Finding a store that offers high-quality and reasonably priced furniture is challenging in today’s economy. There are plenty of upscale furniture stores out there, but finding the right one for your home requires some serious research. Thankfully, we did the hard part for you! If you’ve narrowed down your options to Ethan Allen and Pottery Barn, then you’ve come to the right place.
Ethan Allen and Pottery Barn are both retailers focusing on upscale home furnishings. Both companies are devoted to using high-quality materials that are sustainably and responsibly sourced.
We’re going to compare each company carefully to see who makes better furniture.
Plenty of companies focus on upscale furniture, but Ethan Allen and Pottery Barn are unique. We’re going to answer some pressing comparison questions about each company to determine who makes the better furniture. Read on to learn more!
What’s the Difference Between Ethan Allen and Pottery Barn?
Ethan Allen and Pottery Barn have several similarities. Each brand is focused on providing upscale furniture made of high-quality materials that have been sustainably and responsibly sourced. However, there are quite a few differences between the two as well.
Pottery Barn has a focus on rustic and contemporary styles, although they do offer some modern furniture as well. Ethan Allen, on the other hand, offers customizable options for their furniture and a wider range of style options available.
History of Ethan Allen
Ethan Allen began in 1935 when Ted Baumritter and Nat Ancel purchased a bankrupt sawmill. They decided to turn that sawmill into a furniture manufacturing site where they would focus on upscale furnishings that represented the style of New England. These two entrepreneurs fell in love with colonial New England and modeled their first line of furniture after that style.
They officially named their company Ethan Allen in 1969, and decided to shift from colonial style furniture to a more modern style in the early 2000s. This company embraced environmental and social responsibility, and their pride in New England has ensured that at least 75% of all their products are manufactured in North American facilities.
History of Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn started in 1949 when two brothers, Paul and Morris Secon, decided to fill the gap in the market for upscale home furniture. This company has dedicated itself to only using materials that have been sustainably sourced, and ensure all their products are responsibly produced.
Their furniture is all high-quality and designed to last for generations. Pottery Barn has worked to keep up with a technologically changing world, and introduced an augmented reality app in 2017 that allows customers to place furniture in their home virtually to see how it will fit in their space.
What Types of Furniture Does Ethan Allen and Pottery Barn Offer?
Ethan Allen and Pottery Barn offer many of the same types of furniture. Their styles are slightly different, as Pottery Barn focuses on more rustic and contemporary styles, while Ethan Allen places a heavier emphasis on modern designs. Let’s take a closer look at the types of furniture each brand offers.
Ethan Allen Furniture
Ethan Allen offer furniture for nearly every room in your home, and they offer a complimentary design service to help you find the best furniture that aligns with the theme and design of your home. They also offer some customization options for furniture so you can make each piece of furniture you purchase unique.
Here’s a list of the types of furniture you can purchase through Ethan Allen:
- Living room furniture
- Dining room furniture
- Bedroom furniture
- Home office furniture
- Outdoor furniture
- Rugs and flooring
- Lighting
- Décor
You can browse through items that have been placed on sale on Ethan Allen’s website if you’re looking for a deal on their high-quality furniture. They also have a ton of digital magazines their customers can browse for inspiration.
Pottery Barn Furniture
You can find a lot of rustic style furniture through Pottery Barn, although they do offer some contemporary and other styles. Pottery Barn’s furniture is meant to last for generations, and they have options for nearly every room in your home.
Here’s a list of the types of furniture you can find at Pottery Barn:
- Furniture
- Outdoor & Garden
- Bedding
- Bath
- Lighting
- Rugs
- Windows
- Pillows & Décor
- Art & Mirrors
- Tabletops & Bar
- Storage
- Holidays
- Gifts
Pottery Barn also offers a complimentary design service to help their customers find the best furniture to fit their space and match the feel of their home. Their design service can also help you find eco-friendly furniture, such as tables made of reclaimed wood or rugs made from organic cotton.
Comparison Questions (Ethan Allen vs Pottery Barn):
Which Company Offer More Eco-Friendly Furniture?
Both Ethan Allen and Pottery Barn are committed to using sustainably sourced materials and producing responsibly made furniture. Each company has taken the initiative to enact eco-friendly measures for their furniture, so let’s see how they compare.
Ethan Allen is Verified Sustainable and Legal by Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc., which means that their suppliers meet strict legal and environmental standards. For every tree their suppliers harvest, approximately 2.4 trees are planted to sustain the forest.
They also use finishes that are low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and are low-HAP (hazardous air pollutants). In addition to these measures, this company has ensured that each frame is wrapped in foam or fiber batting that is free of ozone depleters, carcinogenic flame retardants, and formaldehyde.
Pottery Barn has also enacted several eco-friendly measures. All of their 100% wood furniture is GreenGuard Gold Certified and the cotton they use is responsibly sourced. They also have furniture made from reclaimed wood, recycled glass, and their linen is made from organic natural materials.
While each company has made an impressive effort to be more environmentally conscious, it’s clear that Ethan Allen is several steps ahead of Pottery Barn.
Does Ethan Allen or Pottery Barn Use Better Materials?
Ethan Allen and Pottery Barn use very similar materials. Each is focused on sustainably and responsibly sourced materials that are of the highest quality. Let’s take a look at some of the materials each company uses.
Ethan Allen Materials:
- High-performance fabrics
- Organic natural materials such as cotton
- Solid wood
- Stone
- Metal
- Brass aluminum
- And more
Pottery Barn Materials:
- High-performance fabrics
- Organic natural materials such as cotton
- Solid wood
- Medium-density fiberboard
- Reclaimed wood
- Recycled glass
- And more
As you can see, each company uses fairly similar materials, with a few minor differences. Pottery Barn has more options that are still high quality, but can be sold for a more reasonable price point. Ethan Allen’s materials are very upscale, which accounts for their higher price points.
Is Ethan Allen or Pottery Barn More Affordable?
The furniture at Pottery Barn and Ethan Allen is going to cost more than your average furniture store. Each company is focused on high-quality furniture that can last for generations, and their devotion to sustainability does require a higher price range.
Let’s look at some of their most popular items to see how their prices compare:
Type of Furniture | Ethan Allen Price Range | Pottery Barn Price Range |
Couch | $1,100-$13,000+ | $599-$13,000+ |
Dining Room Table | $1,500-$5,000+ | $299-$9,000+ |
Nightstand | $629-$2,000+ | $173-$2,000+ |
While Ethan Allen and Pottery Barn tend to have similar prices on the high end of their price ranges, Pottery Barn has significantly lower prices on the starting end of their price ranges. This appears to be the trend across various items of furniture, so if you’re looking for a company with the most affordable options, then Pottery Barn is your best bet.
The Verdict– Which Makes Better Furniture?
Ethan Allen and Pottery Barn both focus on upscale, high-quality furniture that’s made to last for generations. Each company has taken a pledge to focus on environmental sustainability, and their furniture is made with sustainably and responsibly sourced materials.
Ethan Allen uses more high-quality materials, has more eco-friendly measures in place, and offers customization options for their furniture. If you don’t mind their slightly higher price point, then you should shop with Ethan Allen to get the best furniture for your home.
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Jamie is the Founder of My Home Dwelling. He is a homeowner and enjoys sharing his homeowner tips with others. He has real estate experience working as a new home construction Realtor. Jamie has worked on numerous residential construction sites helping with interior and exterior renovations. He loves refinishing furniture, DIY home projects, and sharing his knowledge online.