Bassett Furniture stands out with its extensive customization options, allowing you to tailor fabrics, finishes, and configurations to create a personalized piece. In contrast, Havertys offers a more curated, traditional retail experience with a focus on classic, comfortable, and ready-to-ship collections.
Let's compare everything you need to know to decide which of these long-standing American brands is the right choice for your home.
Bassett Furniture: The Customizable Craftsmanship Choice
For over a century, Bassett Furniture has been a go-to for durable, stylish furniture that can be made-to-order. The brand caters to homeowners who want a high degree of personalization without a luxury price tag, blending timeless designs with modern functionality. Their strength lies in providing tailored solutions, from sofas built to specific dimensions to dining sets with the perfect wood finish.
- Product mix: A comprehensive range of home furniture, including sofas, sectionals, beds, dining tables, storage pieces, and home office setups.
- Style/vibe: Primarily classic and transitional. Bassett's aesthetic features clean lines and versatile designs that can fit into a wide variety of home decor styles, from traditional to contemporary.
- Price point: Mid-range. Sofas generally start around $1,000, with prices increasing based on customization. Full bedroom sets typically range from $2,000 to $4,000.
- Quality: Known for solid construction. Features include kiln-dried hardwood frames, reinforced joints, high-resilience foam cushions, and many options for performance and stain-resistant fabrics.
- Customization: This is Bassett's key differentiator. Customers can choose from hundreds of fabrics and leathers, select wood finishes, and even modify furniture dimensions and configurations on many pieces.
- Delivery & Assembly: White-glove delivery is standard, ensuring furniture arrives assembled and placed in your desired room. Lead times for custom orders are longer than for in-stock items.
Bassett is ideal for shoppers who prioritize creating a unique piece of furniture that perfectly fits their space and style, offering a level of personalization not often found at its price point.
Shop Bassett Furniture: bassettfurniture.com
Havertys: The Classic & Comfortable Retailer
Founded in 1885, Havertys has built a reputation as a trusted retailer for quality home furnishings with a welcoming, classic aesthetic. They provide a more traditional shopping experience, focusing on beautifully designed showrooms where customers can see and test furniture in person. Havertys serves homeowners looking for timeless, comfortable, and well-made pieces with reliable customer service and straightforward purchasing options.
- Product mix: Complete home furnishings, including living room sets, dining room collections, bedroom furniture, mattresses, and decorative accessories.
- Style/vibe: Traditional and transitional with an emphasis on comfort. Styles are often cozy and inviting, featuring warm wood finishes and plush upholstery, creating an approachable feel.
- Price point: Mid-range. Sofas begin in the $800–$1,200 range, while bedroom furniture can run from $1,500 to over $4,000 for more premium collections.
- Quality: Strong focus on durability, using materials like solid wood frames and high-density foam cushions. Many collections offer high-performance fabrics suited for active households.
- Financing: Havertys is well-known for offering a variety of flexible financing options to make purchasing easier for customers.
- Shopping Experience: Emphasizes the in-person showroom experience with helpful staff, allowing customers to engage with products before buying. Their online store complements this with room planners and detailed product information.
Havertys is a solid choice for those who value seeing furniture in person, appreciate classic and comfortable styles, and want a simple and supportive shopping process.
Shop Havertys: havertys.com
Bassett Furniture vs. Havertys Comparison
Price Comparison
Both brands operate firmly in the mid-range furniture market and are competitively priced. Havertys often has slightly lower entry-level prices, with sofas sometimes starting under $1,000. Their frequent sales and promotions can offer significant savings on complete room packages.
Bassett Furniture may appear slightly more expensive at first glance, but much of that cost reflects the value of customization. For customers seeking a specific fabric or finish, Bassett can provide a semi-custom piece at a price below high-end designer brands. Both retailers offer good value, but Havertys may be more budget-friendly for off-the-shelf purchases, while Bassett provides more value for tailored investments.
Style & Aesthetic
While both brands lean into classic and transitional styles, they have distinct vibes. Bassett's designs are often seen as versatile and timeless building blocks. Their classic silhouettes and focus on customization allow the furniture to adapt to a homeowner's evolving style over time.
Havertys' aesthetic leans more toward warm, cozy, and approachable tastes. Their collections often feel complete right out of the showroom, designed to create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere immediately. If you want a clean, adaptable canvas, Bassett is a great fit. If you're looking for furniture with a cozy, lived-in feel from day one, Havertys' collections will likely appeal more.
Quality & Construction
Quality is a priority for both companies, so you can expect durable furniture from either. Both use industry standards like kiln-dried hardwood frames, which prevent warping, and durable foam cushions. Their commitment to quality means their pieces are built to last longer than budget alternatives.
Bassett's craftsmanship shines in its custom upholstery, where attention to detail is paramount. Havertys is known for its sturdy case goods - like dining tables and dressers - often featuring solid wood construction and thoughtful details. Ultimately, both offer dependable quality, and the choice comes down to personal preference on specific construction details and materials.
Customization Options
This is the most significant point of difference between the two brands. Bassett Furniture is the clear winner for anyone wanting to personalize their furniture. With hundreds of fabric choices, dozens of wood finishes, and options to alter dimensions or configurations, Bassett empowers you to act as a designer.
Havertys offers some customization, such as a selection of fabrics on certain sofas, but their primary model is based on curated, in-stock collections. This makes for a simpler, faster shopping process. If you find a style you love exactly as it is, Havertys is perfect. If you see a shape you like but want it in a different color or material, Bassett is designed to meet that need.
Shopping Experience
Your preferred way to shop will heavily influence your choice. Bassett blends online and in-store experiences, with a focus on design consultation. Shoppers are encouraged to work with in-store designers to navigate the vast customization options, making it a collaborative, creative process.
Havertys offers a more traditional retail experience centered around its large showrooms. This is ideal for tactile shoppers who want to sit on sofas, open dresser drawers, and see collections arranged in designed vignettes. Their staff is there to assist with sales and information, and the process is generally straightforward and quick for in-stock pieces.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both Bassett and Havertys are excellent choices for quality, mid-range furniture, but they serve different shopping priorities.
Choose Bassett Furniture if:
- You want to fully personalize the fabric, finish, or even size of your furniture.
- You have a specific vision in mind and are looking for a brand that can help you bring it to life.
- You appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into a made-to-order piece.
- You are willing to wait a bit longer for a custom-built item.
Choose Havertys if:
- You value a traditional showroom experience where you can see and try furniture before buying.
- You prefer warm, inviting, and classic styles that are ready to go.
- Speed is a factor, and you want your new furniture delivered relatively quickly.
- You are looking for flexible financing options to help with your purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bassett or Havertys more expensive?
Their prices are very comparable. Havertys may offer slightly lower starting prices on some items, like sofas. However, Bassett's custom pieces can be more expensive depending on the fabrics and finishes you select. Both are considered mid-priced brands and hold frequent sales.
Which brand has better quality furniture?
Both brands offer high-quality, durable furniture designed to last for years. They use similar construction standards, including kiln-dried hardwood frames. Bassett's quality is often associated with its custom craftsmanship, while Havertys is known for sturdy, reliable case goods and upholstery. Neither is definitively "better" - it depends on the specific product line.
Does Bassett or Havertys offer more customization?
Bassett Furniture offers significantly more customization. It is a core part of their brand identity, with hundreds of fabric options, multiple finishes, and configurable designs. Havertys has some custom options but primarily sells pre-designed collections.
Which is better for families with kids and pets?
Both brands are excellent choices for families. They both offer a wide variety of performance fabrics that are stain-resistant and easy to clean. Because both build sturdy furniture, the best choice would depend on which brand's style and shopping experience you prefer.
How long does delivery take for each brand?
For in-stock items, Havertys can often deliver more quickly, sometimes within a few weeks. Because many of Bassett's pieces are made-to-order, their lead times can be longer, typically spanning several weeks to a few months.
Can you get design help at Bassett and Havertys?
Yes, both offer design assistance. Bassett provides complimentary in-store and at-home design consultations focused on creating custom pieces. Havertys staff are trained to help customers choose from their coordinated collections on the showroom floor.
Are Bassett and Havertys pieces made in the USA?
Bassett has a strong commitment to American manufacturing, with many of its custom upholstered pieces built in North Carolina or Virginia. Both companies source materials and products globally but maintain strong control over quality standards.
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