Living Spaces is known for its stylish, on-trend contemporary furniture at mid-range prices, while American Furniture Warehouse (AFW) focuses on providing the lowest possible prices with a vast, warehouse-style inventory. Living Spaces prioritizes a curated, modern aesthetic and quality materials for its price point, whereas AFW is the go-to for budget-conscious shoppers who value functionality and affordability above all else.
Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right furniture retailer for your home and budget.
Living Spaces: The Stylish, Mid-Range Choice
Living Spaces is a popular retailer for those who want fashionable, up-to-date furniture without a luxury price tag. Geared towards young professionals and modern families, it offers a wide selection of pieces that balance contemporary design with everyday comfort, making it a staple for furnishing apartments and first homes with a specific aesthetic in mind.
- Product mix: A full range of home furnishings, including sofas, sectionals, bedroom sets, dining tables, home office furniture, outdoor pieces, rugs, and decor.
- Style/vibe: Predominantly modern and contemporary, with strong influences from mid-century modern, industrial, and transitional designs. Expect clean lines, neutral colors, and trendy accents.
- Price point: Mid-range and accessible. Sofas typically start around $399, while full bedroom sets can range from $1,000 to over $3,000. Frequent sales and financing options help make larger purchases more manageable.
- Quality: Good for the price, generally featuring a mix of engineered woods, solid wood accents, and durable fabrics. Many upholstery options include performance fabrics, and frames are built for standard residential use.
- Sustainability: The brand emphasizes eco-friendly practices, including sustainable material sourcing and low-emission manufacturing. Many products are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, meeting strict chemical emissions standards.
- Sales: Holds frequent sales, especially around major holidays like Presidents Day, Memorial Day, and Black Friday, with significant discounts on various collections.
- Return policy: Most non-furniture items can be returned within 30 days. Furniture returns are typically accepted within a shorter window and may be subject to restocking fees.
- Delivery & Assembly: Offers full-service in-house delivery, including assembly and placement of furniture pieces for a flat fee.
Living Spaces is an excellent choice for shoppers who want their home to reflect current trends and are willing to pay a little more for better R&D style and durable materials.
Shop Living Spaces: livingspaces.com
American Furniture Warehouse: The Budget-Friendly Find
American Furniture Warehouse has built its reputation on offering a massive selection of furniture at deeply discounted prices. First established in 1975, AFW is a destination for budget-conscious shoppers looking for functional, no-frills pieces to furnish their homes quickly and affordably. Its large, warehouse-style showrooms are designed for browsing a vast inventory and finding immediate bargains.
- Product mix: An extensive inventory covering every room, including living room sets, dining furniture, mattresses, bedroom collections, kids' furniture, and home accessories.
- Style/vibe: A broad mix of styles ranging from traditional to modern, but with a more functional and less trend-focused approach. The aesthetic is often straightforward and basic, prioritizing mass appeal and value.
- Price point: Highly competitive and budget-oriented. Shoppers can find sofas starting as low as $299 and entire bedroom sets for under $1,500. Regular clearance events and bundle deals offer even deeper savings.
- Quality: Primarily constructed from cost-effective materials like engineered wood, metal frames, and synthetic fabrics. The furniture is designed to be durable for everyday use but may not offer the longevity or premium feel of higher-priced alternatives.
- Shopping Experience: Focused on a no-frills, high-volume model. Their huge stores are straightforward to navigate, and the website allows for online purchasing, though the primary experience is in-person.
- Sales: AFW’s prices are consistently low, but they also run clearance sales and promotions to move inventory quickly.
- Return policy: Policies can be strict, with returns or exchanges often needing to be completed within a very short timeframe after purchase. Be sure to check the policy for your specific item.
- Delivery & Assembly: Delivery and assembly services are available, typically for an additional cost depending on the location and items purchased.
For shoppers whose primary focus is finding the lowest price on functional furniture, American Furniture Warehouse is an unbeatable option.
Shop American Furniture Warehouse: afw.com
Living Spaces vs. American Furniture Warehouse Comparison
Price Comparison
This is the most significant differentiator between the two brands. American Furniture Warehouse is unapologetically geared toward the budget shopper. With sofas often starting at $299 and multi-piece bedroom sets under $1,500, its pricing strategy revolves around volume and delivering the lowest possible cost. Their business model is built to move inventory fast, making it a go-to for furnishing a home on a tight budget.
Living Spaces occupies the mid-range market. Its prices are still accessible, with sofas generally in the $400–$2,000 range, but reflect a greater investment in design, materials, and trendy styles. While not a luxury brand, you are paying a premium over AFW for a more contemporary look and slightly better construction.
Style & Aesthetic
Living Spaces is the clear winner for design-conscious consumers. Their collections are cohesive and aligned with current interior design trends, including mid-century modern, Scandinavian, and industrial aesthetics. Showrooms and online product pages are curated to provide inspiration and help customers achieve a specific, stylish look. It's a brand you shop when you have a particular vision for your home.
American Furniture Warehouse offers a broader, but less curated, selection. You can find everything from traditional reclining sofas to more generic modern designs. The style is more practical and utilitarian, aimed at appealing to a wide swath of customers rather than a niche design community. The focus here is on function over "fashion."
Quality & Construction
Living Spaces generally provides better quality materials and construction. Their furniture often uses a combination of solid wood, engineered wood, and more durable upholstery like performance fabrics. Warranties tend to be more comprehensive, reflecting a bit more confidence in their product’s longevity. It's built to withstand daily family life while maintaining its style.
AFW’s furniture is built to meet a low price point. This usually means construction from engineered wood, particleboard, and synthetic fabrics. While perfectly functional and durable enough for regular use, these pieces aren't intended to be heirloom items and may show wear faster than more expensive options. The priority is affordability, not long-term durability or premium materials.
Shopping Experience
The shopping experiences are fundamentally different. Living Spaces provides a polished, modern retail experience. Their showrooms are well-designed and set up in vignettes to mimic real rooms, while their website features robust planning tools and high-quality photography. Customer service is geared toward helping you design your space.
American Furniture Warehouse offers a classic warehouse shopping model. The stores are immense, with rows upon rows of furniture, allowing you to see a vast amount of inventory at once. The experience is efficient and transactional - find what you need, get it for a low price, and get it home. Their online presence is functional but less inspirational than Living Spaces.
Sustainability & Ethics
Living Spaces makes sustainability a part of its brand identity. It promotes its use of eco-friendly materials and holds GREENGUARD Gold certifications for many of its products, which ensures they have low chemical emissions. This is a key selling point for environmentally aware consumers.
American Furniture Warehouse does engage in some responsible practices like recycling, but sustainability is not a core part of their marketing or value proposition. Their focus remains squarely on operational efficiency and affordability.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both brands offer solid value, but they serve two very different customers. The right choice truly depends on your priorities.
Choose Living Spaces if:
- You have a specific modern or contemporary style in mind for your home.
- You are willing to spend slightly more for better design and more durable materials.
- You value an inspiring shopping experience, whether online or in-store.
- Sustainability and low-emission products are important factors in your decision.
Choose American Furniture Warehouse if:
- Your number one priority is sticking to a tight budget and getting the lowest price.
- You need functional, basic furniture quickly and don't care about the latest trends.
- You enjoy browsing a massive, warehouse-style selection in person.
- You're furnishing a temporary space, a kid's room, or an area that doesn't require high-end pieces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Living Spaces or AFW cheaper?
American Furniture Warehouse is definitively cheaper. Their entire business model is based on volume selling and offering some of the lowest prices in the market for new furniture. Living Spaces is considered mid-range and affordable but operates at a higher price tier than AFW.
Which has better quality furniture?
Living Spaces generally offers better quality furniture. They use a mix of higher-grade materials like solid wood accents and performance fabrics, and their construction is designed to support contemporary styles while providing good durability for the price. AFW prioritizes cost over materials, so a lot of their furniture is mostly engineered wood and basic upholstery.
Which brand is better for modern styles?
Living Spaces is the clear choice for modern and contemporary furniture. Their product lines are heavily influenced by mid-century modern, Scandinavian, and industrial trends, making it easy to create a cohesive, stylish space.
Do both stores offer delivery and assembly?
Yes, both brands offer delivery and assembly services. Living Spaces has a well-regarded in-house delivery team that often provides full assembly and room placement for a flat rate. AFW also offers these services, though they are typically add-on costs.
Which store is better for furnishing a first apartment?
This depends on the budget and style preference. For someone on a very strict budget who just needs to get furniture in the door, AFW is the perfect solution. For someone who wants their first apartment to have a specific, trendy look and has a little more to spend, Living Spaces is a better fit.
Is American Furniture Warehouse only available in certain states?
Historically, AFW's physical presence was concentrated in states like Colorado, Arizona, and Texas. However, they continue to expand their reach and offer online shopping with delivery to a wider area. Check their website for delivery options in your location.
Is Living Spaces a sustainable brand?
Living Spaces places a strong emphasis on sustainability. The company markets its use of eco-friendly materials and manufacturing processes. Many of its products are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, which is a significant plus for health-conscious and environmentally aware shoppers.
How often does Living Spaces have sales?
Living Spaces has sales quite frequently, particularly around major U.S. holidays like Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Black Friday. These events often feature sitewide discounts or special pricing on select categories.
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