The short answer is: England Furniture is worth it for shoppers on a tight budget who need functional, American-made upholstery for secondary spaces or short-term use. The company excels at producing affordable, traditional-style furniture with impressively fast delivery times.
However, that focus on affordability comes with compromises in materials and construction, leading to a shorter lifespan than mid-tier brands. If you're looking for a long-term investment for a high-traffic family room, you may find better value elsewhere. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what you get for your money.
How Is England Furniture's Quality?
England Furniture's quality is best described as serviceable and budget-appropriate, falling short of heirloom standards. Their domestic manufacturing in Tennessee helps with consistency, but materials are chosen to keep costs low. Here's what to expect:
- Frame Construction: The majority of frames are built with engineered woods like plywood and particleboard, which is standard for this price point. While adequate for a few years, these materials are less durable than the kiln-dried hardwood frames found in more expensive furniture.
- Cushions and Support: Most pieces use sinuous wire springs for support, a cost-effective method that can be prone to sagging over time. Seat cushions typically contain foam with a density between 1.8 and 2.2 pounds per cubic foot, which provides initial comfort but can soften and flatten noticeably within 1-3 years of regular use.
- Upholstery and Fabrics: Upholstery options consist mainly of synthetic blends and polyester-based performance fabrics. These are easy to clean but are susceptible to pilling and stretching over time, particularly in high-contact areas like armrests and seat cushions.
- Common Complaints: Customer reviews often point to fabric pilling within the first two years, cushions losing their shape, and frames developing a wobble. These issues are consistent with entry-level furniture and highlight the trade-off made for the low price.
Is England Furniture Good Value for the Price?
England Furniture offers decent initial value but weaker long-term value. You get a functional, new piece of furniture for a low upfront cost, but you may need to replace it much sooner than a higher-quality alternative.
Price Positioning
England Furniture sits squarely in the entry-level to lower-mid-range market. Sofas typically cost between $500 and $1,200, with recliners from $300-$700. This pricing is highly competitive with brands like Ashley Furniture or Home Reserve but is significantly lower than more durable brands like La-Z-Boy, where sofas often start at $1,200.
What You're Paying For
With England Furniture, you're paying for affordability and quick availability thanks to their U.S.-based manufacturing. The cost reflects basic, mass-produced construction using standard, budget-friendly materials. You are not paying for premium craftsmanship, long-lasting materials, or trend-forward design.
Where You Get Good Value
- Secondary Spaces: For a guest room, office, or formal living room that sees infrequent use, England furniture offers great value.
- Short-term Needs: If you're furnishing a first apartment or need a temporary solution for 2-4 years, the low price is hard to beat.
- Accent Chairs: Smaller pieces like accent chairs (under $500) don't endure the same daily wear as a sofa and represent a good value purchase from the brand.
Where You Don't Get Good Value
- High-Traffic Areas: Their sofas are not built to withstand the rigors of a busy family room with kids and pets, and will likely show significant wear quickly.
- Long-Term Investments: If you want furniture that will last 7-10 years, the lower cost-per-year of a more durable brand is a better financial decision.
- Recliners: Budget recliners with moving parts are often the first to fail. A recliner at less than $500 may not hold its function for multiple years of daily use.
England Furniture Quality by Category
As an upholstery specialist, the brand's quality is fairly consistent across its main product lines, though durability can vary based on usage.
Sofas & Sectionals
Ranging from $500-$1,200, England sofas are built on engineered wood frames with sinuous spring support. While designs are classic and comfortable at first, these pieces are susceptible to cushion sag and fabric wear within a few years of daily use. They are an acceptable budget choice for light-use scenarios but are not recommended as a primary family sofa.
Recliners
Priced attractively from $300-$700, England recliners use the same basic frame and cushion construction as their sofas but with the added complexity of a reclining mechanism. At this price point, mechanisms can be a point of failure, and the high-wear areas (headrest, footrest) may show fabric degradation quickly. Consider them a short-term comfort solution.
Accent Chairs
Typically under $500, accent chairs are often the best value from England Furniture. Because they endure far less traffic than a sofa, the budget-friendly construction holds up much better over time. They are a great and affordable way to complete a room's look without a major investment.
Our Verdict: Is England Furniture Worth It?
England Furniture is worth it for consumers who prioritize a low upfront cost and U.S. manufacturing over long-term durability. It serves a specific purpose: providing functional, traditional furniture for short-term needs or secondary spaces. However, those looking for a lasting centerpiece for their main living area should invest in a more robust brand.
Quality Grade: C+
England earns a C+ for its reliable, budget-focused manufacturing. The use of engineered wood, lower-density foam, and basic S-spring support is functional but inherently limits durability. While it meets expectations for its low price, it does not exceed them, with common reports of cushion sagging and fabric pilling within 1-3 years docking it from a higher grade.
Value Grade: B-
The attractive price point provides excellent short-term value, making furniture ownership accessible. For under $1,000, you can get a brand-new, American-made sofa delivered quickly. However, this grade is lowered by the poor long-term value, if a sofa only looks good for 3 years, its cost-per-year may end up higher than a $2,000 sofa that lasts ten.
Better Alternatives to England Furniture
If you're concerned about England's longevity, these alternatives offer better durability and construction materials, often for just a moderately higher investment.
La-Z-Boy
A significant step up in quality, La-Z-Boy uses kiln-dried hardwood frames, higher-density foam cushions, and more durable upholstery options. While a sofa might cost $1,200-$3,000, it's explicitly built to last 7-10+ years, offering much better long-term value for a primary living space.
Shop now at la-z-boy.com
Ashley Furniture
Ashley offers furniture at a similar price point, but its mid-tier lines (like the Signature Design collection) often incorporate better quality materials. It's a direct competitor to England that provides a wider variety of styles and slightly superior build quality in its non-entry-level collections.
Shop now at ashleyfurniture.com
Article
For those who prefer a modern aesthetic, Article delivers excellent value for the price. Their direct-to-consumer model allows them to use kiln-dried hardwood frames and high-density foam cushions in sofas that are often priced comparably ($1,000-$2,500) to higher-end retail brands.
Shop now at article.com
Joybird
Specializing in mid-century modern design, Joybird offers customizable upholstery built on solid wood frames. Their quality is a clear step above England's, and while more expensive, the furniture is built to be a durable statement piece that can handle daily life.
Shop now at joybird.com
American Leather
If you have a larger budget and want true heirloom quality, American Leather is a top-tier choice. Focusing on premium top-grain hides, solid hardwood frames, and superior craftsmanship, their pieces are designed to last for decades, representing the highest end of the quality spectrum.
Shop now at americanleather.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is England Furniture made?
England Furniture prides itself on its American manufacturing. The majority of their upholstered furniture is produced in their facilities in New Tazewell, Tennessee. This fact is a core aspect of their brand image with Appalachian roots, which has a deep history of domestic manufacturing. This allows them to offer fast turnaround and delivery times compared to brands that manufacture overseas.
How long does England Furniture last?
With regular daily use in a primary living area, you can expect an England sofa to show significant signs of wear, such as cushion sagging or fabric pilling, within 2 to 4 years. In a low-traffic environment like a guest room or office, it could last much longer.
What kind of frames does England Furniture use?
Most England Furniture pieces use frames made from engineered woods like plywood and oriented strand board (OSB), reinforced at key joints. While some collections may incorporate hardwood elements, the primary construction is not solid hardwood, which is reflective of its budget-friendly price.
Is England Furniture better than Ashley Furniture?
England and Ashley's entry-level lines are very comparable in quality and price. However, Ashley Furniture's mid-tier collections, such as their Signature Design line, often offer slightly better construction and more durable materials for a modest price increase, giving them an edge in overall value if you select carefully.
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