My Review of Dwell Furniture After 3 Years as a Loyal Customer
As a designer and home decor enthusiast, I‘ve tested my share of furniture brands over the past decade. But none have won my loyalty like Dwell Furniture. After furnishing my entire home exclusively with Dwell pieces, I‘m sharing my hands-on review after 3 years of everyday use.
An Overview of Dwell Furniture
Founded in 2003 by Aamir Ahmad, Dwell Furniture set out to make high-end, contemporary designer furniture attainable for the average consumer. Based in the UK with 22 brick-and-mortar showrooms, Dwell specializes in sleek, midcentury silhouettes focused on clean lines and neutrals that transition seamlessly between spaces.
Dwell designs and manufactures most of their pieces in Europe, adhering to rigorous quality control and environmental production standards. They source FSC-certified woods, durable engineered hardwood frames, and top-grain leathers and performance fabrics designed to withstand years of use.
Today, Dwell offers complete furniture collections spanning living rooms, dining spaces, bedrooms, home offices, storage solutions, and lighting. With an in-house design team and manufacturing oversight from concept to final product, they control quality while offering 2-3 week delivery in the UK.
As a loyal customer who exclusively furnished her home with Dwell, I‘ll be sharing my honest, in-depth assessment of Dwell‘s quality, value, and shopping experience after 3 years of everyday use.
My Review of Bestselling Dwell Living Room Furniture
The living room sees the most wear and tear in most homes. From movie nights to chasing toddlers to hosting holidays, our sofas and chairs endure it all. That‘s why quality construction and durable fabrics are non-negotiable for me – and where Dwell excels.
The Livorno Sofa Collection
We chose the Livorno leather sofa as the anchor piece for our family room 3 years ago. To say it has held up well is an understatement. The smooth Italian leather still looks pristine, withstanding all of life‘s spills and tumbles without a scratch. And the engineered hardwood frame provides lasting support and stability – no squeaks or sagging despite near daily use.
The Pros
- Full Italian leather wears beautifully
- Hardwood frame promises durability
- Deep seat cushions stay plush and supportive
- Great price for Italian leather – only £949 for a 3-seater
The Cons
- Back cushions lose shape/firmness over time
- Leather can feel sticky when warm
- Metal legs lack protective pads
For the price, the Livorno leather sofa offers unbelievable quality. Just be prepared to occasionally re-fluff the back cushions.
The Marlowe Sofa Collection
For a family-friendly fabric alternative, we chose the Marlowe 3-seater sofa and love seat in a durable grey linen blend textile. The soft cushions maintain their loft while resisting stains, and the material hides wear remarkably well. My husband was initially skeptical of fabric with our rowdy kids, but the Marlowe passed the test.
The Pros
- Budget-friendly starting at £599
- Soft textile cushions are still resilient
- Tough linen/polyester blend textile
- Hides everyday wear
- Great transitional style
The Cons
- Back cushions compress easier than leather
- Arms seem too low at 19‘‘ height
- Few customizations available
Overall, the Marlowe fabric sofa furnishes an affordable family room with substantial quality and comfort that outperforms the price.
My Experience with Dwell Dining Furniture
Between dinner parties, homework sessions, holiday meals and more, my dining chairs withstand hours of daily wear. Let‘s just say I don‘t settle when comfort and reliability are key.
The Mida Dining Chairs
For my midcentury modern dining space, I invested in a set of 6 Mida dining chairs based on glowing reviews. Covered in supple top-grain Italian leather with walnut wood legs and quality craftsmanship, they cost just £339 each – an undeniable value.
In terms of comfort, the Mida chairs provide ample lumbar support even through lengthy Thanksgiving dinners. The buttery soft leather gives subtly over years of use while the integrity of the frame maintains sturdiness and stability. While the wood legs lack felt protection, the Mida chairs uphold my lengthy comfort and quality standards three years later.
The Pros
- Italian leather offers luxury comfort
- Contoured high back supportive
- Solid walnut wood frame built to last
- Surprisingly affordable at £339
- Matches wide variety of table styles
The Cons
- Lacks protective pads on wood legs
- Leather scuffs over time
- Leather prone to scratching from metal buckles/zippers
For the exceptional construction, premium materials, enduring comfort and accessible price point, I wholeheartedly recommend the Mida dining chairs – minor scuffing aside.
Dwell Bedroom Sets: Assessing Durability and Value
When it comes to bedroom furniture, style plays second fiddle to quality. Between restless nights and kids jumping into bed with us, our bedroom pieces must offer reliable structure.
The Hedley Bed and Nightstands
As a family of four, the Hedley upholstered bed frame accommodates all our needs. The generous size, padded headboard, and durable solid wood frame maintain comfort and integrity despite frequent use. Paired with the matching modern nightstands, the Hedley collection anchors our master suite.
The Pros
- Padded linen headboard is super comfortable
- Low-profile hardwood frame won‘t creak
- Matching nightstands offer ample bedside storage
- Surprisingly affordable for the quality
- Ships quickly with White Glove delivery
The Cons
- Upholstery stitching is already fraying
- Nightstands feel cheaper than bed frame
- Scratches easily from jewelry and keys
With exceptional structural stability and lasting user comfort, both my husband and I would recommend the Hedley bedroom set from Dwell as an affordable starting point for furnishing a master suite – occasional stitching issues aside.
How Does Dwell Furniture Compare to Other Retailers?
While style plays a role, both quality materials and value prices are non-negotiable when investing in furniture built to last for years. How does Dwell compare to other popular retailers?
| Furniture Retailer | Avg Leather Sofa Price | Avg Fabric Sofa Price | Avg Bed Price | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwell | £949 | £599 | £799 | 1 yr warranty |
| Made | £1,750 | £1,150 | £1,350 | 2 yr warranty |
| Loaf | £1,895 | £995 | £1,395 | 2 yr warranty |
| DFS | £1,099 | £549 | £799 | 5 yr warranty |
Based on my experience having purchased all of the above, Dwell Furniture compares very favorably to pricier high street brands in terms of materials, construction quality, comfort and overall value. Their accessible price points make high-end contemporary furniture more achievable.
Ordering, Delivery and Returns with Dwell Furniture
After investing thousands furnishing our home with Dwell, I‘m quite familiar with their online ordering process, delivery, returns and more. Here‘s what to expect as a buyer:
Ordering – Dwell‘s website makes choosing fabrics, colors, sizes and more easy to visualize. Their payment portal securely processes all major credit cards and PayPal with encryption protection.
Production & Delivery Timelines – As a made-to-order furniture brand, Dwell pieces enter production shortly after order confirmation. In-stock items ship within 1 week while customized options take 2-3 weeks production time. I had my in-stock purchases delivered less than 2 weeks from order date.
Delivery Experience – Dwell offers white glove delivery, meaning their team not only transports your purchase to your home, but they‘ll unpack, inspect for defects, assemble, and place each piece in your preferred room. Their delivery teams always arrived on-time within the 2 hour window and handled my furniture with care while assembling efficiently.
Returns Process – While I‘ve never needed to return Dwell furniture, their 14 day window and coordination of return pickup seems fair to me as a buyer. I appreciate their willingness to repair minor defects within 6 months rather than replace pieces to reduce waste.
My Tips for Shopping Dwell Furniture
As a seasoned Dwell furniture owner, I‘m sharing a few tips I wish I knew as a new buyer.
🔼 Quality over quantity – Stick to your must-have pieces and invest in better materials versus filling a whole home. A single incredible sofa beats a fully-furnished home with disposable furniture.
🔼 Maximize sales – Dwell runs monthly promos like 25% off or discounted clearance items. Time purchases around these better pricing moments versus paying full price. I saved over £800buying one showroom floor model at an automatic 25% off discount.
🔼 BYOF – Build your own fabric upgrades offer tremendous perceived value for marginal upcharge. Custom details make pieces feel higher-end.
🔼 Care for metals – Many legs, pulls and accents are raw, unprotected metal. Add protective pads on table legs, wood wax metal pulls, etc. to prevent scratches and oxidation over time.
🔼 Rotate cushions – Rotate removable seat and back cushions weekly to evenly distribute wear and maintain cushion shape, especially in high traffic areas.
The Bottom Line – My Final Verdict on Dwell Furniture
For contemporary silhouettes and enduring, substantial comfort with upscale materials at accessible price points, Dwell Furniture is my ride-or-die furniture brand – hands down.
After 3 years reviewing countless furniture brands, I stand by my decision to exclusively outfit my home with Dwell pieces thanks to their combination of quality materials and construction with on-trend silhouettes made to withstand family life for years to come – all offered at prices working families can reasonably afford.
While minor stitching and scratching issues arose on a couple pieces, Dwell‘s overall durability and structural integrity maintained A+ status in our home confirming I invested wisely for the long haul.
If you appreciate contemporary designs crafted with everyday families in mind, I confidently recommend Dwell Furniture to bring comfort, style and lasting quality into your home. Feel free to browse their collections at dwell.co.uk or visit one of their 22 UK showrooms.
