Joybird specializes in highly customizable, mid-century modern furniture with bold designs and vibrant fabric choices, appealing to those looking for a statement piece. In contrast, Burrow offers modular, contemporary furniture designed for convenience, flexibility, and urban living, focusing on simple assembly and practical features like built-in USB chargers.
Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right furniture brand for your home and lifestyle.
Joybird: The Customizable Mid-Century Statement
Joybird has built its brand on offering retro-inspired furniture that feels both timeless and personal. Known for its extensive customization options, the brand allows shoppers to become designers, choosing from a massive library of fabrics and finishes to create unique, high-quality pieces. This focus on bespoke design and craftsmanship makes Joybird a destination for those who want their furniture to have a distinct personality.
- Product mix: A wide range of home furnishings including sofas, sectionals, lounge chairs, beds, dining tables, and storage units.
- Style/vibe: Quintessential mid-century modern. Expect clean lines, tapered legs, tufted details, and a palette of bold, saturated colors alongside versatile neutrals.
- Price point: Mid-range to premium. Sofas generally start around $1,200 and can easily exceed $3,000 with customization and larger configurations.
- Quality: Emphasizes high-quality materials, with kiln-dried hardwood frames and a variety of durable foam cushions. Construction is solid, designed for longevity.
- Customization: This is Joybird's biggest strength. They offer hundreds of fabric and leather options, multiple stain choices for wood legs, and various configurations for their sectionals.
- Delivery & Assembly: Most items are made-to-order, so lead times are longer, often 8-10 weeks. They offer a white-glove delivery service that includes assembly and placement in your room.
- Return policy: A 365-day home trial, though returns have a restocking fee. Custom-ordered items may have different terms.
- Sustainability: Committed to responsible sourcing with FSC-certified wood and eco-friendly manufacturing practices.
Joybird is the ideal choice for someone who wants to invest in a unique, vintage-inspired piece that serves as the centerpiece of a room.
Shop Joybird: joybird.com
Burrow: The Modern Modular Solution
Burrow was created to solve the problems of modern living: difficult-to-move furniture, long delivery waits, and styles that don't adapt to changing spaces. The brand's signature is its clever, ship-in-a-box modular furniture that is easy to assemble, disassemble, and reconfigure. With a sleek and minimalist aesthetic, Burrow appeals to renters, first-time homeowners, and anyone who values practicality and flexibility.
- Product mix: Specializes in modular seating like sofas, sectionals, and armchairs. They also offer complementary pieces like coffee tables, shelving, rugs, and accessories.
- Style/vibe: Contemporary, minimalist, and highly functional. Designs are simple and versatile, meant to blend into various modern decor schemes.
- Price point: Affordable to mid-range. Sofas start around $1,095, making them a very accessible option for quality modular furniture.
- Quality: Features sturdy engineered wood frames and high-resilience foam cushions. Fabrics are chosen for durability and are often stain-resistant, making them great for active households.
- Customization: Customization is based on modularity - you can add a chaise or change the orientation. They offer a curated selection of fabric colors and leg finishes.
- Delivery & Assembly: A core selling point. Furniture ships quickly in standard boxes (often within 2-4 weeks) and is designed for simple, tool-free assembly.
- Return policy: Offers a 30-day return policy, with the buyer responsible for return shipping costs.
- Sustainability: Uses responsibly sourced wood, recycled fabrics, and packaging designed to minimize waste.
Burrow is perfect for the practical shopper who needs a stylish, durable sofa that can adapt to their life, whether they're moving to a new apartment or rearranging a room.
Shop Burrow: burrow.com
Joybird vs. Burrow Comparison
Price Comparison
There is a clear difference in pricing between these two brands. Joybird positions itself in the mid-range to premium market. A standard three-seat sofa starts around $1,200, but with premium fabrics and larger sizes, prices often land in the $2,500–$3,500 range. You're paying for the high degree of customization and detailed craftsmanship.
Burrow is more budget-friendly. Their popular Nomad Sofa starts at approximately $1,095, offering significant value. Because the model is direct-to-consumer and emphasizes efficiency, Burrow manages to keep costs down. While you can add modules to increase the price, the baseline cost is generally lower than Joybird for a comparable size.
Style & Aesthetic
The style of these two brands could not be more different. Joybird is all about personality and vintage flair. Its aesthetic is deeply rooted in mid-century modern design, showcasing tapered legs, bold colors, and dramatic silhouettes. If you want your sofa to be a conversation starter and a clear focal point, Joybird delivers looks inspired by the 1950s and 60s, refreshed for today.
Burrow’s approach is minimalist and contemporary. Their furniture is designed to be a versatile backdrop rather than a standout star. The aesthetic is clean, understated, and functional, with neutral color palettes and simple forms. This makes a Burrow sofa easy to integrate into almost any modern decor style, from Scandinavian to industrial.
Quality & Construction
Joybird emphasizes traditional craftsmanship. Their pieces often feature kiln-dried hardwood frames, which are known for their durability and resistance to warping. The cushions use high-density foam, and the massive fabric selection includes premium and performance options meant for longevity.
Burrow focuses on modern engineering and durability for everyday life. They use sturdy engineered wood frames designed to support their modular system. Their fabrics are specifically chosen for their resilience and are often inherently stain-resistant or treated to repel spills. While not built with traditional heirloom techniques, the construction is robust and engineered for the demands of moving and reconfiguration.
Customization Options
This is Joybird's clear advantage. With hundreds of fabrics - from velvet and boucle to pet-friendly weaves - and a dozen or more leg finish options, you can truly create a one-of-a-kind piece. Their product pages feature comprehensive tools to visualize every combination, giving you complete creative control.
Burrow offers customization through modularity. You can choose the number of seats, the arm style, the leg finish, and whether to add a chaise or ottoman. However, the fabric color selection is limited to a curated palette of about five to seven versatile options. The customization is about function and fit more than aesthetic detail.
Delivery & Assembly
The delivery and assembly experience is a major point of differentiation. Joybird's made-to-order process means you'll wait longer, typically 8 to 10 weeks or more. However, they usually offer white-glove delivery, where a team brings the furniture into your home, assembles it, and removes the packaging. It’s a hands-off, premium experience.
Burrow disrupted the industry with its fast, ship-in-a-box delivery. Most orders arrive within a few weeks. The furniture comes in easy-to-handle boxes that can fit up stairwells and around tight corners. Assembly is designed to be done by the customer without any tools and typically takes less than 30 minutes. This is a huge benefit for renters and anyone who dislikes scheduling delivery windows.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice comes down to your personal style, priorities, and living situation. Both brands offer quality products, but they cater to very different needs.
Choose Joybird if:
- You adore mid-century modern design and want a statement piece.
- Having abundant fabric and finish choices is your top priority.
- You value heirloom-quality craftsmanship and plan to invest in furniture for the long term.
- You prefer a white-glove delivery experience and don’t want to assemble furniture yourself.
Choose Burrow if:
- You need a flexible, modular sofa that can grow or move with you.
- Fast delivery and incredibly easy, tool-free assembly are important to you.
- You prefer a sleek, minimalist aesthetic that works with many decor styles.
- You are living in an apartment or home with tight hallways or staircases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Joybird or Burrow more expensive?
Joybird is generally more expensive. Its focus on premium materials, extensive customization, and made-to-order production contributes to a higher price tag. Burrow is the more affordable option, with a business model optimized for value and efficiency.
Which brand has better quality furniture?
Both brands offer good quality for their respective price points. Joybird arguably offers higher-end construction with materials like kiln-dried hardwood frames, making it more of an "investment" piece. Burrow's quality is centered on durability and practical engineering, with sturdy frames and resilient fabrics designed for active, modern life.
Which sofa is easier to assemble?
Burrow is significantly easier to assemble. Their entire system is designed for tool-free, frustration-free assembly by the customer in minutes. Joybird furniture typically requires professional assembly, which is included in their white-glove delivery service.
How long does delivery take for Joybird vs. Burrow?
Burrow has much faster delivery times, with most orders shipping within 2 to 4 weeks. Because Joybird's furniture is made-to-order, you can expect to wait much longer, often in the range of 8 to 10 weeks.
Which brand is better for small spaces?
Burrow is exceptionally well-suited for small spaces. Its ship-in-a-box model makes getting it into tight apartments easy, and its modular design allows you to create a configuration that perfectly fits your room dimensions.
Which brand offers a better return policy?
Joybird has a much longer 365-day home trial period, which gives you plenty of time to decide. However, their returns usually involve a restocking fee. Burrow offers a shorter 30-day window, and the customer is responsible for return shipping costs.
Which brand has more customization options?
Joybird is the undisputed winner for customization. With hundreds of fabrics, materials, and multiple wood finishes to choose from, they offer a truly bespoke experience that Burrow's more streamlined, modular system does not.
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