As someone who has furnished nearly my entire home with Room & Board pieces, I feel qualified to provide an insider‘s take – both the awe-inspiring and not-so-great aspects. Hopefully my transparent views that come from being a devoted multi-year customer help you decide if their premium furniture is worth the steep prices.
Quick Background on Room & Board
Back in 1980, entrepreneur John Gabbert launched Room & Board in Minnesota after finding inspiration in the affordable yet functional furniture sold at IKEA in Sweden. Yet he aimed to elevate quality while maintaining reasonable prices.
40+ years later, Room & Board operates over 20 showrooms nationwide plus its robust e-commerce site to share its offerings. While you‘ll pay more compared to mass retailers like IKEA, devoted fans view the furnishings as long-term investments that withstand daily use.
Most manufacturing occurs in America too under watchful eyes ensuring adherence to quality and sustainability protocols. The brand has won mountains of awards for elevating furniture shopping through good corporate citizenship.
Room & Board at a Glance (Source: Room & Board About Page, Business of Home)
Why I Initially Fell for Room & Board
Back when outfitting my new home as a young couple, we found ourselves drawn to Room & Board‘s unique modern designs with little embellishment allowing the natural textures to shine. The showroom felt warm and welcoming compared to some stiff competitors.
We invested in a few centerpiece items like the couch and dining set with plans to slowly build upon our initial splurge. Our sales associate Stefan educated us on craftsmanship details that reinforced the long-term value perception.
The full-service delivery experience was another revelation. The team unpacked everything, assembled the pieces, and ensured we were 100% thrilled. Who could argue with white-glove treatment at this price point?
Over the next decade, two kids and one more move, Room & Board became our go-to as needs arose or tastes evolved. Its selection provides a balanced blend of trend-right and forever classics.
Having now furnished nearly all living spaces with their tables, seating, storage, beds, and more amounting to over $15,000 spent, I‘d love to provide my candid views as an experienced multi-year patron.
Room & Board Review By Category
Having purchased across dining, living, office, and bedroom categories, I‘ll break down my thoughts by furniture type along with specifics on some best-selling items.
Noteworthy Sofas & Sectionals
Our 7-seater Maxwell sectional still looks as pristine as delivery day over 5 years later thanks to the easy-clean polyester knit fabric that disguises wear. Understated design pairs well with any style. Sturdy hardwood frame and benchmade cushions haven‘t sagged either.
I will note the$3,499 price stung a bit yet received 15% off for purchasing 5+ rooms of furnishings together. Fantastic long-term investment.
Maxwell 7-Piece Sectional Review
[insert photo of sectional]| Dimensions | 118" w x 102" d x 28" h |
|---|---|
| Best For | Sprawling sectionals, sociable gatherings |
| Features | 7 pieces, clever configuration, thin frame |
| Fabrics | Durable polyester knits & woven textiles |
| Price Range | $$2,970+ |
| My Rating | 5/5 ⭐ |
Meanwhile, the vintage-inspired Jasper sofa provides a perfect reading spot with supportive cushions wrapped in soft, cozy boucle. Definitely splurge for down-blend seat cushions. The $2,099 price reflects outstanding quality all around.
Easy to vacuum and spot clean – even endured an uncapped marker mishap with minimal evidence thanks to the tightly woven fabric. Overall family and pet-friendly.
Dining Room Do‘s and Don‘ts
As self-professed foodies, the dining room serves as the heart of our home for both quick family meals and languorous dinner parties. We‘ve purchased and returned a few sets over the years as our style preferences matured.
Our first Parsons set with a marble top and nickel legs looked gorgeously contemporary at first. But after a few years, visible scratches and dings to the delicate marble bothered me given the $3,000 investment.
Learned to avoid surfaces requiring extensive care with rambunctious kids. Also found the silhouette felt too stark matching our modern sensibilities.
The Campbell collection‘s distressed oak veneer and black steel base introduced welcome warmth and texture for $2,700. Charming leather chairs play nicely with the reclaimed look. Spilled red wine practically disappears unlike our white marble mishap.
Only nitpick is the quality variance between pieces ordered together but manufactured separately. The finish on buffet and hutch don‘t quite match the table though only noticeable on close inspection. Just part of the beauty of natural materials. Still adore five years later!
Sleep-Ready Beds
Given most of us spend a third of lives sleeping, investing in a superb bed seems non-negotiable. We‘ve purchased and returned three R&B beds over 8 years of marriage as preferences changed.
Got sucked in by the chic Ella bed‘s polished brass framing but at 5‘ 10", my husband felt uncomfortably cramped. Returned after 30 nights for a full refund thanks to R&B‘s flexible policies.
Settled happily on the padded Hartley bed with tapered wooden legs. Enough style without dominating smaller bedrooms. Open frame accommodates our thicker pillowtop mattress. Nearly invisible seam lines and tailored corners echo fine craftsmanship with durable joinery designed to last years.
Zero buyer‘s remorse given the $1,700 Queen size felt modest next to five-figure sprees on living and family rooms. Added a luxurious Duvet insert and sheets to the 11-piece bundle offered at checkout saving 15%. Highly recommend!
Mixed Bag with Storage Pieces
Owing both positive and negative experiences here. The mid-century inspired Walnut Buffet makes a gorgeous focal point in the dining room hiding all our entertainware. With 62 inches wide and 17 inches deep, it fits standard dining rooms without overwhelming.
Doors slide smoothly after 3 years of everyday use. Little wear showing thanks to durable finishes. Easy to dust and style. Boasts helpful interior organization too. $1,800 cost felt fair.
However, the Astaire Chest‘s beveled edges and tapered metal legs introduce welcome dynamic contrast next to traditional beds. But the $1,000 price quickly loses luster given the veneer surface scratched within weeks. Attempts to camouflage imperfections fail even with careful use.
R&B kindly offered a replacement at no charge after sending photos. Still adore the style yet not the quality. Reinforced the importance of materials that endure family life.
Decor Accents to Complete the Look
Beyond foundational furniture, R&B offers a artfully curated mix of accessories pulling any room together. As a longtime customer, I‘m privy to insider tips to recreate their immaculate showrooms at home.
The key? Thoughtfully layer textures and tie color stories together across decorative objects like throw pillows, mirrors, ceramics, tabletop and more. Consider contrasting materials – a nubby linen pillow next to sleek tray. And repeat hues across categories to reinforce connections.
While some small pieces feel costly for what they are, viewing them as precious finishing touches helps justify the expense. And thanks to consistent 30-day return policies, no commitment needed if items disappoint upon unpacking.
Here are some go-to R&B home accents bringing any room to life:
- Throws & Pillows: Available in hundreds of on-trend patterns, fabrics and trims to infuse personality. Prices from $69+
- Sculptural Art: Choose limited edition prints or sculptures reflecting cultural themes. From $150+
- Ceramics: Handmade bowls, vases, pitchers from renowned artisans. Expect subtle imperfections. From $22+
- Decorative Trays: Metallic sheen trays elevate coffee tables. Check for padded bottoms protecting existing finishes. From $99+
Additional Room & Board Review Critiques
Beyond a category breakdown, several additional review critiques merit calling out from an owner perspective. Let‘s dig deeper on sourcing, sustainability, delivery, customer service and more.
Ethical Sourcing & Sustainability
- Most furnishings made in America supporting domestic manufacturing
- Responsible vendors screened ensuring worker protections
- Sustainably-harvested solid wood frames from managed N. American forests
- Over 50% of wood components use recycled or reclaimed timber
- Certain fabric lines utilize recycled polyester made from plastic bottles
- Renewable soy-based foam cushions on select models – super comfy!
- Reduced packaging waste using recyclable cardboard and materials
R&B publicly shares its stringent vendor requirements. All partners must uphold equitable labor policies and ethical operational standards. This gives me confidence buying with the brand aligned to my values.
That said, a few ultra-affordable accents lines likely don‘t meet the same thresholds signaling overseas mass production. But reassuring to see most collections excluding those outliers manufacture domestically or nearshore supporting American craftsmanship.
Snapshot of Room & Board‘s Sustainability Commitments (Source: Room & Board Sustainability Page)
White Glove Delivery Experience
The end-to-end service stands miles apart from other shops. Phone reps patiently guide you through measurements and specifications to ensure pieces fit your existing layouts.
Room & Board then personally selects local delivery crews who contact you to confirm arrival times and placement. They‘ll unpack everything and fully assemble so couches sit picture-perfect with no DIY hassles. You can also pay extra for full setup rearranging existing furnishings.
For large orders, expect multiple trucks with items often sourced across different U.S. manufacturing hubs. Achieving color consistency across finishes can prove tricky but the team managed well for us.
Do prepare for tighter arrival timeframes spanning 4-hour windows given the personalized experience. But so worth a few hours awaiting the professionals handling the heavy lifting!
Customer Service Recovery Falling Short
I‘d be remiss not to mention a few disappointing service incidents over the years as an otherwise vocal advocate.
While the sales and delivery teams shine, the separate customer service department misses the bar responding to issues. Reps follow rigid scripts offering frustrating band-aids rather than addressing core problems.
Our $250 floor lamp arrived damaged missing key components. While they refunded in full after some back and forth, I had to reselect alternatives when replacements unavailable – more work for the loyal customer.
During a seasonal sale, placing orders proved nearly impossible with reps constantly busy and website crashing from excessive traffic. They need technology investments and staffing supporting demand fluctuations.
I share this constructive feedback in hopes it helps an otherwise beloved brand better assist devoted patrons. Because when you spend thousands furnishing entire homes, you expect service matching the premier quality.
Final Verdict After $15k Invested Over a Decade
If you can‘t tell by now, I‘m a bonafide Room & Board enthusiast – despite a few nitpicks. The brand continues winning my loyalty year over year thanks to stunning designs crafted carefully to last with ethical processes not cut corners.
I view the pieces as lifelong investments that evolve gracefully without demanding constant care. And the comprehensive service provides true peace of mind.
Could I furnish for less? Absolutely. But I prefer using a local shop where expertise guides you to quality furnishings made to endure versus disposable fast furniture models.
It brings me joy seeing R&B pieces become part of my family‘s daily memories. And I appreciate supporting a purpose-driven brand giving back to communities and working to build a sustainable future.
So if you value such factors over rock-bottom pricing, I can‘t recommend Room & Board enough after getting to intimately know them. Feel free to DM me with any specific questions as you embark on your journey too!
