Hey there, furniture lover! If you‘re considering splurging on some high-end pieces for your home, you‘ve probably come across Frontgate. This luxury retailer has been crafting stunning furniture for over 30 years and has amassed quite the cult following. But is Frontgate furniture actually worth the hype (and the high price tag)?
As a self-proclaimed design enthusiast, I‘ve had my eye on Frontgate for years. I finally took the plunge and ordered a few pieces for my own home last year. Now, I‘m sharing my honest Frontgate furniture review to help you decide if this brand deserves a spot in your space.
We‘ll dive into Frontgate‘s history, bestsellers, quality and materials, ordering process, and real customer reviews to give you the full scoop. I‘ll also share some tips for getting the most value out of your Frontgate purchase. Settle in, because this is going to be a detailed deep dive into all things Frontgate furniture!
Frontgate Furniture Review Overview
Before we jump into the nitty-gritty, let‘s cover the key points you need to know about Frontgate furniture:
- Frontgate has been in business for 30+ years and is known for high-end indoor and outdoor furniture
- The brand uses premium materials like teak, wicker, top-grain leather, and Egyptian cotton
- Many pieces are handcrafted by artisans and feature special details like hand-carved woodwork
- Prices are high, but Frontgate furniture is designed to last for decades and even become heirlooms
- Frontgate offers free shipping over $199, in-home delivery, and generous multi-year warranties
- The brand has showrooms across the US where you can see/feel products in person
- Customers rave about the quality and style but a few note issues with delivery and service
Sound intriguing? Then let‘s take a closer look at what makes Frontgate furniture so special (and pricey).
Inside the World of Frontgate: History & Brand Overview
One of Frontgate‘s brick-and-mortar showrooms. Image source: Frontgate.com
Frontgate was founded way back in 1991 and has been synonymous with luxury home furnishings ever since. Over the past three decades, the brand has grown from a small catalog retailer to an omnichannel powerhouse with a devoted fan base. Frontgate now boasts:
- 205,000 Instagram followers
- 182,000 Facebook followers
- 5 brick-and-mortar stores in the US
- Millions of copies of its catalog distributed annually
So how did Frontgate become such a force in the furniture world? It all comes down to an unwavering commitment to quality. From the very beginning, Frontgate has partnered with top designers and expert craftsman to create pieces that aren‘t just beautiful, but built to last.
Frontgate‘s furniture stands out for its use of premium materials like solid teak, handwoven wicker, natural stone, and Sunbrella performance fabrics. The brand also emphasizes traditional carpentry techniques like mortise-and-tenon joinery and eight-way hand-tied spring suspension to ensure rock-solid construction.
While Frontgate is perhaps best known for its outdoor furniture, the brand‘s indoor offerings are equally impressive. From statement-making dressers to unbelievably comfy sofas, Frontgate has something gorgeous for practically every room in your home.
Frontgate Furniture Bestsellers
Curious what actual Frontgate customers love most? Here are a few of the brand‘s consistently bestselling pieces and collections:
Outdoor furniture:
- Carlisle Onyx Outdoor Collection (wicker seating)
- Isola Teak Dining Collection
- Balencia Aluminum Chaise Lounges
- Grayson Teak Lounge Chairs
Indoor furniture:
- Wendover Upholstered Sofa
- Aiden Cane Dining Chairs
- Barton Tufted Leather Ottoman
- Regency 4-Drawer Dresser
These tried-and-true designs are beloved for their perfect balance of form and function. They seamlessly mix current trends with timeless materials and silhouettes so they can evolve with your space for years to come.
Of course, Frontgate also regularly releases new furniture collections to keep things fresh. Recent new arrivals include an art deco-inspired burled wood bedroom set, colorful Palm Beach-style outdoor seating, and a gorgeous live edge dining table. The brand does a great job catering to multiple design aesthetics to suit different tastes.
Quality & Materials
It‘s no secret that Frontgate‘s prices are steep – a sofa can easily cost $4,000+. So what exactly are you paying for? In a word: quality.
Frontgate‘s teak outdoor furniture is built to last season after season. Image source: Frontgate.com
Frontgate is fanatical about sourcing the finest possible materials for its furniture. We‘re talking sustainably harvested grade-A teak, marine-grade plywood, solution-dyed acrylic Sunbrella fabric…the list goes on. Here‘s a quick run-down of some of the brand‘s most noteworthy materials:
- Teak wood: Frontgate‘s teak comes from responsibly managed farms and is kiln-dried for extra stability. Teak naturally resists moisture, insects, and decay so it can be left outside year-round.
- All-weather wicker: Frontgate‘s wicker is made of durable resin fibers that are colorfast, rainproof, and UV-resistant. Wicker pieces feature rustproof aluminum frames for lasting durability.
- Wrought aluminum: Used primarily in outdoor furniture, Frontgate‘s wrought aluminum has a powder-coat finish that resists chipping, fading, and oxidation. It‘s extremely low maintenance.
- Solution-dyed acrylic fabric: Also known as Sunbrella fabric, this material retains its color despite sun exposure and cleans easily. It resists mold, mildew, and staining.
- Top-grain leather: Frontgate uses only the top 10% of a hide in its leather furniture for buttery softness and a uniform finish. Its protected leather resists scratching and fading.
- Performance velvet: Frontgate‘s performance velvet feels luxurious but wears like iron. The fabric has a stain-resistant finish to repel spills and a tight weave to minimize shedding.
But premium materials are just one part of the Frontgate quality equation. Equally important is the craftsmanship and construction. Every Frontgate frame is precision-engineered for stability and carefully assembled using time-tested carpentry techniques.
Upholstered pieces have heavy-gauge steel spring systems and dense, high-resiliency foam for long-lasting comfort. Frontgate‘s solid wood furniture features reinforced corner blocks, mortise-and-tenon joinery, and dovetail drawer construction. No detail is overlooked.
To top it off, Frontgate offers some of the furniture industry‘s longest warranties. Most indoor pieces are covered for at least 3-5 years, and many outdoor collections are guaranteed for a whopping 10 years. It‘s clear Frontgate stands behind its quality and craftsmanship.
Ordering & Delivery Process
One thing I love about Frontgate is how easy it is to shop the brand online. The website allows you to filter furniture by type, material, size, price, and more to quickly find what you need. You can also order free fabric swatches to see colors and textures in person before committing.
Shipping is free on orders over $199, which is a nice perk. That minimum is pretty easy to meet considering Frontgate‘s high price point. For orders under $199, shipping fees depend on the order total and speed selected:
| Shipping Speed | Order Total | Shipping Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (3-7 business days) | $0 – $49.99 | $7.95 |
| Standard (3-7 business days) | $50 – $198.99 | $9.95 |
| Overnight (1 business day) | $0 – $198.99 | $24.95 |
Data source: Frontgate.com
Oversized items, custom orders, and furniture are typically delivered via freight carrier and require a signature. You can choose standard threshold delivery (to your door) or white glove delivery (unboxed, assembled, and placed in your room of choice). Some items also require professional installation at an added cost.
Frontgate provides detailed delivery time frames and frequent updates throughout the process. In my experience, the brand does an excellent job keeping you informed every step of the way. I knew exactly when to expect my furniture and even got a call confirming my preferred delivery window.
Frontgate Furniture Reviews from Real Customers
You know I love Frontgate, but what do other customers think? I combed through hundreds of reviews to find out. The verdict: people are overwhelmingly impressed by Frontgate furniture‘s style and quality. The most common praise points:
- Beautiful, well-made pieces that look like designer/showroom furniture
- Solid, substantial feel – no cheap, flimsy materials
- Unique, thoughtful design details you won‘t find elsewhere
- Comfortable and luxurious, with sink-in cushions and buttery leather
- Generous sizing, scale, and proportions
- Holds up exceptionally well over time (many reviews from 5+ year owners)
And here‘s a real Frontgate furniture review that sums it up perfectly:
We have furnished most of our home in Frontgate. The reason? Every single thing we have ordered has been beautiful and great quality. Teak, leather, rugs, bedding…you name it, it has been wonderful. Yes, Frontgate is pricey but I‘ve learned my lesson buying cheap furniture that falls apart or looks terrible after a year. We save up for Frontgate pieces and consider them investments in our home. You definitely get what you pay for! – Caroline R., Raleigh NC
While the vast majority of customers are thrilled with their Frontgate furniture, no company is perfect. A few buyers reported frustrations with long lead times (particularly on custom orders), unresponsive customer service, and difficulty making returns.
Fortunately, these complaints seem to be the exception rather than the rule. Most Frontgate furniture reviews are resoundingly positive and nearly every collection has 4 stars or higher.
Is Frontgate Furniture Worth the Splurge?
The Wendover Sofa looks right at home in my formal living room. Image source: Author‘s own
Now for the million dollar question: is Frontgate furniture actually worth the high price tag? If you value craftsmanship, enduring style, and heirloom-quality pieces, my answer is a resounding YES.
I know Frontgate‘s prices can be hard to stomach, especially when you can find similar looking pieces for much less at big box stores. But trust me, the quality difference is night and day. Frontgate furniture is the real deal, with premium materials, hand-finished details, and construction that‘s designed to last a lifetime.
Plus, when you consider cost-per-use, Frontgate furniture is actually a smart investment. You could easily spend $1,000 on a sofa from a budget retailer that only lasts 5 years before sagging, pilling, or falling apart. Or, you could spend $3,000 on a Frontgate sofa that still looks amazing after 20+ years. In the long run, the latter is the much better value.
Of course, I‘m not saying you need to exclusively shop Frontgate. Mixing high and low pieces is the secret to a beautifully curated home. But I do think every space can benefit from at least one statement-making Frontgate piece, whether that‘s an outdoor dining set that makes your patio feel like a 5-star resort or a jaw-dropping dresser that elevates your bedroom.
My best advice? Choose Frontgate furniture for the areas of your home that get the most use, like your main sofa or bed. And keep an eye out for Frontgate‘s sales, which can save you 20% or more. I scored my living room sofa during the brand‘s annual White Sale and saved a bundle.
The Final Verdict on Frontgate Furniture
To wrap up this Frontgate furniture review, I‘ll leave you with my key takeaways:
- Quality: With premium materials, designer details, and heirloom-grade construction, Frontgate furniture is in a class of its own quality-wise. These pieces can last for decades with proper care.
- Style: Frontgate‘s aesthetic perfectly balances today‘s trends with timeless sensibilities. The furniture is fashionable yet tasteful and can evolve with your home‘s look over the years.
- Comfort: From sink-in cushions to buttery leather, Frontgate furniture feels just as luxurious as it looks. The brand definitely doesn‘t sacrifice comfort for style.
- Ordering: The Frontgate website makes it easy to find your dream furniture and the brand offers tons of helpful services like free fabric swatches, in-home delivery, and long warranties.
- Value: There‘s no denying Frontgate furniture is expensive. But when you divide that cost over a lifetime of use, Frontgate pieces are actually an incredible value compared to cheaper furniture you‘ll replace every few years.
The bottom line: if you‘re looking to invest in furniture that makes a stunning design statement and will last for the long haul, Frontgate is the brand for you. No, it‘s not cheap. But your home will thank you and these pieces will pay for themselves over time.
I hope this honest Frontgate furniture review was helpful in your decision-making process! Feel free to leave a comment below with your own Frontgate experiences or any questions. Here‘s to happy furniture shopping!
