Restoration Hardware (RH) is a luxury brand focused on grand, statement-making furniture with a sophisticated, often formal aesthetic, built with heirloom-quality materials. In contrast, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams (MGBW) offers approachable luxury, prioritizing comfortable, versatile contemporary designs and a strong commitment to sustainability.
Let's examine everything you need to know to choose the right furniture brand for your home.
Restoration Hardware: The Epicenter of Grand-Scale Luxury
Restoration Hardware, known as RH, has carved out a niche in the high-end luxury market by offering dramatic, large-scale furnishings that feel both timeless and modern. The brand targets affluent homeowners who view furniture as a long-term investment and want pieces that serve as architectural focal points. Their collections are defined by premium materials, meticulous craftsmanship, and a sophisticated, often monochromatic color palette.
- Product mix: A complete offering of high-end home goods, including large-scale sofas and sectionals, dining sets, bedroom furniture, lighting, textiles, bath vanities, and outdoor collections.
- Style/vibe: RH is known for a specific look that blends industrial, classic, and rustic elements into a cohesive, luxurious aesthetic. You'll find a lot of neutral tones (greys, beiges, whites), reclaimed woods, aged metals, and natural stone. The overall feeling is formal, polished, and substantial.
- Price point: Firmly in the luxury category. Sofas typically begin around $3,000 and can easily exceed $10,000, while large dining tables often fall in the $4,000 to $8,000 range. This brand is for those with a significant budget.
- Quality: The emphasis is on heirloom quality. RH uses premium materials like solid oak and walnut, Italian marble, hand-forged steel, and top-grain leathers. The construction is robust and intended to last for decades.
- Dimensions/Scale: RH furniture is famously large and is best suited for spacious homes with high ceilings and open-concept floor plans. The grand scale is a key part of the brand's identity, meaning pieces can easily overwhelm smaller rooms.
- Delivery & Assembly: A white-glove delivery service is standard for most large furniture items, including in-home setup and packaging removal, reflecting their luxury positioning.
- Sustainability: RH has initiatives focused on responsible sourcing, including the use of some FSC-certified wood, but sustainability is not a primary marketing focus compared to its emphasis on luxury and premium materials.
RH is the destination for anyone looking to create an impactful, high-end interior with furniture that commands attention and is built to last a lifetime.
Shop Restoration Hardware: restorationhardware.com
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams: The Home of Approachable & Comfortable Luxury
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams has built its reputation on creating stylish, comfortable, and well-made furniture that's designed for real life. Since its founding, the company has prioritized American craftsmanship and sustainability, offering a warm, contemporary aesthetic that feels both modern and livable. MGBW appeals to consumers who want high-quality, stylish furniture without the intimidating price tag or formality of ultra-luxury brands.
- Product mix: Full range of home furnishings, with a particular strength in upholstered items like sofas, sectionals, accent chairs, and beds. The brand also offers case goods, lighting, rugs, and accessories.
- Style/vibe: Contemporary and transitional. The designs feature clean lines, soft silhouettes, and an inviting feel. The aesthetic is versatile enough to fit into many different decor styles, aiming for timeless comfort rather than a dramatic statement.
- Price point: Accessible luxury or upper-mid-range. Sofas typically range from $1,200 to $4,000. MGBW provides a clear step up in quality from mass-market retailers without entering the price territory of a brand like Restoration Hardware.
- Quality: Excellent for the price point. MGBW uses kiln-dried hardwood frames, high-density foam, and a wide array of durable upholstery options, including many performance fabrics ideal for families and pets.
- Customization: Strong customization is a key feature. Customers can choose from a large library of fabrics and leathers, as well as several leg finishes and cushion options for many pieces.
- Dimensions/Scale: The brand offers a diverse range of sizes, including many "apartment-sized" sofas and modular sectionals that can be configured to fit different spaces. This makes them a more practical choice for a wider variety of homes.
- Sustainability: This is a core pillar of the brand. MGBW is committed to eco-friendly practices, and many of their products are GREENGUARD Gold certified for low chemical emissions. They also use responsible sourcing for wood and low-impact manufacturing processes.
MGBW is the perfect choice for those who value American-made quality, sustainable practices, and comfortable, contemporary design that's built for daily living.
Shop Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams: mgbwhome.com
Restoration Hardware vs. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Comparison
Price Comparison
The price gap between these two brands is the most significant differentiator. Restoration Hardware operates fully in the luxury space, with prices often two to three times higher than those at MGBW. An RH purchase is considered a significant financial investment in an heirloom-quality piece.
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams positions itself as "accessible luxury." While still a premium brand, its pricing makes high-quality, design-forward furniture attainable for a much broader audience. Frequent sales and promotions further enhance its value proposition, making it a better fit for shoppers who want excellent quality without a four- or five-figure price tag for every item.
Style & Aesthetic
While both brands lean toward sophistication, their styles are distinct. RH's aesthetic is dramatic, formal, and grand. It revolves around creating a cohesive, high-impact look with oversized pieces, industrial-luxe materials, and a disciplined neutral palette. The style is ideal for those who want their home to feel like a curated, five-star retreat.
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams offers a warmer, more versatile contemporary look. Its furniture is designed to be comfortable and inviting, with softer lines and a focus on livability. The aesthetic is less about making a bold statement and more about creating a stylish, cozy, and functional home that can evolve with your tastes.
Quality & Construction
Both brands produce high-quality furniture, but their priorities differ. Restoration Hardware focuses on using the most premium materials available - solid hardwoods, natural stone, and top-grain leathers - to create pieces that will last for generations. The craftsmanship is excellent, with a focus on durability and visual presence.
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams focuses on quality construction for modern life. They use reliable materials like kiln-dried hardwood frames and high-resiliency cushions, combined with a vast selection of performance fabrics designed to withstand pets, kids, and spills. The quality is a noticeable step above mass-market brands, built for years of comfortable, daily use rather than being treated as a showpiece.
Product Selection & Sizing
The defining feature of RH's collection is its scale. Sofas are deeper, tables are longer, and chairs are wider. This grandeur is perfect for large, open homes but is often impractical for standard-sized living rooms or apartments. If you have the space, RH provides the pieces to fill it impressively.
Conversely, MGBW excels at offering variety in scale. Their collection includes everything from large, sprawling sectionals to compact sofas, chairs, and benches designed specifically for smaller spaces. Their focus on custom configurations also means you can design a piece to fit your room's specific dimensions perfectly, offering significantly more flexibility.
Shopping Experience
Shopping at Restoration Hardware is an immersive experience. Their showrooms are designed as multi-story "galleries" that feel more like homes or museums than retail stores, offering a high-touch, luxurious atmosphere. The online experience is similarly polished, with extensive design resources.
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams provides a more traditional but still upscale and helpful shopping environment. Showrooms are well-designed and shoppable, with staff focused on providing practical design advice. Their emphasis is on customer service and making the process of customizing and buying furniture straightforward and enjoyable.
Sustainability & Ethics
For shoppers who prioritize environmental and ethical production, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is the clear front-runner. Sustainability is woven into their brand identity, from their use of eco-friendly materials and low-VOC finishes to their GREENGUARD Gold certifications. They have been leaders in this area for years.
While Restoration Hardware has taken steps toward sustainability, such as responsibly sourcing some of its wood, it is not a central component of their brand message. The brand's primary focus remains on luxury, scale, and premium materials.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice comes down to your personal style, the scale of your home, your budget, and your values.
Choose Restoration Hardware if:
- Your budget is substantial, and you view furniture as a long-term, high-end investment.
- You have a spacious home with high ceilings and want oversized furniture to match its grand scale.
- You love a formal, sophisticated, and dramatic aesthetic centered on neutral colors and luxurious materials.
- You prioritize heirloom-quality construction over practical features like performance fabrics.
Choose Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams if:
- You're looking for comfortable, high-quality furniture for everyday living.
- Your style is contemporary, transitional, and you want pieces that feel inviting and versatile.
- Sustainability and American craftsmanship are important factors in your purchasing decisions.
- You need a variety of sizing and customization options to fit a standard or smaller-sized room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Restoration Hardware or Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams more expensive?
Restoration Hardware is significantly more expensive. Nearly all of its furniture falls into the luxury price category, with sofas and tables often costing well over $5,000. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is considered an accessible luxury or premium brand, offering high-quality pieces at a fraction of RH's prices.
Which brand has better quality furniture?
Both brands offer excellent quality, but for different purposes. RH uses top-tier, often natural materials to build heavy, heirloom-style pieces designed to last a lifetime. MGBW focuses on superior construction for everyday comfort and durability, using kiln-dried hardwood frames and high-performance fabrics. The "better" quality depends on whether you're looking for a formal investment piece or a durable, livable one.
Which style is right for my home?
Choose Restoration Hardware if you seek a grand, formal, and cohesive luxury look, similar to what you might find in a high-end hotel or estate. Choose Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams if you prefer a warm, comfortable, and versatile contemporary style that easily adapts to a modern home environment.
Is RH furniture too big for an apartment?
In most cases, yes. The defining characteristic of RH furniture is its grand scale. While some smaller accent pieces might work, their main upholstery and case goods are designed for large, open spaces and will likely overwhelm an average-sized apartment or condo.
Which brand is better for families?
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is generally a better choice for families with children and pets. Their emphasis on comfort, durable construction, and a wide array of high-performance fabrics makes their furniture more suited for the demands of daily life.
Which has more customization options?
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is well-known for its extensive customization program. Customers have a massive library of fabrics and leathers to choose from, along with different cushion fills and leg finish options, making it easy to create a piece that's uniquely yours.
Which brand is more sustainable?
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams has a much stronger and more established commitment to sustainability. With eco-friendly manufacturing initiatives and certifications like GREENGUARD Gold, they are a leading choice for environmentally conscious consumers.
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