West Elm
Known for its chic and contemporary designs, West Elm is a high-end furniture and home décor brand. They have carpets, chairs, and modern wall art from West Elm in their inventory. They have a sizable Instagram following of over 2.7 million, and have been highlighted in a number of magazines and websites, including PopSugar, the New York Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Refinery29.
This brand could be right for you if you’re looking for contemporary furniture for your house. This in-depth examination of the West Elm brand, its items, customer reviews, best sellers, and more will help you determine whether or not their collection is appropriate for your apartment.
Under the ownership of Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn, West Elm’s parent business, was introduced with its debut catalogue in 2002. More precisely, since the 1940s, Williams-Sonoma has been one of the biggest and oldest online merchants selling kitchenware and home goods.
For the modern customer, West Elm manufactures a variety of modern and mid-century home furnishings, accessories, and goods. They currently have their main offices in New York City.
With 60% of their goods supporting at least one sustainability programme, West Elm also places a strong emphasis on reducing its ecological imprint. Some of their products are Fair Trade-certified, artisanal, organic, or sourced responsibly. Furthermore, 35% of their wood furniture is FSC certified, contributing to the global preservation of forests and ecosystems.
“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.”
Let’s go over some of the brand’s benefits and drawbacks before diving into our West Elm furniture review…
Benefits
- There are countless options for modern furniture, goods, and home design.
- Ecologically friendly and sustainable business methods.
- Customers may earn points with the West Elm credit card by shopping there.
- Customers may use a 3D room planner to check how their items fit in their space.
- Free design assistance is available over the phone and online.
- Options for instalment payments with Affirm.
Drawbacks
- More expensive in comparison to other furniture stores.
- Conflicting customer feedback.
What would you say is your decorating style for your house? There are many choices, such as transitional, French country, antique, rustic, minimalist, and more.
Whatever your preference, there is a significant selection of home-related accessories that may match a variety of interior design aesthetics, such as lavish West Elm chandeliers and West Elm beds with a contemporary flare.
You have a wide range of alternatives, from modern West Elm bedding to sculptural, overhanging West Elm lights that represent an aesthetic peculiarity. Let’s take a look at some of their best-selling items before you start browsing their catalogue…
The Mid-Century Leather Show Wood Chair is the ideal choice if you want a stylish and durable chair. The sleek shape of this unassuming beauty is ideal for the minimalist or rustic style of interior design. It has legs and arms made of solid ash wood and coloured either pecan or espresso.
You may choose between vegan leather or real top-grain leather for the legs. It is extremely sturdy since this West Elm chair is contract grade. Think about purchasing two to make the ideal breakfast area where you can enjoy your morning coffee and read the newspaper.
The fabric, colour, and leg type variations of the Mid-Century Leather Show Wood Chair all have a corresponding price variation. This is a momentary deal with a price range of $799–2148.
One of the most essential pieces of furniture for the living room to have is the sofa. It not only fills up empty space but also serves as a gathering place for friends and family. But don’t settle for any old couch, the Modular Sectional from their Harper collection exudes a feeling of modern sophistication and style that will upgrade your living area.
This sleek, contemporary, Scandinavian couch by West Elm has broad, angular armrests and a narrow seat deck. Additionally, it has large, well-fitted cushions that may be used for stretching out or sitting. The Modular Sectional’s kiln-dried frame, metal legs with an antique bronze finish, and webbed seat support are some of its standout characteristics.
Depending on how your space is laid out, you can put this chic sectional together in nine different ways. Included in this are the corner, right-arm two-seater couch, and chaise. Additionally, customers may select the material and colour that would look best in their living area. Due of these configurable choices, the sectional’s price ranges from $899 to $299.
Desks may be thought of as the centre of labour. It’s crucial to pick a workstation that is sturdy and spacious whether you’re working on your next post or hosting a crucial Zoom conference.
This mid-century desk is constructed from eucalyptus wood that is Fair Trade certified, responsibly harvested, kiln-dried for strength, and finished with water-based coatings.
This GreenGuard-certified West Elm desk, which was developed in partnership with Pottery Barn Teen, also has a USB power strip, built-in LED lighting, and a practical corkboard for your to-do lists and post-it notes.
White or acorn are the available colours for the Mid-Century Smart Desk. With Affirm, you can make this a crucial component of your bedroom for $799 or $73 each month.
First impressions are crucial at all times. You want your home to appear as tidy and organised as possible when guests come. Choose the tribal Media Console for your living room or entryway to wow your guests.
It is supported by three compartments made of kiln-dried mango wood and three Y-shaped metal legs with an antique brass finish. It is important to note that the mango wood comes from responsibly managed trees that are no longer bearing fruit.
This media console has four cutout slots at the rear for wire management and supports flat-screen TVs up to 80″. If you want something more conventional for your entrance, consider arranging some in-season flowers in a chic vase.
A gorgeously carved geometric design has been added as a finishing touch to the front for additional visual appeal. The West Elm Media Console is 27″ tall and 19″ deep, and it comes in three price-range-varying colours…
- Flax – $1499 (or $136/month with Affirm)
- White or Black – $1699 (or $154/month with Affirm)
Nothing organises your stuff and holds your vanity mirror like a bedroom dresser. With its textured drawer fronts and slender metal legs, the Quinn Lacquer 6-Drawer Dresser has a glitzy and colourful appearance.
This West Elm dresser has a hazy lacquer finish and is built entirely of very sturdy kiln-dried mahogany wood. This dresser’s legs include built-in levellers that can adjust to different floor levels, which is very amazing.
Additionally, it boasts six metal glider-opening drawers, which makes choosing your clothing for the day a breeze. Affirm charges $127 each month for the Quinn Lacquer 6-Drawer Dresser, which costs $1399 outright.
Traditional side tables are frequently extremely simple. The Volume Side Table, on the other hand, has a distinctive cylindrical shape that resembles a tree trunk. This West Elm side table is stylish enough to fit in any modern home thanks to its rounded base and lovely wood grain.
This table has wood covered in a cool walnut finish or winter wood veneer and is polished with a water-based finish. To increase durability, all wood is also kiln-dried. Additionally, it is tall enough to go with most West Elm couches.
Place a wireless charging pad as a nice small accent and a plain white lamb for a contemporary, high-tech touch. Costing $249, the Volume Side Table is $23/month with Affirm.
It’s time to throw out those scratchy grandma quilts and flimsy blankets. As comfortable as your go-to t-shirt, the Cotton Duvet & Standard Sham. It is made of organic cotton percale, which is cool to the touch, and makes washing clothes cosier.
Its opulent and laid-back appearance will undoubtedly give any conventional bed a more modern and contemporary appeal. You don’t have to buy a duvet cover, a duvet cover and sham, a combination of two shams, or simply the sham.
Customers may also choose the sham’s size based on the size of their bed. The Cotton Duvet & Standard Sham is available in a variety of neutral hues. Add more West Elm pillows, matching West Elm pillow coverings, and West Elm duvet covers to complete this bedding ensemble.
Depending on the sham or combination, the cost of the Cotton Duvet & Standard Sham varies…
- Duvet Cover and Sham Set for King/Californian – $209
- Individual sham for Euro Sham in asphalt – $40
- Set of two shams for standard sham in stone white – $59
The likelihood is that you missed an important element of warmth—curtains—if you feel that your living room lacks something. The curtain has a significant influence on the aesthetics and mood of a space because of its colour and design.
The Linen & Luster Velvet Curtain creates a chic color-blocking effect by combining a lustrous golden oak velvet at the bottom with a delicately coloured European linen at the top. These West Elm curtains not only enliven the space, but they also shield the windows from blazing sunlight and improve insulation.
The Linen & Luster Velvet Curtain is available in a range of lengths; for a more opulent appearance, match it with a golden or brass curtain pole.
- 84” – $149
- 96” – $164
- 108” – $179
Rugs not only give your bedroom or living area a cosier appearance, but they also give your flooring some protection. The Hand-Knotted Fragment Rug is the ideal floor covering to liven up your room.
This rug is a hand-made wool and viscose blend that was created in India by highly trained artisans. Its colouring is subdued beige, grey, and traces of navy blue, with a subtly fractured, abstract pattern.
Put this stunning piece in your living room next to a dining table from West Elm and a set of chairs in coordinating leather. For $281, the Hand-Knotted Fragment Rug will definitely provide some additional flavour.
Customer Reviews
Based on its investigation, this West Elm furniture review discovered a wide range of client reactions. They have more than 280 ratings and a rating of 1.3/5 on TrustPilot.
Customers who noticed delays or orders not arriving mentioned that there were problems with their delivery schedules. Customers have also complained about problems with customer support, saying the staff was unresponsive or useless in resolving issues.
One TrustPilot user submitted a review, “I placed an order for a couch in early November. I am accepting of Covid delays, what I am not accepting of is the lack of customer service, lack of transparency, mixed messages and zero resolution when trying to figure out where the $2,500 couch I ordered is.”
Several of their Yelp pages have ongoing unfavourable customer ratings. For instance, at their California location, they have 430 Yelp reviews with a rating of 2/5 and 558 ratings with a rating of 3/5.
Other customers cited concerns with the quality of their furniture, even though there are more instances of poor customer service and delivery problems. This criticism is similar to one made in a 2018 Vox story about couches and pillows that shed and lost their form.
“They started leaking feathers all over the place, the cushions didn’t hold their shape. … 3 and half months later, I sat on one of the couches and the front beam snapped in half,”
The author also said that, “West Elm won over millennials. But now it’s really pissing them off.”
Not all West Elm consumers are unhappy with their purchases. Out of 129 votes, Slumber Search gives the business 7.7/10 ratings, and Influenster gives it a 3.6/5-star rating based on 166 reviews. The quality and contemporary designs have delighted brand devotees. There were a few reviews that mentioned having received good customer service.
Does The Brand Offer Free Shipping?
Only a select few products, like their Chenille Rib Throw and Cotton Knit Throw, are available for free delivery from West Elm.
Their Delivery Fee
Canada, the United States, Mexico, Australia, and the United Kingdom all receive shipping from West Elm. Customers must place orders on their desktop, laptop, or other non-mobile device for overseas shipping.
Front door package delivery, local collection from a UPS Access Point, truck delivery, and store pickup are available as shipping alternatives. Customers may pick up their goods at a nearby shop for West Elm ship-to-store service if they are not in stock.
For the majority of qualified items, the buyer is charged a reasonable flat-rate delivery price. Customers may learn more about the different fees for each form of shipment by going to their website. Customers may also monitor their orders by visiting West Elm’s website and entering their shipping code.
Their Shipping Cost
According to this West Elm furniture review, shipping costs vary depending on the size of the order. For instance, delivery for a $200 item may cost about $21. Truck delivery costs are determined by distance, with the longest trips costing the most.
Their Return Policy
The majority of things may be returned within 30 days after purchase. Items that are final sale, monogrammed, and gift cards are not returnable. Customers can start the return procedure over the phone, over the mail, in person, or online.
Only products that were sent to the United States are eligible for online returns and in-store returns. Customers must get a return permission from their customer service centre in order to return items internationally.
Final Verdict
Because so many customers have had bad experiences with this brand, this West Elm furniture review is hesitant to endorse it. But first, let’s talk about the advantages.
There is a huge selection of gorgeous-looking furnishings, home goods, and décor at West Elm. Their entire line of items has a highly trendy, modern, and contemporary aesthetic.
Customers may browse their selection of eco-friendly furnishings. It’s comforting to know that a substantial portion of their products are created responsibly and with minimal impact on the environment. The ability to easily visualise how the furniture would appear in the room it is designed for is another benefit of their room planner tool.
However, when there are several bad evaluations, it might be difficult to ignore the benefits. Numerous reliable websites, like TrustPilot and Yelp, have received negative reviews that describe terrible customer service encounters and delivery problems.
The volume of bad reviews has gotten to the point that they are noteworthy, and media sources are reporting on the low ratings.
It’s still okay to look at their furniture inventory, but use caution. This West Elm furniture review suggests that having a good experience is hit or miss.