Target Furniture vs Pottery Barn / Ethan Allen type

[rbork]

I found a very similar solid wood bed in a local "solid wood" furniture store for a good bit less that EA. I shopped around and could have easily bought a EA but went with local store for less money. I too have PB stuff, it's nice so far.
Target TV stand was a laminate/particle board/ u put it together/ unsturdy mess.

 

[surfgirl]

The PP has some great advice. Another thought is whether you plan on being in this house forever ?

When we bought our 1st house, we had a 5 yr. plan...
yr. 1 was house stuff - blinds, deck, landscaping. For furniture, we made do with college stuff, hand-me-downs, and a few IKEA pieces. We did buy a family room couch that we loved from CB
yr. 2 - bedroom furniture - bought stuff that we still love 15 years later
yr. 3 - moved

We are in our 4th house in 15 years and I'm incredibly happy that we haven't spent a fortune on furniture - b/c you don't know what fits! We did a lot of built-ins in our old house (we generally wait about a year so we know EXACTLY what we want), so we were sad to leave those behind.

Of course, we don't have DR furniture, b/c it is incredibly low priority for me to spend a ton on stuff we use 1x/month. Our kids call it the 'dancing room' and it has their CD player. It was also used as the 'bat the balloon room' for a while.

However, we are in an expensive house and are the minority here. I would rather get my family room, morning room, built-ins set up first. For LR (occasional use), we bought Target loveseat and chair. Perfect for how often it is used!

For our FR couch (we moved the CB downstairs when we finished our basement), I went to NC and found an inexpensive sectional. (Rowe) With small kids, it gets trashed, so we planned on it being a 5-8 yr. purchase. It has already been that It isn't great, but we've gotten our money's worth.

So... think about how you will use the space and spend accordingly. Also, it isn't necessary to do everything now. You are better off doing it over time and being able to afford what you buy!

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

I would check what Consumer Reports says about Ethan Allen and the others. It depends on the furniture you are looking for. I know that Ethan Allen sofas are not a considered a best buy because of their price - you can get the same quality at lower prices by going with other national brands.

 

[shamrock30]

I agree with those who say that Ethan Allen has nice styles, but is not heirloom furniture anymore. Stickley and Henkel Harris are two examples of heirloom brands that really will last forever.

 

[candaceg]

JCPenney has some really high quality Pottery Barn knockoffs at much lower prices. You might look there if you like the look of PB.

 

[tinaluis]

I haven't read all the replies, so I'm not sure if I'm the lone voice of dissent on this, but DH and I have had coffee tables, an entertainment center and side tables from Target that are still going strong after 15 years and four kids. Do they still look brand new, no, but I don't expect them to. I think they've held up very well and have no plans to replace them anytime soon. That said, however, if you're looking for "forever" furniture, Target may not be the place for you. If you're looking for budget friendly furniture that will last awhile, it's a great place. DH and I take great care of our possessions, so they may have lasted longer than most, but I still think they've held up pretty well and don't regret buying something more expensive. YMMV!

 

[tlbwriter]

My daughters both have white bookshelves in their rooms - I purchased one from Target and one from Pottery Barn. They both have the white finish chipping off them ... so, my one experience with PB hasn't impressed me all that much.

I'm glad to see someone else said this. I was starting to think I was just unlucky! I purchased a storage system from PB and it's no better quality than anything I've purchased at Target - in fact, I'd say they're very similar! Maybe the upholstered furniture, etc. is better quality? Was yours regular PB, or PB Kids? Mine is PB Kids, so maybe it's just that the kids' furniture is lower quality. I would have been pretty disappointed if I'd paid full price, but I got the employee discount (about 40% I think?) so I feel like I got my money's worth.

 

[2002Disneybride]

I think target is hit or miss. We had a vanity from there-AWFUL. It is getting thrown out after less than 2 years and barely being used. Piece of junk. But we have 2 leather club chairs and ottoman we bought there that are beautiful.

 

[lttlmc3]

We have a coffee table and two side tables from Target, which we love. The husband and I are not too picky about out living room tables because we know they will be used a lot, thus, replaced in time. Soon we will be getting a new bedroom suite, and I think we'll go more of the EA or PB route. But the Target furniture has held up just fine for two years. I guess you just get what you pay for.

 

[lilstint]

We are in the process of picking out a new home and I'm already thinking about furnishing I've looked online at the Target furniture and mostly the decoration type items. I love what they have including some of the dining room furniture and end tables/coffee tables. But how well do these things hold up. Would you rate the durability the same as PB or EA? I mean I love PB and Ethan allen. But the prices are on the steep side. We've gone to quite a few furniture stores and havn't found anything we both like. We found we agree on basically everything PB carries lol! I guess if I do go with Pottery barn basics such as a couch, chair, tv unit. (Possibly bedroom furniture) I'd get one of those Pb cards. Does anyone know if they offer something like no interest for six months on the credit cards? Then again I wonder if Targets card offers a no interest period??

Are you interested in the Pottery Barn Basic slipcovered line in the couch and chair? I bought the couch, loveseat, chair and ottoman as a wedding gift for my daughter at nearly 1/2 the PB price.

I found out who manufactured it for PB and ordered it through a great furniture company I've been doing business with for years. I could give you the info if that is what you're looking for.

 

[Imzadi]

Lots of lower end furniture, like from Target & Ikea are made from particle board covered with a thin sheet of veneer wood or cheap soft woods like pine. The particle board can, over time, buckle, warp or sag.

The joints with soft woods are weak & that's when you tend to get wobbly furniture after lots of usage. Also the joints themselves are constructed cheaply, just two pieces butted together at a 90 degree angle & screwed together. Sometimes, without even metal anchors. No dovetail joints or tongue & groove joints as in higher end, heirloom furniture made of hardwoods.

 

[labdogs42]

We bought EA furniture for out family room about two years ago and I adore it! I can't afford to do every room in our house in EA just yet, but I will never buy cheap furniture again after this experience! The couches we had before lasted all of three years. I KNOW my EA couch will last forever! I don't have any Target furniture, but I know you can't compare it to EA.

 

[Forevryoung]

I had a HORRIBLE experience with the delivery company for Pottery Barn (purchased a queen size sleeper sofa- slip covered kind). It tainted my experience considerably. I have a damaged sofa (Pottery Barn gave me a discount for keeping it).

I love my sofa- it's sooooo comfortable and my parents love sleeping on it. I'm very happy with my choice.

 

[delmar411]

I'm glad to see someone else said this. I was starting to think I was just unlucky! I purchased a storage system from PB and it's no better quality than anything I've purchased at Target - in fact, I'd say they're very similar! Maybe the upholstered furniture, etc. is better quality? Was yours regular PB, or PB Kids? Mine is PB Kids, so maybe it's just that the kids' furniture is lower quality. I would have been pretty disappointed if I'd paid full price, but I got the employee discount (about 40% I think?) so I feel like I got my money's worth.

I've got a white PB kids bookshelf/toybox combo thing (they dont' sell it anymore or I'd post a pic) but it has held up through like 4 moves. Of course it's scratched up since it is the white finish but that is so easily fixed if its bothersome. I only have a few other pieces of furniture that have lasted my adulthood and they are all ethan allen or ikea (back when Ikea was always solid good furniture).

 

[pbharris4]

I have furniture from EA and two entertainment centers from Target. I don't have anything from PB. I've had furniture from several different stores as well. Ethan Allen has been the best we've had so far. Some of the cheaper stuff just doesn't last or creaks or comes apart. It depends on what you want to buy, how often you are going to use it, are there small kids, pets, etc.

I used to work for Ethan Allen at the front desk (wasn't a salesperson). They were building a new store in my city and I had to take the same training that the salespeople had to go through. I'd have to say that there are higher ends out there. EA can have problems with it just like any other furniture. It depends on how it's being used, the care, etc.

I furnished most of my house with EA furniture because as an employee I got furniture at cost. I got $22,500 worth of furniture for $10,000-$11,000. Did my bedroom, DD's bedroom, the study, and the kitchen. The armoire in my DD's room was $2800 after the discount . Anyway, I did not get one sofa or upholstered piece. Upholstery will get worn anyway. I have heard that the frames from the sofas are really great though and a lot of people were pleased. I also used to do some of the follow up customer service calls. Now, I HAVE had some issues with the chairs. I have bow back chairs and because of the dryness in my house the wood is starting to dry out on those chairs, . I've since gotten a whole house humidifer so my house isn't so dry.

If you have kids or pets hold off on some of it. The reason I have target ent. centers in the fmaily room and basements is because if something happens it wouldn't be that big of a deal. My coffee room tables are 15 years old, but are Broyhill. You also have to stay with what you can afford. They have so many marks in them and they are Pine which is a very soft wood. I'm waiting for my DD to get a few years older and then I will buy new EA tables.

 

[fivefordisney]

Are you interested in the Pottery Barn Basic slipcovered line in the couch and chair? I bought the couch, loveseat, chair and ottoman as a wedding gift for my daughter at nearly 1/2 the PB price.

I found out who manufactured it for PB and ordered it through a great furniture company I've been doing business with for years. I could give you the info if that is what you're looking for.

I would love to have this info!

Gotta love the budget board. You all are so full of great info and inspire me to think outside the box!!

 

[Melrosgirl]

My EA furniture is much nicer than my PB furniture. With the prices being similar, I prefer EA. No assembly.

 

[daisyduck123]

hmm, pottery barn/ethan allen....high quaility top of the line , built to last a lifetime...

target ~ cheap, you put it together, meant to last the season.
Sorry but everything I've ever bought form Target, furniture wise, has been junk.

What she said.

Target is meant to be "cheap & affordable".

 

[crisi]

My EA furniture is much nicer than my PB furniture. With the prices being similar, I prefer EA. No assembly.

Have to agree there, I was a little shocked to see EA and PB in the same class. I have a few PB pieces (a trunk, some kids things), and they are nice, but not as nice as EA.

 

[lilstint]

I would love to have this info!

Gotta love the budget board. You all are so full of great info and inspire me to think outside the box!!

PM'd you the info.