Is This Luxury Home Brand Worth It? Here’s What to Know Before Shopping

There are few home brands as synonymous with “luxury” as RH, originally called Restoration Hardware. From the iconic (and massive) catalogs to the gorgeous storefronts housed in mansions, RH is a mainstay of the high-end furniture market. Unlike other upmarket brands, RH’s aesthetic isn’t focused on trends or cutting-edge designs — instead, it prioritizes neutral color palettes and timeless silhouettes, producing furniture pieces that will never go out of style.

To be clear, RH is undeniably expensive and therefore not in most people’s budgets. It’s considered a luxury brand for a reason, and most of its furniture offerings cost well over $1,000. It’s a great place to shop for statement pieces that will last forever, though (literally — most of RH’s seating comes with a lifetime warranty), and its assortment of decor, bed and bath linens, and lighting is definitely worth checking out. 

RH was founded in California in 1979. It expanded throughout Northern California over the next 20 years, then rapidly expanded once it went public in 1998. It rebranded itself as RH in 2012, coinciding with a new focus on more expensive, upscale designs. RH is distinctive for its complete lack of social media, as well as its extra-large catalog (called the Sourcebook), which is hundreds of pages long.

Another important thing to note about RH is its membership model. With a $200 annual fee, members get 30% off all items and complementary interior design services; frequent shoppers can also open an RH credit card. You’ll see both member and non-member prices on product pages, but keep in mind that membership is probably only worth it if you’re a professional designer or furnishing an entire home.

RH is best known for its luxury seating, like the viral, celebrity-favorite Cloud Sofa that launched a thousand dupes. In addition to furniture, you can shop decor, rugs, and lighting, as well as outdoor furniture. RH also has dedicated sections for the younger crowd, including Baby & Child (launched in 2008) and Teen (launched in 2015). 

Yes, RH currently has 116 stores across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including outlets. Forty of these storefronts are called “galleries,” and are typically housed in large mansions. Visiting one of the galleries isn’t a regular shopping trip — the stores are highly curated to feel like luxury homes, with over a dozen featuring cafés and restaurants. 

Yes, RH delivers. The company offers a flat fee for furniture delivery that’s calculated based on your location, starting at $299 for local delivery and ending at $599 (while RH does ship to Hawaii and Alaska, the fee is $1,699). Most furniture and some non-furniture items come with white glove delivery. For non-furniture deliveries that use standard shipping, costs start at $6.95 and go up to $169 based on overall order value.  

As far as returns go, RH has a pretty standard policy. Shoppers have 30 days to return their purchase with some exclusions, including custom orders, mattresses and bed frames that have been removed from their packaging, and already installed items. On the plus side, indoor upholstered furniture and outdoor furniture come with a lifetime guarantee. 

No worries there — most RH furniture is delivered via white glove delivery, so you can sit back, relax, and let the experts do their thing. 

Unfortunately, RH does not host traditional sales events. Instead, the brand offers discounts exclusively through its membership model, with any limited time deals reserved for members only. (Even the sale section of RH’s website only displays discounts for members.) Non-members looking to save can find discounts by shopping at RH outlet locations, which sell overstock, discontinued, and lightly damaged items. There are currently 43 outlet locations, and all sales are final.

If you have a big spending budget and a large space to decorate, then RH is definitely worth it. The brand is known for its use of heirloom quality materials, timeless designs, and lifetime guarantee on furniture, so you can rest assured that the splurge is well spent — especially if you can take advantage of the membership offerings. On the other hand, if you’re a more casual shopper or have a lower budget, then it’s best to shop elsewhere.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that RH furniture is big. The designs are made with large open living spaces in mind, and even the brand’s more compact couches are still pretty hefty. Therefore, you’ll have a much smaller inventory to shop from if you live in an apartment or smaller house.