Bassett Furniture is known for its timeless, highly customizable furniture made with traditional craftsmanship, while Lazy Boy has built its name on creating exceptionally comfortable and ergonomic upholstered pieces, particularly their world-famous recliners. With Bassett, the emphasis is on tailored design and durable wood construction, whereas Lazy Boy prioritizes innovative comfort features and plush, casual styles. Both are trusted American brands, but they cater to very different priorities.
Let's compare everything you need to know to choose the right furniture brand for your home.
Bassett Furniture: The Customizable Heritage Brand
Bassett Furniture is a long-standing American brand celebrated for its high-quality upholstered and wood furniture that blends traditional craftsmanship with fresh designs. With a history spanning over a century, Bassett's key feature is its deep customization, which allows shoppers to tailor fabrics, finishes, and configurations to create pieces that are uniquely theirs. They are a go-to for homeowners who value longevity and personalized style and are willing to invest in pieces that will last for years.
- Product mix: A complete range of home furnishings including custom-built sofas, sectionals, beds, dining sets, accent chairs, and case goods like dressers and tables. Strong emphasis on cohesive living room and bedroom collections.
- Style/vibe: Versatile and timeless. Their collections span from traditional and transitional to classic contemporary, always with an emphasis on clean lines and enduring appeal.
- Price point: Mid-range to upper-mid-range. Sofas generally start at around $1,000 but often end up in the $2,000–$3,000 range after customization.
- Quality: Known for solid, durable construction. Most pieces feature kiln-dried hardwood frames, high-density foam cushions, and are available in a wide selection of high-performance fabrics and premium leathers.
- Customization: This is where Bassett shines. They offer hundreds of fabric options, dozens of wood finishes, and various hardware choices, allowing for highly personalized furniture. Sectionals and sofas can often be configured to fit specific room dimensions.
- Services: Offer in-home and in-store design consultations to help customers navigate their extensive customization options.
- Sustainability: The company focuses on responsible sourcing and uses eco-friendly materials, including FSC-certified wood in some of their products.
Bassett provides durable, timeless furniture that you can truly make your own, fitting seamlessly into a variety of home decor styles.
Shop Bassett Furniture: bassettfurniture.com
Lazy Boy: The Ultimate Comfort Authority
Lazy Boy is an iconic American brand that has become a household name for comfort and relaxation, thanks largely to its invention of the recliner. While their reclining chairs remain their specialty, the company offers a full line of comfortable sofas, sectionals, and chairs. Their design philosophy centers on ergonomic support and features meant to enhance everyday life, like power reclining, adjustable headrests, and massage functions, making them a top choice for casual living rooms and family spaces.
- Product mix: Primary focus on upholstered furniture like recliners, sofas, sectionals, sleepers, and lift chairs. Many pieces include innovative features built for maximum comfort.
- Style/vibe: Comfort-first design. Styles range from classic and plush with rolled arms to more streamlined contemporary looks, but the overarching feel is casual, cozy, and inviting.
- Price point: Mid-range and accessible. Sofas and recliners often start in the $800–$1,500 range, with prices increasing for premium fabrics and advanced tech features.
- Quality: Construction focuses on comfort and functionality. They use sturdy frames, sinuous springs, and high-resilience foam to create pieces that feel good and hold up well to daily use. Their reclining mechanisms are engineered for durability.
- Customization: Offers a good selection of fabric choices, including many stain-resistant performance options ideal for families. While less extensive than Bassett, you can still personalize the look of your furniture.
- Sales: Known for running frequent sales and promotional events throughout the year, which offer significant discounts.
- Sustainability: Invested in sustainable manufacturing practices, with programs to reduce waste and energy consumption in their facilities.
Lazy Boy delivers affordable, comfortable, and reliable furniture designed for everyday relaxation and family life.
Shop Lazy Boy: la-z-boy.com
Bassett Furniture vs. Lazy Boy Comparison
Price Comparison
On average, Bassett Furniture has a higher initial price point. Their sofas typically start over $1,000, and because customization is central to their model, the final price often lands between $2,000 and $3,000. This price reflects the tailored nature of the product and the use of solid wood construction but positions it as more of an investment.
Lazy Boy is generally more budget-friendly, with starting prices for sofas and recliners around $800 to $1,500. A key difference is Lazy Boy’s sales strategy, they frequently offer promotions and holiday deals, making their already accessible prices even more attractive. For pure value based on comfort and features per dollar spent, Lazy Boy often comes out ahead, especially if you can shop during a sale.
Style & Aesthetic
Bassett leans into timeless and versatile designs. Their aesthetic spectrum covers traditional, transitional, and contemporary looks that are designed to last beyond fleeting trends. The massive library of fabric and finish options means a Bassett sofa can be adapted to fit almost any interior design scheme, from a formal living room to a comfortable family den.
Lazy Boy's style is dictated by comfort. Their furniture often features plush cushions, soft curves, and generous proportions that create a cozy, "sink-in" feel. While they do offer sleeker, modern designs, their core aesthetic is casual and inviting. This makes their furniture a natural fit for family rooms, home theaters, and anywhere relaxation is the main goal.
Quality & Construction
Bassett has a strong reputation for durability, especially in their wood furniture. They emphasize quality materials, like kiln-dried hardwood for frames, supporting sturdy, long-lasting construction. This focus on foundational quality means their pieces are built to be a part of your home for many years. Shoppers looking for heirloom-quality case goods alongside their upholstered furniture will find it at Bassett.
Lazy Boy’s quality is defined by its comfort engineering and reliable mechanisms. Their recliners are famous for a reason - they are built to withstand constant daily use. While the frame may not always be solid hardwood like Bassett's, their construction is robust, and they use high-resilience foam and dependable spring systems. They also widely use performance fabrics designed for homes with kids and pets, adding to their practical durability.
Product Selection
Bassett offers furniture for the entire home, including comprehensive collections for the living room, dining room, and bedroom. Their catalog is well-rounded, including both upholstered seating and a wide array of wood case goods like bookshelves, beds, and dining tables. This makes them a strong choice if you're looking to furnish an entire room with a cohesive look.
Lazy Boy is distinctly focused on seating. Recliners are their main attraction, but their sofas, sectionals, and chairs are also very popular. They don't offer wooden bedroom or dining furniture. Their product catalog is specialized, concentrating on maximizing comfort in the spaces where families gather and relax.
Customization Options
Customization is Bassett's main differentiator. Customers can change nearly every aspect of a piece - fabric type and color, wood finish, leg style, hardware, and even sofa arm styles or cushion firmness. This level of personalization is closer to what a custom furniture maker offers and ensures you get furniture that perfectly matches your vision and space.
Lazy Boy offers a solid range of customization but on a smaller scale. You can choose from hundreds of fabrics and leathers, including many high-performance and stain-resistant options. The bigger customization focus is on function - adding features like power reclining, adjustable lumbar support, heat, and massage to your chosen piece. You have fewer options for changing the structural silhouette of the furniture itself.
Fit & Sizing
With its deep customization, Bassett can accommodate almost any room size. Their design consultants can help you create a sectional configuration perfectly scaled to your living room, or find a compact sofa for a small apartment. This flexibility makes them an excellent choice for non-standard or challenging spaces.
Lazy Boy's recliners are often great for smaller rooms as they provide a lot of comfort in a compact footprint. Their sofas and sectionals come in standard sizes that work well for most homes. While less tailor-made than Bassett, they offer enough variety to furnish most typical main living areas effectively.
Shopping Experience
Shopping at a Bassett showroom is a design-forward experience. Their stores are set up to inspire, and design staff are there to guide you through the thousands of custom combinations available. Their website also has powerful digital tools for visualizing different fabrics and finishes. It's a hands-on process appreciated by those who enjoy the design journey.
The Lazy Boy showroom experience is all about testing. They encourage shoppers to sit, recline, and test all the features in person. It’s a very practical, comfort-focused process. Their sales team can explain the differences between various cushioning types and reclining technologies so you can find what feels best for you.
Which One Should You Choose?
Selecting between these two depends entirely on what you value most in your furniture. Both brands offer solid quality, but they serve different homeowners.
Choose Bassett Furniture if:
- You want to completely customize the look of your furniture, from the fabric down to the leg finish.
- You appreciate classic, timeless designs that can outlast interior design trends.
- You are looking to furnish an entire room or home with a coordinated look, including wood furniture.
- Solid wood construction and top-tier craftsmanship are your highest priorities.
Choose Lazy Boy if:
- Ergonomic comfort, reclining functions, and other tech features are a must-have for you.
- Your home aesthetic is casual, cozy, and family-friendly.
- You want durable, easy-to-clean performance fabrics to handle kids, pets, and everyday life.
- You are budget-conscious and want the best value for your money, especially during sales events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bassett Furniture or Lazy Boy cheaper?
Lazy Boy is generally cheaper than Bassett Furniture. Lazy Boy's starting prices are lower, and their frequent sales events provide opportunities for excellent deals. Bassett is positioned in the upper-mid-range, and its prices reflect its deep customization options and emphasis on solid wood construction.
Which has better quality furniture?
Both brands produce good quality furniture, but they prioritize different things. Bassett is often seen as having higher construction quality because of its use of kiln-dried hardwood frames and fine woodworking. Lazy Boy's quality is in its engineered comfort systems and durable reclining mechanisms, which are designed for years of constant use.
Can you customize Lazy Boy furniture?
Yes, you can customize Lazy Boy furniture, primarily through fabric choices and functional upgrades. They offer hundreds of fabrics and leathers, including many performance options, and you can add features like power recline, lumbar support, and massage. However, the level of aesthetic customization is far less extensive than what Bassett offers.
What is Bassett Furniture known for?
Bassett Furniture is known for blending over 100 years of American craftsmanship with extensive customization. Shoppers know them best for their solid wood furniture and the ability to personalize everything on an upholstered piece, including fabrics, trims, finishes, and cushion options.
How long do Lazy Boy recliners last?
A well-maintained Lazy Boy recliner can last for many years, often 10 years or more. Their durability is a hallmark of the brand, particularly in their patented reclining mechanisms. Longevity also depends on the fabric choice and the level of use.
Which brand is better for small spaces?
For a single piece, Lazy Boy's recliners can offer a lot of comfortable seating in small rooms. For overall flexibility, Bassett might be better because their customization programs allow you to modify sofa and sectional dimensions to fit perfectly into tight or awkward spaces.
Does Bassett Furniture go on sale?
Yes, Bassett holds sales events, though they may not be as frequent or as deeply discounted as Lazy Boy's promotions. Expect to see deals around major holidays like President's Day, Memorial Day, and Black Friday.
Are both brands' furniture made in the USA?
Both companies have a strong American manufacturing presence. Many of Bassett's products are made in Virginia and North Carolina. Lazy Boy has manufacturing facilities across North America, including in the United States, where they assemble their upholstered seating products using a mix of domestically and internationally sourced components.
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