It’s only natural to comparison shop. Especially when you’re beginning to dial in on a purchasing decision. The truth is that in the furniture industry, buyer behavior often follows a well-worn path. Once we narrow things down to a handful of choices, we often start comparing this one to that one” in order to find that one piece of info that will be a tie-breaker or decision-maker for us.
Nowhere do we see this more than in our upholstery department. With hundreds of upholstered seating options, we have far too much inventory to compare individual recliners or sofas to each other. However, we can compare different upholstery brands to help shoppers figure out which one is the best fit for them.
Today, we’re looking at HomeStretch Furniture vs Ashley Furniture. Since HomeStretch manufactures reclining upholstery exclusively, that’s what our comparison will focus on. By the end, you’ll have a much better idea whether HomeStretch or Ashley is a better fit for your home. Let’s go!
Why Do Shoppers Frequently Compare HomeStretch Furniture vs Ashley Furniture?
Here at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet, our customers frequently compare these brands in part because we carry a huge selection of furniture from both manufacturers. However, more broadly, shoppers online compare these furniture brands because they both produce a lot of furniture in the same product category – reclining upholstered seating.
Let’s briefly discuss both brands, their histories, and what they’re best known for:
About Ashley Furniture
As we’ve mentioned previously, Ashley Furniture likely needs no introduction. Ashley Furniture Industries has been making furniture of all kinds for 70+ years, and is arguably the biggest name worldwide in home furnishings. Despite being literally the world’s largest furniture manufacturer, Ashley continues to be family-owned and operated to this day. Additionally, while the majority of Ashley pieces are imported from overseas or assembled in the US with imported parts, enough of their products are still made domestically for them to claim the title of America’s largest furniture manufacturer.
Ashley Furniture is a whole-home manufacturer of affordable home furnishings, with products ranging from bedroom and dining room sets, to patio furniture and home office, to upholstered seating and mattresses. You’ll find a ton of brands underneath the Ashley Furniture Industries umbrella. This includes product lines from Signature Design by Ashley, Millennium by Ashley, BenchCraft, Outdoor by Ashley, Ashley Sleep and Sierra Sleep, along with their own corporate and franchise-owned Ashley HomeStore brick and mortar furniture stores.
About HomeStretch
Based in Mississippi, HomeStretch Furniture has gone from an industry unknown to an industry-leading manufacturer of reclining upholstered furniture in less than 15 years. Their specialty includes recliners and lift chairs, as well as reclining sofas, reclining sectionals and reclining loveseats. And as a bonus, every piece is made here in America!
HomeStretch states that their ultimate goal is to offer furniture shoppers a functional, comfortable, high quality product at a competitive price. To let consumers stretch their legs and their dollars. However, that doesn’t mean that HomeStretch holds back when it comes to quality or features. In fact, they pride themselves on their build quality and materials being a cut or two above most other recliner brands on the market.
HomeStretch vs Ashley Furniture Product Comparison
Ashley Furniture is a whole-home furniture manufacturer. That means they make just about anything for every room in your living space. By contrast, HomeStretch is a reclining furniture specialist that only makes reclining upholstery – recliners, lift chairs, and reclining sectionals, sofas, and loveseats. So remember, everything below is specific to the reclining upholstered seating offered by these two brands.
Let’s start with Ashley. In our own upholstery department, Ashley Furniture fills an entry-level to mid-level furniture niche. As such, Ashley’s biggest selling point is the affordability, accessibility, and value they offer consumers. Just keep in mind that the price, build quality and durability does vary a bit depending on the product line and the product itself. Most Ashley upholstered seating collections are best suited for bargain-oriented shoppers. However, pieces sold under the Millennium by Ashley brand name for instance, are a step or two higher than the rest of their catalog in both quality and price.
How about HomeStretch? As we stated above, HomeStretch puts a ton of emphasis on their quality materials and robust construction. From the foam used, to the fiber filling in their cushions and seatbacks, to their hardwood seat boxes, HomeStretch uses some of the best materials available. Additionally, keep in mind that most pieces are available in both power reclining or manual reclining, and are often available in a variety of leather and fabric upholstery options. As a result, we’d categorize HomeStretch as a mid-tier motion upholstery brand with a higher level of fit-and-finish, ideal for shoppers that are willing to pay slightly more for a better quality product made right here in America.
HomeStretch vs Ashley Furniture Warranty Comparison
HomeStretch Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty on all reclining mechanisms (manual, power, and lift), 3-year limited warranty on lift chair motors and power headrest/lumbar motors, 1-year limited warranty on frame, seat, springs, upholstery fabric, power-recline motors and remote controls
Ashley Furniture Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty on frames, 5-year limited warranty on reclining mechanisms and suspension (springs and webbing), 3-year limited warranty on sleeper mechanisms, 1-year limited warranty on cushioning, upholstery fabric and leather
We’d give HomeStretch an edge in the warranty department given their limited lifetime warranty on reclining mechanisms, which are one of the more common points of failure in reclining furniture. However, it is worth noting that Ashley Furniture does offer longer warranty terms than HomeStretch when it comes to frames and suspension systems. Ultimately, this trade-off makes it a bit of a toss up that depends on individual preference.
Which of These Established Reclining Furniture Brands Do Your Love for Your Living Space? Come See for Yourself!
There’s certainly an argument to be made for both of these well-established reclining furniture brands. Which manufacturer do you think best fits your needs? Ashley Furniture with their huge catalog of stylish, budget-friendly reclining furniture options? Or HomeStretch with their reputation for quality, durability, and extra attention to design details?
Depending on your own unique needs and preferences, either HomeStretch and Ashley Furniture could be the right decision for you. Come and try them for yourself! Whichever you decide, remember we’ve got a massive selection right here at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet. If you live here in Georgia, come see us at our locations in Woodstock/Acworth, Dallas/Hiram, Rome, and coming soon to Covington!
[Editor’s Note: Don’t forget to check out our additional brand reviews, brand comparisons, and best sellers. We’d love to be your trusted furniture and mattress resource!]
