The online interior design service Havenly is worth it if your priority is achieving a professionally designed look on a budget, but not if you’re looking for long-term, durable furniture. The primary value comes from their accessible design consultations and curated product selections, making stylish interior design affordable for everyone. However, the furniture itself is often mid-range quality and may not withstand heavy use over many years.
Think of Havenly as a service that provides the design blueprint and sources trendy, affordable furniture to fill it. It’s an excellent choice for a first apartment, a temporary living situation, or a room refresh, but less so for "forever" pieces. Here’s exactly what you need to know about their quality and value.
How Is Havenly's Quality?
Havenly's quality is inconsistent because they act as a marketplace, sourcing furniture from various third-party manufacturers. Generally, items fall into the mid-to-lower end of the quality spectrum, prioritizing aesthetics over structural integrity. Here's a breakdown:
- Materials: Frames for major pieces like sofas and beds are typically made from engineered wood, particleboard, or MDF with veneer finishes. While some items might have solid wood legs or accents, core structures use materials prone to warping and chipping over time. Upholstery is often a synthetic or performance blend, which offers decent stain resistance but can be less breathable than natural fibers.
- Construction & Durability: The furniture is designed to be lightweight for easier shipping, which compromises robustness. Customer reviews from 2024-2026 indicate major pieces like sofas can start to creak or sag within just 1-3 years of regular use in a high-traffic home. Longevity is not the brand's strong suit.
- Sourcing Model: Since Havenly doesn't manufacture its own furniture, quality control can vary significantly from one partner supplier to another. This means two different products ordered from the site could have vastly different levels of craftsmanship.
- Common Complaints: Frequent issues reported by customers include sagging cushions, veneer peeling or chipping on case goods, wobbly legs that loosen over time, and upholstery pilling after minimal use.
Is Havenly Good Value for the Price?
The value of Havenly depends entirely on what you're paying for. If you're paying for design guidance, it's a great deal. If you're paying for high-quality furniture, the value is less compelling.
Price Positioning
Havenly is positioned as an affordable alternative to traditional interior designers and higher-end retailers. Major furniture pieces typically range from $300 to $2,000, while smaller decor items fall between $50 and $300. This pricing is significantly lower than brands like West Elm or Crate & Barrel but sits above budget options like Wayfair for comparable items, with the difference being the designer curation.
What You're Paying For
With Havenly, you are primarily paying for convenience and design expertise. The cost covers a professional curating a cohesive look for your space, saving you the time and effort of sourcing items yourself. The furniture's price reflects its trendy aesthetic and role in that curated design, not necessarily its material quality or durability.
Where You Get Good Value
- The Design Service: Hiring a professional interior designer is incredibly accessible through their platform.
- Low-Traffic & Accent Furniture: Side tables, bookcases, console tables, and decorative items offer good style for the price, as they aren't subjected to daily wear and tear.
- Temporary Solutions: Perfect for renters, first-time homeowners, or anyone staging a home who needs a stylish look without a long-term investment.
Where You Don't Get Good Value
- High-Use Furniture: Primary sofas, beds, and dining room tables used daily are unlikely to last and do not represent a good long-term investment.
- Homes with Kids or Pets: The construction and materials are not robust enough to withstand the wear and tear from active families.
- "Forever Furniture": If you are looking for heirloom pieces that will last for a decade or more, Havenly is not the place to shop.
Havenly Quality by Category
Quality can differ significantly depending on the type of product you purchase. Here's how different categories generally stack up:
Sofas & Upholstered Furniture
Often built with MDF or engineered wood frames and upholstered in synthetic blends. While stylish, these pieces are prime candidates for sagging cushions and creaking frames within 1-3 years. Priced from $300-$2,000, the aesthetic value is high, but the structural value is low. Verdict: a cautious buy for low-use areas only.
Bedroom & Dining Furniture
Primarily constructed with particleboard cores and veneer finishes, which are susceptible to chipping, scratching, and water damage. Dining tables may show wear quickly, while bedroom sets in a guest room might fare better. The finish may look good initially, but durability is a major concern. Verdict: best for guest rooms or very careful owners.
Decor & Accessories
This category offers better value. Items like lamps, mirrors, pillows, and small storage units are sourced from a wide range of suppliers and are typically priced fairly. Since these pieces don't endure structural stress, they are a safer bet for adding a designer touch to your space. Verdict: a solid choice for affordable styling.
Our Verdict: Is Havenly Worth It?
Havenly is worth it for anyone who wants professional design direction and a trendy, cohesive look without a hefty price tag, as long as they accept the furniture's limited lifespan. It excels as a design service but falls short as a retailer of durable, long-lasting furniture. Shop here for the brains (the design), not the brawn (the build quality).
Quality Grade: B-
Havenly's quality earns a B- because while the designs are on-trend and visually appealing, the underlying construction is average at best. The widespread use of particleboard, MDF, and synthetic fabrics means this furniture isn't built for the long haul. Inconsistency due to its third-party sourcing model further brings down its reliability for those investing in core home pieces.
Value Grade: B
The value here scores a B. For a very accessible price, you receive a professional design plan and a curated shopping list to execute it, which is fantastic. The value proposition is strong for the service component. The grade is held back by the furniture's poor long-term value, as the need for earlier replacement eats into the initial savings.
Better Alternatives to Havenly
If Havenly's focus on design over durability doesn't fit your needs, consider these alternatives that offer better construction and reliability at similar or slightly higher price points:
Article
Article delivers similar mid-century modern and contemporary styles but with a focus on superior construction, including kiln-dried solid wood frames and high-density foam cushions. Customer reviews confirm their furniture holds up well for over five years, offering a much better long-term investment for a comparable price.
Shop now at article.com
Joybird
If you're willing to pay a bit more, Joybird offers customizable, handcrafted furniture built with solid hardwood frames. Known for its quality craftsmanship and bespoke options, Joybird's pieces are designed to last and offer heirloom potential.
Shop now at joybird.com
West Elm
As a major retailer, West Elm offers a wide range of modern furniture that generally features better materials like solid wood and higher-grade fabrics. While more expensive, the construction quality and durability are a noticeable step up from what Havenly sources.
Shop now at westelm.com
Burrow
Burrow is famous for its clever modular sofas with sturdy hardwood frames, scratch-resistant fabrics, and smart design features like built-in USB chargers. Their furniture is specifically designed for modern life and durability, making it a great option for apartments and active families.
Shop now at burrow.com
Floyd
Floyd focuses on simple, minimalist furniture engineered for longevity and adaptability. Their pieces use durable materials like solid wood panels and steel hardware, designed to be assembled, disassembled, and moved without losing integrity.
Shop now at floydhome.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Havenly furniture actually last?
Expect high-use items like daily sofas and dining chairs to show significant wear in 1-3 years. Lighter-use items, such as accent chairs or pieces in a guest room, may last 3-5 years. The longevity is highly dependent on usage and the specific item's construction.
Do I have to buy furniture through Havenly's design service?
No. You pay for the design package to receive curated room designs and product suggestions from a professional designer. You are under no obligation to purchase the suggested items through their platform and can use their design as a guide for shopping elsewhere.
Is the furniture quality better than Wayfair?
The quality is often comparable to mid-tier Wayfair or Overstock brands, as Havenly sources from similar third-party vendors. The main advantage with Havenly isn't superior furniture quality, but the professional curation - a designer sifts through the options to find stylish pieces that work together.
What are the most common complaints about Havenly furniture?
The most frequent complaints revolve around poor durability, including sagging sofa cushions, veneer chipping on tables and cabinets, and overall structural weakness. Some customers also report frustrating experiences with customer service when trying to resolve shipping damage or file warranty claims.
At Interior Insider, we're dedicated to curating the best in home decor, interior design, and home essentials to help you discover brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, design, and craftsmanship. When you make a purchase through our links, Interior Insider may earn a commission - which helps support our small team and allows us to continue bringing you inspiration and expert advice for creating your perfect space.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our curated design guides to find your next favorite piece.
