As I embarked on the quest to furnish my new home, I found myself standing at a crossroads, a familiar one for many new homeowners and decorators: Living Spaces or Rooms To Go?
These two furniture giants dominate the landscape, each promising a beautiful and functional living space. But which one truly delivers on that promise?
This isn’t just about buying a sofa or a dining table; it’s about crafting a home that reflects my style and meets my family’s needs without breaking the bank. I’m here to walk you through my journey, offering a detailed, analytical look at how these two retailers stack up.
At a Glance Comparison Table
| Feature | Living Spaces | Rooms To Go |
| Overall Vibe | California cool, modern, and highly customizable. | Coordinated, traditional to contemporary, “buy the room” concept. |
| Selection | Expansive and diverse, with a wide range of styles. | Curated room packages and individual pieces. |
| Customization | A major selling point; extensive fabric and configuration options. | Limited customization, focuses on pre-designed sets. |
| Price Point | Generally mid-range, with frequent sales and promotions. | Budget-friendly to mid-range, with package deals offering value. |
| Quality | Varies by collection, with a mix of solid wood and engineered wood. | Generally considered decent for the price, with a focus on durability. |
| In-Store Experience | Large, warehouse-style showrooms with inspirational layouts. | Showrooms are designed to showcase complete room packages. |
| Online Shopping | Robust website with a user-friendly customization tool. | Straightforward website, easy to browse room packages. |
| Delivery & Assembly | Multiple delivery options with varying costs; assembly is extra. | Delivery and assembly are often bundled, with clear pricing. |
The Philosophy Behind The Furniture
My first step was to understand what each brand stands for. It quickly became apparent that they cater to slightly different mindsets.
Living Spaces feels like the cool, slightly more bohemian cousin. Born in California, it exudes a relaxed, modern aesthetic. Their showrooms are vast, almost like warehouses of inspiration. The sheer volume of furniture can be overwhelming, but it also screams possibility.
Their core message seems to be about personal expression. They provide the building blocks—the sofas, the tables, the chairs—and empower you to create a space that is uniquely yours. This is where their much-lauded customization options come into play, a feature I was particularly drawn to.
The idea of choosing the exact fabric, color, and configuration of my sofa was incredibly appealing. It felt less like I was buying off the shelf and more like I was co-creating my furniture.
Rooms To Go, on the other hand, presents itself as the practical, efficient friend who has it all figured out. Their entire concept, as the name suggests, is built around convenience.
They specialize in curated room packages, taking the guesswork out of decorating. You see a living room set you like, and you can buy the whole thing—sofa, loveseat, coffee table, end tables, and even lamps—in one go.
This is a massive draw for anyone who feels paralyzed by choice or is working with a tight timeline. Their style tends to be more mainstream, covering the spectrum from traditional to contemporary, but always in a way that feels safe and coordinated.
The message is clear: a beautiful, cohesive home is attainable and doesn’t have to be a complicated puzzle.
A Tale of Living Spaces And Rooms To Go
The heart of any living room is the sofa, so that’s where my detailed comparison began. I was on the hunt for a large sectional, something comfortable for movie nights but stylish enough to impress guests.
At Living Spaces, I was immediately directed to their custom upholstery section. The sheer number of choices was staggering. I could select from dozens of styles, from sleek and modern to plush and traditional.
Once I had a style in mind, I could then choose the configuration—left-facing chaise, right-facing chaise, U-shaped, you name it. And then came the fabrics. Swatches upon swatches of different materials, colors, and patterns. It was a designer’s dream.
I spent a good hour playing with their online customization tool, visualizing different combinations. The quality of the floor models seemed solid. The frames felt sturdy, and the cushion options ranged from down-filled to high-density foam.
I was particularly impressed with their transparency regarding materials. Many product descriptions specified whether the frame was solid wood or engineered wood, which gave me a sense of confidence.
My experience at Rooms To Go was quite different. Instead of a plethora of individual sofas, I was greeted with beautifully staged living room sets. Each set had a name, like the “Cindy Crawford Home collection,” which added a touch of celebrity glamour.
The focus was less on customization and more on the overall look. I found a sectional I liked, and it came as a package with a matching armchair and ottoman. While I couldn’t choose the fabric, the available color was a neutral gray that would work in most spaces.
The convenience was undeniable. There was no agonizing over fabric choices; the decision was essentially made for me. In terms of quality, the floor models felt comparable to those at Living Spaces in the same price range.
The sales associate explained that their furniture is designed to be durable and withstand the rigors of family life. The focus is on providing good value for the price, and I could see that in their construction.
Living Spaces: The Land of Possibility
Pros:
- Unmatched Customization: This is, without a doubt, their biggest selling point. If you have a specific vision for your furniture, Living Spaces is more likely to be able to bring it to life. The ability to choose your fabric, color, and configuration is a game-changer.
- Vast Selection: The sheer volume of furniture is incredible. Beyond sofas, they have an extensive collection of dining furniture, bedroom sets, rugs, and accessories. You can furnish your entire home from one store.
- Modern and On-Trend Styles: Living Spaces does an excellent job of keeping up with current design trends. You’ll find a lot of mid-century modern, modern farmhouse, and contemporary pieces.
- Transparent Product Information: I appreciated the detailed product descriptions, which often specified the materials used in construction. This transparency helps in making an informed decision about quality.
Cons:
- Potential for Decision Fatigue: The vast number of choices can be overwhelming for some. If you’re not confident in your design skills, you might find yourself struggling to make a decision.
- Inconsistent Quality: While they offer some high-quality solid wood pieces, many of their more affordable items are made from engineered wood and veneers. It’s important to read the product descriptions carefully.
- Delivery and Assembly Costs: Delivery fees can be significant, and assembly is almost always an additional charge. These costs can add up quickly.
Rooms To Go: The Epitome of Convenience
Pros:
- Effortless Coordination: Their room package concept is brilliant for those who want a cohesive look without the hassle of piecing it together themselves. It’s a huge time and stress saver.
- Great Value for Money: The package deals often provide significant savings compared to buying each piece individually. They offer a lot of bang for your buck.
- Clear and Simple Pricing: What you see is often what you get. The prices for room packages are clearly stated, and delivery and assembly are often bundled, making it easy to budget.
- Family-Friendly Durability: Much of their furniture is designed with families in mind, using durable fabrics and sturdy construction.
Cons:
- Limited Customization: This is the trade-off for convenience. If you want to put your personal stamp on your furniture, you’ll find your options are limited.
- Mainstream Styles: While they offer a good range of styles, they tend to be more mainstream and less trend-focused than Living Spaces. If you’re looking for something unique or cutting-edge, you might not find it here.
- Less Transparency on Materials: While the quality is generally good for the price, it can be harder to find detailed information about the specific materials used in each piece.
Beyond the Furniture: The Overall Experience
A furniture purchase isn’t just about the product itself; it’s also about the entire experience, from Browse to delivery.
The in-store experience at Living Spaces is an adventure.
The showrooms are massive, and you can easily spend hours wandering through the different vignettes.
The sales staff tends to be more hands-off unless you approach them, which I appreciated.
It allowed me to browse at my own pace without feeling pressured.
Their online experience is equally robust. The website is user-friendly, and the customization tool is a fantastic feature that allows you to see your creations come to life.
Rooms To Go showrooms are more structured. They are designed to guide you through their pre-designed room packages. The sales staff is more proactive, often approaching you to explain the package deals and financing options.
Their online experience is straightforward and easy to navigate. It’s simple to browse the different room packages and see what’s included.
When it comes to delivery and assembly, both retailers have their strengths and weaknesses. Living Spaces offers a range of delivery options, including same-day delivery in some areas, which is a huge plus if you’re in a hurry.
However, their delivery fees can be steep, and you’ll almost always have to pay extra for assembly. Rooms To Go, on the other hand, often bundles delivery and assembly into the price of their room packages. This can make the overall cost more predictable and easier to manage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
This is a common question, as Ashley Furniture is a major competitor. Generally, Rooms To Go and Ashley Furniture are comparable in terms of quality and price point. Rooms To Go often has an edge in the convenience of its room packages, while Ashley may offer a slightly broader range of individual styles.
For its price point, Rooms To Go furniture is generally considered to be made well. They focus on providing durable, family-friendly furniture that offers good value. While you may not find high-end, heirloom-quality pieces, their furniture is built to last for a reasonable amount of time with normal use.
Rooms To Go’s main competitors include other large furniture retailers like Ashley Furniture, Value City Furniture, and Bob’s Discount Furniture. Online retailers like Wayfair and Overstock also compete in the same budget-friendly to mid-range market.
Living Spaces uses a mix of materials. They do offer furniture made from solid wood, but many of their products are constructed using a combination of solid wood, engineered wood (like MDF and particleboard), and veneers. They are generally quite transparent about the materials used in each product’s description on their website.
The Final Verdict: A Personal Choice
So, after all my research and deliberation, which one did I choose? In the end, it came down to a matter of personal priorities. For my living room, where I wanted a very specific sectional to be the centerpiece, I ended up going with Living Spaces.
The ability to customize the size, configuration, and fabric was the deciding factor. I was willing to pay a little extra for delivery and assembly to get exactly what I wanted.
However, for my guest bedroom, I found myself leaning towards Rooms To Go. I wanted a simple, coordinated look, and I didn’t want to spend a lot of time or money on it. Their bedroom packages offered incredible value, and the convenience of having everything delivered and set up at once was a huge selling point.
Ultimately, there is no single “better” choice between Living Spaces and Rooms To Go. It all comes down to what you, the customer, are looking for.
If you are a design enthusiast who loves to personalize every detail of your home, if you have a clear vision in your mind, and if you enjoy the process of mixing and matching different pieces, then I would wholeheartedly recommend you explore what Living Spaces has to offer.
The creative freedom they provide is unparalleled in this price range.
On the other hand, if you value convenience and efficiency, if the thought of choosing from hundreds of fabric swatches gives you anxiety, or if you’re looking to furnish a room quickly and affordably, then I believe you will find Rooms To Go to be an excellent choice.
Their curated packages take the stress out of decorating, allowing you to achieve a beautiful, cohesive look with minimal effort.
My advice to you is to do what I did. Take the time to visit both stores, browse their websites, and really think about what you want and need from your furniture. Consider your budget, your timeline, and your personal style. By doing your homework, you can be confident that you’re making the right choice for your home.