West Elm vs Lulu and Georgia: Who Has Better Couches?
Curious to find out which brand, West Elm or Lulu and Georgia, dominates the couch scene? Get ready to discover who claims the crown in this luxurious furniture face-off!
Alex Back | Couch.com CEO & Founder
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Get ready to witness the ultimate battle of sofas as we analyze the offerings from West Elm and Lulu and Georgia. In this clash of comfort and style, which brand will steal the show and win the hearts of furniture enthusiasts everywhere?
Side By Side
Features
West Elm
Lulu and Georgia
Made to Order Lead Times
8+ weeks
6-10 weeks
Free Shipping Option
White Glove Delivery Option
$279-$429
$369
Return Option
Warranty Included
Financing Option
Affirm
Affirm
Assembly Required
Large Fabric Selection
Free Swatches Available
Manufacturing Origin
Import
USA + Import
Avg. 3-Seat Couch Price
$$-$$$
$$$-$$$$
In the style department, West Elm offers a wide range of glamorous couches with various luxurious fabric options, while Lulu and Georgia focus on designer sofa styles with a mix of USA-made and imported couches. When it comes to durability, both brands provide well-constructed furniture, but West Elm stands out for its affordability and sustainability initiatives. Lulu and Georgia impress with their sustainability efforts and exclusive designs. Overall value-wise, West Elm's affordability and extensive fabric choices may sway budget-conscious buyers, while Lulu and Georgia's designer styles and sustainability practices could appeal to those valuing exclusivity and eco-conscious products.
BRAND #1: West Elm
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.
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.
Lulu and Georgia is an online-only retailer that launched in 2012. The founder, Sara Sugarman Brenner, named the company after her grandfather, Lou, and her father, George.
Lulu and Georgia | Brand Summary
Lulu and Georgia has a wonderful presentation for its couch products, you can tell by reading Lulu and Georgia reviews. Lulu and Georgia often have sales, particularly around holiday weekends and special occasions, which can include significant discounts. Everything about their website makes me want to shop with them. But when the average price point for a standard 3-seater exceeds $3,000 I’m forced to be more critical about the quality, customer focus, and the overall brand presentation. In this case, Lulu and Georgia furniture falls short in some of the most important aspects.
Lulu and Georgia furniture partners with designers to offer exclusive sofa styles, which are absolutely gorgeous. However, they also supply couches from third-party manufacturers. This results in some couches being made in the USA while others are imported from overseas. However, the quality of construction is good regardless of their origins. On top of that, we love the fact that they’re a female-founded company. Lulu and Georgia also puts an emphasis on sustainability, especially as part of their future plans. It's always a plus!
We do wish that Lulu and Georgia’s customer focus were stronger. You can’t return their made-to-order couches, but they do have a 60-day return window for their In-Stock or Ready-to-Ship couches (if you can stomach the 25% fee). But their lack of couch warranties is a real killer. On top of that, their limited fabric options and limited customizations are also disappointing. These shortcomings could be overlooked, but Lulu and Georgia’s prices are also quite high compared to competitors. When standard, 3-seater sofas are $3,000 to $4,000 you’d hope for more peace of mind with your purchase.
In the battle of the couch titans, West Elm emerges victorious thanks to its affordability, sustainability initiatives, and extensive fabric selection. The brand's focus on stylish yet budget-friendly sofas makes it a top choice for buyers seeking both value and design flair. West Elm's commitment to eco-consciousness and customer affordability gives it an edge over Lulu and Georgia in this thrilling furniture face-off.
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.
