Medley Home: Ultimate Brand Review And Rating

Medley Home specializes in handcrafted, made in the USA furniture constructed with high quality, sustainable materials. Their design principles are commendable, but do their couches live up to their price point? In this total brand breakdown, I take a look at Medley and reveal their PotatoMeter rating.

Overall Potatometer Rating:

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Medley Home is a rare company that actually delivers on its promises of top-of-the-line craftsmanship, all-natural material options, and sustainability. They offer an excellent, hand-crafted product, but their prices can be a bit too high for the average consumer and their lead times can be excessive.

But if you want a made in the USA couch with wonderfully-natural materials, lifetime warranties, and a competitive price point, then Medley should be the first place you look. And chances are it will be the only place you have to look.

92%

Online Shopping Experience

86%

Shipping & Lead Time

97%

Customer Focus

99%

Durability & Quality

99%

Vibe Check

Our Own Rating System

The PotatoMeter is Couch.com’s very own rating system that grades furniture retailers on a variety of – what we consider to be – essential criteria. While we aim to be fair and objective in our assessment, subjectivity based on our expertise and personal biases is unavoidable.

92%

Online Shopping Experience

Medley Home: Online Shopping Experience

Medley has a beautiful website with great photography, but they’ve also bogged it down with some poor navigation and less-than-stellar pricing information. With a few minor improvements they could easily bump up their score.

Ease of Navigation

Medley’s home page greets you with a beautiful, full-width photo, followed by some excellent photography and links that highlight their sustainability and design principles. It’s a lovely, thoughtful home page.
The top menu leaves a lot to be desired. There are only two dropdown choices (“Shop” and “Explore”), plus a link to order free swatches. There’s no background behind the menu text so it’s quite easy to miss it entirely. It doesn’t help that the menu doesn’t stay at the top of the page as you scroll down.
When you click “Shop” there’s a narrow menu that drops down. There are no photographs or other nice features. If you click the main category titled “Sofas” nothing happens. You have to follow the side menu that pops out and then click “Sofas” on the new list to actually navigate to the page. The same is true for “Sectionals.” It’s a clunky system.
There’s a menu option called “Natural Latex + Wool Sofas.” If you’re not familiar with Medley’s offerings then it’s unclear what this section will be and whether it will offer completely different products from the regular sofa category. It’s confusing when you’re first browsing.
Category pages are very clean and easy to browse with lovely, real life images of the couches.
Product pages are well-organized and a joy to scroll through. There’s a mix of great information and great photography without anything feeling like fluff or filler.

Information Available “At-A-Glance”

There’s very little information available on the main category pages. You only get the name of the couch and the price.
They should really list the price as “From $____” so that you know the initial price will likely differ substantially depending on your width and fabric and filling choices.

Product Images

Product images are nice and clear and do a great job of conveying the fabric colors and textures.
Lifestyle images are colorful and cheery and lovely. You see a lifestyle image when you hover over an image on a category page, as well as below the main images on a product page.
When customizing a couch, you’re taken to a 360 view featuring your choices. A few fabrics can not be seen in this view, but the fabrics that are available look tremendous and better than many similar systems on other websites. They look like real photographs of the fabrics and not just computer renderings.

Quality of Product Information

The product descriptions, the cushion descriptions, the “how it sits” section, and the dimensions are all fantastic. I love the way they provide extra tidbits of practical information like sitting style or how they specifically list the seat height and seat depth. For super detailed dimensions and diagrams, there’s also a link to a PDF.
Scrolling down further provides even more specific breakdowns of the cushion materials, fabric materials, and construction process. Each of these sections also has a link for further reading that goes into even greater depth. This is a great system that allows to you engage with any level of information you might need without ever feeling overwhelmed or left in the dark.
Pricing information is a major disappointment, since the couch price quietly changes as you customize your couch. There’s no indication as to which options will increase the price or by how much. So you might choose a fabric and a different filling material and realize your couch’s price has gone up by more than $1,000. Fabric options and filling options should really have prices listed.
The customization menu can be tricky to navigate. You’ll need to do some cumbersome scrolling to view all your options. The fabric filter tool certainly helps, but I think there’s more they could do to help make it easier.

Extra Bells & Whistles

360 view and see-it-in-your-room AR view are available for couches and they work very well.
A wonderful Comfort Guide page helps you determine which couch style will be best for your sitting style.
For certain couches they have a video of two different models sitting on the couch to show off how the cushions will sink in and how deep the seating is. You can choose between a 5’6″ model or a 6’0″ model to compare and contrast. I always love extra features that are practical.

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Shipping & Lead Time

Medley Home: Shipping & Lead Times

Medley takes painstaking efforts to handcraft each and every couch. However, it might feel painstaking for their customers due to longer than average lead times.

Made to Order Products: The range can vary greatly.

Their Rio Sofa in Latex + Wool has a lead time of 16-18 weeks.
Their Rio Sofa (standard materials) is 8-10 weeks.

In Stock Items: Their clearance section is the only “ready to ship” service they offer. They do not have warehoused or stocked options. Everything is custom made.

Shipping Time: Once your couch is manufactured it takes roughly 2-4 weeks for for final delivery to your home.

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Customer Focus

Medley Home: Customer Focus

Our goal at Couch.com is to provide customers with the information they need to find the best couch for their home. We take customer satisfaction very seriously. So how does Medley stack up to the competition when it comes to customer friendly resources and offerings?

Warranty:

Medley has a lifetime warranty on all their hardwood frames, including all internal springs and wood structural elements. This is phenomenal.
Additionally, there’s a 10 year warranty on cushions cores, which covers manufacturing defects or significant loss of shape or resiliency. This is doubly phenomenal.
Medley also has a 5 year warranty on their fabrics that covers manufacturer defects. This does not cover pilling, which is a natural fabric occurrence. A warranty on fabrics that’s more than 1 year is extremely rare. Another plus for Medley customers.

Return Options:

Medley has a 30 day, no-questions-asked return policy. As long as the couch is in good condition, you’ll receive a full refund minus the cost of original shipping. Wow! Their website reinforces this by saying, “We know buying furniture is a big deal. That’s why we offer a stress-free, in-home trial to hep you make sure you love what you buy.”
Medley accepts returns for “any standard customization offered on our site, as well as length changes, cushion number, and leg height. We are unable to accept returns beyond these modifications or for orders with customer’s own material (C.O.M.) after 7 days from your order date.” AKA you can even return most customized couches. Double wow!
There’s a 20% restocking fee if you return an item because it did not fit through your doorway or hallways. So definitely make sure you’ve measured properly!

Delivery Options & Costs:

White glove delivery is the only option when you check out. Medley’s white glove delivery service includes room-of-choice placement and removal of packaging materials. Assembly is not included, though the only assembly a customer would need to do is attach legs (if legs are longer than 7″) or connect sectional sections.
The cost of white glove delivery varies depending on your location. In Los Angeles the cost is $175, but a more rural location is $375.

Financing Options:

Medley has partnered with Affirm to offer 6 and 12 month financing plans starting at 0% APR.
There’s also a 36 month Affirm option starting at 15% APR.

Is Assembly Required?

Attaching legs is the only assembly required and it’s exclusively reserved for couch styles with legs longer than 7″. If a sectional needs to be attached, the customer must do that, as well. Note: the white glove delivery service does NOT perform this assembly, though it should be extremely simple to perform on your own without any help.

Customization Options:

Can choose from a great range of high quality fabrics and leathers for each couch. There are also several leg stain options to choose from.
Each couch collection comes in a variety of widths and some styles are also available as sectionals.
Medley is able to use a customer’s own material (C.O.M.) for upholstering a sofa, which is a great option.
Medley’s couches can also be made using natural plant-based latex and sustainable wool.

Does Medley Offer Free Fabric Swatches?

Yes, customers can order 7 fabric swatches for free.

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Durability & Quality

Medley Home: Durability & Quality

Durability is a major factor when it comes to purchasing a couch, especially when you’re ordering online. So do Medley couches hold up over time? The answer is a resounding “yes.” Almost every single aspect of their couch construction is above and beyond most competitors. Medley’s couches may be more expensive than others, but the quality and craftsmanship justifies the price.

Quality of Materials:

Medley has an outstanding lineup of fabric offerings, many of which are natural fibers or super durable synthetics. Their textiles are OKEO-Tex 100 certified, GreenGuard Gold, or GOTS certified.
They offer many full-grain leather options. Full-grain leather is the gold standard and is exceptional quality. There’s also one top-grain leather set, which is a tier below full-grain, but also still a great real leather option.
They have plant-based latex foam options that are made from the sap of rubber trees. They’re also mold-resistant and antimicrobial. This is a very high quality, sustainable material.
For their standard foam, they use 2.5 high density, Certi-PUR certified foam. This is a fantastic option and a cut above most competitors on the market.

Cleanability:

All fabrics are properly labeled with the cleaning codes of either W, S, or W/S. This allows you to know exactly how you should clean your upholstery.
Medley has a wonderful Product Care page that details the best way to clean each fabric type, plus other tips to help you keep your new couch looking great.
Some fabrics are machine washable – you can even filter by “machine washable” when choosing your fabric.

Quality of Construction & Manufacturing Origin:

Couches are all constructed by skilled craftsmen in the USA.
Couch frames are constructed from a blend of solid, kiln-dried hardwood and engineered hardwood. Each frame is corner blocked and comes with a lifetime warranty.
All wood is domestically-sourced and always comes from FSC-Certified forests.
Exposed wood bases on sofas, sectionals, and ottomans are sealed with a bio-based finish made of beeswax, carnauba wax, and olive oil.
Medley uses a proprietary suspension/support system that combines the concepts of sinuous spring systems and 8-way hand-tied coil springs. They use twine to tie the springs together in a unique pattern, resulting in their “hand-tied, arch support system.” It’s also backed by a lifetime warranty.

If you’d like more information about the frame and material durability, check out Medley’s excellent guide to their construction process.

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Vibe Check

Medley Home: Brand Vibe Check

Vibing with a brand is important. Brands can also promote certain lifestyles and sustainability goals. That’s why it’s my goal to help you find a company and brand that you vibe with so that you’re as comfortable with your new couch as you are on your new couch.

Key Differentiators & Unique Facts:

Medley is about as “bench made” as you can get in the world of online couch retailers. Many companies lob empty claims about their high quality craftsmanship, but Medley is one of the rare companies that actually delivers.
Couches are made in the USA by a smaller team of experienced craftsmen.

Sustainability:

When it comes to sustainability, here’s the ethos that founders (and brothers) Travis and Ryan Nagle bring to the table: “Since 2005, we’ve been learning all we can and trying to further the conversation on sustainability in our industry. We want to change how an industry thinks about making furniture, and also change how people think about what goes into their homes.” Let’s take a look at how they’re trying to accomplish that vision.

Partnered with the National Forest Foundation to plant 3x as many trees for every one tree they use in their construction process. Additionally, all trees used in couch construction are sourced from FSC-certified forests. They use maple, walnut, and alder trees, which are all grown domestically in the USA.
By not only constructing their couches in the USA, but also sourcing wood from domestic forests, their cargo shipping carbon footprint is essentially nonexistent.
Medley has natural plant-based latex and wool options for their couches that are seriously sustainable and great for people who desire natural products in their home.

Overall Brand Presentation:

They present themselves as the authority on natural, sustainable couch craftsmanship and, unlike many competitors, they actually back this up with their quality and materials.
Medley’s not trying to be flashy or trendy. They let the products speak for themselves. They have a nice, clean, simple website. But I can’t help but think that they’re doing themselves a disservice by not upgrading their website and developing their overall brand image.

What are Medley Home's top couches?

Signature Best Seller:

Rio Sofa 82″ ($2,776). This modern style couch has wide track arms, low legs, and a sophisticated appeal. It’s not flashy, but it delivers everything you might want in a sofa.

Couch That Intrigues Me The Most:

Kirnik Bumper Sectional in Latex + Wool ($8,611). It’s always fun to see this more classic style of couch transformed into a sectional. I like the way the legs and solid wood base enhance the silhouette. An extra long bumper chaise back cushion also looks both practical and cozy. The Latex + Wool options are also simply intriguing on their own.

Hidden Gem:

Gio Sofa in Latex + Wool 88″ ($4,454). The Gio has a really unique wooden frame and wooden supports that give it a chic and interesting silhouette. The sloped, flared arms are a nice bonus.

How much do Medley Home couches cost?

Average Range:

Medley’s standard 3-seater couches range in price from about $2,500 – $3,500. For sectionals, you can expect to pay about $5,000 – $6,000, though springing for their Latex + Wool options or a high end fabric will considerably bump up the average price.

Most Expensive Medley Couch:

Rio Sleeper Sectional in Latex + Wool ($8,939). A sleeper sectional will always be an investment piece and having it crafted in their special Latex + Wool materials will add another cost on top.
For a standard 3-seater couch option, the Kirnik Sofa in Latex + Wool ($4,211) is the most expensive couch thanks to its exposed wooden base and added side pillows.

Least Expensive Medley Couch:

Lala Sofa 59″ ($2,232). This simple, structured loveseat has a timeless look.

Does Medley Home have good reviews?

Medley has built a fantastic reputation for themselves in the online furniture-shopping space, both from unaffiliated 3rd party reviewers and customers alike.

Overall Brand Reviews:

Medley has a 3.6 star rating on TrustPilot, which is exceptional for a company that specializes in sight-unseen sofas at a higher price point. Anything over 3 is great in this industry.

Top Product Reviews:

Rio Sofa 5 Star Review: “I could not be more happy with my Rio Sofa. The excellent craftmanship and design really shows. It not only looks great, but is perfectly functional and easy to live with. The cushions are firm, yet comfortable, the fabric is beautiful, the color perfect for the room, and dog hair just brushes off so easily. The whole family loves this sofa.” – Susan B.
Rio Sofa 1 Star Review: “It is advertised that the couch will be made in 4 weeks, ours took 6. I don’t find the couch to be very comfortable.” – Elizabeth S. (this was the only 1 star review featured on the review page)

Customer Service Reviews:

Medley’s customer services is generally considered excellent. Customers’ main complaints are with the advertised lead times not aligning with true lead times. However, the customer service itself is rarely called into question.

What kind of style is Medley Home furniture?

Medley has a slim offering of couch collections, which allows them to focus more on construction quality. However, it means that there aren’t nearly as many couches to choose from as some competitors. Here’s what you can expect from Medley’s couch styles.

Range of Couch Options:

Medley has armchairs, couches, sectionals, and a sleeper sofa.
There are only 10 couch collections, 7 of these collections are also available as sectionals, but only 1 collection is available as a sleeper sofa (though it’s also available as a sectional sleeper sofa).

Range of Couch Styles:

Medley offers transitional and modern style couches. There are nods toward Mid-Century Modern design, but none of their styles fully embrace any retro or vintage aesthetics.
They have very well-designed, well-crafted pieces, but head-turning style isn’t the main draw. It’s all very basic but nice.

Does Medley Have Other Products Besides Couches?

Yes! Medley handcrafts a variety of gorgeous wooden furniture for the bedroom, dining room, and living room. Their pieces all have the same handcrafted care and quality as their couches.

What are some alternatives to Medley Home?

Medley proudly constructs all their couches in the USA with an emphasis on sustainability. Here are a couple other competitors who construct their couches in the USA, come in at a similar price point, and practice some level of sustainability.

Room & Board – see our PotatoMeter rating here
Maiden Home – see our PotatoMeter rating here
BenchMade Modern – see our PotatoMeter rating here