Here’s Why It’s Always Worth Shopping at This Legacy Furniture Brand
Furnishing your home can be a lot of fun, but also stressful — especially if you’re someone who needs to log hours of research before making a decision. If that sounds like you, then shopping somewhere with decades of history behind it and a reputation for reliability is a no-brainer. That’s why one of our favorite furniture brands (and one of our most recommended) is Pottery Barn.
If you’re even a little bit familiar with the home decor space, then you’ve heard of Pottery Barn. It’s been around for nearly 80 years and is a designer favorite for its timeless style and quality craftsmanship. In addition to furniture, Pottery Barn is a great place to shop for decor, bedding, bath, and tabletop essentials, as well as limited-edition holiday decor around Halloween, Christmas, and July Fourth.
Here at Apartment Therapy we’ve tested a variety of Pottery Barn’s offerings over the years, including sofas, bed frames, chairs, dining tables, coffee tables, console tables, dressers, desks, and sheets.
What’s So Great About Pottery Barn?
No matter what you’re shopping for, you can expect quality craftsmanship, a personalized experience, and enduring style.
What Is Pottery Barn?
Although it’s now headquartered in San Francisco, Pottery Barn was founded in New York City all the way back in 1949. It was briefly owned by The Gap from 1984–1986, but was acquired by Williams-Sonoma in 1986 and has remained a subsidiary of the company ever since (along with Williams Sonoma, West Elm, Rejuvenation, Mark & Graham, and GreenRow). Its popularity exploded with the launch of its mail-order catalog in 1987, and it continued to grow through the ’90s and early ’00s with the launch of Pottery Barn Kids in 1999 and Pottery Barn Teen in 2003.
The brand is a mainstay of American home furnishings, thanks to its focus on traditional and transitional style, neutral color palettes, and upscale yet lived-in aesthetic. Its furniture offerings stand out for the range of customizations available, including dozens of upholstery choices, and durability. You’ll also find tons of exclusive collaborations, like entertaining essentials from Cynthia Rowley and coastal-inspired decor from Mark D. Sikes, plus an Accessible Home section with wheelchair-friendly furniture.
Does Pottery Barn Have Stores?
Yes, Pottery Barn has over 175 stores worldwide, although the vast majority are located in the U.S. There are also over 30 Pottery Barn Kids locations and nine Pottery Barn Teen stores. If you’re not near a store, Pottery Barn offers an impressive range of free design services, including Design Boards (which is basically a PB-only version of Pinterest), virtual or in-home design appointments, online buying guides, and even a Room Planner feature in the Pottery Barn app.
Does Pottery Barn Deliver?
Yes, Pottery Barn delivers. For furniture, Pottery Barn offers white glove delivery or doorstep delivery depending on the item. Shipping rates are calculated by the distance to the nearest PB warehouse and overall order amount, and ranges from $159 to $429 for white glove delivery and $59 to $309 for doorstep delivery.
If you live near a physical location, you can also ship to store for a reduced rate ($9 to $249). For custom furniture, you can expect delivery to take around eight to 10 weeks. If you’re not ordering large furniture pieces, standard shipping starts at $6 based on order value; if your order is over $300, shipping is calculated at 10% of the order value. Be sure to keep an eye out for sales, though, as free shipping deals happen periodically throughout the year — there’s even a section on the site where you can browse all free shipping-eligible products.
Pottery Barn’s return policy is 30 days for most items, or 7 days for Quick Ship items. Custom furniture, monogrammed items, and mattresses are not able to be returned, and delivery fees are not refundable.
Is Pottery Barn Furniture Easy to Assemble?
Larger furniture items that are delivered via white glove service are assembled for you, which means you won’t have to worry about putting together your new couch. Some smaller furniture items do require assembly, but the process is typically quick and straightforward.
Are There Any Pottery Barn Sales?
Yes, Pottery Barn has quite a few sales events throughout the year, with the biggest deals happening around President’s Day, Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, and Black Friday/Cyber Monday. (Hint: The July Fourth sale is live now, with an extra 20% off select sale and clearance goods!) You can find opportunities to save all year long, though, thanks to a rotation of ongoing promotions around specific categories. The sale and clearance section is always good to check out, as are the open box deals (which are always final sale).
Another way to save is by joining Pottery Barn’s Key Rewards program. While the best benefits come from opening a Pottery Barn credit card, you can become a member for free without opening a card. Non-card holders are Silver Rewards members, and enjoy members-only discounts, early access to sales, and free design services, as well as 2% back on qualified purchases across Williams-Sonoma brands.
Is Pottery Barn Worth It?
Yes, Pottery Barn’s quality furniture, timeless aesthetic, and mid-market pricing makes it well-worth shopping at. In addition to customizable furniture, Pottery Barn sells pretty much everything else you need to decorate your home, including rugs, lighting, dinnerware, glassware, and bedding. With nearly 200 locations nationwide and a variety of shipping options, it’s also an easy place to shop at — plus, frequent deals mean you can take advantage of savings all year long.
