American Furniture Warehouse vs. IKEA

What’s the Difference?

American Furniture Warehouse and IKEA have large selections of home furnishings. Both brands care about cutting costs for the customer through efficient and eco-friendly manufacturing, creating affordable home furnishings that are good for the planet and your wallet. Weighing the differences between American Furniture Warehouse and IKEA can help you choose your preference.

American Furniture Warehouse IKEA
Locations
  • Over 10 stores across Colorado, Arizona & Texas
  • Over 375 showrooms worldwide
Warranty
  • One, two & three-year limited warranties
  • Five, 10 & 25-year limited warranties
Delivery
  • Delivered through retailer services anywhere in continental USA
  • Delivered by independent service providers nationwide
Selection
  • Living room, bedroom & dining room sets, outdoor furniture and accessories
  • Kitchen appliances, mattresses, housewares, indoor & patio seating and dining sets
Styles
  • Traditional, modern, contemporary, cottage, rustic, bohemian, tropical, etc.
  • Modern, minimalist & Scandinavian designs

Locations

For in-store or online shoppers looking for furniture and decor for your home, check out American Furniture Warehouse or IKEA and explore their large selections of indoor and outdoor home furnishings. Among regional showrooms and international markets, the pieces you find may depend on where you live.

American Furniture Warehouse

Founded in 1975, the privately-owned American Furniture Warehouse company has a reputation for offering the largest furniture and home decor selection under one roof in the United States. Headquartered in Englewood, CO, the company has more than ten store locations throughout Colorado, Arizona and Texas.

IKEA

IKEA is a worldwide home decor brand established in 1943 and has more than 375 stores in 30 countries. One of the world’s largest furniture retailers, the company specializes in ready-to-assemble pieces. Although the company headquarters is in Delft, Netherlands, this Swedish manufacturer’s U.S. headquarters is in Conshohocken, PA.

Warranty

American Furniture Warehouse and IKEA both offer warranties on their products, but these protection plans only cover items with manufacturer and material defects. Some warranties last longer than others and mostly depend on which product type the customer chooses. IKEA has detailed protection for individual room items, while AFW has a special plan for floor models.

American Furniture Warehouse

Furniture and decor coverage plans through American Furniture Warehouse include one-, two- and three-year limited warranties that start the day you receive your purchase. A one-year warranty covers manufacturing and material defects free of cost to the customer, while the second and third-year warranties include repairing and replacing moving parts and mechanisms.

AFW also offers a 90-day warranty for customers who buy floor models in the store, which covers all manufacturing defects discovered within that timeframe. Warranties cover all furnishings and accessories as long as the customer maintains them properly. Mattresses, on the other hand, have a separate warranty depending on the brand.

IKEA

IKEA offers warranties on furniture for the bathroom, bedroom, living room and more. Limited warranties for this brand start on the day of purchase and can come with five-, ten- or twenty-five-year coverage, while a 90-day exchange policy is available for mattresses. Coverage only includes manufacturing or material defects and applies to items like:

  • Kitchen utensils and pots and pans
  • Kitchen appliances
  • Countertops
  • Faucets
  • Sofa and armchair frames and seat and back cushions
  • Office desks, tables and storage
  • Structural frames and furniture with moving parts
  • Mattress springs, foam and latex cores, slats and wooden frames

Indoor & Outdoor Furniture Selection

Both American Furniture Warehouse and IKEA have a lot to offer when it comes to variety. Whether you prefer the range of living room, bedroom and dining room furniture styles at AFW or the ready-to-build furnishings, accessories, housewares and decor at IKEA, you can find plenty of ways to decorate your home and patio with either of these brands.

American Furniture Warehouse

The selection at American Furniture Warehouse includes a range of indoor and outdoor home furnishings. Discover seating sets, sofas, sectionals, recliners, entertainment centers and electronics for your living room. Bed sets, dressers, bedding, mattresses and kids’ furniture are available for every bedroom in your home. AFW also has dining room sets plus bars, servers and buffets.

If you’re searching for home decor, this retailer has rugs, wall art, mirrors, accents and chic lighting in stylish colors and designs so you can personalize your home with all the gorgeous and stylish accessories you need. Customers can also find outdoor furniture for their porch, deck or patio, including:

  • Conversation sets
  • Patio tables
  • Lounge seating
  • Fire pits
  • Umbrellas
  • Outdoor accents

IKEA

IKEA has a large selection of furniture and decor for the living room, bedroom, dining room, bathroom and kitchen as well as plenty of outdoor options. IKE shoppers can find beds, mattresses, sofas, sectionals and bar furniture, plus complete room sets and kids’ furnishings. Many of their products come in a named series or collection with the same design for a cohesive look.

Home decor from IKEA includes decorative accessories, rugs and textiles like curtains, pillow covers and throws. Other home furnishings include housewares, lighting, appliances, electronics, pet gear and a selection of food products. IKEA also has an expansive selection of outdoor items, such as:

  • Gardening accessories
  • Tables
  • Sectionals and sofa sets
  • Dining and bistro sets
  • Chaise lounges and hammocks
  • Kid’s outdoor sets
  • Furniture cushions and covers

Style

IKEA and American Furniture Warehouse have vast selections of chic furnishings to help you outfit your home or patio in your favorite decorative style. While AFW carries every style from traditional to contemporary, the modern and minimalist collections at IKEA may suit your space, too.

American Furniture Warehouse

Colorado’s largest furniture retailer offers various indoor and outdoor styles, including traditional, modern and contemporary. Customers can create their own Hollywood Glam suite with one of the brand’s luxurious bed sets. A modern patio dining arrangement promotes a sleek, sophisticated feel, while casual wicker sectionals evoke a laidback vibe, perfect for coastal decks and terraces.

IKEA

With nods to traditional and contemporary decor elements, IKEA designs its furniture collections to showcase modern styling and a Scandinavian aesthetic. Much of their indoor and patio furniture has clean lines, low profiles and neutral colors. This design approach makes it easy for customers to update their look and discover pieces that fit into any space, including small balconies.

Delivery

Need furniture and decor delivered to your home, or do you prefer contactless options and curbside pick-up? American Furniture Warehouse and IKEA have delivery services that ensure shoppers receive the products they want. While AFW assembles pieces in your home, IKEA offers compact shipping that makes it easier to pick up and put pieces together on your own.

American Furniture Warehouse

AFW Platinum Delivery Service inspects and assembles ordered items before delivery to ensure showroom quality. If you select this service and live in the continental U.S., the company’s highly-trained team members will deliver your furniture, set it up in your home and clean up the product packaging afterward. You could also opt for curbside delivery and bring the items indoors yourself.

IKEA

IKEA delivers furniture through independent service providers for a rate that varies by zip code. Small orders that the company can price and ship by weight come to your door, but there are other contactless delivery options available as well. Select the brand’s Room of Choice delivery to have drivers carry your items to any part of your home, then follow the instructions to assemble your furniture.

Environmental Initiatives

Along with affordability, American Furniture Warehouse and IKEA also value sustainability. From store operations to product design, both brands have eco-friendly initiatives. When choosing American Furniture Warehouse or IKEA, take a look at both companies’ energy-efficient business practices.

American Furniture Warehouse

AFW follows several green practices to reduce its carbon footprint, including recycling all packing materials after delivery and using recycling programs in its warehouses. Energy-efficient LED lights illuminate the company’s offices and showrooms and the brand uses fuel-efficient trucks to transport and deliver American Furniture Warehouse products.

IKEA

As one of the largest consumers of wood in the retail industry, IKEA aims to use greener building and design practices every day. Sustainable cotton, wool, bamboo and renewable plastics are part of the brand’s energy-effective manufacturing process. IKEA also chooses materials wisely, focusing on natural fibers, recyclables and composite material for affordable, eco-friendly design.

Is American Furniture Warehouse or IKEA Right for You?

If you’re planning to decorate your home or patio and are unsure whether American Furniture Warehouse or IKEA is the better option, compare the stylish selections available at each store. You can also choose the company that offers the best location, warranty and delivery service options or uses eco-friendly practices that align with your lifestyle.