Ashley Furniture is known for its vast selection of affordable, trendy furniture, making it a go-to for budget-conscious shoppers who want of-the-moment styles. In contrast, Broyhill builds its reputation on producing classic, durable furniture with a focus on quality craftsmanship, appealing to those looking for timeless pieces that will last.
Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right home decor retailer for your space.
Ashley Furniture: The Affordable & Trendy Choice
As one of the largest furniture manufacturers in the world, Ashley Furniture offers a massive range of home furnishings for every room. The brand is highly popular with shoppers furnishing a first home, apartment, or looking for stylish updates on a budget. Their business model revolves around providing accessible, on-trend designs through a huge network of retail stores and a robust online presence.
- Product mix: A comprehensive selection that includes sofas, sectionals, recliners, dining sets, bedroom collections, outdoor furniture, home accents, rugs, and mattresses. It's essentially a one-stop-shop for furnishing a home.
- Style/vibe: Extremely broad, but leans heavily toward casual comfort and contemporary trends. You can find everything from modern farmhouse to transitional and glam styles in their collections.
- Price point: Known for being budget-friendly. Sofas often start around $399, dining sets can be found for under $1,000, and full bedroom sets range from $1,000 to $3,000.
- Quality: Quality varies by collection to meet different price points. Many pieces utilize engineered wood and polyester blends to keep costs low, which is suitable for moderate use but may not have the longevity of higher-end brands.
- Dimensions/Scale: Offers a wide variety of dimensions, including many apartment-friendly and small-scale options ideal for compact living spaces.
- Sales: Ashley is known for its constant promotions, holiday sales events, and accessible financing options, making it easy to find a deal year-round.
- Shopping Experience: Can be found online at Ashleyfurniture.com and in hundreds of their physical showrooms and outlet stores across the country, providing both online convenience and in-person trials.
Ashley Furniture excels at delivering current styles at unbeatable prices, making it a powerful choice for anyone needing to furnish a space quickly and affordably.
Shop Ashley Furniture: ashleyfurniture.com
Broyhill: The Classic & Durable Investment
With a legacy dating back over a century, Broyhill is a historic American brand focused on timeless design and durable construction. Broyhill caters to consumers who view furniture as a long-term investment and prioritize classic styling that won't fade with trends. The brand emphasizes craftsmanship, using higher-quality materials to create pieces that feel substantial and are built to last.
- Product mix: A more curated selection focused on core home furnishings like sofas, recliners, accent chairs, dining tables, beds, and case goods like dressers and nightstands.
- Style/vibe: Predominantly traditional and transitional. Their collections often feature elegant details, classic silhouettes, and warm wood finishes that work well in a variety of established home decor schemes.
- Price point: Situated in the mid-range to upper mid-range. Sofas typically start around $599, and bedroom sets range from $1,200 to $3,500.
- Quality: Broyhill emphasizes higher-quality construction, often featuring solid wood frames, high-density foam cushions, and stronger upholstery fabrics designed for longevity and comfort.
- Dimensions/Scale: Tends to offer standard furniture sizing suitable for classic American homes. While they have options for different room sizes, their pieces are often best suited for more traditional, larger living spaces.
- Shopping Experience: Broyhill furniture is primarily available through their website and a network of authorized dealer showrooms, allowing customers to see and feel the quality in person.
Broyhill is an excellent option for those who value enduring quality and classic style, offering a solid investment that brings a sense of permanence and refinement to a home.
Shop Broyhill: broyhill.com
Ashley Furniture vs. Broyhill Comparison
Price Comparison
There is a clear distinction in pricing between the two brands. Ashley Furniture is the distinct winner on upfront affordability. With entry-level sofas starting around $399 and frequent, aggressive sales that can bring prices even lower, it's one of the most accessible major furniture brands on the market.
Broyhill targets a customer willing to spend a bit more for quality. Their sofas start closer to $599, reflecting the use of better materials and more robust construction. While Ashley offers a great price, Broyhill positions itself as a better long-term value, as its pieces are designed to last longer, potentially saving money on replacements down the line.
Quality & Construction
This is where the brands differ most. Broyhill's main selling point is its commitment to quality. They typically use solid wood frames, high-density foam core cushions that resist sagging, and durable fabrics. This leads to furniture that feels sturdier and holds up better to daily use over many years.
Ashley's quality can vary. To meet its low price points, many of their popular collections use materials like engineered wood (MDF or particleboard) and standard foam cushions with polyester fiberfill. While perfectly functional, these materials are less durable than their solid wood counterparts and may show wear more quickly, especially in high-traffic households.
Style & Aesthetic
Ashley Furniture is heavily influenced by current trends. Their catalog is a snapshot of what's popular right now, from modern farmhouse sectionals to sleek, contemporary bedroom sets. This approach is great for those who love to update their decor frequently and want a fresh, modern look without a huge investment.
Broyhill stays firmly in the traditional and transitional lanes. Their designs are classic, elegant, and built to look good for decades. You'll find graceful lines, rich wood tones, and sophisticated upholstery that complement a wide range of timeless decor styles. If you dislike fast-changing trends and prefer furniture that will remain stylish for years, Broyhill is the better choice.
Product Selection & Sizing
As one of the world's largest furniture retailers, Ashley offers an unparalleled variety of products and styles. Their sheer volume of options, covering every room and decorative accent, is hard to beat. They also excel at providing a wide array of sizes, with plenty of compact sectionals and small-scale pieces perfect for apartments or smaller rooms.
Broyhill has a more focused, curated assortment of what they consider essential furniture. While the selection is smaller, each piece fits within their brand identity of quality and classic design. The sizing is more traditional and may be better suited for suburban homes or rooms with more generous proportions.
Shopping Experience
Shopping with Ashley is designed for convenience and accessibility. With hundreds of physical stores, outlet centers, and a comprehensive website, customers can find them virtually anywhere. Their showrooms allow you to see a huge range of products in person, and their constant sales make it feel like you’re always getting a low price.
Broyhill is sold through its own website and authorized independent furniture stores. This model often provides a more personal shopping experience, with knowledgeable staff who can explain the construction and features of the furniture. It encourages a more considered purchase focused on touching and feeling the product before buying.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice comes down to your personal priorities, budget, and design philosophy. Both brands offer solid options, but they serve two very different types of customers.
Choose Ashley Furniture if:
- You are furnishing a space on a strict budget.
- You love keeping up with the latest home decor trends.
- You need furniture quickly for a first apartment, starter home, or a lower-traffic area like a guest room.
- You want endless options to choose from across every possible furniture category.
Choose Broyhill if:
- You prioritize durability and craftsmanship over immediate accessibility.
- You prefer timeless, classic, or transitional styles over passing trends.
- You are investing in "forever" pieces for your primary living spaces.
- You are willing to spend more upfront for better materials like solid wood and high-density foam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ashley Furniture or Broyhill cheaper?
Ashley Furniture is significantly cheaper across almost all categories. Their business model is built around high volume and affordability, making them the budget-friendly choice of the two.
Which has better quality furniture?
Broyhill is generally regarded as having better quality furniture. They prioritize more durable materials like solid wood frames and higher-density cushions, which contribute to a longer lifespan compared to many of Ashley's more price-conscious collections.
What style is Ashley Furniture?
Ashley Furniture offers a very diverse range of styles, but they are best known for of-the-moment trends, casual comfort, and contemporary designs. You can also find modern farmhouse, traditional, and mid-century inspired pieces in their vast catalog.
What style is Broyhill furniture?
Broyhill focuses on timeless, classic styles. Their aesthetic is primarily traditional and transitional, characterized by elegant lines, rich wood finishes, and sophisticated details that won't go out of vogue.
Which brand is better for families with kids?
This depends on the family's priority. For durability against constant use, Broyhill's higher-quality construction is a better long-term investment. However, for a family on a budget who knows furniture may get stained or damaged, Ashley’s lower price point makes potential replacements far less painful.
Which is better for small spaces?
Ashley Furniture generally offers more options designed for small spaces. Their collection includes a larger variety of apartment-sized sofas, compact sectionals, and smaller dining sets to fit unconventional layouts.
Can I see furniture from both brands in a store?
Yes. Ashley has its own branded physical showrooms and outlets nationwide. Broyhill products can be viewed in the showrooms of authorized third-party furniture retailers.
Are both brands available online?
Yes. Ashley Furniture has a large e-commerce website where you can purchase directly. Broyhill also sells through their official website, broyhill.com, as well as the websites of their retail partners.
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