buyers seeking flexibility and timely delivery.
While these shortcomings are worth considering, Crate and Barrel also boasts several compelling advantages.
The brand's extensive fabric selection, detailed cleaning instructions, and complimentary swatches empower customers to make informed choices and maintain their sofas' pristine condition. White-glove delivery adds a touch of luxury to the purchasing experience, ensuring your new furniture arrives hassle-free. Furthermore, the availability of some USA-made collections appeals to those who prioritize domestic craftsmanship.
Overall, Crate & Barrel sofas offer a blend of style and convenience, albeit with some caveats. If you're willing to navigate the potential pitfalls and prioritize aesthetics and fabric choices, their collection might hold the perfect piece for your home.
Apt2B was founded in 2010 with the goal of providing customizable, USA made apartment size sofas at an affordable price. They've since expanded their offering to include sectionals, sofa beds, and more. Apt2B was recently acquired by The RoomPlace.
Apt2B | Brand Summary
Apt2B is a really fantastic option if you’re looking for a couch, sleeper sofa, or sectional that’s made in the USA, customizable, is made from quality materials, and ships quick. The delivery process is smooth and stress-free, highlighting the convenience from order placement to receiving the product.
But Apt2B furniture also offers “exclusive import” products that are manufactured overseas and don’t match the rest of their quality. This leads to a bit of an identity crisis on the website and weakens their overall rating. For the sake of this review I will mostly be focusing on their collection of Made in the USA couches, which is also what you should do when shopping at Apt2B.
Couch Potato Note: Like Joybird, I’d recommend that you only order Apt2B couches when they’re on sale (and they’re almost always on sale).
Apt2B has a bit of a split personality when it comes to their couch offerings. They have high-quality, made-in-the-USA sofas, but they also sell cheaper, lower-quality, imported couches. It can be hard to tell which is which when shopping on their website. Their imported couches do not have a warranty, and their USA-made couches essentially have a 1-year warranty despite language promoting a lifetime warranty. A lack of brick-and-mortar locations makes it difficult to judge Apt2B’s quality and comfort in person.
However, they have an excellent range of USA-made couch sizes and styles available in dozens of fabrics. They sell large 2-piece sectional sofas, sectional sleeper sofas, apartment-size sofas, and big modular couches. If you want mid-century modern couches or modern couches you’ll have plenty to choose from at Apt2B furniture. Apt2B also has some of the fastest lead times for custom-built, USA-made sofas we’ve ever seen. The icing on the cake? Apt2B uses high-quality materials, especially at their competitive, mid-tier price point. Plus, every upholstery fabric option is the same price, so you can customize to your heart’s content.
In this face-off, Apt2B secures the victory by offering a wider array of styles, sustainable practices, and a tailored customer experience. Their focus on quality materials at a competitive price point makes them the prime choice for those seeking both comfort and conscious consumption.
Alex Back
Couch.com CEO & Founder
Alex Back is the founder and CEO of Couch.com. Previously, he was the co-founder and COO of the popular furniture brand, Apt2B, which was acquired by a large US retail furniture chain in 2018. He worked to integrate Apt2B, one of the very first online furniture retailers on the Shopify platform, into the operations of the 100 year old larger business entity and was deeply immersed in the business operations of both online and brick and mortar retail for 4 years before leaving in 2023 to start Couch.com. Working in various parts of the furniture industry since 2004, he has 20 years experience in retail sales, e-commerce, marketing, operations, logistics and wholesale manufacturing and distribution. He has worked extensively with partners such as Costco, Bed Bath and Beyond and Amazon and his work has been highlighted in many publications such as Forbes, CNN and HGTV, among others. Alex is delighted to bring his experience and authority on couches and the furniture industry to this platform, along with many of his industry colleagues who are helping him keep the Couch.com audience informed and engaged on a daily basis.
