Hey there, home decor lover! If you follow the world of interior design, chances are you‘ve heard of Soho House. This exclusive member‘s club, first founded in London in 1995, is renowned for its chic yet cozy decor that seamlessly blends vintage gems with custom modern pieces. Each of the now 27 houses across the globe has a signature ambiance that feels luxurious yet comfortable – the kind of place you never want to leave.
For years, the stylish furnishings were only available to the lucky folks who could score a coveted membership (and fork over the $2,000+ annual dues!). But then in 2016, Soho House founder Nick Jones decided to grant us all access to the club‘s impeccable taste by launching Soho Home. This online shop would allow anyone to purchase the decor, furniture, tableware and more that adorned the Houses, membership not required.
As someone who has spent many a cocktail hour admiring the interiors of my city‘s Soho Houses and leaving with major design envy, I was thrilled at the prospect of recreating the vibe in my own apartment. So when Soho Home opened up their virtual doors, I was first in line to shop. Flash forward five years, and the brand is still my go-to source for unique investment pieces that elevate my space.
Want to know if Soho Home is worth the hype and high price tag? Keep reading for my honest review, complete with the need-to-know details on quality, best-sellers, membership perks, and more.
What Makes Soho Home Special
Before we get into the product nitty gritty, let‘s talk about what sets Soho Home apart in the vast world of home decor retailers. The main draw is undoubtedly the brand‘s close connection to Soho House. Founder Nick Jones sums it up well:
"With Soho Home, our aim is to create a range of furniture, accessories and tableware that offer our members and customers the Soho House aesthetic to take home. Each piece is carefully considered and meticulously designed to reflect the same ethos and attention to detail we have in our Houses, whether it be a beautiful velvet sofa or a statement chandelier."
So as you browse the digital aisles of Soho Home, you can shop confidently knowing that every item has been vetted and approved by the design masterminds behind Soho House interiors. No generic mass-produced pieces here – Soho Home is all about unique statement styles you won‘t find anywhere else, just like in the clubs themselves.
Another big differentiator is the breadth of Soho Home‘s offerings. This isn‘t just a furniture store – it‘s a one-stop-shop for transforming your entire home into a Soho House-worthy abode. In addition to big ticket items like sofas, dining tables, and bar cabinets, you can also snag bedding, tableware, vintage-inspired lighting, wall art, and even home fragrance to tie it all together.
The product curation strikes the perfect balance of being highly tasteful and cohesive, but still with enough variety to mix and match to suit your personal style. It‘s like the Soho House design team is handing you all the ingredients you need to create your dream space – all you have to do is put them together.
Soho Home By The Numbers
To give you an idea of just how in-demand Soho Home has become, let‘s take a look at some key stats:
- Soho Home has grown over 600% year-over-year since launching in 2016 (Business of Home)
- Over 4,000 products are currently available on the site across all categories
- 40% of Soho Home‘s sales come from furniture, with an average order value of $2,200 (FT)
- The brand now ships to 220 countries worldwide
- Soho Home+ Membership has grown to over 80,000 global members who receive up to 25% off all products, among other perks (more on that later!)
The numbers don‘t lie – Soho Home has clearly struck a chord with design aficionados and Soho House fans alike. Even in spite of (or perhaps because of) the pandemic, the brand saw massive growth in 2020 as we all looked to make our homes a sanctuary worth staying in.
Quality & Craftsmanship
Of course, impressive stats are one thing, but how does the quality of Soho Home products measure up? When you‘re dropping hundreds or even thousands per item, you want to be sure you‘re getting your money‘s worth.
I can say from first-hand experience that Soho Home does not disappoint in the quality department. Over the past few years, I‘ve slowly accumulated a nice collection of pieces spanning multiple categories – a velvet sofa, marble coffee table, wool rug, linen bedding, and ceramic dishware to name a few. And I‘ve been consistently wowed by the craftsmanship.
The furniture in particular is a cut above what I‘ve found from other retailers in a similar price range. Solid wood frames, ultra-durable fabrics, and thoughtful details like stitching and hardware make Soho Home seating and tables true statement pieces that have held up wonderfully to daily use in my household.
I‘m also a big fan of Soho Home‘s commitment to artisan-made decor, particularly in the tableware and lighting categories. You can really see the hand-touched quality in pieces like the mouth-blown Barwell colored glass pendant lights and hand-painted Ralston ceramics. They add that special vintage flair that Soho House is so well known for.
Don‘t just take my word for it though – here are a few quotes from other happy customers:
"I splurged on the Juliana sectional, and it has exceeded my expectations. The construction is top-notch and it‘s so comfortable for family movie nights. Looks like it belongs in a magazine!" – Sarah L.
"I ordered a set of the cut glass Barwell tumblers and was blown away by the quality. They‘re heavy and substantial, and the colors are even richer in person. You can tell they‘re handmade. Worth every penny." – Renee S.
"We bought the Garrett leather club chairs for our home office and they‘ve been a game changer. Super comfy for long WFH days and the leather is buttery soft. No regrets!" – Mike R.
While Soho Home furniture and large goods are definitely investment pieces (sofas start around $3,000 and dining tables can climb upwards of $5,000), the quality matches the price tag. And of course, there are smaller, more affordable ways to incorporate the Soho House look too, like the $30 Whichford terracotta plant pots or $200 Frette bedding sets.
Shipping, Returns & Customer Service
We can‘t talk about shopping Soho Home without covering the logistics. Since it‘s a primarily online retailer (with just a few brick and mortar outposts in London, NYC, and LA), you want the shipping and return process to be seamless.
On the shipping front, all small parcel items deliver for a flat rate of $25, or free if you‘ve reached the minimum order threshold ($250 for non-members and $100 for Soho Home+ members). Larger furniture pieces have a delivery charge based on your location, starting at $149. Soho Home has multiple warehouse locations across the US, so in my experience, orders arrive pretty quickly – my past few purchases were on my doorstep within 5 business days.
One nice perk is that all furniture, excluding final sale items, ships free for Soho Home+ members. With sofas and larger goods, Soho Home offers white glove delivery, meaning they‘ll bring the item into your room of choice, unpack it, and remove all the waste. Having experienced this with my sofa delivery, I can attest that it‘s a much more pleasant experience than your typical porch drop-off.
As for returns, Soho Home offers free return shipping and a 30-day window for all small goods. For furniture and oversized items, you can return for a fee of $199 (waived for members). Just know that there are a few more limitations for large items – upholstered furniture like sofas or armchairs are final sale, as are sale items purchased at 50% off or more.
If any issues arise or you need to initiate a return, Soho Home‘s customer service is top notch. There‘s a reason 93% of customers rate their service as ‘Great‘ on Trustpilot. I‘ve contacted them a few times for questions on product dimensions, shipping timelines, and a delayed order. Each time, I received thoughtful and efficient responses and my issues were resolved quickly. They even threw in complimentary Soho Home gift cards for my trouble.
One more thing I love about Soho Home‘s shopping experience? Their design concierge service. If you‘re having trouble deciding on pieces or just want a second opinion, you can book a complimentary video or phone consultation with one of their expert interior designers, who can help ensure your order will suit your space perfectly. It‘s all part of the white glove treatment.
Membership Perks
Now let‘s talk about those Soho Home+ membership perks I mentioned earlier. Remember how I said that access to Soho House properties used to be restricted to members only? Well, when Soho Home launched in 2016, they introduced a new, lower-tier membership called Soho Home+ that grants you insider benefits without needing to join a physical House.
For an annual fee of $130, Soho Home+ members receive:
- 15% off full-price Soho Home products
- 20% off sale items (for savings of up to 70% off!)
- Free shipping over $100
- Complimentary white glove delivery on all furniture
- Early access to new product launches and sales
- Exclusive events and content
- A personal design concierge to help with orders and styling advice
If you‘re planning to make a large Soho Home purchase like a sofa or multiple pieces for a room refresh, the membership quickly pays for itself. For example, if you bought the popular Juliana sofa at its regular $4,500 price, you‘d save $675 right off the bat as a member. Not too shabby!
As someone who has had the membership for a few years now, I‘ve found it to be more than worth it. The savings are substantial, especially if you shop multiple big sales throughout the year, and the free shipping and design services are a lovely bonus. It feels like you‘re part of an exclusive decorating club.
Plus, Soho Home+ members also receive special rates on Soho House bedrooms, meaning you can test out the pieces you‘re eyeing on the site in person before buying. It‘s a clever way for the brand to give you a taste of that members-only access without requiring you to join a House outright.
The Verdict
So, is Soho Home worth the splurge? In my expert opinion as a self-proclaimed home decor aficionado, 100% yes. The quality, unique designs, and attentive customer service make it a standout retailer that can help you achieve that effortless Soho House chic factor in your own space.
Yes, the prices are steep, but you have to think of these as long-term investment pieces that will make a statement and last for years to come. And with the added perks of the Soho Home+ membership, you can score some great savings if you shop strategically.
I hope this in-depth review gave you all the details you need to decide if Soho Home is right for your style and budget. If you‘re still on the fence, I‘d recommend starting with a few small home accessories like the Barwell glassware or Frette towels to get a feel for the brand. But fair warning: once you experience the quality for yourself, you may just find yourself eyeing a reupholstered Chesterfield sofa to match. Don‘t say I didn‘t warn you!
