Joybird specializes in vibrant, customizable mid-century modern furniture with a playful aesthetic, sold directly to consumers online. In contrast, Room & Board focuses on timeless, modern furniture with an emphasis on American craftsmanship, premium materials, and an omnichannel experience that includes physical showrooms.
Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right home decor retailer for your space.
Joybird: The Customizable Mid-Century Choice
Joybird has built a strong reputation as an online destination for mid-century modern furniture that doesn't shy away from color or personality. The brand appeals to design-conscious shoppers who want to create a unique space with highly customizable sofas, chairs, and beds. By offering extensive fabric, color, and finish options, Joybird empowers customers to design statement pieces that perfectly match their individual style.
- Product mix: A wide array of living room furniture (sofas, sectionals, accent chairs), bedroom sets, dining tables and chairs, and home decor accents.
- Style/vibe: Playful and sophisticated mid-century modern. Think clean lines, tapered legs, tufted details, and bold, retro-inspired color palettes.
- Price point: Mid-range and accessible. Sofas and sectionals typically range from $1,200 to $4,000, while dining tables start around $900.
- Quality: Solid hardwood frames and high-density foam cushions ensure foundational durability. Joybird focuses on combining style with everyday comfort and function.
- Customization: This is Joybird's signature strength. Most upholstered pieces come with dozens of fabric choices - including performance, pet-friendly, and eco-friendly options - and several wood stain finishes.
- Sales: Frequent sales events and promotions, especially around holidays, offering significant discounts that make their pieces even more attainable.
- Return policy: A generous return window allows customers to try furniture in their homes, making the online purchasing process less risky.
- Delivery & Assembly: White-glove delivery is a common option, ensuring pieces arrive and are set up professionally. Lead times vary, especially for custom orders.
With its deep customization and spirited mid-century designs, Joybird is ideal for those who want their furniture to be a vibrant expression of their personal taste.
Shop Joybird: joybird.com
Room & Board: The American-Made Modern Heirloom
Room & Board champions timeless modern design built on a foundation of American craftsmanship and sustainable practices. The brand is known for producing high-quality, durable furniture that transcends fleeting trends. It caters to discerning buyers who view furniture as a long-term investment and appreciate the understated elegance of well-made, thoughtfully designed pieces for a contemporary or transitional home.
- Product mix: Comprehensive home furnishings, including living, dining, bedroom, office, and outdoor furniture, plus storage solutions and home decor.
- Style/vibe: Clean, modern, and minimalist with a focus on natural materials. The aesthetic is versatile and sophisticated, featuring neutral palettes and an emphasis on the beauty of wood grains and classic forms.
- Price point: Premium. Sofas generally start at $2,000, and dining tables begin around $1,200, reflecting the high-quality materials and domestic manufacturing.
- Quality: Exceptional craftsmanship is a core principle. The brand uses kiln-dried, domestically sourced hardwoods, steel, and high-performance fabrics, with many pieces built by American artisans to last for decades.
- Customization: While not as extensive as Joybird, Room & Board offers a curated selection of high-quality fabrics and finish options for many of its pieces.
- Sales: Sales are rare. The brand prefers an everyday-best-price strategy but holds an annual clearance event for floor samples and discontinued items.
- Shopping Experience: An omnichannel model combined with a polished website and beautiful physical showrooms where customers can experience the furniture firsthand and work with design associates.
- Sustainability: A commitment to sustainability is central, with a focus on supporting American craftspeople, using FSC-certified woods, and practicing responsible manufacturing.
Room & Board is the clear choice for customers seeking investment-grade furniture defined by superior craftsmanship and enduring modern style.
Shop Room & Board: roomandboard.com
Joybird vs. Room & Board Comparison
Price Comparison
There is a distinct price difference between the two brands. Joybird operates in the mid-range market, with sofas often priced between $1,200 and $4,000. Its direct-to-consumer model and frequent promotional events make it a more budget-friendly option for stylish furniture.
Room & Board occupies a premium price tier. Its sofas typically start at $2,000 and can go much higher, reflecting the cost of American craftsmanship, high-end materials, and durable construction. While the upfront cost is greater, the value lies in the furniture's longevity.
Style & Aesthetic
Joybird is unapologetically mid-century modern. Its collections feature retro silhouettes, tapered legs, button tufting, and a catalog of bold and vibrant colors. It's furniture that makes a statement and infuses a room with personality, perfect for eclectic and vintage-inspired interiors.
Room & Board leans into a more timeless, versatile modern aesthetic. Its designs are clean, understated, and built to complement a wide range of interiors, from contemporary to minimalist. The focus is on form, function, and the natural beauty of materials like wood and steel, promoting a quiet, refined elegance.
Quality & Materials
Joybird builds its furniture with solid hardwood frames and high-density foam, ensuring it's durable enough for everyday life. While the construction is solid, the primary focus is on achieving a specific design aesthetic at an accessible price point.
Room & Board stakes its reputation on heirloom-quality construction. Utilizing premium, domestically sourced hardwoods and working with American artisans, the brand produces pieces that are intended to last for generations. The attention to detail in joinery, finishes, and structural integrity is noticeably superior.
Customization Options
Joybird excels in customization. Nearly every sofa or chair can be ordered in dozens of unique fabrics, colors, and textures, along with multiple leg finishes. This allows for a truly personalized piece of furniture tailored to your exact vision.
Room & Board offers a more curated selection of customization options. While you can choose from high-quality fabrics and leathers for upholstery, the range is smaller and focuses on classic, durable choices that align with the brand’s timeless aesthetic.
Shopping Experience
Joybird's experience is entirely online. Their website is interactive, with excellent visualization tools and a generous free swatch program that helps bridge the gap of not having a physical store. The entire process is designed for a confident digital-first shopper.
Room & Board provides a hybrid model. Customers can shop through a comprehensive website or visit one of their stunning showrooms to see quality firsthand, sit on sofas, and speak with design consultants. This appeals to shoppers who prefer to touch and feel furniture before making a significant purchase.
Sustainability & Ethics
Both brands prioritize sustainability, but with different approaches. Joybird focuses on eco-friendly fabric options and responsible sourcing for its materials. Its commitment is centered on offering greener product choices to consumers.
Room & Board’s commitment is deeper, focusing on partnerships with American manufacturers to reduce its carbon footprint. The brand heavily promotes its use of reclaimed or domestically sourced, FSC-certified wood and its support of local artisan communities, making sustainability a core part of its brand identity.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice depends on your style preferences, budget, and priorities for quality and longevity.
Choose Joybird if:
- You adore the mid-century modern aesthetic and want furniture with personality and color.
- You want to fully customize your sofa's fabric and finish to create a one-of-a-kind piece.
- Your budget is in the mid-range, and you actively look for sales to get the best deal.
- You are furnishing a space for style and comfort now, rather than investing in a forever piece.
Choose Room & Board if:
- You prioritize timeless modern design and superior, American-made craftsmanship.
- You are investing in heirloom-quality furniture that is built to last for decades.
- Sustainability and supporting local artisans are important factors in your purchasing decision.
- You value the ability to see, touch, and test furniture in a physical showroom before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Joybird or Room & Board cheaper?
Joybird is significantly more affordable than Room & Board. Its direct-to-consumer model and frequent sales make it an accessible option for shoppers seeking mid-century modern style on a mid-range budget.
Which has better quality furniture?
Room & Board is widely recognized for superior quality and construction. Its commitment to American craftsmanship, premium solid woods, and durable materials results in heirloom-quality furniture built for longevity, whereas Joybird focuses more on stylish design at an accessible price.
Does Joybird run sales?
Yes, Joybird frequently runs sales and promotions, particularly around major holidays like President's Day, Memorial Day, and Black Friday. It's often possible to get 20-30% off.
Is Room & Board furniture made in the USA?
Over 90% of Room & Board's furniture is made in the United States by American craftspeople. This commitment to domestic manufacturing is a core part of their brand identity.
Which brand offers more customization?
Joybird offers significantly more customization options, especially for upholstery. Customers can choose from a massive library of fabrics, colors, and finishes to create a highly personalized piece.
Which brand is better for families or pets?
Both brands offer performance fabrics that are durable and easy to clean. However, Room & Board's overall construction quality may give it an edge for long-term durability in high-traffic households.
Can I see Room & Board furniture in person before buying?
Yes. Room & Board has physical showrooms in many major cities across the U.S. where you can see their products, test comfort levels, and get advice from design associates.
What is Joybird's style best described as?
Joybird's style is quintessentially mid-century modern. It pulls inspiration directly from the 1950s and 60s, featuring clean lines, organic curves, tapered legs, and bold colors.
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