West Elm Vs Pottery Barn; these are two business-to-customer brands held by Williams-Sonoma Inc.
Both companies specialize in home furnishings for part of your home including sofas, chairs, tables, bedroom furniture, outdoor furniture, storage, and décor accessories.
West Elm Overview
Launched in 2002 through parent-company Williams Sonoma, West Elm has a strong focus on selling quality, high-end furniture at reasonable prices.
The brand is young and cool but certainly not hipster. It’s often considered a mix and match, laidback, but not so easygoing.
Products from West Elm are more condo-suited in comparison to Pottery Barn’s larger furniture, Yet they look like they were just designed for a warm, comfortable and trendy, young space.
Contrary to other Williams-Sonoma brands, West Elm’s design inspiration is a bit edgier, modern design that works very well for young professionals.
A blend of clean lines, strong colors, and fresh fabrics alongside a variety of trendy, handcrafted décor sets them apart from sister brands including Pottery Barn.
While it’s the younger brand, West Elm is already accessible in more than 85 cities across the U.S. They also operate in Europe, Middle East, and Australia.
As in America, the company will have collaborations with local brands recognized with excellent artwork.
Pottery Barn Overview
Pottery Barn, meanwhile, is a well-known brand with an extensive catalog of products and nearly 200 showroom locations all over the U.S. Established via parent company Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn represents both up-scale and middle-range price points.
A great selection of their styles appeals to both those who prefer contemporary design elements as well as those looking for traditional styles.
Like West Elm, Pottery Barn, as a company, has a great focus on employing sustainable materials and production processes.
They make a considerable effort to subside their carbon footprint by promoting organic products, recycled items, and even reclaimed wood.
West Elm Vs Pottery Barn: The Differences
The greatest difference between Pottery Barn and West Elm stems from style and price. Trendy and urban design, West Elm tends to price its furniture at the bottom tier of the high-end market.
Pottery Barn, on the other hand, is a more established retailer, and thus offers many décor styles.
Coming down to quality, consumers often think West Elm offers better quality.
The slick design and branding have enabled the company to command prices above other starter décor brands.
West Elm was founded in 2002 and is a newcomer compared to Pottery Barn, which got its first outset in 1949. That said, slightly higher price points are at par with the company’s renowned label.
Another thing worth mentioning is that customers can use Pottery Barn Credit Card to make purchases at any Pottery Barn stores throughout their catalog and website.
Pottery Barn brands include Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn bed, and pottery Barn Outlet stores.
On the other hand, if you’re a diehard West Elm shopper, you may consider signing up for the brand’s credit card and rack up your savings with a West Elm Credit Card.
This is where you get to earn rewards like 10% back, a $50 welcome reward, access to premium exclusive offers, and a $25 birthday certificate during your birthday month.
What’s more, if you make a bulk purchase, and spend more than $750, you can opt for special financing or additional rewards.
With Pottery Barn, some people say the style is old-fashioned and outdated, but most love this type of décor, referring to it as traditional, old cottage and vintage and barnyard inspired.
Pottery Barn furniture is very solid and reliable. Perhaps that’s why they boast a strong presence both online and showrooms throughout the U.S and Internationally.
West Elm Vs. Pottery Barn: Quality Services
Both West Elm and Pottery Barn do offer a wide range of sofa types and sizes, alongside other types of décor and accessories.
Customers will also get door parcel delivery, truck deliveries, and white-glove services for larger items at a reasonable rate. That means you won’t have to worry about setup or unpackaging.
Shipping usually takes 1-2 weeks with either brand and items can be returned within 30 days of receiving an order for a refund of the merchandise value.
The original receipt or rather gift receipt will be required. However, note that monogrammed and Made to Order decors or rugs do not qualify for returns. West Elm and Pottery Barn both do not advertise warranties on their items.
Overall, West Elm and Pottery Barn are very similar in their policies and price points. With their white-glove shipping services, buyers don’t have to worry about setting up their items.
However, keep in mind that these brands have a limited return window and they do not advertise any warranties or in-home trials in their products.
The Bottom Line
Maybe we haven’t gone as far as comparing like with like between these two Williams-Sonoma brands, but we’ve covered various important aspects to help stay informed. For the price, things do not cost the same in both brands.
Besides, price alone may not be the finer detail- looking at the cost and taking into account the quality and the price of comparable items in other high street décor and homewares stores is a better idea.
Otherwise, when it comes to quality, you’ll be surprised and definitely find these two companies very agreeable. So to those who thought Williams-Sonoma brands are too good to be true, the value for money offered by these two brands will probably prove you wrong.
Most people seem to love West Elm best, but a large number love Pottery Barn too. Both are focused on delivering what customers would like their houses to look like.
Classic, comfortable, and high-quality items, West Elm vs. Pottery Barn are definitely worth consideration.