Couch Comparisons

Medley vs Joybird: Who Has Better Couches?

Curious to know which brand has a more extensive fabric collection and faster lead times: Medley or Joybird?
Medley vs Joybird

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When it comes to choosing the perfect couch, exploring the offerings from Medley and Joybird can be quite the adventure. These two popular brands have unique features and qualities that cater to different tastes and preferences, making it essential to dive into a comprehensive comparison.

Side By Side

Features
Medley
Joybird
Made to Order Lead Times 8+ weeks 4-8 Weeks
Free Shipping Option
White Glove Delivery Option $175 $129-$299
Return Option
Warranty Included
Financing Option Affirm Affirm
Assembly Required
Large Fabric Selection
Free Swatches Available
Manufacturing Origin USA Mexico
Avg. 3-Seat Couch Price $$$-$$$$ $$$

Medley and Joybird each have their strengths and weaknesses. Medley boasts ultra-green material options, all made in the USA, and lifetime warranties, though with lead times of 8-10 weeks. On the other hand, Joybird offers a vast fabric selection, very fast lead times of 4-8 weeks, and has brick-and-mortar locations to test couches in person. Both brands provide high-quality options but differ in their manufacturing origin, lead times, and fabric choices.


BRAND #1: Medley

The image displays the word "medley" in lowercase letters, written in a simple, thin serif font on a plain white background.

Medley was founded in 2017 by two brothers, Travis and Ryan Nagle. But their story actually begins in 2005 when they were selling sofas out of their living room. They are one of the only couch companies offering ultra-green material options.

Medley | Brand Summary

Medley is a rare company that actually delivers on its promises of top-of-the-line craftsmanship, all-natural material options, and sustainability. They offer an excellent, hand-crafted product, but their prices can be a bit too high for the average consumer and their lead times can be excessive. Medley was founded with a mission to create eco friendly furniture that not only lasts but also minimizes harmful chemicals and toxins, catering to consumers who prioritize environmental mindfulness in their purchasing decisions.

But if you want a made in the USA couch with wonderfully-natural materials, lifetime warranties, and a competitive price point, then Medley should be the first place you look. And chances are it will be the only place you have to look.

Medley | PotatoMeter Rating:

Online Shopping Experience Score 90%
Durability and Quality Score 97%
Shipping and Lead Time Score 84%
Vibe Check Score 97%
Customer Focus Score 95%
Overall PotatoMeter Rating 93%
Read Our Medley Brand Review

Medley | Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Latex + Wool eco-friendly options
  • All couches made in the USA
  • Extremely high quality materials and craftsmanship
  • Lifetime warranty on sofa frames and 5+ year warranty on materials
  • Generous 30 day return policy

Cons

  • Limited sofa style options
  • Fabric selection can significantly raise sofa price
  • Latex + Wool option can be pricey
  • Lead times can be extremely long
  • No brick-and-mortar stores

It can be hard to find any flaws in Medley’s business. But while their standard couches usually have lead times of 8-10 weeks (not counting delivery), their wonderful Latex + Wool options often take 14+ weeks to build. That’s a long time to wait, especially when there are no brick-and-mortar stores where you can test out their couches. Their base prices are great considering the high-quality materials and craftsmanship, but choosing a higher-tier fabric and their natural Latex + Wool materials will significantly raise the sofa price. But they’ll still be cheaper than Maiden Home’s offerings. Medley’s styles are nice, but they might be a little bland, depending on your tastes.

However, the pros vastly outweigh the cons. Their plant-based Latex + Wool material options are incredible and put Medley in a class of its own. Their wood is sourced from sustainable forests, their fabrics are eco-friendly, and every aspect of their construction process considers the sustainability impact. They also use a high-quality spring system similar to 8-way hand-tied suspensions. This is top-tier craftsmanship. Their frames also come with a lifetime warranty, the cushion filling has a 10-year warranty, and the upholstery workmanship has a 5-year warranty. Add in their 30-day return policy and there’s a whole lot to like about Medley.

Shop Medley Now

BRAND #2: Joybird

A teal-colored bird logo with the word "JOYBIRD" in uppercase letters to the right of the bird. The bird is standing on two legs with a raised tail. The design appears on a white background.

Joybird was launched in 2013 and instantly charmed the world with their Instagram-worthy couches. They've since cemented themselves as one of the top online furniture brands. They are currently owned by La-Z-Boy.

Joybird | Brand Summary

Joybird has stood the test of time and firmly cemented themselves as one of the best online couch retailers at their price point. They have a professional-yet-fun presentation, offer great quality products for the price, and allow customers to pick from dozens of beautiful fabrics.

I have a few minor gripes with the website shopping experience and I’d encourage everyone to thoroughly examine the shipping and return policies, but overall there’s very little to criticize. Dare I say that Joybird sparks joy? I do dare.

Couch Potato Note: Joybird is almost always on sale for up to 30% off. For this review, their price point is assumed to be 30% off the listed price. You should always wait for a sale before you buy a couch from Joybird (and you won’t have to wait very long). For all intents and purposes, their sale price is their actual price.

Joybird | PotatoMeter Rating

Online Shopping Experience Score 94%
Durability and Quality Score 91%
Shipping and Lead Time Score 92%
Vibe Check Score 92%
Customer Focus Score 90%
Overall PotatoMeter Rating 92%
Read Our Joybird Brand Review

Joybird | Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Huge fabric selection
  • Very fast lead times
  • High quality materials for the price
  • Tons of couch styles and sizes
  • Lifetime warranty on sofa frames
  • Has some brick-and-mortar locations

Cons

  • Couches made in Mexico, not USA
  • No free delivery option
  • Returns can be costly
  • Fabrics have different grades/prices

Joybird presents itself as a fun, trendy, and flashy brand. And for the most part, their couches deliver on that promise. But there are a few aspects that might detract from their appeal. Their couches are all made in Mexico, which also means that their lead times are not quite as good as other brands. Pricey white glove delivery and potentially costly returns might make ordering online feel like a gamble. And while Joybird has a huge fabric selection for their custom couches, choosing certain fabrics can add hundreds of dollars to your order.

On the flip side, Joybird furniture has many brick-and-mortar locations in major metropolitan areas, allowing you to test out their couches in person. This is rare for an online couch company but is a major perk. Like Apt2B, Joybird has a large selection of stylish couches in a huge range of sizes and configurations. They offer loveseats all the way up through large modular sectional sofas. Joybird also has a great selection of affordable sofa beds and sleeper sectional sofas. They also back their high-quality couch frames with a lifetime warranty as well as a 1-year warranty on their top-tier upholstery craftsmanship. If you want it, Joybird has it.

Shop Joybird Now

And the winner is...

In the battle of Medley versus Joybird, Medley emerges as the winner, offering a comprehensive focus on sustainability, craftsmanship, and premium eco-friendly options. With their made in the USA origin, lifetime warranties, and exceptional quality materials, Medley sets itself apart as a top contender in the couch market, providing an unparalleled customer experience.

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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