When it comes to making a significant purchase, most shoppers go through a natural process of comparison. This style versus that style. These features versus those features. One brand versus another. This methodical, instinctive approach helps consumers narrow options down in a way that ensures they make the best choice for their unique needs.
Here at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet, we see this decision making process play out with our customers on a regular basis. That’s why we’re dedicated to providing resources like this one. Our goal is to make it easier for shoppers to weigh their options – the ins and the outs, the pros and the cons – and to empower them to make the perfect choice for their home. One of the brand comparisons we see come up quite often is HomeStretch vs Flexsteel.
As a retailer that has proudly carried both of these respected manufacturers for years, we know the brands and their product lines inside and out. So, if you’re debating between HomeStretch and Flexsteel, stick around! In this article, we’ll compare and contrast these two brands to help you decide which one suits your home, lifestyle, and budget best.
Why Do Shoppers Compare HomeStretch vs Flexsteel?
So, why do consumers have a tendency to compare these two brands? Well, there are a number of similarities that lead to this natural and frequent occurrence.
First, both brands are best known for manufacturing upholstered seating for the living spaces in the home. Second, both brands exist in a mid-tier to premium furniture range. This means that upholstered seating from both HomeStretch and Flexsteel are solidly built, from quality materials, with thoughtful features. These brands are neither the most expensive upholstery on the market, nor are they bargain brands that cut corners. Rather, these furniture brands are ideal for shoppers who want value for their dollars spent, but who are also willing to pay a bit more for a better product.
Given all of these things, there’s a ton of overlap between the products offered by each brand and their price points. This means that in many cases, products from each company’s catalog end up going head-to-head in furniture showrooms across America. Why wouldn’t shoppers compare them, right?
There are a few significant differences between HomeStretch and Flexsteel, but we’ll wait and get into those in a minute. But first, here’s a brief introduction for each furniture brand.
About HomeStretch Furniture
Hailing from Mississippi, HomeStretch Furniture has quickly risen to prominence in the reclining furniture industry, becoming a top manufacturer in less than 15 years. True to their namesake, they specialize in crafting recliners, lift chairs, and reclining sofas, sectionals and loveseats, each designed to help consumers stretch their legs and kick back at home.
HomeStretch’s greatest selling point is that all of their pieces are designed and manufactured right here in America from premium materials. This means you won’t find cheap particle board or chipboard in their frames or hardwood seat boxes. HomeStretch is very vocal about their commitment to deliver furniture that is functional, comfortable, and built to last – all at a fair price. Their mission is to help shoppers get more value for their money without compromising on quality. HomeStretch takes great pride in going above and beyond with their craftsmanship and materials, setting them apart from other reclining furniture brands on the market that occasionally cut corners or compromise on quality for the sake of price. As a result, we consider HomeStretch to be a mid-tier to premium specialist in reclining upholstery.
About Flexsteel Furniture
Flexsteel is one of the most enduring furniture manufacturers in the business today. Founded in Minneapolis in 1893, the company adopted the name Flexsteel in the 1920s after introducing an innovative seat spring design for sofas, chairs, and couches that was based on the high-tensile, flat, steel springs used in Swiss watches and clock towers. To this day, their patented Blue Steel Spring is a truly unique, durable suspension system unlike anything else on the market. Now headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa, Flexsteel still incorporates its Blue Steel Spring into every piece of seating, a testament to their commitment to durability, support and comfort.
While Flexsteel is best known in the industry for producing quality upholstered seating and reclining furniture, they’ve recently expanded their offerings. Now, they also provide casegoods for the dining room, bedroom and living room, along with shippable, direct-to-consumer furniture for the whole home under the banner of their Homestyles brand. Though some Flexsteel products are made overseas, much of their seating is still proudly manufactured in North America, including at their Dublin, GA factory where they craft all of their stationary seating frames. So when you purchase Flexsteel furniture, you’re not just buying quality, you’re also helping support Georgia’s local economy!
HomeStretch vs Flexsteel: Key Differences
As you may have already gathered from the brand biographies above, there are a number of key differences between HomeStretch vs Flexsteel. We’ve boiled them down into the 5 key differences below:
1) Brand Heritage
While this may not be a huge deal for most shoppers, it is worth noting that Flexsteel has been in continuous operation for an impressive 130+ years. By comparison, HomeStretch is a young upstart being founded in just 2010 – although that’s not necessarily a bad thing either. Keep in mind that having decades of prior furniture experience has allowed HomeStretch’s founders to build their relatively young business into a reclining furniture powerhouse in practically no time at all.
2) Differences in Furniture Offerings
This is perhaps the largest difference between HomeStretch and Flexsteel. While both brands are known primarily for their reclining upholstered seating (recliners, reclining sofas, reclining sectionals, reclining loveseats and lift chairs), Flexsteel has really branched out into other areas over the last few years. While HomeStretch remains dedicated to crafting only reclining seating, Flexsteel is now a whole-home furniture manufacturer including casegoods like dining sets, bedroom sets, occasional tables and more.
3) Made in America, or Not?
While some of Flexsteel’s renowned upholstery is still manufactured in America like it has been for over a century, many other pieces are made overseas and imported. This includes many of their upholstery collections, casegood collections and their numerous components. By contrast, HomeStretch has made it a point of emphasis to contribute to the domestic economy by continuing to make all of their furniture here in America.
4) Manufacturer Warranty Terms
While both brands offer solid warranty packages, Flexsteel’s manufacturer warranty covers more potential issues, for longer warranty periods. As always, some limitations apply. Here are the details:
HomeStretch Manufacturer Warranty: HomeStretch guarantees their furniture’s recliner mechanisms for the life of the product (manual, power and lift), a 3-year warranty on lift chair, lumbar and headrest motors, and a 1-year warranty on their frames, seats, springs, covers, power recline motors, and labor.
Flexsteel Manufacturer Warranty: Meanwhile, Flexsteel offers limited lifetime warranties on everything from their reclining mechanisms, to wood frames and metal bases, to springs, seat cushions and even feathers. Additional electrical and mechanical components, sleeper mechanisms and sleeper mattresses are guaranteed for 5 years, while finished wood, plastic and metal components, battery packs, filling materials, upholstery materials and more are guaranteed for 1 year.
5) Custom Order Options
The fifth and final difference between these brands is a matter of their customization options and availability. For those shoppers who want to customize their own upholstery fabric, Flexsteel has a number of different fabrics and frames to choose from. HomeStretch doesn’t currently offer any customization options, however, each product is usually kept in stock in multiple colors. In other words, Flexsteel offers customization but this can take longer to get your product, while HomeStretch offers special orders in multiple colors that are typically readily available within a matter of days or weeks.
Shop Both HomeStretch & Flexsteel Right Here at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet!
When it comes to HomeStretch vs Flexsteel, what brand do you feel fits your needs better? This is a question that each shopper must ask for themselves. For many, it all depends on what factors are most important to you – whether that be Flexsteel’s best-in-class warranty package, their tried-and-true patented Blue Steel spring technology, or HomeStretch’s specialization in only producing reclining furniture and their commitment to only craft furniture right here in America.
For others, it helps to take a little field trip to a store where you can see and sit in recliners, loveseats, sofas or sectionals from both of these quality upholstery brands. If you’re facing a HomeStretch vs Flexsteel conundrum yourself, come see the helpful upholstery experts at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet! With 4 North Georgia and Atlanta area furniture stores, we’ve got a massive selection of upholstered seating and reclining furniture that you’ve just got to check out. See you soon!
