The Ins and Outs of Renting Furniture from Feather
Renting furniture used to be relegated to college dorm rooms and corporate apartments, calling to mind images of beat-up sofas and scratched coffee tables. But new companies like Feather are aiming to disrupt the furniture rental space with style-forward pieces and flexible lease options.
I recently tested out Feather to see if furniture rentals could be a good fit for myfrequently changing lifestyle. After livingwith their products for a few months, here’s my in-depth take onthe pros, cons and things to consider before signing up.
How Does Feather Furniture Work?
Feather sources pre-owned and new furniture, giving each piece a “glow up” with repairs and new hardware before listing them for rent or purchase on their site. With over 200 items like sofas, rugs, lighting and more, they aim to have stylish picks to suit any space.
Once you spot an item you like, you choose either to:
- Rent the piece on a monthly basis with 1, 3 or 12 month terms
- Buy it outright at a discounted price
- Start renting with the option to buy it later (a “rent-to-own” plan)
Delivery is included on all orders over $35 and is quite quick – I had my new couch dropped off less than a week after placing my order. Assembly was also fast and easy since the delivery team handles all furniture setup.
When your rental period ends, you can return the item with no extra fees. Or if you opted to rent-to-own or just want to keep an old rental longer, you can extend your lease or purchase the piece. This flexibility makes Feather a convenient option if you’re unsure about long-term furniture commitments.
The Pros of Renting from Feather
I found several advantages to testing out the Feather rental program, especially compared to dropping thousands immediately on new furniture purchases.
Cost Savings
Even though Feather’s pieces skew towards mid-century and modern aesthetics, their prices are much lower than what you would pay for comparable items at places like West Elm or CB2. For example, the Ludlow sofa from Feather is currently just $37 per month to rent. Buying it new from a major retailer could easily top $1,000 or more.
Renting can be ideal if you’re furnishing a space temporarily. And should any damage occur, your costs are capped based on your rental terms instead of paying outright to replace an owned couch or chair.
Style Flexibility
Since you aren’t making a long-term commitment, it’s fun to swap out pieces whenever the urge strikes you. I’m currently obsessed with velvet furniture, but I know in a year I may tire of the look. With Feather, I can easily return my emerald green sofa and replace it with something fresh when my tastes change.
You can also continuously upgrade to higher end pieces at affordable monthly rates. I started with some basic side chairs and now have a beautiful acacia wood dining set that would have been out of reach for an outright purchase.
Eco-Friendly Option
Renting secondhand furniture keeps items circulating in use instead of hitting the landfill when people move or redecorate. Feather even offers a buyback program allowing customers to sell back gently used furniture they no longer need. This attention to reuse and sustainability really appealed to me.
Smooth Logistics
From online browsing to at-home delivery, I loved the ease of getting settled with new furniture fast. The website makes it simple to filter by type, size, color and style. Delivery is speedy and the process very smooth compared to waiting weeks for something to be built and shipped.
Even when I had an issue with some scratches on my first order, Feather quickly provided a replacement at no charge. Their friendly customer service helped make furniture rental feel just as nice as shopping in a store.
Potential Downsides of Renting Furniture
While I’m largely a Feather fan, renting used furniture does come with a few drawbacks to consider.
Varying Quality
Even with their refurbishing process, some of Feather‘s pieces show quite a bit of wear. My first couch had visible stains despite being listed in “good” condition. Returns are free if items truly don’t match their online descriptions, but it can mean waiting longer to furnish your space.
There’s also no warranty or guarantee that a rental piece will last the duration of your lease without issues. So far my replacements are holding up fine, but long term durability is a bit questionable.
Responsibility for Damages
Renters must care for items as if they owned them and are on the hook for any damage beyond normal wear and tear. Feather’s damage protection waiver helps limit costs but doesn’t cover negligence, stains or missing pieces.
While minor dings or scratches can likely be repaired for free, significant damage like torn upholstery or cracked frames mean additional charges. You may even need to replace the item if repair costs exceed its value.
Delivery Delays
Feather advertises 1 week delivery across most of the U.S. In my experience, some pieces arrived on time but other orders faced longer delays. One chair took over 3 weeks with little communication on updated timelines.
This uncertainty makes it hard to plan around specific furniture arrival dates. While delays happen at many retailers, it’s extra inconvenient when you’re without a couch or bed for weeks on end.
Who is Feather Furniture Best For?
Renting makes the most financial and logistical sense for certain lifestyles and spaces:
- Frequent movers who don’t want to schlep furniture from home to home
- Newlyweds or recent grads setting up their first “grown up” apartment
- Renters unsure when they’ll buy property since rent-to-own lets you apply past fees towards a future purchase
- Those furnishing temporary spaces like a home staging, corporate housing, or vacation rental
- Owners with quickly changing tastes who love refreshing their decor often
For anyone planning to stay long-term in their home, buying quality furniture that will last for years may be the better option. But renting can be ideal for many other situations.
The Bottom Line on Feather Furniture Rentals
I would absolutely rent from Feather again and recommend giving it a try if you’re seeking lower commitment, sustainable furniture options. Their bridging of rental flexibility with nice design and styling makes furnishing a home much less stressful.
Just be sure you fully understand rental terms and responsibilities in case any issues arise. And inspect items closely upon delivery to catch condition concerns early. As long as you set proper expectations, Feather makes for an exciting new way to constantly refresh your decor over time.
Have you tried furniture rental services before? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments!
