When it comes to buying new furniture, especially big-ticket items like sofas, beds, and dining sets, two major brands often top shoppers’ lists: England and Ashley Furniture.
Both companies offer a wide selection of living room, bedroom, and dining room furniture across a range of styles and budgets. But which one is better for your needs?
There are some key differences between England and Ashley Furniture when it comes to quality, selection, pricing, and overall value.
This article will compare the pros and cons of both brands across these factors to help you decide which is the best fit for your home and lifestyle. Keep reading for an in-depth look at how England and Ashley stack up.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Aspects | England Furniture | Ashley Furniture |
| Quality | High-quality materials and construction, better longevity | More budget-friendly materials, lower quality for the price |
| Price | Mid-high range, higher prices but better value | Budget to mid-range pricing, lower upfront cost |
| Selection | Smaller selection focused on classic styles | Very wide selection across many styles |
| Customization | Many customization options available | Limited customization options |
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty on frames and springs | 1 year warranty on manufacturer defects |
| Shopping Experience | Smaller selection in stores, catalog/online ordering | Huge in-store selection, also available online |
England Furniture Pros
- High-Quality Materials and Construction
The biggest advantage of England furniture is its higher-end construction and materials. England uses thick, hardwood frames, quality fabrics, and premium foam in its cushions.
This results in sofas, chairs, and beds that last for years with proper care. Sturdy frames prevent sagging and breakdown. And cushions keep their shape and comfort over time.
England’s quality also extends to details like seam work, feet, and finishings. This furniture is built to handle daily wear and tear for busy families while retaining its beauty.
Although England costs more upfront, their pieces represent a long-term investment in your home.
- Timeless, Classic Styles
England focuses on crafting furniture with timeless style. Their living room collections feature elegant rolled arms, skirted bases, and traditional silhouettes that have remained popular for decades. Their bedroom sets exude classic charm that works in both formal and casual spaces.
This versatility allows England furniture to transition seamlessly between homes and trends. The clean lines and neutral fabrics are unlikely to ever appear dated. Choosing this furniture means enjoying it for many years before needing to replace it.
- Highly Customizable Options
One advantage of England’s smaller scope of offerings is that they can provide customized furniture specific to your needs. Their catalog includes over 1,800 fabric choices for upholstery. You can select ideal colors, patterns, and textures to match your room’s existing decor.
For sofas and sectionals, you can choose configurations with different numbers of seats, arm styles, and modular additions like ottomans, chaises, and accent tables.
Beds, dressers, and dining sets can also be ordered in sizes and layouts outside the standard offerings. This made-to-order approach ensures an ideal fit for your space.
- Lifetime Warranty on Frames and Springs
Backing up the quality construction of their furniture, England offers a lifetime warranty on all sofa, loveseat, and chair frames and springs. This protects against defects and premature breakdown.
If an issue arises due to faulty manufacturing or materials, England will repair or replace the affected parts at no cost to you.
The lifetime warranty provides excellent peace of mind that your investment is protected in the long run. Between conscientious construction and warranty coverage, an England piece should last for decades in your home before needing replacement.
- Positive Shopping Experience
Although England has a smaller retail presence than brands like Ashley, they aim to provide exceptional customer service whether you shop online or in-store. Their showrooms feature carefully curated selections designed to inspire.
Sales associates are knowledgeable about all available options.
When ordering custom pieces, you can request fabric swatches and speak directly with designers for guidance. England also allows you to return customized furniture if it does not meet your expectations once delivered.
Their goal is a pressure-free and educational shopping journey.
England Furniture Cons
- Significant Upfront Investment
The main downside of England furniture is its higher prices, especially compared to mass market brands. Sofas often cost between $1,000-3,000. Sectionals can reach $4,000 or more.
Bedroom collections and dining sets also represent a significant upfront investment.
For many households, this price range may be prohibitive. Lower-cost furniture from brands like Ashley may better fit budgets under $1,000. While England offers good long-term value, the higher prices make it inaccessible for some buyers.
- Smaller Selection
With England’s focus on crafted, customizable upholstery, they offer a more limited selection compared to large retailers. Their catalog includes well under 100 living room collections. Options for bedrooms and dining rooms are also more tightly curated.
While you can customize pieces, the base options are still far fewer than a store like Ashley. Those seeking a wide array of styles may prefer Ashley’s vast selection in every furniture category. England prioritizes quality over quantity in their catalog.
- Long Lead Times on Custom Orders
Because they are made to order, customized England pieces require several weeks for production. Their current estimated lead time is about 8-12 weeks once an order is finalized. Simple in-stock items ship more quickly.
For buyers on a tight timeframe or needing urgent furniture delivery, the wait for a custom England order may not work. Ashley and other retailers have faster delivery, though without customization. Lead times are the trade-off for England’s quality craftsmanship.
- Limited Stock in Stores
England Furniture has just over 100 showroom locations, primarily concentrated on the East Coast and Midwest. While model pieces are available to test in-store, selections are limited compared to major furniture stores.
The buying process often still involves ordering catalog items unseen.
For those who prefer to see and test options in person before purchasing, Ashley provides a more comprehensive in-store experience. England’s stores offer guidance but not the breadth of inventory immediately available.
Custom orders are still the norm.
Ashley Furniture Pros
- Wide Range of Style and Budget Options
The biggest advantage of Ashley Furniture is the vast selection available. Their collections encompass nearly every furniture category for living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, home offices, patios, and more.
Styles range from traditional to modern. And they offer pieces at every budget point from under $500 to over $3,000.
With hundreds of sofa, sectional, bedroom, and table collections, Ashley is a one-stop shop. Their diverse inventory virtually guarantees finding something to suit your tastes and budget.
You can outfit an entire home without ever leaving their stores or website. The broad selection provides a welcome contrast to England’s limited scope.
- Budget-Friendly Price Points
For shoppers on a tight budget, Ashley offers an array of affordable options at price points England cannot match. Their low opening price points can fit limited budgets under $1,000 much better. Sofas start at just $499. Basic beds cost as little as $199.
While materials and construction quality is lower, the trade-off for many buyers is worthwhile. Those unable to afford England’s price tags can still find new furniture that adds comfort and style on a budget. Ashley fills an important niche for budget-conscious shoppers.
- Immediate In-Store Availability
A major perk of Ashley is the instant gratification of in-store buying.
Their sprawling showrooms feature living room, bedroom, and dining displays fully decked out.
You can walk through staged rooms that provide real-life perspectives on how furniture fits together.
What you see on the floor is what you can take home same-day. No need to worry about shipping lead times and sight unseen ordering.
Ashley’s retail accessibility can be especially convenient for urgent furniture needs or replacing old items. Shopping in-store allows you to touch and test pieces.
- Quick Shipping on Online Orders
Ashley also offers a robust e-commerce presence with cost-effective shipping. While customization options are limited, their website makes it easy to browse available inventory. Starting prices are typically lower buying online.
Most in-stock items ship within 2-3 weeks. Delivery within 7-10 days costs just $99 for orders over $999. Extremely fast shipping is available for an added fee. The online convenience combined with quick delivery provides a smooth buying experience.
- 1 Year Warranty Against Defects
To provide peace of mind on larger purchases, Ashley offers a standard 1 year warranty covering manufacturer defects on furniture. This protects against issues like cracks, peeling finishes, and upholstery tears out of the box or appearing during normal use in the first year.
If any defect arises, Ashley will repair or replace the item at no charge. The short warranty term is less than ideal. But it does offer some initial protection on your investment not offered by all discount retailers.
Also Read: Comparison of Ashley And Big Lots Furniture.
Ashley Furniture Cons
- Lower Quality Materials and Construction
The biggest trade-off for Ashley’s lower prices is cheaper materials and construction quality. Their furniture is mass-produced using lower-grade wood, bargain fabric, limited padding, and plastic hardware. Pieces feel lighter and less sturdy under use.
While sofa frames have improved, they still lack England’s hardwood integrity. Backs and seats tend to sag and warp over time with regular use. Finishes chip and peel more readily. And upholstery wears down faster. Frequent repairs may be needed to extend useful life.
- Limited Customization Options
Given their factory production model, Ashley provides few ways to customize pieces. The wide selection comes at the cost of set sizes, colors, and configurations. You must choose from predetermined options rather than tailoring to your space.
Aside from selecting configurations for sectionals, you cannot modify dimensions, fabric, or features. Personalization is extremely limited. England offers far more avenues for customization through their made-to-order process and range of materials.
- Focus on Trendy Styles
Ashley Furniture places heavy emphasis on trendy styles and imitation luxury looks. Collections quickly move in and out of rotation based on changing popularity. The focus centers more on temporary fashion than enduring furniture quality.
Their living rooms feature many loud patterns, faux leathers, and embellished shapes prone to looking dated after a few years in your home. England’s disciplined focus on classic designs provides better longevity and resistance to décor trends.
- High-Pressure Sales Tactics
Visiting an Ashley Furniture HomeStore often feels more like a car dealership than relaxed furniture shopping.
Sales associates tend to use high-pressure tactics pushing immediate buying.
They may try upselling items you did not plan to purchase.
Checking out can take hours as they repeat the process of adding on warranties, delivery fees, and financing options.
For buyers wanting a relaxed, transparent furniture experience, England’s low-key showrooms provide better service. Ashley prioritizes sales volume above customer satisfaction.
- Short Warranty Period
While Ashley provides a 1 year warranty on manufacturer defects, this coverage expires quickly. Any quality issues arising after the first year, which is common with lower-end construction, will not be covered. You have to pay repair and replacement costs out of pocket.
England’s lifetime warranties on frames and springs offer significantly better protection on those critical components. Theircoverage reflects the long-term durability expected from higher-end furniture. Ashley’s short warranty matches the shorter usable life of their inexpensive builds.
Also Read: Comparison of Ashley And Klaussner Furniture.
Frequently Asked Questions About England and Ashley Furniture
Yes, England is known for making high-quality sofas and upholstered furniture. They use thick hardwood frames, quality fabric coverings and padding, and sturdy joinery in their construction. This results in sofas with excellent longevity that retain their shape and comfort for years. The lifetime warranty on frames is further testament to their durable quality.
No, England is not owned by or affiliated with La-Z-Boy. England is its own company dating back to the 1890s. Their furniture has a more traditional classic style compared to La-Z-Boy’s wide range of casual contemporary looks. Both brands make high-quality upholstered furniture but have different design aesthetics.
No, Ashley Furniture is considered lower to medium-quality furniture, not high end. They use less expensive materials like particle board and lower-grade fabric. While they offer some pricier luxury-looking collections, overall Ashley provides budget to moderately-priced furniture with lower construction quality compared to high end brands.
Yes, Ashley offers furniture across a range of low to medium quality levels. Price usually correlates with quality. Under $500, the quality is very low and affordable. In the $1,000-$2,000 range, construction improves but is still mid-tier. Over $2,500, quality increases but still does not reach high end. Ashley focuses on mass-produced budget to mid-range furniture.
Wrapping Up
When choosing between England and Ashley Furniture, consider your priorities in terms of budget, quality, and selection. England represents a significant but smart long-term investment in a smaller range of customizable, well-built classics.
Their offerings cost more but are crafted to last decades.
Meanwhile, Ashley provides instant gratification of a vast in-stock selection at very affordable pricing. The trade-off is cheaper materials and construction as well as high-pressure sales. But for many budgets, Ashley’s upfront value is worthwhile.
Think about how long you plan to keep the furniture, your preferred shopping experience, and willingness to pay more for quality. Both England and Ashley can be great options depending on your needs.
Taking the time to compare them in detail makes it easier to choose the right brand for your home.