Couch Comparisons

Pottery Barn vs Burrow: Who Has Better Couches?

Seeking the perfect couch? Wondering if Pottery Barn's sophistication defeats Burrow's modularity? Let's unravel the mystery together!
Alex Back | Couch.com CEO & Founder
Pottery Barn vs Burrow

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    In the world of home decor, the showdown between Pottery Barn and Burrow is about to unfold. Which brand will conquer the realm of cozy couches, blending style and quality effortlessly? Join us on this journey to discover the ultimate winner!

    Side By Side

    Features
    Pottery Barn
    Burrow
    Made to Order Lead Times 8-12 weeks N/A
    Free Shipping Option
    White Glove Delivery Option $279-$429
    Return Option
    Warranty Included
    Financing Option Affirm Affirm
    Assembly Required
    Large Fabric Selection
    Free Swatches Available
    Manufacturing Origin USA + Import USA + Import
    Avg. 3-Seat Couch Price $$-$$$ $$-$$$

    When comparing Pottery Barn and Burrow sofas, both brands cater to different consumer tastes. Pottery Barn emphasizes classic aesthetics and high-quality materials at a premium price point, appealing to those seeking traditional elegance. On the other hand, Burrow focuses on modern design and modular functionality at a mid-range price, making it ideal for tech-savvy individuals looking for adaptable furniture. While Pottery Barn prioritizes craftsmanship and a wide fabric selection, Burrow offers versatility and convenience, suiting those with contemporary preferences.


    BRAND #1: Pottery Barn

    The image displays the words "Pottery Barn" in bold, black, uppercase letters on a white background. The font used is a classic serif style.

    Pottery Barn's story began in 1948 when two brothers stumbled upon discarded pottery and turned it into a thriving business. Acquired by Williams-Sonoma in the 1980s, Pottery Barn expanded rapidly in the 1990s, becoming synonymous with upscale home decor. Their innovative catalog and focus on creating an "elevated rustic" aesthetic resonated with consumers seeking a blend of modern and heritage-style furniture. Today, Pottery Barn continues to be a trendsetter in the home decor industry, captivating shoppers with their inviting online presence and commitment to sustainability.

    Pottery Barn | Brand Summary

    Pottery Barn is one of the top furniture names in the game. They've defined home decor trends for the better part of 40 years. They have gorgeous brick-and-mortar stores and their website is just as stunning.

    Pottery Barn's stylish sofa selection hasn't missed a step over the years, but their customer focus has certainly stumbled. Their lack of a true sofa warranty, the inability to return most couches, and deceptively long lead times all brought their score down. Their excellent website, the quality of their couch construction for the price, and their brand vibe were all highlights.

    Pottery Barn | PotatoMeter Rating:

    Online Shopping Experience Score 92%
    Durability and Quality Score 88%
    Shipping and Lead Time Score 84%
    Vibe Check Score 90%
    Customer Focus Score 82%
    Overall PotatoMeter Rating 87%
    Read Our Pottery Barn Brand Review

    Pottery Barn | Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Wide selection of stylish sofas
    • High-quality fabrics (many GREENGuard Gold certified)
    • Most fabric sofas made in the USA
    • Free fabric swatches available (including leather)
    • White glove delivery service available
    • Sofas available in various cushion configurations

    Cons

    • Longer-than-advertised lead times
    • No official sofa warranty
    • Limited return policy (Quick Ship items only)
    • Expensive white-glove delivery (only option)
    • Limited full-grain leather options

    Pottery Barn, a household name in home decor, offers a wide array of stylish sofas that can instantly elevate your living space. Their extensive fabric selection, with many eco-friendly options, allows you to find the perfect match for your aesthetic. However, be prepared for potentially lengthy lead times and the absence of a formal warranty.

    While their white-glove delivery ensures your sofa arrives in pristine condition, it comes with a hefty price tag and is the only delivery option. Additionally, their return policy is quite restrictive, only applying to Quick Ship items.

    Despite these drawbacks, Pottery Barn's commitment to quality shines through in their sofas' construction and materials. Their dedication to sustainability, evident in their tree-planting initiative and use of GREENGuard Gold certified fabrics, is another noteworthy aspect.

    Ultimately, if you're willing to overlook the longer lead times and limited return policy, Pottery Barn's stylish sofas and commitment to quality might just be worth the investment.

    Shop Pottery Barn Now

    BRAND #2: Burrow

    The image shows the word "BURROW" written in bold, modern, black uppercase letters against a plain white background.

    Burrow is an online-only retailer that was founded in 2016. The original idea was actually a class project before it transformed into a real company. Burrow's goal was to modernize the entire couch shopping and couch ownership experience. Modularity, expandability, and ease of assembly were the core principles.

    Burrow | Brand Summary

    Burrow provides a clever and creative solution to the many issues that have historically plagued couches – bulkiness, inflexibility, and immobility to name a few. Burrow’s modern, modular methodology has some major benefits over the competition, but it also leads to several flaws that are hard to gloss over. Their emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendly practices are admirable and commendable. However, the materials used for their modular couches are not as high a quality as you’d hope for given the price.

    Burrow | PotatoMeter Rating

    Online Shopping Experience Score 86%
    Durability and Quality Score 85%
    Shipping and Lead Time Score 83%
    Vibe Check Score 90%
    Customer Focus Score 84%
    Overall PotatoMeter Rating 86%
    Read Our Burrow Brand Review

    Burrow | Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Incredible modular and small space options
    • Free shipping via FedEx
    • 1-year + extended warranty
    • Modern tech options
    • Great customization options

    Cons

    • Limited fabric catalog
    • Material quality could be better
    • Long lead times
    • Pricier than expected
    • Assembly can be challenging

    Burrow’s primary goal is to modernize the furniture market. Their couches are designed to be modular and expandable so that they can grow with you. They’re also delivered in boxes and easily assembled and disassembled. Great for apartment dwellers!

    Burrow’s couches ship for free via FedEx, though you might end up with a dozen boxes if you order a sectional. Their couches come with a 1-year warranty on craftsmanship. A Mulberry extended warranty is also available, which protects against accidents and damage.

    Several of Burrow’s couches have multiple customization options so you can really design a sofa that suits your style. There are also modern, high-tech options like having a phone charger built right into the couch. Perfect for those nights you’re browsing on your phone while half-watching “Love is Blind” on TV.

    One of Burrow’s drawbacks is that the material quality could be better. It’s not terrible at the lower end of their price range, but for their higher-priced couches, the cushions could feature higher-quality fill materials. On top of that, their business model implies that their couches will be inexpensive, but they can actually get quite pricey.

    Lead times are also longer than you’d expect. If a couch is in-stock it could ship out in 1-2 weeks. It could take 4-6 weeks or even 4 months if not. And once your couch arrives, assembly can be much more challenging than advertised.

    Shop Burrow Now

    And the winner is...

    As the couch comparison draws to a close, the champion in this showdown is Pottery Barn. Boasting classic luxury, top-notch quality, and a wide fabric selection, Pottery Barn shines as the ideal choice for those valuing traditional elegance and exquisite craftsmanship.

    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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