Couch Comparisons

What A Room vs Castlery: Who Has Better Couches?

Which brand truly shines in the world of couches—What A Room or Castlery? Uncover the answer as we dissect their sofa offerings, quality, and customer-centric features in an epic showdown!
Alex Back | Couch.com CEO & Founder
What A Room vs Castlery

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    Step into the ring as What A Room goes head-to-head with Castlery in an epic sofa showdown! Which brand will emerge victorious—the USA-made customization champ or the affordable yet chic contender? Get ready for a sofa showdown like no other!

    Side By Side

    Features
    What A Room
    Castlery
    Made to Order Lead Times 4-6 weeks N/A
    Free Shipping Option
    White Glove Delivery Option $99+ $100-$150
    Return Option
    Warranty Included
    Financing Option Affirm, Shop Pay Affirm
    Assembly Required Varies
    Large Fabric Selection
    Free Swatches Available
    Manufacturing Origin USA Asia
    Avg. 3-Seat Couch Price $$$ $$

    What A Room stands out with its focus on customization, durability with high-resilience foam, eco-friendly fabric selections, and quality craftsmanship, falling into the premium price range. In contrast, Castlery offers trendy designs at more budget-friendly prices, supporting a fast shopping experience and a 3-year warranty on sofa frames, placing them in the mid-range price category. If you prioritize customization and top-notch quality, What A Room is your go-to, but if stylish affordability and convenience top your list, Castlery is the way to go.


    BRAND #1: What A Room

    A black and white line drawing depicting a woman playing guitar. She is seated with long hair and is shown in a relaxed pose. Her eyes are closed as she strums the guitar, conveying a sense of concentration and enjoyment.

    What A Room was founded with the goal of offering fully customizable sofas and sectionals, made in the USA with high-quality materials. By owning their own factory in Los Angeles, they are able to offer quicker production times (4-6 weeks) while ensuring a personalized customer experience. Their key milestone includes providing over 250 fabric choices, with a focus on pet-friendly and eco-conscious options. Known for their craftsmanship, durability, and commitment to customer satisfaction, What A Room has carved out a niche as a go-to brand for buyers seeking custom, high-end furniture with a fast turnaround.

    What A Room | Brand Summary

    When it comes to custom sofas made in the USA, few brands match the level of quality, customer service, and design flexibility that What A Room offers. But do What A Room reviews reflect this same level of excellence, or is it just good marketing?

    As a direct-to-consumer furniture brand, What A Room manufactures its own sofas, offering full customization with high-end materials—all without sky-high retail markups. That’s a rare find in today’s sofa market. With handcrafted frames, premium foam cushions, and free design consultations, What A Room gives buyers full control over their couch.

    Let’s see if they live up to the hype in What A Room reviews or if there are better alternatives.

    What A Room | PotatoMeter Rating:

    Online Shopping Experience Score 84%
    Durability and Quality Score 86%
    Shipping and Lead Time Score 88%
    Vibe Check Score 83%
    Customer Focus Score 86%
    Overall PotatoMeter Rating 85%
    Read Our What A Room Brand Review

    What A Room | Pros & Cons

    Pros
    • Fully customizable sofas and sectionals
    • Quick manufacturing times (4-6 weeks)
    • High-resilience foam cushions for durability
    • Eco-friendly, PFAS-free fabrics
    • Made in the USA with quality craftsmanship
    • Personalized customer service with design consultations
    Cons
    • 20% restocking fee for returns
    • No free shipping option, delivery fees can be high

    What A Room offers a customizable sofa experience, perfect for buyers seeking a unique, made-to-order product. Their quick 4-6 week production time is faster than many competitors, and they provide over 250 fabric choices, including pet-friendly options. Owning their manufacturing facility in the USA allows them to maintain high-quality standards while meeting customization needs.

    However, their return policy has a 20% restocking fee, which can be a drawback for some customers. Delivery fees are also an added expense, and there have been occasional complaints about delays in receiving custom orders.

    On the plus side, What A Room excels with personalized customer service and free design consultations to ensure you’re getting exactly what you want. Their use of eco-friendly, chemical-free fabrics and durable high-resilience foam cushions makes them a great choice for families, and their made-in-the-USA production is a strong selling point for those seeking quality craftsmanship.

    Shop What A Room Now

    BRAND #2: Castlery

    The image displays the word "CASTLERY" in all capital letters against a plain white background. The text is written in a serif font, with a minimalistic and clean design.

    Castlery was founded in 2013 with the goal of making designer furniture accessible to everyone. Their imported, direct to consumer model has allowed them to achieve that goal, as evidenced by their stylish selection of sofas at affordable prices.

    Castlery | Brand Summary

    Castlery does an amazing job of presenting and displaying their couches. Browsing their website is a joy, and their collections of Castlery furniture are good quality at this price point. They have fast lead times and their customer focus is great for the lower price tier that they occupy.

    If you feel priced out by places like Joybird, West Elm, or CB2, then Castlery Furniture's stylish, budget-friendly selection will be a pleasant surprise.

    Castlery | PotatoMeter Rating

    Online Shopping Experience Score 90%
    Durability and Quality Score 82%
    Shipping and Lead Time Score 89%
    Vibe Check Score 89%
    Customer Focus Score 84%
    Overall PotatoMeter Rating 87%
    Read Our Castlery Brand Review

    Castlery | Pros & Cons

    Pros
    • High style at low prices
    • In-stock couches ship very fast
    • 3-year warranty on Castlery sofa frames
    • Affordable add-on delivery options
    • Has a 3.6 star rating on TrustPilot
    Cons
    • Couches manufactured in Asia
    • 20% return fees
    • Limited fabric selection
    • No free delivery option outside select cities
    • Plywood and LVL sofa frames
    • No brick-and-mortar locations

    Castlery furniture offers a breath of fresh air for those seeking a stylish sofa without the hefty price tag. Their online shopping experience is top-notch, featuring a user-friendly website, glamorous photos that make their couches even more tempting, and impressively fast shipping times. Plus, their 3-year warranty offers a sense of security for your investment.

    However, don't let the low prices fool you entirely. As Castlery furniture reviews reveal, fabric selection might leave you wanting more variety, and their 20% restocking fee could be a deterrent if you're unsure about your purchase. Additionally, while most of their sofas require minimal assembly (just attaching the legs), it's worth noting that they don't offer white-glove delivery service.

    So, if you're a savvy shopper with a penchant for modern design and a willingness to tackle minor assembly, Castlery could be your ideal match. Their combination of style, affordability, and convenience makes them a compelling option for those looking to elevate their living space without breaking the bank. Just be sure to carefully consider your fabric options and be prepared to commit to your purchase, as returns can get a bit pricey.

    Shop Castlery Now

    And the winner is...

    After a thorough comparison, What A Room emerges victorious as the ultimate sofa brand, excelling in customization, durability, and craftsmanship while offering eco-friendly fabric choices. With a strong emphasis on quality and customer satisfaction, What A Room stands out as the top choice for those seeking high-end, personalized sofas.

    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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