Couch Comparisons

Restoration Hardware (RH) vs West Elm: Who Has Better Couches?

Are you ready to unveil the couch champion between Restoration Hardware and West Elm? Discover the ultimate choice for your living space!
Restoration Hardware (RH) vs West Elm

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Step right up into the ring of interior design excellence as we pit Restoration Hardware against West Elm, two powerhouses in the furniture world. The battle of the couches is about to commence, and the stakes are high. Which brand will steal the show?

Side By Side

Features
Restoration Hardware (RH)
West Elm
Made to Order Lead Times 8-10 weeks 8+ weeks
Free Shipping Option
White Glove Delivery Option $299-$849 $279-$429
Return Option
Warranty Included
Financing Option RH Credit Card Affirm
Assembly Required
Large Fabric Selection
Free Swatches Available
Manufacturing Origin USA + Import Import
Avg. 3-Seat Couch Price $$$-$$$$ $$-$$$

Delving into the comparison between Restoration Hardware and West Elm reveals intriguing insights. Restoration Hardware stands out for its exceptional style and top-notch materials, landing in the luxury price range. On the other hand, West Elm shines with its stylish offerings and strong sustainability initiatives, hitting the mid-range in terms of pricing. While RH excels in design and durability, West Elm appeals with its sustainability efforts and broad range of styles.


BRAND #1: Restoration Hardware (RH)

The image features a logo with the letters "RH" in large, bold, black font. Below the letters, the words "Restoration Hardware" are written in a smaller, elegant black font, aligned centrally. The background is plain white.

Restoration Hardware, now known as RH, is the epitome of luxury in the home furnishings world. They have established themselves as the go-to brand for affluent customers and a source of inspiration for those aspiring to upscale living.

Restoration Hardware (RH) | Brand Summary

Restoration Hardware is the quintessential luxury brand. Yet their website shopping experience, their customization options, and their customer focus are all decidedly lackluster. Restoration Hardware sofas, however, are often highlighted for their modern styling and ability to serve as focal points in living spaces. That being said, RH does have decent lead times and their materials are extremely high quality.

But the real question is whether or not RH’s couches are worth the price of admission. If you want the clout of owning an RH couch then the answer is “yes.” If you’re looking for a high quality couch at a reasonable price, then there are plenty of other worthwhile options.

Restoration Hardware (RH) | PotatoMeter Rating:

Online Shopping Experience Score 79%
Durability and Quality Score 93%
Shipping and Lead Time Score 91%
Vibe Check Score 88%
Customer Focus Score 81%
Overall PotatoMeter Rating 86%
Read Our Restoration Hardware (RH) Brand Review

Restoration Hardware (RH) | Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Exceptional, trend-setting style
  • High-quality materials
  • Lifetime "guarantee" on frame, springs, and cushions
  • Free swatches with no limit
  • In-stock couches ship quickly
  • White-glove delivery included

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Strict return policy (no returns on custom orders)
  • 50% non-refundable deposit on custom orders
  • Lack of transparency regarding some manufacturing origins
  • Some couches lack channeled down cushions

Restoration Hardware (RH) is synonymous with luxury, offering sofas with exceptional, trend-setting style and top-notch materials. With a wide selection of fabrics and leathers, and a lifetime "guarantee" on frames, springs, and cushions, their couches promise both elegance and longevity. White-glove delivery ensures your RH sofa arrives in pristine condition and is set up hassle-free in your home.

Luxury, of course, comes at a price. RH sofas are a significant investment, and their return policy is less than ideal, especially for custom orders, which are non-returnable and require a 50% deposit. While in-stock couches can be returned, the details of this process are not readily available. Additionally, some customers may find the lack of channeled down cushions in certain models a drawback.

Overall, RH offers an aspirational brand experience and high-quality products, but potential buyers should be aware of the cost and limitations involved.

Shop Restoration Hardware (RH) Now

BRAND #2: West Elm

West Elm logo featuring the brand name in lowercase, black, sans-serif font on a white background.

West Elm launched in 2002 and opened its first storefront in 2003. They're owned and operated by Williams-Sonoma who also owns Pottery Barn. Despite their corporate nature, West Elm actually has a great emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives.

West Elm | Brand Summary

West Elm has stylish, modern furniture with the quality and backing of the Williams-Sonoma brand. They have surprisingly competitive prices considering their selection and their quality. They also get some points for focusing on sustainability and supporting a worldwide community of artisans.

But operating under the umbrella of Williams-Sonoma does have downsides. Most of West Elm's couches are imported from overseas, they don't have any meaningful warranty program, and the lead times could be better than they are. West Elm's prices are more affordable than other brands with similar styles, but there's also not a strong reason why you should choose West Elm over another brand that has better lead times and a stronger customer focus.

West Elm | PotatoMeter Rating

Online Shopping Experience Score 85%
Durability and Quality Score 88%
Shipping and Lead Time Score 84%
Vibe Check Score 93%
Customer Focus Score 82%
Overall PotatoMeter Rating 86%
Read Our West Elm Brand Review

West Elm | Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Large selection of stylish sofas
  • In-stock couches ship quickly
  • Competitive pricing, especially on their leather options
  • 3rd party warranty option
  • Strong sustainability initiatives
  • Has brick-and-mortar locations

Cons

  • Couches are all imported
  • No standard warranty
  • Can't return made to order couches
  • 7 day return window may not apply even to In-Stock options
  • Shockingly low 1.1 star rating on TrustPilot

Is West Elm good quality? The brand has become a go-to brand for stylish sofas at surprisingly affordable prices. But those lower prices come at a cost. There’s no standard warranty on their couches, made-to-order couches can’t be returned, and their 7-day return window may not apply to their In-Stock or Quick Ship couches. That could make them an expensive gamble. Additionally, West Elm has a very low 1.1-star rating on Trustpilot, which could give you pause. But one saving grace is that you can purchase a 3-year Allstate Protection warranty for your sofa. This covers accidents, stains, material damage, and more.

On the positive side, West Elm has a huge number of glamorous couches to choose from. They’re also generally available in a wide range of luxury fabrics. So you can really design a couch that you love. The pricing is wonderfully competitive for their quality and the number of sofa styles available. West Elm also has plenty of brick-and-mortar locations where you can test out their couches in person. And if sustainability is important to you, West Elm has some impressive initiatives on that front. However, they are part of a big corporate umbrella, which might negatively affect some shoppers.

Shop West Elm Now

And the winner is...

After a thorough comparison, Restoration Hardware emerges as the clear winner, delivering unmatched luxury and durability. With trend-setting style and top-notch materials, RH surpasses its competition. The lifetime 'guarantee,' exceptional design, and high-quality materials make Restoration Hardware the top choice for those seeking luxury and elegance in their furniture.

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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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