Arhaus is known for its handcrafted, artisan-inspired furniture with a globally eclectic style, often using reclaimed and sustainable materials to create unique statement pieces. In contrast, Room & Board focuses on modern, minimalist design and American craftsmanship, offering timeless, durable furniture with extensive customization options and a more streamlined aesthetic.
Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right home furnishing brand for your space.
Arhaus: The Artisan-Inspired, Sustainable Choice
Arhaus is a high-end furniture brand that sources unique, handcrafted designs from artisans around the world. The company puts a strong emphasis on sustainability, using reclaimed wood, recycled materials, and eco-friendly fabrics. Their collections appeal to those seeking distinctive, high-quality furnishings that tell a story and add character to a home.
- Product mix: Full home furnishings, including large-scale sofas and sectionals, dining tables, bedroom sets, outdoor furniture, and curated decor. They are well-known for their eye-catching, unique pieces.
- Style/vibe: An eclectic blend of modern, rustic, vintage, and globally inspired designs. Expect warm woods, distressed finishes, natural textures, and a thoughtfully curated, artistic feel.
- Price point: Luxury-to-mid-range. Sofas typically begin around $2,000 but can easily exceed $4,000, while solid wood dining tables start near $3,000.
- Quality: Focuses heavily on handcrafted and artisan construction. Materials include kiln-dried hardwoods, reclaimed wood from sources like decommissioned C-119 "Flying Boxcar" planes, and other eco-friendly textiles.
- Customization: Offers a flexible customization process with numerous fabric and leather options for upholstered pieces. Many case goods are available in different finishes.
- Sustainability: This is a core part of the brand's identity. Arhaus partners with global artisans to rescue and repurpose materials, and many of their products are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
- Delivery & Assembly: Most large furniture is delivered via a white-glove service. Professional delivery personnel will place furniture in your room of choice, perform any necessary assembly, and remove all packaging materials.
- Shopping Experience: Large, dramatically styled showrooms create an immersive and inspirational shopping trip. Design consultations are also available to help customers create a cohesive look.
Arhaus is the ideal choice for those who want their furniture to have a distinct personality and prioritize handcrafted quality and sustainable sourcing over minimalist conformity.
Shop Arhaus: arhaus.com
Room & Board: The Modern American Craftsman
Room & Board is a modern furniture retailer celebrated for its clean, timeless designs and commitment to American craftsmanship. The brand emphasizes durable, functional, and versatile pieces that fit a contemporary lifestyle, making them a go-to for shoppers investing in quality foundational furniture that won't go out of style.
- Product mix: A comprehensive selection of furniture for every room, including sofas, beds, dining sets, and exceptionally functional storage solutions. Their catalog is designed to furnish an entire modern home cohesively.
- Style/vibe: Modern, minimalist, and transitional with influences from Shaker, Danish, and mid-century design. The aesthetic is defined by simple lines, neutral palettes, and a focus on natural materials like solid wood and steel.
- Price point: Mid-range to premium, offering a more accessible entry point than Arhaus. Sofas typically start around $1,200, and dining tables can range from $1,000 to $4,000.
- Quality: Rooted in American manufacturing, with an emphasis on durability. Over 90% of their collection is manufactured domestically, using high-quality materials like solid wood and sturdy fabrics designed for everyday life.
- Customization: A key strength for the brand. They offer extensive customization for most items, allowing customers to easily choose from a wide array of fabrics, finishes, sizes, and even hardware to create the perfect piece.
- Sustainability: Focuses on responsible sourcing, eco-friendly materials, and creating long-lasting products to reduce waste. Their partnerships with American manufacturers also lessen their carbon footprint.
- Delivery & Assembly: Offers full-service, in-home delivery for a flat rate based on your location. Their team assembles items, places them in your chosen room, and removes all packaging.
- Shopping Experience: Known for a transparent, customer-focused approach. Beautifully designed showrooms are complemented by a user-friendly website with detailed product info and free material swatches.
With its emphasis on American-made quality and timeless modern design, Room & Board is perfect for practical shoppers who value lasting style and extensive customization.
Shop Room & Board: roomandboard.com
Arhaus vs. Room & Board Comparison
Price Comparison
Arhaus generally operates at a higher price point that reflects its focus on artisanal craftsmanship and imported, unique materials. Its entry-level sofas begin around $2,000, while many larger or custom-upholstered pieces climb well over $4,000. Their handcrafted dining tables often start at $3,000 and go up significantly from there.
Room & Board provides a more accessible entry into the premium furniture market. Sofas can be found starting around $1,200, and dining tables range from $1,000 to $4,000. While both represent a significant investment in quality, Room & Board's pricing allows shoppers to acquire a full room of furniture for what a single statement piece might cost at Arhaus.
Style & Aesthetic
The brands' styles are worlds apart. Arhaus champions an eclectic, artistic, and layered look. Their collections are perfect for creating a dramatic, personality-filled space, pulling inspiration from rustic farmhouses, European villas, and vintage markets. Their pieces are designed to be focal points.
Room & Board embodies a clean, modern, and understated aesthetic. Its furniture is characterized by simple silhouettes, neutral tones, and functional design influenced by mid-century modern and Scandinavian principles. These pieces serve as a versatile foundation, blending seamlessly into contemporary or transitional interiors without overpowering the space.
Quality & Construction
Both brands are committed to high-quality construction, but they showcase it differently. Arhaus emphasizes handcrafted details and unique materials like reclaimed wood with visible history, hand-forged metals, and unique finishes applied by artisans. This can result in pieces that feel one-of-a-kind.
Room & Board's quality is centered on durable engineering and superior domestic craftsmanship. Their use of solid American hardwoods, precision-welded steel, and durable performance fabrics results in furniture that's built for the rigors of everyday use and designed to last for decades.
Sizing & Scale
Arhaus collections often feature pieces with a substantial, even oversized scale. Many of their sofas are deep and sprawling, and their dining tables can be expansive, making them well-suited for larger homes, open-concept living areas, and rooms with high ceilings where furniture needs to have presence.
Room & Board designs are typically more streamlined and space-efficient. While they offer large sectionals and dining tables, their focus on clean lines and customizable dimensions makes their collection highly adaptable for everything from a compact city apartment to a spacious suburban home.
Sustainability & Ethics
Both companies have strong sustainability commitments. Arhaus builds its ethical story around reclaimed and recycled materials, giving new life to old wood and reducing deforestation. Their global artisan partnerships also support craft communities.
Room & Board's approach is rooted in longevity and local production. By focusing on classic design and durable construction, they aim to keep furniture out of landfills. Their commitment to American manufacturing reduces shipping distances and supports local economies.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both of these brands offer high-quality furniture, but their distinct styles and philosophies cater to different homes and priorities.
Choose Arhaus if:
- You want your home to feature one-of-a-kind, statement furniture pieces with an artisan feel.
- Your personal style is eclectic, rustic, globally inspired, or has a touch of vintage character.
- The story behind the furniture - like using reclaimed or sustainably harvested materials - is important to you.
- You have a generous budget and are looking for dramatic investment pieces to build your room around.
Choose Room & Board if:
- You prefer a clean, modern, and minimalist aesthetic with timeless appeal.
- You value American craftsmanship and want high-quality, durable furniture built to last.
- You need extensive customization options to dial in the perfect fabric, finish, and size for your space.
- You want a cohesive look and appreciate a transparent, customer-friendly shopping experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Crate & Barrel or Restoration Hardware expensive?
Between the two, Arhaus is generally more expensive. Its focus on specialized, handcrafted details and globally sourced materials places it at a higher, luxury-to-mid-range price point. Room & Board is more accessible, occupying a mid-range to premium space.
Which brand has better quality furniture?
Neither is "better" - they just have different philosophies on quality. Arhaus offers exceptional artisan quality, with handcrafted details and unique reclaimed materials. Room & Board delivers outstanding constructional quality, focusing on durable, American-made frames and materials engineered for longevity.
What style is Arhaus furniture?
Arhaus features an eclectic style that blends rustic, modern, and vintage elements. Its aesthetic is often described as globally inspired, textural, and artistic, perfect for creating a warm and character-filled home.
What style is Room & Board furniture?
Room & Board is known for its modern and minimalist style. The designs emphasize clean lines, functionality, and timeless simplicity, drawing heavily from mid-century modern and Scandinavian design principles.
Is Room & Board furniture made in the USA?
Yes, over 90% of Room & Board's collection is manufactured in the United States by small, family-owned companies and skilled craftspeople. This commitment to American manufacturing is central to their brand identity.
Which brand is better for sustainability?
Both are excellent choices for sustainability. Arhaus focuses on using reclaimed, recycled, and responsibly sourced materials. Room & Board focuses on creating durable, timeless furniture through local American production to minimize environmental impact and reduce waste.
Which brand offers more customization?
Room & Board is renowned for its extensive and user-friendly customization program. Nearly every piece can be customized with a vast selection of fabrics, leathers, woods, finishes, and hardware choices, making it easy to create a personalized item.
Which brand is better for smaller spaces?
Generally, Room & Board is a better option for smaller spaces. Their furniture's clean lines, less bulky silhouettes, and extensive sizing options make it more adaptable to apartments, condos, and smaller rooms where efficiency is key.
At Interior Insider, we're dedicated to curating the best in home decor, interior design, and home essentials to help you discover brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, design, and craftsmanship. When you make a purchase through our links, Interior Insider may earn a commission - which helps support our small team and allows us to continue bringing you inspiration and expert advice for creating your perfect space.
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