Couch Comparisons

Inside Weather vs Room & Board: Who Has Better Couches?

Wondering where to find your next favorite couch? Explore the showdown between Inside Weather and Room & Board to unveil the ultimate sofa champion!
Alex Back | Couch.com CEO & Founder
Inside Weather vs Room & Board

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    Step into the world of luxurious lounging as we pit Inside Weather against Room & Board in a clash of couch titans. With comfort and style on the line, these brands are ready to compete for the top spot. Get ready to uncover the ultimate sofa showdown and pick your favorite!

    Side By Side

    Features
    Inside Weather
    Room & Board
    Made to Order Lead Times 5-6 weeks 4-10 weeks
    Free Shipping Option
    White Glove Delivery Option $175 $119
    Return Option
    Warranty Included
    Financing Option Shop Pay Affirm
    Assembly Required
    Large Fabric Selection
    Free Swatches Available
    Manufacturing Origin USA USA
    Avg. 3-Seat Couch Price $$$$ $$$

    Exploring sofa options can be overwhelming, but Inside Weather and Room & Board offer exceptional choices. Inside Weather stands out for its sustainability and customizable designs, appealing to eco-conscious buyers seeking unique pieces. In contrast, Room & Board excels in durability and timeless styles, attracting those valuing classic elegance. While Inside Weather leans towards the premium price range, Room & Board sits comfortably in the mid-range segment. With a focus on sustainable practices and high-quality materials, both brands provide value for customers seeking enduring comfort and style.


    BRAND #1: Inside Weather

    The image displays the words "Inside Weather" in a bold, black font on a plain white background.

    Inside Weather was founded in 2018 with the goal of bringing sustainable, eco-friendly, modular sofas to the masses. Their Bondi Sofa is extremely stylish and has become an incredibly popular option for families.

    Inside Weather | Brand Summary

    Inside Weather has a gorgeous website and an incredible emphasis on sustainability. They only offer two couches, including the versatile and comfortable Bondi sectional, which is particularly well-suited for households with pets and children. The Bondi sectional is praised for its durability, modern aesthetics, ease of maintenance, and flexible modular design that enhances living space functionality. Both couches are beautiful and extremely customizable (thanks in no small part to the hundreds of cleanable fabric options).

    However, the questionable material quality for the price, the farce of a 365 day trial period, and the lack of customer review transparency undermines an otherwise nice offering.

    Inside Weather | PotatoMeter Rating:

    Online Shopping Experience Score 94%
    Durability and Quality Score 93%
    Shipping and Lead Time Score 91%
    Vibe Check Score 92%
    Customer Focus Score 87%
    Overall PotatoMeter Rating 91%
    Read Our Inside Weather Brand Review

    Inside Weather | Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Robust customization options
    • All couches are made in the USA
    • Massive emphasis on sustainability (sustainably-sourced hardwood frames)
    • Free shipping (orders over $1,500)
    • High quality, eco-friendly fabric options (some machine washable!)

    Cons

    • Misleading and pricey 365-day home trial return option
    • Only a 1-year warranty
    • No spring support system
    • Assembly can be challenging
    • Only 2 in-person showrooms

    You might love the way Inside Weather’s Bondi Sofa looks, but here are a few things to consider before you buy it. The return policy of Insider Weather can be misleading and pricey. The 10-25% return fee is based on pre-discounted pricing. And with such large discounts (sometimes 50% off), you could spend thousands to return your Bondi Sofa.

    While we love the style of the Bondi Inside Weather couch and its hardwood frame, the support system is elastic webbing, which isn’t super durable and it isn’t great at this price point.

    If you don’t pony up for the white glove delivery, you could face a challenging assembly process.

    But don’t let the cons spook you. Inside Weather’s Bondi has plenty of pros. There are tons of ways to configure and customize your Bondi Sofa. Inside Weather also has tremendous, eco-friendly fabric options to choose from. They’re super cleanable and many are machine washable.

    Their hardwood frames are sustainably sourced, and many of their materials have eco-friendly benefits, too.

    Any order over $1,500 ships free, and you can add on white glove delivery (including assembly) for only $175. That’s a budget-friendly white glove option, especially with the amount of assembly required.

    The Bondi is also made in the USA using high-quality craftsmanship. This majorly cuts down on Inside Weather’s carbon footprint. 

    Shop Inside Weather Now

    BRAND #2: Room & Board

    The image displays the Room & Board logo in a clean, serif font. The text is black on a white background, with the words "Room&Board" written in a single line. The ampersand symbol connects "Room" and "Board.

    Founded in 1980, Room & Board is a veteran in the furniture industry, known for its timeless designs and commitment to American craftsmanship. They partner with local artisans and prioritize sustainability, setting ambitious goals for eco-friendly practices and materials. Their transparent approach to pricing and focus on customer satisfaction make them a trusted name in the furniture market.

    Room & Board | Brand Summary

    Room & Board gets it. They have a beautiful and useful website that makes shopping for a couch delightful. Their quality is excellent, their couches are made in the USA, and they have measurable and attainable sustainability goals. If their lead times were better and if they had an actual warranty on their couches then they would get a MAJOR bump in their PotatoMeter rating.

    Compared to other well-known brands that offer stylish and affordable sofas, Room & Board provides a higher-end alternative with superior durability and quality. If you’re OK with those caveats, then Room & Board is a phenomenal choice for your couch purchase.

    Room & Board | PotatoMeter Rating

    Online Shopping Experience Score 95%
    Durability and Quality Score 91%
    Shipping and Lead Time Score 89%
    Vibe Check Score 97%
    Customer Focus Score 87%
    Overall PotatoMeter Rating 92%
    Read Our Room & Board Brand Review

    Room & Board | Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Beautiful and useful website
    • Excellent quality
    • Made in the USA
    • Measurable and attainable sustainability goals
    • "In Stock" fabric options for faster shipping
    • Free returns with no charge for return shipping

    Cons

    • Long lead times for custom upholstery
    • Long delivery wait times
    • No warranty on couches
    • No sale events (bummer if you're looking for discounts)
    • Limited information on specific construction details

    Room and Board offers a delightful online shopping experience with high-quality, American-made couches and a strong commitment to sustainability. However, their 4 to 10-week lead time for custom upholstery might test your patience. The $119 white glove delivery fee, while convenient, adds to the overall cost. They don't offer a warranty on their couches, relying instead on a guarantee, which could be a concern for some.

    Despite these drawbacks, the focus of Room and Board furniture on quality, sustainability, and customer satisfaction makes them a top contender for your next sofa purchase. Their "In Stock" fabric options are a great way to get your new couch faster, and their generous return policy provides peace of mind.

    Shop Room & Board Now

    And the winner is...

    In this ultimate comparison, Room & Board emerges victorious due to its durability, timeless style, and customer-centric approach. With a focus on classic elegance and high-quality craftsmanship, Room & Board stands out as the top choice for buyers valuing longevity and design excellence.

    A smiling man with short brown hair and a beard stands on a beach during sunset. He is wearing a black short-sleeved shirt with small white dots. The ocean and sandy shore are in the background, creating a warm and relaxed atmosphere.
    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.
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