What Furniture Brand Is Better than Ashley?

Many furniture shoppers start their furniture search with Ashley, drawn to its widespread availability and budget-friendly prices. Yet, as you dive deeper into furniture shopping, you might wonder if other brands offer better value for your investment.

What makes a furniture brand "better" varies from person to person. Your definition might focus on durability, while someone else prioritizes style or customer service. Some shoppers need pieces that last decades, while others want trendy designs at reasonable prices.

In this guide, we'll examine furniture brands that compete with Ashley, looking at crucial factors like build quality, price points, style range, warranty coverage, and service reliability. Our goal is to help you find a furniture brand that truly matches your needs and expectations.

Getting to Know Ashley Furniture

Before exploring alternatives to Ashley Furniture, it's helpful to understand what makes the brand tick. This knowledge helps you make better decisions about whether other furniture brands might better suit your needs.

Ashley Furniture has built its name on making furniture accessible to many through competitive pricing and regular sales events. You'll find their products in numerous stores across the country.

Strengths of Ashley Furniture

• Their affordable prices make Ashley furniture available to shoppers on a budget or those furnishing temporary spaces
• A wide selection of products for every room serves as a convenient one-stop shopping solution
• Easy accessibility through thousands of retail locations and a user-friendly website
• Various style choices that range from classic to modern designs
• Available delivery and assembly services add convenience (though these often cost extra)

Weaknesses of Ashley Furniture

• Quality and durability can be hit-or-miss, varying significantly between different product lines
• Limited customization options for fabrics, finishes, and configurations compared to mid-range furniture brands
• Many items need assembly at home, and paying for assembly services increases the total cost

How to Choose the Perfect Furniture?

Shopping for furniture beyond Ashley opens up opportunities for better quality and long-term value. While Ashley offers affordable options, other brands may provide superior construction, materials, and customer service.

Let's explore the key factors to consider when choosing furniture that truly meets your needs.

Quality and Construction

The foundation of great furniture starts with its construction. A solid wood frame provides better durability than particle board or engineered wood. High-quality pieces feature strong suspension systems like sinuous springs or 8-way hand-tied coils, which offer better support and longevity than basic webbing.

For seating comfort, foam density makes a big difference. Look for cushions with a density of 1.8 pounds or higher to maintain shape and comfort over time.

When examining upholstery, check the fabric's durability rating (double rubs) - higher numbers indicate better resistance to daily wear.

For leather furniture, understanding grades helps you make smarter choices. Full-grain and top-grain leather offer superior durability compared to bonded or split leather.

Quality pieces also feature strong joinery methods like dowels and corner blocks, ensuring structural integrity for years to come.

Durability and Lifespan

Smart furniture shopping means considering long-term value. While budget pieces might serve well for 2-3 years, mid-range furniture typically lasts 5-10 years with proper care.

Premium furniture, though more expensive initially, can last decades and often proves more economical over time.

Look for brands that highlight specific construction features like kiln-dried hardwood frames and high-performance materials. These details often indicate better craftsmanship and durability.

Reading reviews from long-term users can provide valuable insights into how pieces hold up over time.

Customer Service

Outstanding customer service can transform your furniture buying experience. Research how different brands handle:

• Delivery scheduling and tracking
• Damage claims
• Assembly services
• Post-purchase support
• Warranty claims

The best furniture brands offer clear communication, responsive support teams, and straightforward problem resolution. They stand behind their products and make it easy to address any issues that arise.

Understanding Warranties

A comprehensive warranty shows how much a manufacturer trusts their products. When reviewing warranties, pay attention to the coverage periods for different components.

Frame warranties often range from 10 years to lifetime, while cushion coverage typically spans 3-5 years. Fabric and leather usually have shorter warranties of 1-3 years.

Pay special attention to cushion warranties, as sagging is a common issue. Fabric and leather typically have limited coverage, so consider protection plans for these components. Make sure you understand what qualifies as normal wear versus a defect.

Good warranties should be clear about their terms and easy to claim if needed. Watch out for warranties with excessive limitations or complicated claim processes.

Ashley Furniture Alternatives

When searching for furniture beyond Ashley, you'll find many brands that might better suit your needs. Each brand brings its mix of quality, style, and value to the table.

To help you make an informed choice, we've organized these alternatives by price range and what they do best.

Budget-Friendly Options

Several affordable brands compete directly with Ashley Furniture in the lower price tier:

• Bob's Discount Furniture operates in a similar price range to Ashley, offering different style choices but with similar quality considerations.
• Belleze Furniture, Living Spaces, and Value City Furniture provide budget-conscious shoppers with additional options, though you should keep durability expectations realistic at this price point.
• IKEA deserves consideration in this category. While assembly is often required, many online reviews suggest it offers good value for the price.

Keep in mind that at this price point, you're unlikely to see major quality improvements over Ashley. These alternatives make sense if you're looking for different styles or need something readily available in your area.

Mid-Range Furniture Brands

Moving up in price brings notable quality improvements:

• La-Z-Boy stands out for comfort and durability, particularly in their recliner lines. They use higher-quality materials than Ashley and offer more customization options.
• England Furniture, a La-Z-Boy company, specializes in USA-made upholstered pieces. They provide better build quality and warranty coverage compared to Ashley.
• Room & Board focuses on modern design with high-quality materials. They maintain strong USA manufacturing partnerships and receive consistent praise for their customer service.
• Crate & Barrel and CB2 offer contemporary styles often viewed as superior to basic Ashley lines. However, review their materials and warranty terms carefully.
• Article offers popular mid-century modern style furniture through a direct-to-consumer model, with products offering good value for money.

These mid-range options typically cost more than Ashley but aim to justify the higher price through better materials, construction, and longevity.

Premium Furniture Brands

For those seeking the highest quality furniture:

• Flexsteel stands out for its patented Blue Steel Spring system, making their seating pieces particularly durable and long-lasting.
• Smith Brothers of Berne crafts high-end, USA-made custom upholstery using solid maple frames and premium coil systems.
• Luxury makers like Hancock & Moore, Century, and Hickory Chair use premium techniques such as 8-way hand-tied springs and top-grade materials.

These premium brands focus on creating furniture that lasts for decades. You'll need to purchase through specialty retailers or designers, and prices reflect their investment-piece status. These options best suit buyers who value lasting quality over budget constraints.

Specialized Furniture Brands

Several newer brands address specific furniture challenges:

• Burrow specializes in modular, easy-assembly sofas perfect for apartment dwellers and frequent movers.
• Lovesac offers highly adaptable sectionals with washable covers, making them ideal for families with pets or children.
• Sabai emphasizes sustainability with recycled materials and ethical USA production while maintaining comfort and durability.
• Allform provides USA-made modular sofas with performance fabrics and strong warranty coverage.

These direct-to-consumer brands often offer better value by eliminating retail markups. While they require online purchasing, they excel in areas Ashley doesn't prioritize, like easy assembly, sustainability, and washability.

Making Your Choice

Finding a better alternative to Ashley Furniture starts with understanding your specific needs and priorities. There's no single "best" brand for everyone. The right choice depends on what matters most to you in a furniture purchase.

Match Brands To Your Needs

Your priorities will guide you to different furniture brands:

• Budget-focused shoppers: Explore Value City Furniture or watch for sales at Raymour & Flanigan. Look for solid wood frames and higher-density foam in cushions to get the most value.
• Durability seekers: Consider Flexsteel or England Furniture. These brands are known for solid construction. Look for features like eight-way hand-tied springs and kiln-dried hardwood frames.
• Style enthusiasts: Identify brands specializing in your preferred aesthetic. Article excels in mid-century modern designs, while Room & Board offers contemporary pieces. Consider fabric and finish options to match your vision.
• Comfort prioritizers: Test furniture in person when possible. La-Z-Boy and Lovesac consistently receive praise for comfort. Pay attention to cushion composition, seat depth, and back support.
• Customization needs: England and Smith Brothers provide extensive choices for fabrics, finishes, and configurations.
• Sustainability-minded: Explore eco-friendly brands like Sabai or companies with strong environmental commitments, such as Room & Board or West Elm.
• Convenience seekers: For apartments or frequent movers, brands like Burrow, Allform, or Lovesac offer modular, easy-to-assemble solutions.

Furniture Shopping Tips

To make an informed decision:

• Ask detailed questions about materials and construction.
• Read recent third-party reviews to understand real-world experiences.
• Carefully examine warranty details for frames, cushions, mechanisms, and fabric.
• Test furniture in person when possible to assess comfort and sturdiness.
• Factor in delivery costs and service levels (curbside drop-off vs. in-home assembly).

Conclusion

Ashley Furniture offers affordable prices and many choices, but valid reasons exist for exploring other brands. Many alternatives excel with better materials, stronger construction, improved warranties, and more responsive service.

The furniture market gives you many options, from budget-friendly competitors to premium brands for long-term investment.

Your best choice depends on balancing your budget with priorities like durability, style, and comfort. Research construction details, read reviews, and understand warranties to find the brand that best fits your needs.