Safavieh is known for its vast selection of affordable and stylish rugs and furniture, catering to a wide range of contemporary and transitional tastes. In contrast, Thomasville is an American heritage brand focused on creating heirloom-quality, classic furniture with premium materials and craftsmanship. Safavieh excels at providing accessible, on-trend pieces for quick home updates, while Thomasville offers timeless, investment-level furniture built to last for generations.
Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right home furnishings brand for your space.
Safavieh: The Affordable & Stylish Decor Source
Safavieh has established itself as a go-to source for homeowners and designers seeking fashionable home furnishings without a luxury price tag. Primarily celebrated for its enormous collection of rugs, the brand also offers a full suite of furniture and decor that blends classic craftsmanship with modern trends. Safavieh is ideal for those who love to update their decor frequently or furnish a home on a sensible budget.
- Product mix: Extensive collection of area rugs in countless styles, plus a wide variety of furniture including sofas, chairs, beds, dining sets, lighting, and home decor accents.
- Style/vibe: Highly versatile, covering everything from traditional Persian and Oriental rug designs to modern, transitional, and minimalist furniture. Their aesthetic appeals to a broad audience looking for current trends.
- Price point: Mid-range and highly competitive. Small accent rugs can start under $100, while sofas are typically priced between $500 and $1,500.
- Quality: Materials like polypropylene, wool, and viscose are used for rugs to balance affordability with durability. Furniture often features engineered wood and sturdy fabrics designed for everyday life.
- Shopping Experience: Primarily sold online through their website and major retailers like Wayfair, Amazon, and Home Depot, making it highly accessible with frequent sales.
- Sustainability: The company notes a commitment to eco-friendly practices by using responsibly sourced materials like natural fibers and wood in many of their products.
Safavieh is the perfect choice for shoppers who prioritize style, variety, and value to create a beautiful home on a budget.
Shop Safavieh: safavieh.com
Thomasville: The Classic American Heritage Brand
Thomasville is a historic American brand synonymous with quality craftsmanship and timeless, traditional design. With a legacy stretching back over a century, Thomasville creates high-end furniture meant to be passed down through generations. The brand is a choice for those making a long-term investment in their home with classic pieces for the dining room, bedroom, and living room.
- Product mix: Specializes in high-quality furniture collections, including bedroom sets, dining tables and chairs, sofas, and custom cabinetry.
- Style/vibe: Rooted in classic, sophisticated American design. Expect rich wood finishes, elegant hardware, and ornate details that suit traditional and formal interiors.
- Price point: Mid-to-luxury. Sofas generally start around $1,200, and complete bedroom sets often cost $3,000 or more, reflecting their premium construction.
- Quality: Known for using solid wood construction, high-grade veneers, and premium upholstery. Hand-finished details and robust craftsmanship ensure longevity.
- Customization: Offers a good range of custom upholstery fabrics and finish options, allowing you to tailor pieces to your specific decor scheme.
- Shopping Experience: Primarily available through authorized furniture stores and showrooms, offering a personalized shopping experience where you can see and feel the quality firsthand. Design consultations are often part of the service.
- Warranty: Products typically come with warranties that back their commitment to high-quality construction and durability.
Thomasville stands out for homeowners who value enduring style and are willing to invest in heirloom pieces that will stand the test of time.
Shop Thomasville: thomasville.com
Safavieh vs. Thomasville Comparison
Price Comparison
There is a significant price difference between the two brands that reflects their target customer. Safavieh is firmly positioned in the affordable-to-mid-range market. You can purchase a large area rug for a few hundred dollars or a stylish sofa for under $1,000, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious decorators, first-time homeowners, and renters.
Thomasville operates in the mid-to-high-end tier. Its furniture is an investment, with prices starting at over $1,200 for a sofa and running into thousands for dining and bedroom sets. This cost is justified by the use of premium materials like solid wood and the detailed craftsmanship intended for decades of use. Safavieh offers better value for short-term style, while Thomasville offers better long-term value for legacy pieces.
Style & Aesthetic
Safavieh casts a wide net with its style offerings. The brand is most famous for its rugs, which span every conceivable style from traditional oriental patterns to abstract contemporary designs. Their furniture follows suit, leaning toward transitional and modern looks that are easy to incorporate into a variety of home aesthetics.
Thomasville has a much more defined aesthetic rooted in classic American design. Its collections feature elegant silhouettes, rich wood tones, and sophisticated details. This style is perfect for creating formal living and dining rooms or a stately primary bedroom. While timeless, it generally does not cater to minimalist or ultra-modern tastes.
Quality & Construction
Quality is a key differentiator. Safavieh uses materials designed to provide good looks and everyday durability at an accessible price point, such as engineered woods, polypropylene rugs, and standard upholstery fabrics. These materials are practical and well-suited for their cost but are not typically considered "heirloom" quality.
Thomasville prides itself on superior construction. The brand frequently uses solid wood, high-quality veneers, and hand-finished techniques to create furniture that is heavy, sturdy, and built to last. The joinery, finishes, and upholstery fabrics are all of a higher grade, supporting its positioning as an investment brand.
Product Selection
Both brands offer comprehensive home furnishings, but their strengths lie in different areas. Safavieh's catalog is massive, with a dominating presence in the rug market. If you are looking for a rug of any size, color, or style, Safavieh likely has hundreds of options. Their furniture selection is broad and covers all major categories.
Thomasville's strength lies in its cohesive furniture collections. You can furnish an entire room - be it a bedroom, dining room, or living room - with beautifully matching pieces. Their focus is less on individual accent items and more on creating a complete, harmonious interior with substantial furniture as the foundation.
Shopping Experience
The shopping process for each brand is distinctly different. Safavieh thrives in the e-commerce space. Its products are easily accessible online through retailers like Wayfair, Overstock, and Amazon, allowing for convenient comparison shopping and leveraging frequent sales events. Customer reviews play a large role in the buying decision.
Shopping for Thomasville is a more traditional, high-touch experience. Customers typically visit an authorized showroom to see the pieces in person, feel the fabrics, and appreciate the wood finishes up close. This process often includes assistance from in-store design consultants who can help with customization and space planning.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both brands offer excellent products, but they cater to very different needs and priorities.
Choose Safavieh if:
- You are on a budget and need stylish, affordable furniture and decor.
- You are shopping for a rug and want the widest possible selection of styles.
- You are a renter or someone who enjoys changing your home's look every few years.
- You prefer the convenience of online shopping and reading customer reviews.
Choose Thomasville if:
- You are investing in "forever furniture" and prioritize longevity and craftsmanship.
- Your personal style leans classic, traditional, or formal.
- You value solid wood construction and premium, hand-finished details.
- You prefer to see and touch furniture in a showroom before making a purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Safavieh or Thomasville cheaper?
Safavieh is significantly cheaper than Thomasville. It focuses on providing stylish, budget-friendly options for the mass market, while Thomasville is a premium brand with prices reflecting its high-quality materials and construction.
Which has better quality furniture?
Thomasville is widely recognized for superior quality. Its use of solid wood, premium veneers, and detailed craftsmanship results in durable, heirloom-quality pieces. Safavieh offers good quality for its price point but is not built to the same lifetime standards.
Where are Safavieh and Thomasville furniture sold?
Safavieh furniture is widely available online through its own website and major e-commerce retailers like Wayfair, Amazon, Overstock, and Home Depot. Thomasville is primarily sold through a network of authorized brick-and-mortar furniture showrooms and dealers.
Is Safavieh a good brand for rugs?
Yes, Safavieh is one of the most popular and respected rug brands, especially in the affordable and mid-range markets. They offer an unparalleled selection of sizes, styles, and materials to suit virtually any taste or budget.
Is Thomasville furniture made of solid wood?
Yes, many of Thomasville's collections feature solid wood construction and high-quality wood veneers. This is a core part of the brand's commitment to creating durable, long-lasting furniture.
Which brand is better for families with children?
This depends on your priorities. Safavieh could be better for families on a budget who anticipate wear and tear and may want to replace pieces affordably. Thomasville is better for those who want extremely durable furniture that can withstand years of use, though the initial investment is much higher.
Which brand offers more modern styles?
Safavieh offers far more modern and contemporary styles. While they also carry traditional designs, their catalog is filled with on-trend pieces that align with current decor movements. Thomasville's aesthetic is firmly rooted in classic and traditional design.
Can I customize furniture from these brands?
Thomasville offers greater customization options, particularly with a selection of upholstery fabrics and wood finishes available for many of its collections. Customization for Safavieh pieces is generally not an option, as they are mass-produced for retail.
At Interior Insider, we're dedicated to curating the best in home decor, interior design, and home essentials to help you discover brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, design, and craftsmanship. When you make a purchase through our links, Interior Insider may earn a commission - which helps support our small team and allows us to continue bringing you inspiration and expert advice for creating your perfect space.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our curated design guides to find your next favorite piece.
