Room and Board vs Crate and Barrel

By Viet Nguyen Written by Viet Nguyen
Updated on June 10, 2022

When it comes to modern home furnishing, two particular choices stand out from the crowd: Room & Board and Crate & Barrel. Both of these brands are American brands that have gained a lot of popularity not just within the country but also in overseas markets. 

That said, due to the shared similarities between these brands, it can be a bit difficult to choose one over the other. If you don’t have a good understanding of these brands, it can be quite easy to make the wrong decision. This article will provide an accurate comparison between the two brands so that you can make the right choice. 

Room and Board vs Crate and Barrel: pricing

The first and foremost thing that most people care about is the pricing, so let’s dive into a comparison between the pricing policies of the two brands. 

On the surface, it looks like Room and Board might be a bit more expensive, as their sofas can cost up to 1,000 USD more than a sofa from the same brand but sold by Crate and Barrel. Other products such as coffee tables feature a more narrow price gap between the brands. That said, it seems that you get a better selection of cheaper models at Crate and Barrel. For this reason, Crate and Barrel is a better choice when you place a strong emphasis on the element of prices.

Room and Board vs Crate and Barrel: quality

It certainly is worth considering the element of quality when you try to compare the two brands. After all, if the products are of bad quality, it is quite a bad call to stick with them. Fortunately, it seems that both brands are of good quality, so investing in either will not be a bad call. 

Room and Board’s quality has long been attested. The brand has consistently been rated extremely high on e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and the like. On Reddit, the reviews have also been positive, with most people praising the sofas, calling them solidly built with no errors. The materials used in the construction of most furniture pieces are sustainable materials, so there will be no risk of polluting the environment. Room and Board is also popular for its selection of high-end furniture, which is extremely diverse in terms of design. 

Crate and Barrel also places a strong emphasis on the quality of their furniture. The pieces are made in the USA as well as overseas factories, under the supervision of experts in the field. Some of their pieces come with a lot of choices for customization, so this brand is the better choice if you are looking for customized sofas. That said, there have been complaints here and there about the durability of the pieces from this brand. For this reason, Room and Board seems to have an edge over Crate and Barrel when it comes to furniture quality. 

Room and Board vs Crate and Barrel: sofas

Sofas are the most popular pieces for both brands, so it is a good idea to compare the build quality of the sofas from both brands. This will give you a good overview of the brands, ensuring that you can make the right purchase decision.

Room and Board sofas seem to be made exclusively by American suppliers, and the brand is very specific about its craftsmanship. As a result, the quality of the sofas made by the suppliers of this brand is incontestable, and there are plenty of QA experts who have thoroughly vetted the sofas. Room and Board is also quite transparent about the sources of their sofas, which allows consumers to know where their sofas are produced. 

Crate and Barrel does not stray too far from the other brand in terms of quality. There have been a lot of positive reviews about the quality of the sofas from this brand, all stating that they are quite nicely built and comfortable. However, the brand has received some criticism about its sofas’ durability. Many have claimed that their sofas degrade too quickly for their value. Furthermore, as Crate and Barrel also sources their sofas from overseas suppliers, the quality consistency of their products is not guaranteed. Thus, when it comes to sofas, Room and Board is the superior choice, in spite of its high prices. 

Which brands should you choose for your furniture needs?

Both of these brands are reputable, but if you really have to choose one, Room and Board might be the better choice. They are transparent about their suppliers, and their quality is quite consistent, so their high prices are justified. Crate and Barrel is a better choice if you wish to find cheapies, but their build quality can certainly use a lot of improvements. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, Room and Board seems to be the winner in the Room and Board vs Crate and Barrel debate. That said, it does not mean that Crate and Barrel is a bad furniture brand. You can definitely find some good pieces of furniture at lower prices there. Just be sure to read all the relevant reviews first!