Arhaus offers high-end, artisanal furniture with a focus on unique, handcrafted designs and sustainable, reclaimed materials, resulting in a rustic-modern aesthetic. In contrast, Pottery Barn provides classic, transitional, and family-friendly home furnishings at a more accessible mid-range price point, emphasizing comfort and timeless versatility for everyday living.
Let's compare everything you need to know to choose the right home furnishing brand for your space.
Arhaus: The Artisanal & Sustainable Choice
Arhaus is a premium home furnishings brand known for its commitment to craftsmanship, sustainability, and unique design. The brand appeals to discerning homeowners who want investment pieces that tell a story, often featuring natural materials like reclaimed wood, hand-forged iron, and stone. With a focus on globally inspired, handcrafted collections, Arhaus caters to those who value environmental responsibility as much as sophisticated, rustic elegance.
- Product mix: A curated selection of high-end furniture for living, dining, and bedrooms, alongside lighting, rugs, and decor. Arhaus is known for its distinctive statement pieces.
- Style/vibe: Rustic elegance with a contemporary twist. The aesthetic emphasizes natural textures, handcrafted details, and a timeless, worldly feel that fits well in eclectic or modern farmhouse interiors.
- Price point: Mid-to-luxury. Sofas typically begin around $2,000, dining tables start at $2,000, and larger bedroom pieces can easily exceed $2,500.
- Quality: Exceptional. The brand is known for using high-quality materials like solid, sustainably sourced, or reclaimed wood and natural stones. Construction relies on artisanal techniques for durability and character.
- Customization: Extensive customization options are available, allowing customers to select specific fabrics, finishes, and configurations for many furniture pieces to match their personal style.
- Sustainability: This is a core pillar of the brand. Arhaus is committed to using reclaimed, recycled, and sustainably managed resources and works with artisans globally who share this ethos.
- Delivery & Assembly: Most large furniture is delivered via a white-glove service, which includes unboxing, assembly, and placement in your room of choice, reflecting their premium positioning.
Arhaus is ideal for those seeking investment furniture with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship, unique design, and eco-conscious sourcing.
Shop Arhaus: arhaus.com
Pottery Barn: The Classic American Home Brand
A household name in home decor, Pottery Barn offers classic, timeless appeal with a broad product range that suits a variety of tastes. The brand excels at creating warm, inviting, and functional spaces perfect for family life. With an emphasis on comfort and practicality, their collections are a go-to for homeowners seeking stylish, reliable, and versatile furniture that easily coordinates and outlasts fleeting trends.
- Product mix: A comprehensive offering of furniture, bedding, bath, lighting, rugs, curtains, and decor. They are also known for their strong seasonal collections and collaborations.
- Style/vibe: Classic, traditional, and transitional. The look is polished yet approachable, often blending cozy farmhouse elements with clean, modern lines to create a comfortable and family-friendly atmosphere.
- Price point: Mid-range and accessible. Sofas range from $1,200–$2,500, dining tables start around $1,000, and beds are typically in the $1,000-$2,000 range.
- Quality: Known for durable, well-made products. Furniture often features kiln-dried hardwood frames, and many upholstered pieces are available in performance fabrics designed for longevity and easy care.
- Customization: Offers a solid range of fabric and finish options for many of its bestselling furniture collections, allowing for a good degree of personalization.
- Sales: Pottery Barn runs frequent sales and promotional events throughout the year, especially around holidays, making their products even more affordable.
- Delivery & Assembly: Offers both standard flat-rate shipping and full-service white-glove delivery, providing flexibility based on customer needs and budget.
Pottery Barn delivers proven, stylish furniture that combines comfort, value, and a classic aesthetic designed for the realities of everyday family living.
Shop Pottery Barn: potterybarn.com
Arhaus vs. Pottery Barn Comparison
Price Comparison
There is a clear price difference between the two brands. Arhaus positions itself in the mid-to-luxury market, with prices reflecting its use of artisanal labor and premium, often reclaimed, materials. Pottery Barn sits firmly in the accessible mid-range category.
For example, a standard upholstered sofa from Arhaus typically costs between $2,000 and $4,000+. A comparable sofa from Pottery Barn generally ranges from $1,200 to $2,500. This pattern holds true across most categories, from dining tables to bedroom sets. Pottery Barn also holds frequent sales and bundle deals, while Arhaus's pricing is more stable, focusing on the value of the craftsmanship rather than discounts.
Style & Aesthetic
Arhaus has a distinct rustic-modern and globally inspired aesthetic. Think reclaimed woods, hammered metals, natural textures, and unique silhouettes that make a statement. Their pieces are designed to feel collected over time and work well in homes that lean toward eclectic, modern farmhouse, or industrial chic.
Pottery Barn is the destination for classic American style. Their look is more traditional and transitional, characterized by warm woods, neutral palettes, and comfortable, inviting designs. The aesthetic is polished, cohesive, and versatile, making it easy to create beautiful, family-friendly spaces that feel both timeless and current.
Quality & Construction
Both brands offer quality furniture, but they focus on different aspects. Arhaus prioritizes artisanal craftsmanship and premium materials. Their commitment to solid, reclaimed woods, hand-forged metals, and high-quality upholstery gives their furniture a substantial, long-lasting feel with unique character in every piece.
Pottery Barn focuses on producing durable, reliable furniture for everyday family use. They often use kiln-dried hardwoods and quality engineered woods, along with a wide array of performance fabrics designed to withstand stains and wear. While well-constructed, the manufacturing process is more standardized compared to the handcrafted nature of many Arhaus items.
Product Selection & Sizing
Both retailers offer a full range of home furnishings. Arhaus's curation feels more specialized, with a strong emphasis on statement furniture pieces. Their furniture often has a larger scale and presence, designed to anchor spacious living rooms or dining areas.
Pottery Barn provides a broader assortment of products, including extensive bedding, bath, and decor collections that make it a one-stop-shop for furnishing a home. They offer a good variety of sizes, including more compact sections and apartment-friendly furniture, making them a practical choice for a wider range of home sizes.
Shopping Experience
Shopping with Arhaus is a premium experience. Their physical showrooms are beautifully designed to inspire, and they offer personalized design consultations. Their white-glove delivery service is often standard for large items, enhancing the luxury feel.
Pottery Barn excels at an accessible and convenient shopping experience. With a huge network of retail stores and a user-friendly website, shopping is seamless. Customers benefit from frequent promotions, flexible financing options, and an easy-to-navigate system for online orders and returns.
Sustainability & Ethics
Sustainability is a core component of Arhaus's brand identity. They actively partner with artisans around the world to source reclaimed and recycled materials, giving new life to old resources. Their commitment to transparent, eco-friendly practices is a major draw for environmentally conscious consumers.
Pottery Barn has also made significant strides in sustainability, committing to responsibly sourced cotton, using FSC-certified wood, and working to reduce their carbon footprint. While these are commendable efforts, the focus on artisanal and reclaimed materials is less central to their brand story than it is for Arhaus.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both brands are excellent choices, but they serve different homeowners and priorities.
Choose Arhaus if:
- You are looking for unique, handcrafted furniture that serves as a statement piece.
- Sustainability is a top priority - you value reclaimed and eco-friendly materials.
- Your budget is in the upper-mid to luxury range, and you view furniture as an investment.
- Your style is rustic, eclectic, or contemporary with a focus on natural, textural elements.
Choose Pottery Barn if:
- You need durable, family-friendly furniture that can withstand everyday life.
- Your style is classic, timeless, or traditional, and you value comfort and versatility.
- You are decorating on a mid-range budget and want to take advantage of sales.
- You appreciate the convenience of a one-stop-shop for coordinated home furnishings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arhaus or Pottery Barn more expensive?
Arhaus is significantly more expensive than Pottery Barn. Its focus on artisanal production, premium materials, and unique designs places it in a higher price bracket, targeting the mid-to-luxury market.
Which has better quality furniture?
Both brands offer good quality, but they define it differently. Arhaus arguably offers higher-end quality due to its use of solid and reclaimed woods, handcrafted techniques, and meticulous detailing. Pottery Barn offers excellent quality for its price point, focusing on durable construction and materials designed for everyday family use.
What is the style difference between Arhaus and Pottery Barn?
Arhaus features a rustic-modern, eclectic, and globally inspired aesthetic with a focus on natural, reclaimed materials. Pottery Barn's style is classic American home - transitional, comfortable, and warm, blending traditional and farmhouse elements.
Is Arhaus furniture considered luxury?
Yes, Arhaus is generally considered a mid-to-luxury brand. Its pricing, material selection, craftsmanship, and commitment to unique design position it firmly in the premium home furnishings market.
Does Pottery Barn have sales?
Yes, Pottery Barn holds sales very frequently, with major discounts offered during holiday weekends like Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, and Black Friday. It's often worth waiting for a sale to purchase larger items.
Which brand is better for families with kids?
Pottery Barn is typically the better choice for families with kids. The brand is known for its durable furniture, extensive selection of performance fabrics that resist stains and spills, and a comfortable, approachable design that holds up well to daily life.
Can you customize furniture at Arhaus and Pottery Barn?
Yes, both brands offer customization. Arhaus generally offers more extensive options, allowing you to choose from a wide array of high-end fabrics, leathers, and wood finishes to create a truly bespoke piece. Pottery Barn provides numerous fabric and finish choices for its core collections as well.
Which brand is more focused on sustainability?
While Pottery Barn has strong sustainability initiatives, Arhaus makes sustainability and ethical sourcing a central part of its brand identity. Its heavy use of reclaimed, recycled, and responsibly sourced materials is a key differentiator.
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