Adairs is worth it if you prioritize current styles and affordability over long-term durability. The brand offers trendy and accessible bedding, linen, and decor that are perfect for refreshing your space without a large investment. However, its quality is not designed for heirloom longevity, with many customers reporting that textiles show wear like fading or pilling within 1-2 years.
Adairs is a solid choice for renters, first-home buyers, or anyone looking for a stylish update for a few seasons. If you need furniture or bedding that will withstand heavy daily use for many years, you may want to look at more durable alternatives. Here's what you need to know before you buy.
How Is Adairs' Quality?
Adairs' quality is best described as average for its price point - meeting expectations for a mid-range retailer but falling short of premium standards. Here's a detailed breakdown of what to expect:
- Textiles and Fabrics: Most bedding and linen use cotton, linen, or polyester blends with moderate thread counts (typically 200-300). While soft initially, these materials are prone to durability issues. Reports of fabrics pilling, fading, or fraying at the seams after 1-2 years of regular washing are common.
- Furniture Construction: Furniture pieces are almost exclusively made from engineered wood, particleboard, or MDF with veneer finishes. This construction is susceptible to chipping, scratching, and swelling with humidity, and lacks the robustness of solid hardwood found in higher-end brands.
- Craftsmanship & Detail: Overall craftsmanship is standard for mass-produced items. Machine stitching is uniform but lacks reinforcements like double-stitched hems. You might notice minor inconsistencies in piped edges or embroidery on lower-priced items. Hardware is functional but average, often made of plated metals that can chip over time.
- Manufacturing & Sourcing: Adairs sources most of its products from China and India to maintain competitive pricing. This cost-efficient model can lead to inconsistencies in quality control and fabric durability compared to brands with more expensive, localized manufacturing processes.
Is Adairs Good Value for the Price?
Adairs offers fair value for style-conscious shoppers on a budget, but its value proposition decreases if longevity is your primary concern. The initial affordable price can be offset by the need for more frequent replacements.
Price Positioning
Adairs sits firmly in the mid-range market. Bedding sets typically cost between $80 - $200, while smaller furniture pieces like side tables range from $100 - $500. Their pricing is competitive and often lower than premium Australian linen brands like Sheridan, but the quality reflects this difference. You get what you pay for: trendy designs at an accessible price, not long-term investment pieces.
What You're Paying For
With Adairs, you are paying primarily for design and aesthetic. The brand excels at translating current interior trends - like boho-chic, soft neutrals, and textured fabrics - into affordable products. You are not paying for premium materials, heirloom craftsmanship, or extended durability.
Where You Get Good Value
- Kids' Bedding & Decor: Children's tastes change quickly, making Adairs a smart choice for fun, stylish, and affordable kids' rooms that you won't feel guilty about redecorating in a few years.
- Guest Room Linens: For bedding that sees infrequent use, Adairs offers excellent value, providing a stylish and comfortable experience for guests without the high cost of premium linens.
- Decorative Cushions & Throws: These items are an easy and low-cost way to update a room's look. Adairs' on-trend selection provides great stylistic value for pieces not subject to heavy wear.
Where You Don't Get Good Value
- Everyday Bed Sheets: If you use and wash your sheets weekly, the value proposition shrinks. Fading and pilling after just over a year mean you'll likely be replacing them sooner than sheets from a brand like Sheridan.
- Frequently Used Furniture: Items like side tables or storage units made from MDF won't hold up to kids, pets, or heavy daily use as well as solid wood alternatives, making them poor value for high-traffic areas.
- Heirloom or "Forever" Pieces: None of Adairs' products are designed to be investment pieces that you will pass down. If you are looking for long-term durability, you will not find good value here.
Adairs Quality by Category
Quality can vary significantly between product lines. Here's how different categories stack up:
Bedding & Linen
This is Adairs' core category. You'll find a wide range of stylish quilt covers, sheets, and blankets made from cotton, linen, and blends. While designs are a major draw, durability is the primary weakness. Expect a lifespan of 1-2 years with regular use before signs of wear like pilling or color fading become noticeable. Verdict: Best for decorative or low-use bedding.
Furniture
Adairs furniture prioritizes aesthetics over substance, using engineered wood with veneers. These pieces work well for decorative purposes or in low-traffic areas but are not built for resilience. Expect potential wobbling, chipping, or scratching over time, especially with frequent use. Verdict: An affordable option for accent furniture, but not for key pieces like dining tables or bed frames.
Home Decor & Accessories
This category is a strong point for Adairs. You can find stylish vases, mirrors, wall art, and other accessories at competitive prices. Quality is generally acceptable for decorative items, making it a great place to pick up on-trend pieces to complete a room. Verdict: A reliable choice for affordable, fashionable decor.
Rugs
Adairs offers a variety of stylish rugs, often made from synthetic materials like polyester and polypropylene or natural fibers like jute. They are priced accessibly, making them great for adding texture and color to a room. However, they are not designed for high-traffic areas and may show wear or flattening relatively quickly compared to more expensive, durable wool rugs. Verdict: Good for low-traffic areas like bedrooms or offices when style is more important than longevity.
Our Verdict: Is Adairs Worth It?
Adairs is a great option for shoppers who prioritize style trends and affordable prices for short- to medium-term use. If you enjoy redecorating often and want access to the latest looks without breaking the bank, you’ll find great satisfaction. However, if your goal is to invest in furniture and linens that will last for 5+ years, you will likely be disappointed.
Quality Grade: B-
Adairs earns a B- for quality. The brand delivers on its promise of accessible style with decent materials for the price, like medium-thread-count cotton and trendy decor items. However, significant shortcomings in long-term durability, particularly fabric pilling and fading within 1-2 years and the use of engineered wood instead of solid timber, prevent it from scoring higher. The quality is acceptable for everyday needs but is not impressive.
Value Grade: C+
For value, Adairs receives a C+. You get on-trend design for a very competitive price, and their frequent sales offer genuine bargains. The problem is that the lower cost can contribute to a shorter replacement cycle. Buying a new sheet set every two years can quickly add up, diminishing the initial value compared to investing in a more durable set that lasts for five or more.
Better Alternatives to Adairs
If Adairs' inconsistent durability is a concern, consider these alternatives that offer better long-term quality or value in a similar style.
Sheridan
Positioned as a premium Australian brand, Sheridan uses higher-quality materials like high-thread-count cotton and Tencel, resulting in bedding that lasts significantly longer. While 20-40% more expensive, their products offer superior durability and are a better long-term investment for everyday linens.
Shop now at sheridan.com.au
Cultiver
Specializing in 100% European flax linen, Cultiver offers premium bedding that softens with age without pilling or significant fading. It's a "buy it once, buy it well" option for those who love the natural linen look and want something that will genuinely last for many years, far outperforming Adairs' linen blends.
Shop now at cultiver.com.au
Pottery Barn
For well-constructed furniture and classic home decor, Pottery Barn is a step up in quality. They use superior materials like kiln-dried hardwood for furniture frames, making their pieces far more durable and sturdy. Their style is more timeless and less trend-driven, ideal for investment pieces.
Shop now at potterybarn.com.au
IKEA
If budget is your primary driver, IKEA offers a comparable trade-off between style and quality at an even lower price point. You’ll find furniture made from similar materials (engineered wood) and trendy textiles, making it a better value proposition for explicitly temporary or budget-focused decorating projects.
Shop now at ikea.com/au
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Adairs bedding last?
With regular weekly washing, most Adairs bedding can be expected to last between 12 to 24 months before showing noticeable signs of wear like fading, fabric pilling, or thinning. Bedding in guest rooms or items used less frequently will last longer.
Is Adairs better quality than Sheridan?
No, Sheridan is widely considered to be a significant step up in quality from Adairs. Sheridan uses higher-quality materials, such as long-staple cotton and higher thread counts, which result in greater softness, durability, and color retention over time.
Is Adairs furniture solid wood?
No, the vast majority of Adairs furniture is made from engineered wood materials like MDF (medium-density fibreboard) or particleboard finished with a wood-look veneer. It is not made from solid hardwood, which affects its long-term durability and sturdiness.
When is the best time to buy from Adairs?
The best time to buy from Adairs is during one of their frequent sales events, such as their mid-season sales, Black Friday, or Boxing Day sales. The "Linen Lovers" membership program also offers year-round discounts, which provide excellent value if you plan to shop there more than once a year.
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