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About West Elm
West Elm is a high-end furniture and home decor company known for its trendy and modern designs. Their collection ranges from rugs and chairs to modern wall art.
The brand was launched with its first ever catalog in 2002 under its parent company of Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn. More specifically, Williams-Sonoma is one of the oldest and largest e-commerce retailers that sells kitchen-wares and house furnishings, starting all the way back in the 1940s.
West Elm produces a variety of contemporary and mid-century home decor, furniture, and wares, for the modern consumer. Their headquarters are now based in New York City.
The company also focuses on lessening its ecological footprint, with 60% of their products supporting at least one sustainability initiative. A portion of their inventory is Fair Trade certified, handcrafted, organic, or sustainably sourced. Additionally, 35% of their wood furniture is FSC certified, meaning they help support forests and ecosystems worldwide.
“You shouldn’t have to choose from getting value and shopping for your values. Or between looking good and feeling good. From natural materials to nontoxic finishes, we’re making it easy for you to create a healthier home.”
If you’re in the market for modern pieces for your home, this company might be for you. My West Elm furniture review will take an in-depth look at the brand, its products, customer ratings, promotions, and more, to help you decide if their collection is right for your pad.
Pros and Cons
Before we get into this West Elm furniture review, let’s go over some initial pros and cons:
Pros
- Thousands of contemporary home decor, furnishings, wares, and furniture to choose from
- Sustainable and environmentally friendly business practices
- West Elm credit card for customers to earn rewards every time they shop
- 3D room planner allows customers to see how their products fit into their room
- Free design services including virtual consultations and phone calls
- Installment payment options through Affirm
Cons
- Pricier compared to other furniture retailers
- Varied customer reviews
So, what’s your aesthetic when it comes to home decor? There are a variety of options available, including minimalism, vintage, rustic, transitional, French country, and more.
Whatever your taste is, there’s a large inventory of home-related paraphernalia that can complement many interior design styles, like opulent West Elm chandeliers and West Elm beds with modern flair.
Features
Here are some of the features that make West Elm stand out:
- Modern Design: West Elm offers a wide range of modern furniture and decor items that feature clean lines, bold colors, and unique textures. The brand is known for its on-trend designs that are both functional and stylish.
- Sustainable Materials: West Elm has a strong commitment to sustainability and uses eco-friendly materials whenever possible. The brand offers a range of products made from sustainable materials such as FSC-certified wood, organic cotton, and recycled materials.
- Local and Global Partnerships: West Elm works with local and global artisans and manufacturers to create unique and high-quality products. The brand partners with organizations such as Fair Trade USA to ensure that workers are paid fair wages and have safe working conditions.
- Customizable Options: Many of West Elm’s furniture items can be customized to fit a customer’s specific needs. For example, customers can choose from a range of upholstery options and finishes for their sofas, chairs, and other furniture pieces.
- Affordable Prices: While West Elm’s products are high-quality and stylish, they are also affordable. The brand offers a range of price points to fit different budgets, making it accessible to a wide range of customers.
- Design Services: West Elm offers design services to help customers create their ideal living space. The brand’s design experts can provide personalized recommendations for furniture, decor, and other home items based on a customer’s style and budget.
Overall, West Elm is known for its modern, sustainable, and affordable designs, as well as its commitment to working with local and global partners to create high-quality products.
Materials
West Elm uses a range of materials in its furniture and decor designs, with a focus on sustainability and eco-friendliness. Many of the materials used are natural or recycled.
West Elm offers furniture made from a variety of materials, including:
- Wood: Many of West Elm’s furniture pieces are made from solid wood, including sustainably sourced woods like FSC-certified and reclaimed woods. Common woods used in West Elm furniture include acacia, mango, and oak.
- Upholstery: West Elm’s upholstered furniture is available in a range of fabrics, including natural fibers like cotton and linen, as well as synthetic materials like polyester and velvet. The brand also offers performance fabrics that are stain-resistant and easy to clean.
- Metal: West Elm uses a range of metals in its furniture designs, including brass, steel, and aluminum. Metal is often used for accent pieces, such as table legs, frames, and hardware.
- Woven Materials: West Elm offers furniture and decor items made from woven materials like wicker, rattan, and seagrass. These materials add texture and natural warmth to a room.
- Glass: West Elm offers furniture pieces with glass tops, including coffee tables and dining tables. Glass is often used to create a sleek and modern look.
- Ceramic: West Elm offers a variety of decor items made from ceramic, including vases, planters, and table lamps. Ceramic adds texture and visual interest to a room.
6 West Elm Furniture Bestsellers
From sculptural, overarching West Elm lamps that embody an artistic quirk, to contemporary West Elm bedding, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.
Before you start perusing their catalog, take a look at this West Elm furniture review, as I highlight a selection of bestsellers that might pique your interest.
West Elm Modular Sectional Review
The sofa is one of the most integral pieces of furniture to have in the living room. Not only does it fill empty space, it’s an area where family and friends can gather. However, don’t settle for just any type of couch. The Modular Sectional, hailing from their Harper collection, delivers a sense of contemporary class and elegance that is sure to elevate your living space.
This modern and Scandinavian West Elm sofa features a low profile with thick shapely arms and a slim seat deck. It also features wide, tailored cushions that are made for sitting down or stretching out. Some key features of the Modular Sectional include a kiln-dried frame, metal legs finished in antique bronze, and webbed seat support.
There are nine ways to assemble this stylish sectional, depending on the layout of your room. This includes left-arm chaise, right arm two-seater sofa, and corner. Customers can also choose the fabric and color that would work the best in their living space. These customizable options mean the sectional varies in price from $899–$1999.
West Elm Mid-Century Leather Show Wood Chair Review
If you’re looking for a fashionable and reliable chair, look no further than the Mid-Century Leather Show Wood Chair. This understated beauty features a sleek silhouette that’s perfect for the minimalist or rustic home decor vibe. It showcases solid ash wood arms and legs covered in a pecan or espresso-stained finish.
Upon the legs holds your choice of genuine top-grain leather or vegan leather. This West Elm chair is contract grade– meaning it’s very durable. Consider buying two with a West Elm coffee table, so you can create the ultimate breakfast space to sip your morning brew and read the newspaper (tablet or print).
The Mid-Century Leather Show Wood Chair varies in fabric, color, and leg style which all differ in price. This ranges from $799–$2148, which is a limited-time offer.
West Elm Mid-Century Smart Desk Review
Desks can be considered the hub of hard work. Whether you’re busily writing your next article, or holding an important Zoom meeting, it’s quite important to get a desk that’s durable, and can hold many things.
This mid-century desk is made out of Fair Trade certified eucalyptus wood that’s sustainably sourced, kiln-dried for strength, and completed with water-based finishes.
Created in collaboration with Pottery Barn Teen, this GreenGuard certified West Elm desk also features a USB power strip, integrated LED lighting, and a handy corkboard for your reminders and post-it notes.
The Mid-Century Smart Desk comes in either acorn or white. Make this an integral part of your bedroom for just $799 or $73/month with Affirm.
West Elm Quinn Lacquer 6-Drawer Dresser Review
There’s nothing like a bedroom dresser to organize your clothes and hold your vanity mirror. The Quinn Lacquer 6-Drawer Dresser features a glamorous and vibrant silhouette, as it showcases textured drawer fronts and lofty metal legs.
All parts of this West Elm dresser are made out of extra strong kiln-dried mahogany wood and covered in a haze lacquer finish. What’s especially cool about this dresser is that its legs have built-in levelers that can adapt to varying floor levels.
It also has six drawers that open on metal gliders, which makes it super easy to pick out your outfit for the day. The Quinn Lacquer 6-Drawer Dresser is priced at $1399, or $127/month with Affirm.
West Elm Cotton Duvet & Standard Sham Review
It’s time to ditch those itchy granny quilts and thin bedding blankets. The Cotton Duvet & Standard Sham is as cozy as your favorite t-shirt. Woven from cool-to-touch organic cotton percale, it makes garment washing extra cuddle worthy.
Its luxurious and relaxed look will surely elevate any traditional bed to a more contemporary and modern design. You don’t just have to buy just the sham, you can also purchase a duvet cover, duvet cover and sham, or set of two shams.
Customers can also select the size of their sham depending on the dimensions of their bed. The Cotton Duvet & Standard Sham comes in multiple neutral colors. Complete this bedding set by adding other West Elm pillows, matching West Elm pillow covers, and West Elm duvet covers.
The price for the Cotton Duvet & Standard Sham varies in price, depending on the sham or set:
- Duvet Cover and Sham Set for King/Californian: $209 (or $19/month with Affirm)
- Individual sham for Euro Sham in asphalt: $40
- Set of two shams for standard sham in stone white: $59
West Elm Hand-Knotted Fragment Rug Review
Rugs not only provide a more homey look to your bedroom or living space, they also offer some protection to your floors. The Hand-Knotted Fragment Rug is the perfect floor mat to add some jazz to your space.
This rug is handcrafted by highly skilled artisans in India, which is made out of a combination of wool and viscose. Featuring a subtle fragmented, abstract design, it’s colored with muted beiges, greys, and hints of navy blue.
Pair this beauty in your living room next to a set of matching leather chairs and a West Elm dining table. The Hand-Knotted Fragment Rug will be sure to bring some extra spice for $281.
West Elm Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
Doing my research for this West Elm furniture review, I found a varied customer response based on its research. On Trustpilot, they have a ranking of 1.3/5 stars with over 280 reviews.
Customers noted that there were issues with their delivery times, having reported delays or not receiving their orders. There are also reported issues with customer service, with buyers claiming the team was unhelpful in remedying problems or were unresponsive.
There are also continued negative customer reviews on a few of their Yelp pages. For instance, in their Californian location, they have 2/5 stars from 430 reviews on Yelp, and 3/5 stars on Consumer Affairs from 558 ratings.
While there are more reports of bad customer service and delivery issues, other buyers reported problems with the quality of their furniture. This complaint echoes a 2018 Vox article that described shedding sofas and cushions that didn’t hold their shape.
Not all customers are dissatisfied with their West Elm pieces. Slumber Search rates the company 7.7/10 stars out of 129 votes, and Influenster provides a 3.6/5-star rating from 166 reviews. Fans of the brand love the modern designs and were impressed by the quality. There were also limited reviews that reported positive customer service experiences.
Is West Elm Furniture Worth It?
To wrap up this West Elm furniture review, I’d say the brand is worth checking out. It has a wide array of furniture, home decor, wares, and furnishings that are all beautiful to look at. All of their products have a modern and contemporary feel that is very much on-trend.
Customers can shop through their sustainable furniture collection. It’s nice to know that a sizable majority of their items are environmentally friendly and ethically made.
Another advantage is their room planner feature, which makes it easy to see how the furniture would look in the room it’s intended for.
Alternatives
If West Elm isn’t for you, there are plenty of furniture brands out there. Explore some of these options:
- Albany Park: Albany Park makes premium handmade, easy-to-assemble sofas. With 3 sophisticated core designs, its selection ranges from classy mid-century to cozy contemporary, offering sectionals, loveseats, armchairs, ottomans, and more.
- Frontgate: Using artisanal materials like wicker and Egyptian cotton, Frontgate’s furniture is made with craftsmanship and quality in mind. The Ohio-based company has been operating since 1991, specializing in certain types of furniture. However, its actual catalog is surprisingly deep.
- Bobby Berk Furniture: You might know Bobby Berk as the interior decorator on the hit Netflix series Queer Eye. Bobby Berk also has his own furniture collection that features a range of stylish and functional furniture pieces for any home.
West Elm Promotions & Discounts
You can shop the West Elm outlet sale and get select products for a discounted price. They also have a rewards program, where customers can get a credit card or sign up for ‘The Key’ to be given special rewards and exclusive access to deals.
They also offer a student discount and send a West Elm promo code worth 15% off upon signing up on their website. West Elm also has a military discount of 15% off.
Where to Buy West Elm Furniture
You can access their furniture collection through WestElm.com. If you prefer to shop in-store, there are West Elm locations in Canada and the United States. Customers can search ‘West Elm near me’ by visiting the store locator on their website.
FAQ
Is West Elm owned by Pottery Barn?
Yes, West Elm is operated under its parent company of Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn.
Does West Elm offer free shipping?
Only a few items are eligible for West Elm free shipping, such as their Chenille Rib Throw and Cotton Knit Throw.
What is West Elm’s flat rate delivery fee?
West Elm ships throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, Australia, and the United Kingdom. For international destinations, customers must order on their desktop, laptop, or anything other than a mobile device.
Shipping options include front door parcel delivery, local pickup from a UPS Access Point, truck delivery, or store pickup. For West Elm ship-to-store delivery, customers can pick their orders up from a local store that are not in stock.
The customer is charged a competitive flat-rate shipping fee for most eligible orders. There are various fees for each shipment type, which customers can find in detail by visiting their website.
Customers can track their orders by inputting their West Elm shipping code by visiting their website.
How much does West Elm shipping cost?
At the time of this West Elm furniture review, I found out that shipping rates vary based on the order total. For instance, an order of $200 can be charged around $21 for shipping.
The price of truck delivery is measured from distance, with the longest being the most expensive.
What is West Elm’s Return Policy?
Most items are eligible for return within 30 days of purchase. Ineligible items such as final sale, monogrammed items, and gift cards cannot be returned. Customers can either initiate their return process by phone, my mail, in person, or online.
Online returns and in-store returns are only available for items that were shipped to the United States. For international returns, customers must receive a return authorization from their customer care center.
How to Contact West Elm
If you have inquiries that were not addressed in this West Elm furniture review, you can contact the company through:
- West Elm customer service number: 1-888-922-4119
- Email: [email protected]
- Contact form on their website
- Live Chat on their website
Looking for more home furnishings? Check out our reviews of other stylish furniture brands:
Had an issue with being billed for a duplicate order. Multiple charges showed up in paypal. The associate was condescending insisting it was my mistake. Items weren’t even shipped. After an hour on the phone I was promised the “order would be cancelled and a refund issued”. Instead a new charge appeared in paypal. Had to block West Elm from paypal and dispute charges (except for legitimate charges).