Restoration Hardware (RH) offers a luxurious, high-end experience, specializing in large-scale, statement furniture that blends classic and rustic styles with modern sophistication. In contrast, Room & Board focuses on modern, minimalist designs crafted in America, balancing timeless style and durable construction at a more accessible, mid-to-high-end price point.
Let's compare everything you need to know to choose the right furniture brand for your home.
Restoration Hardware: The High-End Luxury Statement
Restoration Hardware has built its reputation on creating an immersive, luxury lifestyle brand. Known for its grand, often oversized furniture and sophisticated showrooms, RH caters to consumers looking to invest in timeless, high-end pieces that define a space. The brand emphasizes premium materials, artisan craftsmanship, and a cohesive, curated aesthetic that leans toward transitional, rustic, and industrial styles.
- Product mix: A comprehensive selection of furniture for every room, plus lighting, textiles, bathware, outdoor collections, and home decor.
- Style/vibe: Sophisticated and opulent. Styles range from classic and transitional to modern rustic and industrial. Expect neutral color palettes, rich textures, and substantial, often weathered, materials like aged woods and metals.
- Price point: Luxury. Sofas typically begin around $3,000 but can easily exceed $10,000, while dining tables start near $4,000. These are investment pieces intended for a premium market.
- Quality: Exceptional materials are a key selling point. This includes kiln-dried hardwoods, top-grain leathers, natural textiles like Belgian linen, and hand-forged metals. The construction reflects its price, with attention to detail and durability.
- Dimensions/Scale: Known for its grand scale. Their sectionals, beds, and tables are often oversized and better suited for large, open-concept rooms with high ceilings.
- Customization: Offers customization on many upholstery pieces and access to professional interior design services to help curate a complete look.
- Sales: Holds seasonal sales events, but prices remain firmly in the luxury tier. They also have a membership program ($175/year) that offers 25% off all full-priced items.
- Delivery & Assembly: Offers white-glove delivery service, which includes in-room placement, assembly, and removal of packaging materials, reflecting their premium shopping experience.
Restoration Hardware is the choice for homeowners who view furniture as a long-term investment and desire a grand, curated aesthetic for their spacious home.
Shop Restoration Hardware: www.restorationhardware.com
Room & Board: The Modern American Craftsman
Room & Board champions timeless modern design rooted in function, quality, and American craftsmanship. The brand is celebrated for its commitment to sustainability and transparent sourcing, with the majority of its collection made by American artisans. Their aesthetic is clean, minimalist, and versatile, making their pieces easy to integrate into a range of contemporary homes.
- Product mix: Full range of durable home furnishings, especially strong in living room seating, bedroom furniture, storage, and home office solutions.
- Style/vibe: Modern, Mid-Century, and Scandinavian-inspired. The look is defined by clean lines, functional forms, and the natural beauty of materials like solid wood and steel. It’s less ornate and more focused on practical elegance.
- Price point: Mid-range to high-end, but significantly more accessible than RH. Sofas start around $1,200, dining tables from $1,500, and beds are often in the $1,500–$3,000 range.
- Quality: Built for longevity and everyday use. They use solid woods (often domestic), high-resilience foam, and a wide selection of durable performance fabrics. The focus on American manufacturing ensures a high standard of construction.
- Dimensions/Scale: Offers a wide variety of sizes suitable for different environments, from large family homes to smaller urban apartments. Many collections include compact sofas, modular sectionals, and narrow tables.
- Customization: Extensive customization options are available for most upholstery, allowing you to choose from hundreds of fabrics and leathers. Many wood pieces are offered in various stain and finish options.
- Sustainability: This is a core part of their identity. They prioritize partnerships with American manufacturers, use responsibly sourced and reclaimed woods, and focus on creating pieces built to last for generations to reduce waste.
- Delivery & Assembly: Known for excellent customer service, including flat-rate, full-service in-home delivery that includes assembly, placement, and packaging removal on all qualifying orders.
Room & Board is ideal for shoppers prioritizing handcrafted quality, modern design, and sustainable practices without entering the pure luxury market.
Shop Room & Board: www.roomandboard.com
Restoration Hardware vs. Room & Board Comparison
Price Comparison
There is a significant price gap between these two brands. Restoration Hardware is firmly positioned in the luxury market. A standard fabric sofa can easily cost over $4,000, while a solid wood dining table for six is likely to be $5,000 or more. Its pricing model caters to those making a significant investment in statement pieces.
Room & Board occupies a more accessible "premium-but-attainable" space. You can find a well-made sofa for under $2,000 and a high-quality, solid wood dining table for around $2,500. While not inexpensive, Room & Board offers much stronger value, delivering solid craftsmanship and durable materials at a more budget-friendly price point.
Style & Aesthetic
RH’s aesthetic revolves around drama and scale. It champions a grand, often monochromatic look that feels both classic and contemporary. Furniture features rustic, weathered finishes, plush textiles like velvet and linen, and imposing silhouettes. It’s a style designed to create a unified, editorially curated look often seen in luxury hotels or designer estates.
Room & Board’s style is understated and functional elegance. Rooted in modernism and mid-century design, their furniture is clean, minimal, and lets the craftsmanship speak for itself. The brand's pieces are highly versatile and designed to complement existing furniture rather than dominate a room, suiting contemporary, Scandinavian, or even eclectic interiors.
Quality & Construction
Both brands produce high-quality furniture, but their philosophies differ. Restoration Hardware focuses on luxury materials and artisanal touches - think hand-applied finishes, premium leathers, and hefty, large-scale construction that feels incredibly substantial. It’s quality designed to impress.
Room & Board prioritizes everyday durability and superior domestic craftsmanship. Their use of solid wood benches, precise joinery, and high-resilience foam in cushions ensures their pieces can stand up to daily life, including busy families with kids and pets. Quality here is about longevity and practical performance.
Product Selection & Sizing
RH is well-known for its very large furniture. Sofas are deep, beds have dramatic headboards, and dining tables can often seat 10 or more. This makes them a go-to for furnishing spacious, open-plan homes but can be challenging for those with smaller rooms or city apartments.
Conversely, versatile sizing is one of Room & Board’s greatest strengths. They offer a balanced mix of sizes, including "apartment sofas," modular sectionals that can be configured for tight corners, and dining tables for spaces of all sizes. They excel at right-sizing modern design for realistic living spaces.
Shopping Experience
Shopping at RH is an experience. Their galleries are palatial, multi-story spaces designed to inspire, often complete with rooftop restaurants and in-house designers. The experience is intentionally aspirational and exclusive.
Room & Board's showrooms are well-lit, approachable, and clearly organized to help you find what you need. Their non-commissioned design associates are known for being genuinely helpful and practical. The online-to-showroom experience feels seamless and focused on customer satisfaction.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice depends on your style preferences, budget, and the scale of your home. Both brands offer quality furniture, but they cater to very different customers.
Choose Restoration Hardware if:
- You have a generous budget and want furniture that makes a bold, luxurious statement.
- Your home is spacious, with large rooms and high ceilings that can accommodate oversized pieces.
- Your personal style leans toward classic, transitional, or sophisticated rustic elegance.
- You value an immersive, high-end shopping experience with comprehensive design services.
Choose Room & Board if:
- You're looking for clean, modern, or mid-century style furniture that is built to last.
- Supporting American craftsmanship and sourcing sustainable materials are priorities for you.
- You need versatile sizing options that can fit well in a standard apartment or family home.
- You want great value - high-quality materials and construction at a price point below pure luxury.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Restoration Hardware or Room and Board cheaper?
Room & Board is significantly cheaper than Restoration Hardware. While still a premium brand, Room & Board's prices are generally 40-60% lower than comparable items at RH, making it a much more accessible choice for quality furniture.
Which has better quality furniture, RH or Room and Board?
Both brands offer excellent quality, but it's framed differently. RH's quality is defined by its premium, often imported materials and artisan details. Room & Board's quality is centered on durable, American-made craftsmanship and materials designed for everyday use and longevity.
What is Restoration Hardware's style known for?
Restoration Hardware is known for a grand, luxurious style that blends classic forms with industrial and rustic elements. Its aesthetic is often monochromatic, large-scale, and creates a dramatic, curated look.
What is Room and Board's style known for?
Room & Board is known for its timeless modern and mid-century aesthetic. Their style emphasizes clean lines, natural wood grains, functional design, and understated elegance that is versatile enough for many different interiors.
Which brand is better for small spaces?
Room & Board is unequivocally better for small spaces. They offer a wide variety of smaller-scale pieces, apartment sofas, modular options, and customizable furniture designed to fit in more compact rooms without sacrificing style or comfort.
Does Restoration Hardware ever go on sale?
Yes, RH has sales events throughout the year. However, their primary discount model is the RH Members Program, where a yearly fee gives customers 25% off full-priced items year-round.
Where is Room & Board furniture made?
Over 90% of Room & Board's furniture and decor is made in the United States by local craftspeople and small, family-owned companies, which is a major part of the brand's identity and commitment to quality.
Which brand is better for families with kids?
Room & Board is generally a better choice for families. Their focus on durable construction and a wide range of performance fabrics - which are resistant to stains and wear - makes their furniture more suitable for the rigors of everyday family life.
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