Couch Comparisons

Room & Board vs Article: Who Has Better Couches?

Looking for the ultimate winner between Room & Board and Article in the furniture arena? Delve into the showdown to uncover which brand steals the show when it comes to couch excellence!
Alex Back | Couch.com CEO & Founder
Room & Board vs Article

We independently select everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.

    Two powerhouse couch connoisseurs enter the ring for the ultimate showdown – Room & Board vs. Article. One brand represents the epitome of American craft, while the other brings a fresh Canadian touch to the furniture scene. Let's find out who emerges victorious in the battle of the best couch creators.

    Side By Side

    Features
    Room & Board
    Article
    Made to Order Lead Times 4-10 weeks N/A
    Free Shipping Option
    White Glove Delivery Option $119 $199
    Return Option
    Warranty Included
    Financing Option Affirm Affirm
    Assembly Required
    Large Fabric Selection
    Free Swatches Available
    Manufacturing Origin USA Asia
    Avg. 3-Seat Couch Price $$$ $$

    In terms of style and durability, Room & Board offers a premium, American-made selection tailored for contemporary tastes. Article, known for its solid wood frames and fast shipping, presents a more budget-friendly yet stylish alternative. Room & Board's sustainability effort and Article's value proposition cater to different buyer preferences, making the choice between the two an exciting decision.


    BRAND #1: 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

    BRAND #2: Article

    The image displays the word "ARTICLE" in large, gray, capital letters against a white background. There is a small, red dot placed at the end of the word.

    Article is a Canadian company that was founded in 2013. They proudly state that their brand values are, "Customer obsession, do it differently, ownership mindset, win together." They helped pioneer the online couch market and they're still a major player in the sofa space. Plus, being Canadian, they ship to Canada!

    Article | Brand Summary

    Article’s clean and uncluttered website makes couch shopping a joy. Their chic couch selection and delivery timeline gives them an edge over the competition. Lack of customization options and a shorter warranty period were the main knocks against them. A few 1 star reviews aren't a major concern, though it does indicate that occasionally an unlucky person might get a lemon.

    Article | PotatoMeter Rating

    Online Shopping Experience Score 94%
    Durability and Quality Score 88%
    Shipping and Lead Time Score 96%
    Vibe Check Score 86%
    Customer Focus Score 89%
    Overall PotatoMeter Rating 91%
    Read Our Article Brand Review

    Article | Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • High style at low prices
    • In-stock couches ship very fast
    • Ships to Canada
    • Has a 4.5 star rating on TrustPilot
    • Solid wood frame construction
    • Generous return options

    Cons

    • Couches manufactured in Asia
    • Only a 1-year warranty
    • Limited fabric selection
    • No brick-and-mortar locations

    Article is really punching above their weight class when it comes to offering stylish sofas at budget friendly prices. Even better, their sofas are generally all constructed using solid wood frames. That’s great at this price point. Article also has exceptionally fast lead times for their couches, aiming to deliver to your home within 2 weeks. On top of that, they have a tremendous and generous return policy. One bonus is that Article also ships to Canada. We think Article offers excellent value for their quality. But don’t just take our word for it. The article has a stellar 4.5-star rating on TrustPilot. Nice!

    That being said, Article’s fast lead times and budget couches are made possible thanks to manufacturing their sofas in Asia. This also means that Article has a limited fabric selection and does not have made-to-order couches. Despite their exceptional return policy, Article only has a 1-year warranty on their couches, which isn’t ideal at this price point. Article also cuts costs by not having any brick-and-mortar locations or showrooms. But none of these downsides are enough for us to steer you away from Article’s excellent selection of sofas.

    Shop Article Now

    And the winner is...

    After analyzing style, durability, sustainability, and overall value, Room & Board emerges as the victor in this couch showdown. With its premium American-made pieces and sustainable ethos, Room & Board offers a sophisticated blend of luxury and environmental consciousness that sets it apart as the ultimate couch champion.

    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.
    Expand