If you’re in the market for new furniture, you’ve probably come across two major furniture retailers: Ashley Furniture and Nebraska Furniture Mart.
Both stores offer a wide selection of living room, bedroom, dining room and home office furniture. But is one better than the other?
When it comes to choosing between Ashley Furniture and Nebraska Furniture Mart, there are several factors to consider. Price, quality, selection, shopping experience – it all comes into play when deciding where to make your furniture purchase.
This guide will break down the key differences between these two retail giants to help you determine the best option for your needs and budget.
At A Glance Comparison Table
| Aspects | Ashley Furniture | Nebraska Furniture Mart |
| Store Locations | National chain with over 700 stores | Regional chain with 5 stores |
| Furniture Selection | Wide range of styles from traditional to contemporary | Focus on traditional and classic styles |
| Pricing | Lower and mid-range prices | Low to high price points |
| Manufacturing | Mass-produced furniture | Mix of mass-produced & custom-made pieces |
| Delivery | Delivers nationwide | Delivery limited to store locations |
| Shopping Experience | Warehouse showrooms with packed inventory | Lifestyle vignette showrooms and knowledgeable staff |
Now let’s dive into the details on each store’s strengths and weaknesses.
Pros of Shopping at Ashley Furniture
- Affordable Pricing: Ashley focuses on the value end of furniture. You’ll find living room sets starting under $500 and bedroom sets from $200. This makes them one of the most budget-friendly options.
- Huge Selection: With hundreds of furniture collections to choose from, Ashley has something for just about every taste and budget. You’ll have plenty of options to customize your order.
- Convenient Shopping: The chain has stores across the U.S. so you can likely find one near you. Their website also makes it easy to browse and purchase furniture online.
- Frequent Sales: Ashley Furniture is known for offering regular sales and big holiday weekend promotions. You can often save 20-30% off with timely shopping.
Cons of Shopping at Ashley Furniture
- Lower Quality: The affordable pricing comes at the cost of wood materials, construction and longevity. Ashley furniture won’t become antique heirlooms.
- Requires Assembly: Items come disassembled in boxes which means you’ll need to be prepared to put pieces together. Instructions are included but can be challenging.
- Inconsistent Experiences: With so many stores, customer service and store quality can be hit or miss depending on location. Do your research to find top rated ones.
- Can Feel Impersonal: The warehouse showrooms lack decor inspiration and customers are left to browse amongst packed aisles of inventory.
The Nebraska Furniture Mart Shopping Experience
The highlight of shopping at Nebraska Furniture Mart is exploring their grand showrooms. Floors are thoughtfully arranged by lifestyle with inspiring room displays instead of crowded aisles.
For example, you’ll find a mocked up urban loft, a contemporary living room, a coastal inspired dining room, and a fully staged home office. This makes it easier to envision pieces in your own space.
Their stores are also much larger than typical furniture retailers. The location in Omaha spans an astonishing 1.1 million square feet! Never worry about selection being limited here.
And you’ll find advantages shopping a family-owned business. Their personal pride of ownership shows. Sales associates are extremely knowledgeable about products with some possessing decades of expertise.
You can expect attentive yet low pressure service. Nebraska Furniture Mart has also built up a reputation for reliable delivery and resolving any issues.
Pros of Shopping at Nebraska Furniture Mart
- Mix of Budget and Luxury: Whether you want a bargain or to invest in quality craftsmanship, you’ll find options here.
- Custom Order Pieces: Work directly with designers to customize furniture sizing, fabrics, finishes and details.
- Inspiring Shopping Experience: See fully decorated lifestyle rooms and speak with knowledgeable salespeople.
- Reliable Local Company: They stand behind their products and deliver excellent customer service.
- One Stop Shop: Furnish your entire home with furniture, mattresses, appliances, electronics and more.
Cons of Shopping at Nebraska Furniture Mart
- Limited Locations: With just 5 stores in the Midwest, you’ll need to be located nearby or travel to shop in-person.
- Mixed Quality: Not all mass-produced lines are built to last like their premium custom-made furniture.
- Higher Pricing: Expect to pay more than discount chains like Ashley Furniture and Ikea.
- Long Lead Times: Custom-built and special order pieces can take weeks or months before delivery.
- Large Showrooms: The huge stores can be daunting and tiring if you’ll be there for hours.
Also Read: Differences Between Rooms To Go And Nebraska Furniture Mart.
Ashley Vs. Nebraska: Key Comparisons
Now that we’ve provided an overview of each retailer, let’s directly compare them across a few key factors:
- Price
In general, Ashley Furniture is the more budget-friendly option while Nebraska Furniture Mart has higher average prices but also premium offerings.
Ashley’s manufactured furniture lines allow them to offer low prices, often under $500 for full living room sets.
Nebraska has affordable options too but will skew higher for similar mass-produced style and quality.
However, Nebraska has the advantage at the high end. Unique hand-crafted solid wood furniture runs upwards of $5,000-10,000. You can truly splurge on heirloom quality designs.
- Selection
Thanks to their hundreds of locations, Ashley Furniture wins when it comes to selection and availability. You’ll have no shortage of options to customize your order.
But Nebraska Furniture Mart also offers an impressively large furniture selection for just 5 stores. Their massive warehouses display a diverse range of designs and brands.
- Quality
Here’s where it really comes down to your budget. Ashley Furniture uses less expensive materials like engineered woods in their construction. These mass-produced lines are not built to become family heirlooms.
Nebraska Furniture Mart has some similarly made furniture at lower price points. Yet they also offer custom-built Amish furniture designed with solid woods, joinery construction and artisan craftsmanship. This quality comes at a premium price.
So while Ashley has the advantage for affordability, Nebraska is the better option if you want to invest in higher-end furniture built to last decades and become antiqued over time.
- Shopping Experience
Ashley Furniture has a chain store feel with warehouse showrooms packed with inventory. Displays lack room context. But you’ll have plenty of variety to choose from.
The highlight of Nebraska Furniture Mart is exploring their thoughtfully designed showrooms organized by lifestyle. This inspiring presentation plus their knowledgeable sales staff makes shopping an enjoyable experience.
- Delivery
No matter where you live, Ashley Furniture can deliver your purchase. Although you may need to pay an additional delivery fee if no store is located nearby.
In contrast, Nebraska Furniture Mart offers free delivery but it is limited to a 150 mile radius from their 5 locations. So depending on your proximity, you may need to travel to pick up in-store.
As you can see, each furniture retailer has their own strengths and weaknesses. Ashley Furniture is the choice if you prioritize affordable pricing and broad selection above all.
But if you have a flexible budget and appreciate qualities like made in America craftsmanship, custom options and a higher-end shopping experience, Nebraska Furniture Mart has the edge.
Also Read: How CB2 And Crate & Barrel Furniture Stores Are Different?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Still trying to choose between these two furniture giants? Here are answers to some common questions for deciding between Ashley and Nebraska Furniture Mart.
No, Nebraska Furniture Mart and Ashley Furniture are completely separate competing companies with no affiliation to each other. Ashley is a national chain while Nebraska Furniture Mart operates stores exclusively in the Midwest region.
Yes, Ashley offers both lower priced collections made from less expensive materials as well as some higher-end lines constructed with better quality woods, joinery and craftsmanship. You get what you pay for, so the more affordable collections will not have longevity compared to pricier options.
Overall Ashley does offer decent quality furniture considering the low prices. It’s a great option for affordably furnishing a home when you need to save money. While their furniture won’t become family heirlooms, Ashley designs even at the cheaper end do often look nice and last a fair amount of time with care.
This perception is relativel – Ashley is actually considered one of the most budget-friendly furniture retailers. Because they manufacture their own products, Ashley can offer lower pricing than smaller brands. Of course “expensive” is subjective. Their higher-end collections with better materials and construction are priced higher. But compared to other furniture stores, Ashley provides a lot of value.
The Bottom Line
Finding the right furniture comes down to your priorities. If budget-friendly pricing is number one, along with plenty of selection and shopping convenience, Ashley Furniture is likely the best fit.
Just know their affordable furniture won’t stand the test of time.
For those who appreciate craftsmanship details and want furniture made to become family heirlooms, Nebraska Furniture Mart is worth exploring. Their stores showcase quality brands and custom-made options at higher price points that reflect the materials and construction.
Whichever you choose, I hope this breakdown has helped you feel confident deciding where to purchase your next furniture! Furnishing your home should be enjoyable. With the right insight, you can find pieces that fit your lifestyle and design sensibility.
