Lovesac vs Inside Weather: Who Has Better Couches?
Lovesac and Inside Weather both focus on offering modular sofas but do it differently. We compare Lovesac assembly, Lovesac return policy and many other elements against those of Inside Weather in this side by side review comparison.
Alex Back | Couch.com CEO & Founder
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Lovesac and Inside Weather are two couch companies that have a singular focus – selling one sofa style and selling it well. Their modular couches are best-in-class. But which brand does it better?
Side By Side
Features
Lovesac
Inside Weather
Made to Order Lead Times
8-10 Weeks
5-6 weeks
Free Shipping Option
White Glove Delivery Option
$175
Return Option
Warranty Included
Financing Option
Affirm
Shop Pay
Assembly Required
Large Fabric Selection
Free Swatches Available
Manufacturing Origin
Import
USA
Avg. 3-Seat Couch Price
$$$-$$$$
$$$$
Inside Weather vs Lovesac:Lovesac and Inside Weather have such similar business models and practices that it can be hard to determine where they differ. So let’s pull back the curtain on some of the modular mysteries.
The main difference is style. Lovesac’s modular couch, the Sactional, has a very simple, modern look. Inside Weather’s modular Bondi has a more striking design. It’s a California craftsman style with exposed wood and thick cushions.
Does Lovesac have longer lead times than Inside Weather? Yes, but only when it comes to made to order fabric covers. You can choose one of Lovesac’s 30 quick ship fabrics and your order will likely ship within 2 weeks. Inside Weather does not have a similar quick ship option if one was making a Lovesac fabric comparison.
Do both companies have return policies? Yep! Lovesac has a 60 day Lovesac return policy, but you can only return quick ship fabric covers.
Meanwhile, Inside Weather has a 365 day Inside Weather return policy, but the Inside Weather return fee is 10% within 14 days (based on PRE-discounted prices). The fee is then 25% + return shipping costs between 14 and 365 days. In some cases the pre-discounted price is nearly twice as much as the price you paid. This is so different than the Lovesac return policy it’s difficult to compare.
These two companies also differ on the sustainability front. Inside Weather has made eco-friendly options a core part of their brand. Lovesac has some green aspects (which are great), but they don’t match the level of Inside Weather.
BRAND #1: Lovesac
Lovesac began all the way back in 1995 when the founder, Shawn Nelson, handmade a beanbag chair. The beanbag chair exploded in popularity. After being named the fastest growing furniture company (twice), Lovesac pivoted to focusing on the Sactional, the gold standard of modern modular sofas.
Lovesac | Brand Summary
Lovesac has a very specific focus on their Sactional line of couches. Their Sactionals are endlessly configurable, customizable, and have a straightforward modern style. Machine washable fabrics, family-friendly features, and modern flourishes like wireless charging accessories round out their Sactional offering.
But Sactionals aren't cheap. A medium-size Sactional will run you thousands of dollars, which is a major factor in their review score. Add in overseas manufacturing and a strenuous, at-home assembly process and you might find that owning a Sactional isn't as much fun as the snazzy videos and photos on the website made it seem.
Fabric selection can significantly raise sofa price
Expensive price point
Lovesac assembly can be challenging
Lovesac’s Sactionals are modern, functional, expandable, and great for families. So what are the downsides?
As stated earlier, in a Lovesac fabric comparison, Lovesac offers 100+ fabric cover styles for their couches, but only the 30 quick ship options qualify for the Lovesac 60 day return policy. When the Lovesac fabric covers are half the total cost of the Sactional, this can be an expensive discovery.
Speaking of price, Sactionals are not exactly cheap. An average configuration can run you $5,000+. Choosing a bigger configuration can result in an even bigger bill.
Yes, delivery is free, but there’s no white glove Lovesac assembly option. And Lovesac assembly can be far more challenging and exhausting than advertised. Make sure you stretch first!
But don’t worry, Lovesac also has plenty of wins in the pro column. Sactionals are tremendous couches for families and pets. Almost all fabric covers are machine washable. Some are even reversible! They also offer unique fabrics with patterns and colors you won’t find anywhere else.
Sactionals are amazingly customizable, too. You can choose arm styles, back styles, and down cushion fill. You can even add surround sound systems and phone chargers right inside the couch. There are also multiple ways to configure your setup so you can find fun ways to shake things up.
Plus, you can visit one of their many showrooms to test out the Sactional in person.
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, but they’re both 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.
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. Inside Weather’s return policy 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 Bondi Sofa’s style 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.
In the case of Bondi vs Lovesac, Lovesac’s Sactional and Inside Weather’s Bondi Sofa are both master classes in modular design. Each one is customizable, comfy, and great for families. While they can both be a bit pricey, they’re both excellent choices for your home- this is why “Bondi vs Lovesac” is so popularly searched online. If sustainability, eco-friendly materials, and USA made construction is important to you, Inside Weather is a clear winner. If you really favor customization, Lovesac return options, and a softer style, Lovesac is perfect. As we said earlier, it’s really tough to compare Inside Weather vs Lovesac.
Want more comparisons? Lovesac vs Joybird is one that has been recently requested and is coming soon! While we work on Lovesac vs Joybird, check out these other articles that are already live:
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.
