Hey there, furniture lovers! If you‘ve been searching for stylish, affordable furniture online, you‘ve probably come across Castlery. This direct-to-consumer brand has been shaking up the furniture industry with their modern designs, transparent pricing, and social media hype. But is their furniture actually worth buying?
As a bit of a furniture fanatic myself, I‘ve purchased several pieces from Castlery over the past year for my apartment. So I‘m here to give you my completely honest, firsthand take on the quality, comfort, and overall value of Castlery furniture. I‘ll also share some insights into the company itself, key customer reviews, and how Castlery stacks up to other popular furniture brands.
By the end of this review, you‘ll have all the info you need to decide if Castlery is the right fit for your home. Let‘s dive in!
About Castlery
First, a quick background on Castlery. This online furniture brand was founded in 2013 by Declan Ee and Fred Ji, two entrepreneurs with a mission to make great design more accessible. By cutting out the middleman and partnering directly with manufacturers, Castlery is able to offer high-quality furniture at much lower prices than traditional retailers.
One of the key things that sets Castlery apart is their focus on sustainability and ethical manufacturing. The company works exclusively with factories that comply with international environmental regulations and follow ethical labor practices. Most of their wood is sourced from FSC-certified forests, and they use durable, eco-friendly materials like recycled fabrics when possible.
Castlery releases new furniture designs every few months to keep their catalog on-trend. Their aesthetic leans mid-century modern, with clean lines, functional forms, and statement-making details. While they‘re probably best known for their sofas and accent chairs, Castlery sells a wide range of furniture for every room of the house.
The company is based in Singapore, but they ship to several countries including the US, UK, Australia, and Japan. They‘ve been featured in big publications like Forbes, Bloomberg, and TechCrunch and have a growing social media following, especially on Instagram.
Castlery Product Reviews
Now for the good stuff – the actual furniture! Over the past year, I‘ve bought a sofa, media console, two armchairs, and a dining set from Castlery. Here are my detailed thoughts on each piece:
Adams Sofa Review
Price: $1899 for 3-seater
Rating: 4.5/5
I‘d been eyeing Castlery‘s sofas for ages on Instagram, so I was pumped to finally order the Adams Sofa in the Ivory Boucle fabric. The first thing that struck me when it arrived was how COMFY this couch is. The cushions are stuffed with a down-poly blend that feels plush and cozy, but still supportive.
The frame on the Adams is solidly built from kiln-dried wood with dowel joints and corner blocks for added stability. Even with my husband and dog jumping on this sofa daily, there‘s no creaking or wobbling at all. Just a sturdy, sink-in comfortable seat.
Aesthetically, I love the modern shape of the Adams. It has a low profile and slim arms that give it a chic, minimal vibe. The boucle fabric looks super luxe and expensive, but has actually been holding up great to daily wear and tear (even a few wine spills). It does shed a bit of fuzz, but nothing a lint roller can‘t handle.
The Adams comes in other fabric options like velvet and linen, or even leather if that‘s more your style. You can also choose between a regular 3-seater or a chaise sectional configuration, which is awesome if you have the space for it.
My only tiny critique of this sofa is that the seat cushions aren‘t reversible or flippable. After a year of heavy use, I‘m starting to notice a bit of uneven wearing since I can‘t flip them. But overall, I‘m super impressed with the Adams Sofa and would 100% recommend it!
Seb Media Console Review
Price: $549
Rating: 4.7/5
To complete my living room setup, I got the Seb Media Console in Walnut and let me tell you – this thing is SLEEK. The real wood veneer is rich and warm in tone, and the black metal accents give it an industrial edge.
Size-wise, the Seb is perfect for apartments or smaller spaces. It has a slim profile that doesn‘t jut out too far, but still offers ample storage with two deep drawers and an open shelf. The two side cabinets hide away any techy eyesores like wires or game consoles.
Assembly was a total breeze with the Seb. It took me and my husband maybe 20 minutes to put together, with very clear instructions. All the pieces are precisely manufactured so everything fit together perfectly. No frustrating misaligned drill holes or cheapo hardware here.
If you‘re a fan of the popular mid-century modern aesthetic, the Seb Media Console is a fabulous option. It looks like a pricey vintage score but has the quality construction and pristine condition of a brand new piece.
Harper Armchair Review
Price: $649 each
Rating: 4.4/5
After seeing how much I loved my Adams Sofa, my husband surprised me with a pair of Harper Armchairs for my birthday a few months ago. I got them in the Seagrass Green velvet and WOW – the color is so striking in person.
The Harper has a classic mid-century shape with a high, tufted back and tapered wooden legs. But the lush, jewel-toned velvet upholstery makes it feel totally glam and modern. I have the chairs set up across from my sofa with a brass coffee table between them, and they make such a chic little conversation nook.
Comfort-wise, the Harper is definitely on the firmer side compared to my Adams Sofa. The foam cushioning is more structured and supportive, and you don‘t really "sink" into it. Personally, I find them great for sitting up properly to read or chat with friends. But if you‘re looking for a chairs to take a nap in, I‘d probably opt for one of Castlery‘s cushier styles like the Piper or the Amber.
One thing to note about the Harper – and this could maybe be a pro or con depending on your space – is that it‘s quite low to the ground. The seat height is only about 15 inches, so it‘s pretty different than a standard dining chair or barstool height. I actually love how it makes my living room feel very lounge-y and relaxed. But just something to consider if you‘re pairing the Harper with existing furniture!
Seb Dining Table + Chair Review
Price: $999 for table, $319 each for chairs
Rating: 4.6/5
To round out my Castlery collection, I got the Seb Extendable Dining Table in Walnut along with 4 matching Seb Dining Chairs. And this combo has totally elevated my eating space!
Let‘s start with the table. It‘s SOLID wood (no veneers here) with a stunning natural grain. I love the warm walnut tone and the way the wood grain is continuous across the tabletop. The straight lines and tapered legs give it a very mid-century Scandinavian vibe.
The extendable feature on this table is game-changing if you like to host. It has a super smooth butterfly mechanism that takes the table from 55 to 71 inches. When extended, it comfortably seats 6-8 people (perfect for dinner parties or big family gatherings!). And when it‘s just me and my husband eating, we keep the Seb at its shorter length to save space.
As for the chairs, I‘m a huge fan. They‘re made from the same solid walnut wood as the tabletop, so it‘s a perfect match. The curved back and woven rattan seat add some cool textural contrast, and they‘re actually way more comfortable to sit in that I expected!
The only slight downside to this dining set is that the tabletop is a little prone to scratching if you‘re not careful. We‘ve gotten a few scuffs from plates or serving dishes. But they‘re honestly not very noticeable with the wood grain, and I think it adds to the rustic charm over time. I‘m sure you could also buff them out or add a protective coating if you wanted.
All in all, I couldn‘t be happier with my Castlery dining set! It‘s the perfect blend of style and functionality for our space.
Customer Experience
Of course, my review would be missing a huge piece of the puzzle if I didn‘t talk about Castlery‘s customer experience. From browsing to buying to delivery, here‘s what you can expect:
Website and Ordering Process
Castlery‘s website is one of the most user-friendly furniture sites I‘ve come across. They have big, clear product photos from multiple angles along with detailed descriptions, dimensions, and customer reviews. I love that you can order free swatches of any fabric or leather to see the colors and textures in person before purchasing.
The checkout process is quick and painless, and Castlery has several payment options including Affirm financing (which lets you pay in interest-free installments). They also offer a 14-day return window on most items, but note there is a 20% restocking fee.
Shipping and Delivery
Castlery offers free shipping on most orders over $999, and flat rate shipping fees for smaller orders based on location. They partner with regional freight carriers for delivery, and you can track your order through their portal.
In terms of delivery options, you can choose between:
- Standard (delivered to your ground floor or lobby)
- Room of Choice (delivered to your room of choice, up 2 flights of stairs)
- White Glove (full service delivery with assembly and packaging removal)
I‘ve done both Room of Choice and White Glove delivery through Castlery, and they‘ve been great experiences. The delivery teams are courteous and communicative, and they handle the furniture with care. White Glove is pricier, but totally worth it for larger items like sofas or dining tables, in my opinion.
The only slight negative I‘ve encountered is with delivery times. Since Castlery‘s furniture is made to order and shipped from Asia, it can sometimes take longer than anticipated to arrive (I‘m talking 2.5-3 months instead of the quoted 6-8 weeks). But Castlery is very transparent about potential delays and proactively reaches out with any updates.
Customer Support
Castlery‘s customer support team is top-notch. You can reach them via phone, email, or live chat 7 days a week. Whenever I‘ve had questions or concerns, they‘ve been super friendly, knowledgeable, and quick to respond.
When one of the legs on my Seb Dining Table arrived slightly scratched, Castlery immediately sent me a replacement part free of charge. Zero hassle or pushback. They even checked in afterwards to make sure everything was resolved to my satisfaction.
The only thing I wish Castlery offered is more after-purchase support, like care instructions or information on protective coatings for different materials. I‘ve kind of had to figure that stuff out on my own through trial and error. But that‘s a pretty minor gripe!
Overall, I‘ve been extremely impressed with Castlery‘s customer service throughout my buying journey. They really go above and beyond to make sure you‘re happy with your purchase.
Comparison to Other Brands
If you‘re considering Castlery, you might be wondering how they stack up to other popular furniture retailers. Here‘s my take:
Castlery vs. West Elm
When it comes to style and price point, I‘d say Castlery is most comparable to West Elm. They both offer a curated selection of modern furniture with mid-century and industrial influences. However, I‘ve found Castlery‘s prices to be slightly lower on average, especially for larger items like sofas and dining tables.
Quality-wise, I actually prefer Castlery to West Elm. The solid wood construction and sturdy frames on my Castlery pieces feel a step above the partial MDF or veneers used in a lot of West Elm‘s furniture. I‘ve also had better luck with Castlery‘s customer service and delivery experience (no horror stories of damaged goods or unresponsive reps like I‘ve heard about West Elm!).
Castlery vs. Article
Article is another popular direct-to-consumer furniture brand with a modern aesthetic. Like Castlery, they cut out the middleman to offer competitive prices and free shipping on most orders.
I‘d say the main difference between Castlery and Article is the product selection. Article has a wider range of furniture styles, from mid-century to contemporary to rustic. Castlery‘s catalog is a bit smaller and more focused on a consistent modern look.
In terms of quality, I think Castlery and Article are pretty comparable. They both use good materials like solid wood and full-grain leather, and the construction feels sturdy across the board. I do prefer the feel of Castlery‘s cushions (they‘re a bit plusher), but that‘s a very subjective thing.
One advantage of Article is that they have showrooms in several cities where you can see and feel products in person before buying. Castlery is online-only, so you have to rely on photos and swatches to make your decision.
Castlery vs. IKEA
Castlery and IKEA are both popular with younger buyers and apartment-dwellers, but the similarities pretty much end there.
IKEA is all about budget-friendly, assemble-it-yourself furniture with a Scandinavian sensibility. Castlery‘s furniture costs more, but that extra money gets you higher quality materials, sturdier construction, and more unique designs. It also comes fully assembled (or with white glove delivery), which is a big plus.
I will say that IKEA has a much wider product selection than Castlery, and their modular furniture systems are great for small spaces or if you like to switch up your decor often. Castlery is definitely more of an investment, but I think their pieces will hold up better in the long run.
Obviously, these comparisons are based on my personal experiences and preferences. But hopefully this gives you a general sense of how Castlery fits into the market and compares to other popular furniture retailers!
The Bottom Line
Phew, that was a lot of information! If you‘ve made it this far, you‘re probably wondering – OK, but is Castlery actually worth it? Here‘s my honest take:
I think Castlery is one of the best options out there for stylish, high-quality furniture at an affordable price point. Their sofas, chairs, and dining sets look and feel much more expensive than they actually are. And the solid wood construction and sturdy frames give me confidence that these pieces will last for years to come.
I also love supporting a company with such a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical manufacturing. It‘s rare to find that level of transparency and responsibility in the furniture industry.
The biggest potential downside of Castlery is the lengthy delivery times (since most pieces are made to order). If you need furniture ASAP, it might not be the best option. There‘s also a restocking fee for returns, which is a bummer.
But for me personally, the unique designs, great value, and excellent customer service far outweigh those cons. I‘m absolutely thrilled with all my Castlery pieces and would buy from them again in a heartbeat!
So if you‘re in the market for new furniture and have a modern aesthetic, I highly recommend checking out Castlery. Order some free swatches, read the reviews, and see if anything catches your eye. Chances are you‘ll find a piece (or three) that you love.
I hope you found this review helpful! Feel free to reach out with any other questions – I‘m always happy to chat furniture.
Happy shopping!
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