About HomeThangs Furniture
HomeThangs Furniture first opened its doors in 1996 in Pennsylvania as a catalog and phone order furniture retailer. Over the past 25+ years, it has transitioned to being an online-only store offering a wide range of furniture, home decor, lighting, and more.
While HomeThangs does not have any brick-and-mortar showrooms, its website boasts an extensive catalog with over 5,000 products from 150 brands. It positions itself as offering high-end luxury furniture at warehouse pricing, made possible by its online-only model.
In terms of product categories, HomeThangs carries living room, dining room, bedroom, home office, patio, bar, kids furniture and home decor ranging from mirrors and wall art to rugs and curtains. Most items ship for free within the continental US.
Critical Analysis of HomeThangs Furniture Quality
Examining some of HomeThangs‘ best-selling products reveals furniture that appears high-end but has some issues with durability.
For example, the Contemporary Design Furniture Arno Blush Velvet Sofa (CDF-S168) features a stunning design and luxe velvet upholstery. However, velvet fabric tends to show wear quickly with regular use. The material pills easily and crushes down over time. While beautiful initially, this sofa may lose its charm faster than more durable upholstery fabrics like leather.
Another popular pick, the Hardware Resources Kitchen Island with a marble-look quartz countertop looks quite premium but scratches and stains could be a problem over years of kitchen use. Quartz is less hardy than natural stone.
The Aron Living Bubble Chair appeals with its space-age allure but hanging an acrylic chair from the ceiling on a chain can pose safety issues if hardware quality is questionable. Its precarious suspension means durable, load-bearing hardware is a must.
These examples showcase aesthetic appeal but uncertain long-term durability. Product descriptions do not adequately set expectations around lifespan and ideal usage scenarios. This forces buyers to shoulder the usage and upkeep requirements for what they presume as higher grade furniture.
Review of Ordering, Delivery and Returns
HomeThangs offers free shipping on the majority of its catalog with 5-8 business day delivery for smaller packages and white glove delivery for large furniture items. The website could be more transparent about white glove delivery fees upfront rather than requiring customers to call in for a quote.
The brand allows returns within 30 days in new condition with original packaging and parts. However, special order, clearance and custom furniture is final sale. HomeThangs does not pay for return shipping costs which can be prohibitive for bulky, heavy items. It also deducts up to 25% restocking fees in some cases. This policy falls short of top furniture e-tailers who offer free returns within 1 year.
While HomeThangs aims to deliver high-end furniture at low prices, weak return coverage counters that consumer value proposition. Lengthening the trial period and removing restocking fees would better the buying experience.
How HomeThangs Furniture Compares to Alternatives
Benchmarking HomeThangs against other furniture e-commerce brands like Joybird, Article and Burrow reveals lower prices but bigger trade-offs in quality, service and policies.
For example, a mid-century modern sofa from Joybird costs 50-100% more than HomeThangs but comes with thicker, plusher cushions, stain-resistant fabrics and a lifetime warranty. Joybird also offers free returns with no restocking fees for 365 days.
Competitor Article provides similarly stunning furniture designs at approachable prices but invests in durable, family-friendly materials able to withstand kids and pets. All Article furniture carries at least a 10-year warranty.
While HomeThangs strives to make luxury furniture affordable, it does cut some corners in materials, quality control and service. Savvy shoppers would do well to set realistic expectations when evaluating its products versus higher-priced but longer-lasting alternatives.
Expert Tips for Shopping at HomeThangs
Based on my in-depth assessment, here is my best advice for finding deals at HomeThangs without compromising on quality:
- Stick to tabletop items like side tables and kitchen carts over upholstered furniture, which show wear faster
- Inspect images closely for cheaper wood materials like MDF, resin or plastic over solid wood
- Read product details carefully to understand what is high grade (metal, wood) versus lower grade (glass, laminate)
- Purchase furniture protectors/covers suited for your items to improve durability
- Use coupons strategically on higher ticket products to maximize savings
- Choose in-stock items over special order to enable hassle-free returns if needed
Following this guidance when navigating the site will help uncover the true gems amidst the massive catalog.
The Pros and Cons of Shopping at HomeThangs Furniture
Based on the evaluation above, I‘ve summarized the key advantages and disadvantages of buying from HomeThangs:
Pros
- Lower prices compared to other online furniture stores
- Modern, visually appealing furniture styles
- Wide range of products for whole home
- Frequent sales and coupons on select items
- Smooth ordering and delivery process
Cons
- Questionable long-term durability on upholstered items
- Lower-grade materials than claimed in some product descriptions
- Short 30-day return window
- Restocking fees and return shipping costs
- Spotty quality control
On balance, HomeThangs presents affordable prices but uncertain product quality and service drawbacks may dampen customer satisfaction over time.
The Final Take: Is HomeThangs Worth Buying?
HomeThangs Furniture closes the perceived gap between luxury furniture and warehouse value through its online-only direct to consumer model. However, materials, construction and policies do not fully deliver on the promise of premium furniture built to last without some compromises.
For budget-conscious buyers wanting to replicate high-end looks for less even if that means replacing items sooner, HomeThangs does fit the bill.
But for shoppers able and willing to invest more upfront for heirloom furniture made to endure years of use, other retailers offer better options that justify slightly higher costs.
Taking a discretionary approach by picking tabletop statement pieces over workhorses like sofas or beds can help mitigate the shortfalls noted with some HomeThangs products. Butacross all categories, examining selections with a critical eye is a must.
