Arhaus and Crate and Barrel are two popular furniture and home decor retailers. Both offer contemporary, stylish furniture and accessories for every room in your home.
However, there are some key differences between the two brands that are worth considering when shopping for furniture.
A Brief Comparison Table Of Arhaus And Crate And Barrel:
| Category | Arhaus | Crate and Barrel |
| Pricing | High-end, premium prices | Mid/upper-range prices, more budget friendly |
| Quality | Artisan-made from solid woods | Mix of solid woods, veneers, and engineered woods |
| Style | Transitional, ornate with traditional details | Contemporary, minimalist |
| Materials | Solid hardwoods, leather, stone | Wood, leather, metal, woven |
| Craftsmanship | Hand-crafted pieces | Machine-made and some artisan pieces |
| Furniture Range | Broad selection of living, dining, bedroom, office and more | Broad selection of living, dining, bedroom, office and more |
| Home Decor | Lighting, rugs, wall art, accents | Lighting, rugs, wall art, accents |
| Locations | 75+ showrooms nationwide | 100+ stores in U.S. and Canada |
Overview Of Arhaus
Arhaus is a furniture retailer that specializes in artisan-crafted furniture and home decor. Founded in 1986 in Cleveland, Ohio, Arhaus has grown to over 75 retail stores across the United States.
Arhaus is considered a high-end furniture brand. Their products are generally pricier than mass-market retailers like IKEA or Wayfair. An average sofa from Arhaus costs $2,000-$4,000, while a dining table may cost $1,500-$5,000.
The brand focuses on using natural, high-quality materials like solid wood, leather, stone, and iron in their furniture. Many of their pieces are handcrafted by artisans. This level of quality comes at a higher price point, but the furniture is built to last.
Arhaus furniture has a contemporary, transitional style. Their designs are modern but not overly trendy. They use classic forms with contemporary detailing, appealing to a wide range of home design aesthetics.
Beyond furniture, Arhaus offers a full range of home accessories including lighting, rugs, bedding, artwork, mirrors, shelves, and more. Their products are curated to provide complete room designs under one brand.
Overview Of Crate And Barrel
Crate and Barrel is another contemporary furniture and home goods retailer. Founded in 1962 in Chicago, Crate and Barrel has over 100 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Like Arhaus, Crate and Barrel sits at the higher end of the furniture spectrum but at a more accessible price point. Their furnishings and decor blend modern, classic, and rustic design.
Crate and Barrel’s furniture features clean lines and minimal ornamentation. Their prices range from mid to high. Dining tables cost $500-$3,000 on average and sofas range from $1,000-$3,000 typically.
The company sources furniture and accessories from all over the world. They work with skilled artisans but also mass-produced vendors. This variety allows Crate and Barrel to offer lower price points than a solely artisan-based retailer like Arhaus.
Beyond furniture, Crate and Barrel sells decor, kitchenware, lighting, rugs, bedding, and more. Their products feature simple forms and little embellishment for an understated, contemporary style.
Features Of And Comparison Between Arhaus And Crate And Barrel
Comparing Quality
When it comes to quality, Arhaus arguably offers superior materials and craftsmanship compared to Crate and Barrel.
The vast majority of Arhaus furniture is made from solid hardwood. This is the highest quality lumber available, taken from the trunks of trees. It has beautiful natural grain patterns and inherent strength and durability.
In contrast, Crate and Barrel uses a mix of solid wood along with wood veneers and engineered woods. These incorporate composite wood products made from pieces glued together. While durable and long-lasting, engineered woods are considered a step down from solid woods in quality.
Arhaus also relies primarily on artisan craftsmanship for their products. Their furniture is hand-carved, -joined, and -upholstered in small workshops, not mass manufacturing facilities. This attention to detail results in heirloom-quality pieces.
Crate and Barrel sources product from artisans as well but also large mass producers. And while their quality control is excellent for the price, it simply can’t match the care put into Arhaus furnishings by hand.
When it comes to home accessories like rugs and lighting, both brands offer high-quality products using natural fibers, metals, glass, and more. Crate and Barrel tends to have lower prices though without sacrificing too much substance.
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Style Comparison
Both Arhaus and Crate and Barrel have a contemporary style focused on clean lines and forms. However, there are some stylistic differences between the two brands.
Arhaus furniture leans more toward a refined, ornate aesthetic. Their pieces often incorporate turned legs, carved details, tufted upholstery, and gilded accents. The overall style is transitional, blending classic decorative details with modern silhouettes.
Crate and Barrel has a more minimal, fuss-free style. Their furniture features simple geometric forms and little to no ornamentation. This sparse aesthetic has wide-ranging appeal.
In terms of home decor, Arhaus accessorizes with antique-inspired mirrors, nature-motif rugs, and romantic wall art. Meanwhile, Crate and Barrel favors modern sculptures, abstract prints, and earthenware vases.
Arhaus designs are ideal for those wanting furniture with old-world charm and craftsmanship. Crate and Barrel is better suited to minimalists drawn to unfussy, contemporary pieces.
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Pricing Comparison
As a higher-end, artisan-based retailer, Arhaus commands premium pricing for their furniture and decor. Their products cost significantly more than mass-market furniture brands.
For example, a leather sofa from Arhaus starts around $2,500. At Crate and Barrel, leather sofas start around $1,600. Both offer quality construction, but the starting price difference is over $800.
Dining tables demonstrate an even wider gap. A farmhouse wood table at Arhaus costs $2,600 at minimum. A simple modern table at Crate and Barrel starts around $800.
For decor like rugs and lighting, Arhaus is priced at 25-50% higher on comparable pieces versus Crate and Barrel. The handcrafted nature and premium materials account for these large price gaps.
While Crate and Barrel sits in the high-end bracket for furniture retailers, they offer more budget-friendly options versus the luxury prices at Arhaus. Discerning shoppers on a tighter budget may favor Crate and Barrel for this reason.
Availability And Purchasing Experience
Both brands have wide availability across the United States. Arhaus now operates over 75 showrooms in 33 states. Crate and Barrel has over 100 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
If you live near Ohio or Illinois, you’ll have your choice of multiple Arhaus and Crate and Barrel brick-and-mortar stores to browse. For those without a physical location nearby, both brands offer online shopping with shipping nationwide.
When buying in-store, Arhaus offers a concierge experience with support from dedicated sales associates. They can guide you through fabric swatches, finish options, and more over multiple visits before making a purchase.
Crate and Barrel also provides excellent customer service in-store. Their sales associates are knowledgeable and helpful. However, the experience feels less formal and drawn-out compared to the boutique concierge approach of Arhaus.
For online purchases, both brands allow you to buy furniture directly through their e-commerce sites. Delivery timeframes and costs are comparable for Arhaus and Crate and Barrel when ordering online.
No matter how you shop, Arhaus and Crate and Barrel aim to provide quality products paired with helpful service. This makes the buying experience positive whether you’re looking for guidance or want to browse and purchase directly online.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, Arhaus is considered a high-end furniture retailer. Their products use premium solid wood materials, employ artisan craftsmanship, and carry higher price points compared to mass market brands.
Crate and Barrel sits in the upper mid-range to high end of furniture retailers. Their quality and style are excellent, although materials and construction are a small step down from luxury brands like Arhaus that solely use solid woods and hand crafting.
Crate and Barrel is generally more expensive than Pottery Barn. As direct competitors, Crate and Barrel is positioned as a high-end contemporary retailer while Pottery Barn targets accessible luxury. On comparable items, Pottery Barn prices tend to be 15-25% lower than Crate and Barrel.
Yes, the vast majority of Arhaus furniture is made from solid hardwoods like oak, acacia, mahogany, mango wood, and more. This sets them apart from retailers like Crate and Barrel that use more engineered woods. Arhaus prioritizes solid wood construction for strength, durability, and natural beauty.
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Arhaus Vs. Crate And Barrel: Which Is Better?
So which furniture retailer ultimately wins out – Arhaus or Crate and Barrel? The answer depends on your priorities.
For those wanting premium quality solid wood furniture with artisan craftsmanship, Arhaus is the better choice. Their pieces may cost more, but they’re built to last generations using top-notch materials.
If your style leans toward ornate, romantic designs, Arhaus also has an aesthetic advantage. Their carved detailing and mixed materials appeal to lovers of traditional detail.
However, if budget is a concern, Crate and Barrel offers high-quality furniture at more affordable price points. You can outfit your entire home stylishly without spending fortune.
And minimalists drawn to simple contemporary forms will likely prefer Crate and Barrel’s unfussy vibe. Their understated silhouettes suit both modern and rustic spaces.
At the end of the day, deciding between Arhaus vs. Crate and Barrel comes down to which retailer most closely aligns with your interior design vision, preferred quality and construction, budget constraints, and personal style preferences.
If you have the budget for it, Arhaus furniture provides exceptional quality you’ll appreciate for decades. For beautiful style atfriendlier prices, Crate and Barrel is a wonderful option.
Take the time to shop both brands to decide which aesthetic and price point best fits your home and lifestyle.