This Editor-Loved Furniture Brand Has West Elm Vibes at IKEA Prices

The cost of furnishing a new space, whether it’s an apartment or a house, can lead people down a number of money-saving ventures, from DIYs and furniture flipping to thrifting and hand-me-downs. And yet — no judgment! — there are also people who want to enjoy fresh-from-the-box furniture without the time and effort those aforementioned avenues require. 

Enter: Nathan James, a furniture company that sells pieces for every room with an aesthetic that looks much more high-end than its actual price range. As our Executive Home Director, Danielle Blundell, says, it’s giving West Elm vibes but at IKEA prices. 

And that’s because founder Brooke Burdon knows exactly what it feels like to want great-looking furnishings but also have to pay rent. So if you’re looking to do the same, here’s why you should take a look at Nathan James. 

When Burdon was a recent college graduate in 2016, she was moving into her first apartment with grand plans of what the space would look like. The only problem? The cash she could put toward furnishings fell far short of her Pinterest vision boards. So, she did what every post-grad does to stay afloat: Burdon went to IKEA, struggled with assembling her order, and then discovered that the other pieces she wanted were sold out. 

This inspired Burdon to start a luxury-for-less furniture company for shoppers who were just like her. 

Since then, Burdon has grown Nathan James from the essentials — bed frames, sofas, and coffee tables, to name a few — into a company that can outfit living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and outdoor spaces. There are also plenty of storage and lighting options to choose from, too. 

Nathan James furniture falls within similar price points of other direct-to-consumer furniture brands, with sectionals understandably being the priciest items in its catalog. Sofas start around $800 and can go up to $2,500, but this company does offer a large selection of budget-friendly accent pieces that range between $200 and $400 that can make a room feel complete, ensuring that you can either fill out a room or change up its details for less than $1,000.

All of the furniture is crafted in Vietnam with partnerships Nathan James has with local builders, and orders are shipped from a warehouse in Nevada, which also keeps costs low.

Nathan James does not have brick-and-mortar stores. However, this company’s offerings are sold online by big-box stores, including Target, Walmart, and the Home Depot, as well as online-only retailers like Amazon and Wayfair. But don’t worry: Everywhere you shop still gets you the brand’s lifetime warranty. 

If you place an order through Nathan James’s website directly, then you’ll have the added benefit of its stellar customer service — which shoppers consistently highlight in their reviews. The company also offers a 100-day return window, and accepts returns for free as long as the order is sent back in the original packaging. 

Because all of its orders are shipped from a Nevada warehouse, the wait times are as follows: If you’re on the West Coast, your order will get to you in five days or fewer. If you place an order on the East Coast, it’ll come to your door in 11 days or fewer.

Nathan James has regular sales, from regular discounts that clear inventory for new products as well as holiday promotions like Memorial Day and Black Friday. Its current sale page has loads of products that are up to 60% off the original price.

If you’re someone who wants to achieve a picture-perfect aesthetic with ease — and still afford to pay your rent or mortgage — then Nathan James is worth a look. Here are some pieces to consider.