Room and Board is known for its modern, American-made furniture with a strong emphasis on high-quality materials and extensive customization, positioning it at a slightly higher price point. In contrast, Crate and Barrel offers a broader collection of accessible modern furniture, kitchenware, and decor with a warmer, more approachable style and a more moderate price range.
Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right home decor retailer for your space.
Room and Board: The American-Made Modern Choice
Founded in 1980, Room and Board has established a reputation for timeless, modern furniture that puts American craftsmanship front and center. The brand appeals to design-conscious customers who are looking for durable, long-lasting pieces with a clean, minimalist aesthetic and are willing to invest in quality and customization. Transparency in sourcing and manufacturing is a core part of their identity.
- Product mix: Primarily focused on home furniture, including sofas, beds, dining tables, storage solutions, and home office setups. They also offer a curated selection of decor, rugs, and lighting.
- Style/vibe: Clean, understated, and timeless modernism. The aesthetic leans heavily on sleek lines and neutral palettes, fitting well into contemporary, Scandinavian, or minimalist interiors.
- Price point: Mid-to-high-end. Sofas typically begin around $1,200, with many popular models costing between $2,000-$4,000, while dining tables often range from $800 to $3,000.
- Quality: A major focus for the brand, with an emphasis on durable materials like solid wood, U.S.-sourced steel, and high-performance fabrics. Much of their furniture is made in the USA by small, family-owned companies.
- Customization: This is a key strength. Customers can customize a wide range of pieces, selecting from dozens of fabrics, leathers, wood finishes, and even hardware options to create a truly personal piece.
- Sustainability: Highly committed to responsible practices. Room and Board partners with American manufacturers to reduce its carbon footprint, uses FSC-certified wood, and provides transparency about its supply chain.
Room and Board is the go-to for shoppers who prioritize American-made quality and want highly personalized modern furniture designed to last a lifetime.
Shop Room and Board: roomandboard.com
Crate and Barrel: The Accessible Modern Home
Since 1962, Crate and Barrel has become a household name for contemporary home furnishings that feel both stylish and inviting. The brand offers a vast selection that goes beyond furniture to include everything needed for a modern home, from dinnerware to textiles. It appeals to a wide customer base, including young families and new homeowners, who seek a polished look that balances good design with practicality and affordability.
- Product mix: A comprehensive home outfitter offering furniture for every room, plus an extensive selection of kitchenware, tabletop items, textiles, decor, and lighting.
- Style/vibe: Warm and accessible modern. The designs feature clean lines but often incorporate softer textures and warmer tones, making them versatile enough for both modern and transitional homes.
- Price point: Mid-range and accessible. Sofas generally start at $999 and range up to $2,500, with dining tables available from $600 to $2,500.
- Quality: Focuses on reliable functionality. Materials include kiln-dried hardwoods, durable engineered woods, and practical stain-resistant fabrics designed for everyday family life. Manufacturing is global but held to strict quality standards.
- Customization: Offers some customization options, allowing shoppers to choose from a selection of fabrics and finishes for many upholstered items and casegoods, though with fewer choices than Room and Board.
- Sustainability: Invests in green practices, sourcing wood from responsibly managed forests and offering low-emission products with GREENGUARD Gold Certification.
Crate and Barrel excels at providing a complete, stylish, and welcoming modern aesthetic at a price point that works for many different budgets.
Shop Crate and Barrel: crateandbarrel.com
Room and Board vs. Crate and Barrel Comparison
Price Comparison
There's a clear difference in pricing between the two brands. Room and Board occupies a mid-to-high price tier. For example, a standard three-seat sofa there might start around $1,200 but quickly climbs to $3,000+ with premium fabrics and configurations. This price reflects their focus on American manufacturing, high-grade materials, and extensive customization.
Crate and Barrel is more budget-friendly. Their sofas often live in the $999 to $2,000 range, providing a more accessible entry into modern furniture. While both brands hold sales, Crate and Barrel's promotions tend to be more frequent and broader, making it a stronger choice for shoppers waiting for a significant discount.
Style & Aesthetic
Though both brands are modern, their styles have distinct personalities. Room and Board's aesthetic is pure, architectural modernism. Think sharp lines, functional forms, and an emphasis on the natural beauty of materials like wood and steel. The designs are timeless and avoid fleeting trends, making them suitable for minimalist or Scandinavian-inspired spaces.
Crate and Barrel presents a warmer, more approachable version of modern design. Their furniture often has slightly softer silhouettes, richer textures, and a cozy sensibility that feels both polished and lived-in. This makes Crate and Barrel’s pieces extremely versatile, blending well with transitional or even modern farmhouse styles.
Quality & Construction
Room and Board builds its reputation on quality and durability. Their use of solid wood versus veneers on many products, combined with domestic manufacturing in partnership with skilled workshops, results in furniture that feels substantial and built for the long haul. This commitment to craftsmanship is a core value and a primary reason for the higher price tag.
Crate and Barrel provides solid, reliable quality suitable for everyday life. They use durable materials like kiln-dried hardwood frames for upholstery and offer many items with performance fabrics ideal for families with kids or pets. While their furniture is well-made, the global manufacturing and use of more mixed materials make it more of a value-driven choice compared to Room and Board's investment-grade construction.
Customization Options
This is where Room and Board truly shines. The ability to extensively customize furniture is central to their business model. For a sofa, you might have over 300 fabric and leather choices, multiple leg styles, and various sizes or configurations. This allows customers to act as designers and create a piece that perfectly fits their vision and space.
Crate and Barrel offers a more curated customization experience. For many of their popular upholstered pieces, you can choose from a well-edited selection of about 20-40 fabrics. It’s enough choice to find something you love without being overwhelming, which can simplify the shopping process.
Sustainability & Ethics
Both brands demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainable practices, but they emphasize different aspects. Room and Board’s sustainability story is largely tied to its focus on American manufacturing, which significantly reduces shipping emissions and supports local economies. They are transparent about their workshop partners and prioritize materials like responsibly sourced U.S. wood.
Crate and Barrel focuses on global corporate responsibility. They hold certifications like FSC for their wood and GREENGUARD Gold for products with low chemical emissions, ensuring healthier indoor air. They are focused on responsible sourcing and improving the environmental footprint of their extensive global supply chain.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both brands offer excellent modern furniture, but they cater to different shoppers and priorities.
Choose Room and Board if:
- You prioritize American-made craftsmanship and want to support domestic artisans.
- Extensive customization is important to you for creating a unique piece.
- You are investing in "forever" furniture and are willing to pay more for exceptional, long-lasting quality.
- Your personal style is sleek, minimalist, or leans toward Scandinavian design.
Choose Crate and Barrel if:
- You need stylish, well-made furniture at an accessible, mid-range price point.
- You want to furnish your home from one place, including kitchenware, bedding, and decor.
- You prefer a warm, approachable modern style that feels welcoming and versatile.
- You want a simple shopping experience with well-chosen options that don't require deep customization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Room and Board or Crate and Barrel cheaper?
Crate and Barrel is generally cheaper. Their furniture and decor are placed at a more accessible, mid-range price point, while Room and Board occupies a mid-to-high-end position due to its focus on American manufacturing and premium materials.
Which has better quality furniture?
Room and Board is widely regarded as having higher construction quality. Their emphasis on solid wood, high-grade steel, and domestic craftsmanship results in very durable, investment-level pieces. However, Crate and Barrel also produces good-quality furniture with durable frames and performance fabrics that are built to last in the average home.
Which brand is better for customization?
Room and Board is the clear winner for customization. They offer hundreds of fabric and leather options, plus multiple choices for wood finishes, hardware, and configurations on many of their furniture lines.
What style is Room and Board?
Room and Board’s style is timeless American modernism. It is characterized by clean lines, functional design, minimal ornamentation, and a strong influence from mid-century modern and Scandinavian aesthetics.
Is Crate and Barrel furniture good for families?
Yes, Crate and Barrel furniture is very suitable for families. They offer numerous sofas and chairs in highly durable performance fabrics that are resistant to stains and wear, and their construction is designed to withstand daily use.
Where is Room and Board furniture made?
The vast majority of Room and Board's furniture - over 90% - is made in the United States by small, family-owned craftspeople and furniture-making partners located across the country.
Which brand is more sustainable?
Both have strong sustainability initiatives. Room and Board's focus is on local production with American artisans, which reduces their carbon footprint drastically. Crate and Barrel focuses on global certifications like FSC and GREENGUARD to ensure their large-scale production meets environmental standards.
Which has a wider product selection?
Crate and Barrel has a much wider and more diverse product selection. Beyond furniture, they are a major retailer for kitchenware, tableware, bedding, bath essentials, and holiday decor, positioning them as a one-stop home-outfitting destination.
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