Grovemade is worth it for shoppers who prioritize minimalist design, natural materials, and handcrafted quality over budget. The brand excels at creating beautiful and durable desk accessories from solid wood and premium leather, but the high price point means it's not the right fit for everyone.
Their products are a significant step up from mass-market office gear, offering exceptional craftsmanship that lasts for years. If you view your workspace as a long-term investment and appreciate artisan quality, Grovemade delivers. Here's what you need to know before you buy.
How Is Grovemade's Quality?
Grovemade's quality is consistently high, falling in the B+ to A- range. They focus on premium, natural materials and meticulous construction rather than mass production. Here's a breakdown of what to expect:
- Premium Materials: The brand almost exclusively uses solid hardwoods like American Black Walnut and Eastern Hardrock Maple, as well as full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather and machined aluminum. Unlike cheaper competitors, you won't find fiberboard, laminate, or plastic here.
- Artisanal Construction: Products are designed and assembled in their Portland, Oregon workshop. Details include hand-sanded edges, precise joinery, and natural oil finishes that showcase the wood grain. This small-batch approach allows for a high degree of quality control.
- Durability and Longevity: Built with solid materials, Grovemade products are designed to last for years and age gracefully. The wood and leather develop a rich patina over time, adding to their character rather than looking worn out. Expect pieces to last 5-10 years with proper care.
- Common Complaints: While largely positive, some customer feedback notes that hardware on adjustable monitor arms can loosen over time. The natural oil finish on wood also requires occasional maintenance and can show minor scratches from heavy use if not cared for.
Is Grovemade Good Value for the Price?
Grovemade provides good value if you appreciate what you're paying for - design, craftsmanship, and materials. Otherwise, the high prices can feel difficult to justify.
Price Positioning
Grovemade sits squarely in the premium market for office accessories. Expect to pay $150-$220 for a desk shelf, $150-$250 for a leather desk mat, and $300-$600 for a monitor arm. These prices are significantly higher than offerings from mass-market brands like IKEA or Amazon, but reflect a completely different tier of quality and design.
What You're Paying For
The cost covers more than just the physical product. You're paying for the minimalist design aesthetic, the use of genuine North American hardwoods, hand-finishing processes done in their U.S. workshop, and the durability that comes with solid construction. It is a long-term investment in your workspace environment.
Where You Get Good Value
- Desk Shelves & Monitor Stands: These pieces are the brand's signature. The solid wood construction is beautiful, functional, and far more durable than veneer or particle board alternatives.
- Leather Desk Mats: Their full-grain leather mats are a fantastic investment. They protect your desk, improve mouse tracking, and develop a beautiful patina that commodity faux-leather mats can't match.
- Wooden Trays & Organizers: The simple, elegant design and material quality of these smaller items create a cohesive and elevated desk setup.
Where You Don't Get Good Value
- Monitor Arms: While made from premium aluminum, at $300-$600 they compete with commercial-grade ergonomic brands like Ergotron that may offer more advanced engineering and functionality for a similar price.
- Small Accessories: Paying $80 for a small wooden pen cup or phone stand delivers high quality, but the price-to-function ratio is very high. The value here is purely aesthetic.
Grovemade Quality by Category
While the overall quality standard is high, the value and performance can vary slightly between product categories.
Desk Shelves & Monitor Stands
Constructed from solid blocks of hardwood with details like cork feet linings and steel or aluminum shelves, these are incredibly sturdy and visually stunning. Priced between $150 and $280, they're meant to be a permanent fixture on your desk. Verdict: Worth it if aesthetics and material quality are your primary goals.
Leather Desk Mats & Mouse Pads
Grovemade uses premium full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather with a natural cork base. They feel substantial and luxurious, improving the look and feel of your entire desk. Priced at $150-$250 for a full desk mat, they will outlast dozens of cheaper pads and only look better with age. Verdict: Excellent investment that offers fantastic long-term value.
Keyboard Trays & Wrist Rests
Machined from solid hardwood blocks, these accessories perfectly complement mechanical keyboards and create a warmer, more ergonomic typing experience. Compared to foam or plastic rests, the quality is night and day. Verdict: A luxury accessory, but one that delivers on its quality promise.
Monitor Arms
Built from precision-machined aluminum with a sleek design, the materials are high-quality. However, at a price of $300-$600, common user complaints about loosening hardware over time make them a tougher sell compared to dedicated ergonomic brands. Verdict: Stylish but possibly overpriced for the reliability it offers.
Our Verdict: Is Grovemade Worth It?
Grovemade is definitely worth it for the design-conscious consumer who wants to build a beautiful, lasting workspace with natural materials. For those focused strictly on function or budget, the high prices for handmade goods may not feel justified.
Quality Grade: B+
Grovemade earns a strong B+ for their commitment to high-quality materials, including solid hardwoods, full-grain leather, and machined aluminum. The U.S.-based craftsmanship is evident in the hand-finished details and overall durability. The grade is held back from an A by occasional complaints of loosening hardware on more mechanical products and a standard 1-year warranty that feels short for luxury goods.
Value Grade: B
For its target audience, Grovemade offers a solid B for value. You are genuinely getting premium materials and meticulous craftsmanship for your money, resulting in products that will last far longer than cheaper alternatives. However, the value proposition is deeply tied to its high-end aesthetics, and the prices are undeniably prohibitive for the average consumer, keeping it from a higher grade.
More Quality Brands Like Grovemade
If you love Grovemade's focus on quality materials and minimalist design, here are several other brands that share a similar ethos for creating a beautiful and functional workspace.
Ergonofis
Based in Canada, Ergonofis specializes in high-end solid wood sit-stand desks and desk accessories. Their aesthetic is very similar to Grovemade's, focusing on natural materials like walnut and maple to create warm, ergonomic workspaces.
Shop now at ergonofis.com
Artifox
Artifox creates minimalist, tech-friendly furniture from solid hardwoods like white oak and walnut. Their desks, shelves, and accessories feature innovative details for cable management and device integration, making them a top choice for a stylish, organized setup.
Shop now at theartifox.com
Ugmonk
Ugmonk is an independent design studio focused on minimalist products for productivity. Known for their "Gather" desk organizer, their offerings are thoughtfully designed with an emphasis on quality materials and a clean aesthetic that gets rid of clutter.
Shop now at ugmonk.com
Orbitkey
While known for their key organizers, Orbitkey has expanded into beautifully designed desk and tech accessories. Their Desk Mat and Nest organizer combine vegan leather, felt, and minimal hardware to create functional solutions with a modern, considered design.
Shop now at orbitkey.com
Oakywood
A direct competitor to Grovemade, Polish brand Oakywood also creates tech and desk accessories from solid wood and merino wool felt. They offer docks, stands, and chargers with a similar handcrafted, natural aesthetic, often at slightly more accessible price points.
Shop now at oakynwood.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grovemade furniture solid wood?
Yes, Grovemade's signature products like their desk shelves, monitor stands, and trays are made from solid North American hardwoods like walnut and maple. They do not use veneers, particle board, or MDF in these core items, which is a key part of their quality promise.
Why is Grovemade so expensive?
The high prices reflect the cost of premium materials (solid hardwood costs far more than veneer), U.S.-based labor for assembly and hand-finishing, and small-batch production. You are paying for a handcrafted item designed to last, not a mass-produced, disposable accessory.
How long do Grovemade products last?
With reasonable care, Grovemade's wood and leather goods are designed to last for many years, often 5-10 or more. They are intended to be long-term investments that develop a unique patina with age and use, unlike cheaper items that wear out and need replacing.
Does Grovemade ever go on sale?
Grovemade sales are very rare and typically limited to a small discount (usually 10-20%) during major shopping holidays like Black Friday. Because of their small-batch production, they don't have excess inventory to clear, so don't expect frequent or steep sales.
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