Investing in a new piece of furniture is not always a simple decision. The decision to purchase a sectional sofa is a bit more complex than buying a new pair of shoes. Furniture is a significant investment that is meant to last several years. You want to make sure that your new piece of furniture is stylish, comfortable, and high-quality to ensure that you are happy with your purchase for years to come.
The first step in purchasing new furniture is deciding which furniture retailer to do business with. Luckily, Ottawa and Kingston are not limited in options when it comes to quality and comfortable furniture retailers. BUT, sometimes with the more options we have, it becomes more and more difficult to narrow it down to the final choice.
Upper Room Home Furnishings and La-Z-Boy are two examples of great furniture retailers in the Ottawa and Kingston area that are consistent in the quality and comfort of their products.
Upper Room Home Furnishings has been proudly furnishing homes in Ottawa since 2004. The furniture retailer is family-owned and operated. The business is rooted in tradition and quality with a strong commitment to community and customer service. They offer a wide range of home furniture in a variety of styles including elegant, contemporary, and eclectic.
Similarly, at La-Z-Boy, we offer a wide range of furniture styles and are known for our iconic recliner chair. While the La-Z-Boy brand has existed for over 90 years, La-Z-Boy stores in Ottawa and Kingston are locally owned by the Maxwell family since 2011. La-Z-Boy is committed to “enriching people’s lives by transforming houses into homes”. With an emphasis on quality, comfort, and craftsmanship, we attempt to make the home furnishing process an enjoyable experience.
Given that both Upper Room Home Furnishings and La-Z-Boy are both reputable furniture stores in the local area, shoppers often want to know what the differences are when making their decision of which brand to shop with.
This article will provide a detailed comparison of both retailers based on the brands they carry, where it is made, the price, interior design services, custom furniture services, warranty plans, delivery services, and where they are located. While both brands have a lot to offer, the information in this article will guide you in deciding which furnishing company will best meet your individual needs.
1. Product Categories & Brands
In order to cater to a variety of tastes and preferences, Upper Room and La-Z-Boy both carry a selection of products from multiple brands.
At the Upper Room, you can find a large selection of furniture to fill multiple rooms in your home including the living room, dining room, bedroom, home office, and entertainment rooms. These products are sourced from multiple well-known brands such as Amisco, Decor-Rest Furniture, Dinec, Fjords Furniture of Norway, Norwalk Furniture, Palliser, and Verbois.
Similarly, La-Z-Boy also offers a large selection of furniture for many rooms of the home including the living room, bedroom, dining room, and kitchen. At La-Z-Boy, there is an emphasis on the living room furniture given our expertise in creating high-quality and comfortable sofas, sectionals, and of course, the recliner chair.
In addition to its La-Z-Boy branded products from La-Z-Boy Residential, the brand also owns and carries other high-quality brands such as Hammary, Kincaid Furniture, and American Drew. Our local La-Z-Boy businesses also work very closely with Canadel in providing options for custom dining furniture. Canadel is a Canadian made and manufacturer out of Louiseville, Québec.
With a focus on living room and lounge furniture, this chart outlines the brands that each store carries in recliners, motion, and stationary furniture:
|
Retailer |
Manufacturer’s Brand |
Recliners |
Motion Sofa & Sectionals |
Stationary Sofa & Sectionals |
|
La-Z-Boy |
La-Z-Boy |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Upper Room |
Fjords by Hjellegjerde |
✔ |
✔ |
|
|
Stressless by Ekorness |
✔ |
✔ |
||
|
Palliser |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
|
Decor-Rest |
✔ |
|||
|
Norwalk |
✔ |
As you can see from this chart, Upper Room carries a variety of brands in the living room and lounge furniture, while La-Z-Boy focusses on one brand, the La-Z-Boy brand for these categories. There are pros and cons to both scenarios.
When shopping at Upper Room, you may find a larger variety of furniture styles given that they carry multiple brands. In many cases, independent retailers, such as Upper Room, will select different style types from different manufacturers to narrow down the number of frames (a frame is a specific model of sofa or chair) in order to provide a variety on their retail floor. While this leads to more options to choose from, it is recommended that the consumer understand the differences in warranties and post-purchase support that is available from the manufacturer in addition to the retailer. This increase in options available can also pose some challenges for the sales and service personnel to maintain the same in depth product knowledge on each and every supplier the retailer provides.
Alternatively, at La-Z-Boy, you will find La-Z-Boy branded and manufactured pieces in the upholstery category. Although La-Z-Boy furniture comes in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and styles (over 60x frames and 800+ fabrics), you are more limited in your choice of brands when shopping at La-Z-Boy compared to Upper Room.
With this being said, given that we only carry La-Z-Boy products we are not ashamed to say our salespeople are absolute experts when it comes to knowing and understanding the features and benefits of our recliners, sofas, and sectionals. The sales and service team at La-Z-Boy are expected to know furniture like the back of their hand and will be able to answer all of your questions as well as offer up additional information relevant to the products you consider purchasing.
This in-depth training starts with several weeks of training when a team member begins before they can see a client, and continues on a weekly / monthly schedule to ensure strong understanding of the product, how it’s manufactured and of course the relevant features/benefits relevant in making the right decision for your home. With fewer suppliers to support, the benefit tends to be deeper knowledge in one area.
In many cases, with so many options available now both online and in-stores, it is almost as important to know what not to buy as it is to know what your personal preferences are. There is nothing worse than getting your ‘perfect chair’ home and realizing your shoulders and head are not supported properly. Finally, as the manufacturer’s representative in the local market, La-Z-Boy provides both manufacturer warranty support locally, in addition to its fabric protection plans.
2. Where it is Made
As a retailer, Upper Room Home Furnishings suppliers manufacture in multiple parts of the world, including North America, Asia, and Europe. La-Z-Boy Home Furnishings and Décor acts as both a retailer and the primary brand presence for La-Z-Boy Residential in the Ottawa and Kingston areas. La-Z-Boy also manufactures in multiple parts of the world, with the majority of the local product coming from within North American plants.
Upper Room Home Furnishing suppliers manufacture in several locations, such as Norway (Ekorness), the United States (Ashley) and Mexico and Canada (Palliser). As an example, Palliser has a final assembly plant in Winnipeg, Canada with sub-assembly plants also in Mexico. Upper Room also offers products from furniture lines such as Decor-Rest, Amisco, and Dinec which are Canadian made and manufactured.
Similarly, La-Z-Boy is a global manufacturer with operations in North America, Asia, and Europe. La-Z-Boy’s products are primarily made in North America for North American markets. The global headquarters of La-Z-Boy is in Monroe, Michigan but the majority of our recliners, chairs, sofas, and sectionals that are sold in Ottawa and Kingston are manufactured in Dayton, Tennessee.
For more information, check out the article Where La-Z-Boy Furniture is Made.
3. Price
When it comes to price, Upper Room Home Furnishings and La-Z-Boy both fall in the low-mid to high-upper range category.
To compare prices, let’s look at the price ranges for sofas!
| Upper Room Sofa Costs | La-Z-Boy Sofa Costs |
|
Stationary Sofa: $1,200 - $9,800 Sectional Sofa: $2,500 - $17,000 Recliners/Chairs: $800 - $5,500
*Research done through phone calls |
Stationary Sofa: $1,999 - $4,000 Sectional Sofa: $3,599 - $10,000 + Recliners/Chairs: $1,000 - $3,000 |
Both brands offer customizing options that can impact the price of any product depending on the customer’s preferences. For both companies, customizations and upgrades in fabric and design cause the price of products to increase.
*All La-Z-Boy prices listed in this article are subject to change. We aim to update all cost-related articles twice per year. This article was last updated in May 2023. Please visit lzb.com and select an Ottawa or Kingston La-Z-Boy store location to view the most up-to-date pricing.
4. Interior Design Services
Both Upper Room Home Furnishings and La-Z-Boy offer interior design services in addition to their furniture products.
At the Upper Room, interior design services are offered for the fee of $500. This includes an initial appointment with a personal design consultant in your home. The interior designer will observe your space, get an idea of what you are looking for, and will begin by making suggestions in products, sizes, colours, and textures. You will then get a subsequent appointment in-store with your consultant in which they will prepare a ‘vision board’ of the designs they have created for your space. Together you will make a final decision and place the order for your chosen products. If you end up spending $2,500 or more in furniture, the $500 interior design fee will be waived and considered complementary.
Upper Room also offers a complimentary in-store and online 3D Rendering Room Planner. This allows clients to create accurate room layouts for rooms of any size and shape.
At La-Z-Boy, professional design assistance is complimentary with any purchase. With an appointment, an interior designer will meet with you either in person or virtually for consultation and interior design collaboration. Your consultant will make recommendations in furniture styles, colours, and textures based on your personal space and preferences.
Your La-Z-Boy interior designer will guide you through the design process using a 3D state of the art rendering of your room. This will give you the unique advantage of every item shown in your space.
If you are unable to meet with a consultant, La-Z-Boy offers many free resources online for design inspiration. Take a look at our Before and After design blog posts and hear from our designers themselves. Finally, La-Z-Boy provides a free Augmented Reality app for your phone that will enable you to ‘see’ your frame and cover in your own room before you buy.
5. Custom Furniture
As previously mentioned when discussing price, both the Upper Room and La-Z-Boy offer customizable furniture.
At Upper Room Furnishings customizable furniture options are available through many of their suppliers. After choosing a style, you can custom design the body fabric, pillow fabric, welt, and finish. The Upper Room has hundreds of fabrics to choose from and hundreds of leathers. With the help of a consultant, you have the ability to design something that will meet your individual style and comfort preferences.
La-Z-Boy also offers custom furniture. Anything offered in-store or online is customizable to meet your individual taste. La-Z-Boy offers hundreds of options in colours, fabrics, styles. Anything can be customized including textiles, accent pillows, welt trim, nailhead trim, wood finish, leg design options, and recliner optional add-ons. Many of the La-Z-Boy custom fabric options have also been fully tested for motion so they are applicable across both stationary and motion furniture allowing you to mix motion furniture with your stationery pieces while maintaining the design and look you are seeking. Something to keep in mind if you wish to mix your seating options in your room.
Finally, neither Palliser, nor La-Z-Boy support custom fabric orders today where a client sends in their own fabric for the item being manufactured. That said, it is possible with certain manufacturers that do support this capability, such as Canadel, to order additional fabric from La-Z-Boy when selecting your upholstery pieces and have the extra fabric used when making the dining table chairs so they can complement your living room.
To learn more about La-Z-Boy’s custom furniture options take a look at the article Custom Furniture at La-Z-Boy, What to Expect.
6. Warranties & Protection Plans
Upper Room Home Furnishings and La-Z-Boy offer warranty plans with the purchase of their products. Considering that furniture is a significant investment, having a warranty plan can be important in protecting the life of your purchase.
As a retailer, Upper Room furniture comes with a warranty plan based on the respective supplier, and while most furniture manufacturers provide a 1-year warranty. You are encouraged to clarify the terms for the specific piece you are interested in before buying. In addition, you have the option to buy an extended warranty plan that will also cover accidents. The price of this warranty extension is relative to the price of the product. The Upper Room also offers product care tips online to help make your furniture last longer.
As both the retailer and manufacturer with a brand for upholstery, La-Z-Boy products are sold with a manufacturing warranty that covers 1-3 years of damage caused by manufacturing error or workmanship. This warranty is applicable across all upholstery categories on a consistent basis. For an extra cost, La-Z-Boy also offers a more comprehensive service protection plan that covers up to 5 years of accidental damage. The cost of this protection plan extension is relative to the price of the product.
For more information on La-Z-Boy’s warranty and protection plan take a look at the article Is La-Z-Boy Warranty Worth it. You may also find some useful tips on how to maintain the look of your furniture in the article 2020 Furniture Care Tips.
7. Delivery Services
Upper Room Home Furnishing and La-Z-Boy both offer traditional white glove home delivery service. Both retailers offer an all-encompassing delivery service that includes the delivery and set-up of furniture as well as the removal of any waste.
At La-Z-Boy, local Ottawa & Kingston delivery costs $129.99, and out-of-town delivery costs $169.99. For an additional fee of $25 per furniture piece, we can assist with either moving out old furniture from different rooms or bringing it to the curb.
Additionally, we offer the option to dispose of any old furniture in a local landfill at an extra charge of $50 / per furniture seat.
To learn more about delivery at La-Z-Boy, check out our delivery service page: La-Z-Boy Ottawa and Kingston Furniture Delivery Service.
At Upper Room, local delivery costs $149.99. Delivery time is estimated between 56-70 days. La-Z-Boy estimates delivery to take 1-2 weeks if the furniture is in stock and up to 60 days for the delivery of custom furniture.
8. Locations in Ottawa
You can shop at Upper Room Home Furnishing in Ottawa with a choice of 3 locations.
La-Z-Boy is located in both Ottawa and Kingston with a total of 4 locations.
What’s Next?
Upper Room Home Furnishings and La-Z-Boy are both great choices. With a detailed comparison of each retailer’s products and services, the choice is now yours! You now have the information necessary to choose a retailer that best meets your specific needs and preferences when it comes to cost, time, style, protection, and personalization.
La-Z-Boy produces high-quality furniture that is consistent in comfort and longevity. Our complimentary design services take our product services to the next level by ensuring that the furniture you purchase fits seamlessly into the style and layout of your home.
If you are interested in furnishing your home with La-Z-Boy, visit us at one of our local Ottawa or Kingston locations to meet with a consultant today. If you prefer, you can also book a consultation online to get started.