Best Designer Furniture Brands to Buy Used in 2025

Image by Kashew

If you’re hunting for affordable designer furniture without the sticker shock—or the carbon guilt—buying used is the move. This guide covers the best designer furniture brands to buy used, exactly what to look for (and where the lemons hide), plus pro tips to help you score pieces that look designer, wear hard, and hold value. Bonus: you’ll be supporting local resellers and keeping quality furniture in the circular economy. The planet and your living room both win—unlike that flat-pack bookcase that wobbles if you breathe near it.

Quick context: In the U.S., furniture & furnishings generated 12.1 million tons of waste in 2018—and 80% of it went to landfill. Buying pre-owned keeps these pieces in circulation.

How to Shop Used Designer Furniture Like a Pro

Look at construction, not just logos. Solid hardwood frames, real leather, wool or linen upholstery, kiln-dried wood, mortise-and-tenon joinery, and quality hardware (blum/soft-close) age well. Veneer is not a dirty word;real wood veneer over quality core can be excellent—just avoid puffed edges and water damage.

Check the use-zones. Sit, wiggle, open, close. Focus on seat cushions, suspension/webbing, drawer glides, table tops, and edges.

Ask for receipts or model info. Helpful for brands with iconic lines (think Herman Miller, Knoll, USM via DWR) to verify authenticity.

Price reality check. Good used designer pieces generally sell 30–70% below retail depending on condition, age, and demand. RH, especially, can be found steeply discounted on reputable marketplaces—often up to 80% off retail.

The 6 Best Designer Brands to Buy Used (and What to Hunt For)

1) Restoration Hardware (RH) — Big, Timeless, Built to Last

Why buy RH used: Scaled-up silhouettes, muted palettes, stone & metal tables, kiln-dried hardwood frames and an aesthetic that doesn’t trend out every two years—all fantastic on the resale market. The Cloud, Maxwell, and Belgian sofa families regularly appear second-hand for a fraction of retail. On Kashew, RH pieces are commonly listed at significant discounts, sometimes up to 80% off.

What to check: Cushion cores (feather vs. foam) for loft; performance fabric for stains; tops on travertine/marble tables for chips.

Shop RH pre-owned: Kashew RH collection

2) Design Within Reach (DWR) — Iconic Designs Hold Value

Why buy DWR used: You’re buying design canon—Herman Miller Eames, Knoll Saarinen, USM Haller. These pieces have real provenance, recognizable silhouettes, and known replacement parts; they tend to retain value if kept clean and original.

What to check: Authentic labels/serials; shock mounts on Eames chairs; laminate/veneer edges; proper USM panels and original hardware (avoid mismatched cubes).

Shop DWR pre-owned: Kashew DWR collection

3) Room & Board — American Craft, Excellent Woods

Why buy R\&B used: More than 90% of their products are made in the U.S., often with solid wood and bench-made construction. Dining tables, beds, and casegoods are especially strong used buys.

What to check: For sofas, inspect cushion resiliency; for woods, expect patina but avoid deep water rings. Replacement parts and finishes are usually straightforward.

Shop Room & Board pre-owned: Kashew R&B collection

4) Crate & Barrel — Workhorse Dining & Storage

Why buy C and Barrel used: Their solid-wood dining tables (Basque, Yukon, Parsons) age gracefully and are easy to refresh with a wax/oil. These lines are perennial editor picks for sturdiness and scale—great family tables.

What to check: Finish wear on table tops (totally fine, often charming). Make sure leaves and hardware work smoothly.

Shop Crate & Barrel pre-owned: Kashew Crate and Barrel collection

5) Pottery Barn — Solid Sofa Frames, Family-Proof Styles

Why buy PB used: Many PB sofas use hardwood (often kiln-dried) frames, which is what you want for longevity. Slipcovered silhouettes (York, Pearce) clean up well and are easy to re-cover.

What to check: Cushion fill (down blends may need a refresh), sleeper mechanisms, and fabric wear on arms. Verify finish quality on casegoods—PB sells multiple quality tiers.

Shop Pottery Barn pre-owned: Kashew PB collection

6) West Elm — Smart Second-Hand for the Right Categories

Why buy West Elm used: West Elm is style-forward and plentiful on the second-hand market. Metal, stone, glass, and solid-wood pieces (e.g., marble-top tables, metal frames, some solid-oak items) can be great used buys; veneered pieces are fine when edges are crisp and surfaces are unbubbled. Veneer ≠ fake—it’s thin real wood; just inspect carefully.

What to check: Drawer alignment, leg stability, veneer edges, and lifting around water-exposed surfaces.

Shop West Elm pre-owned: Kashew West Elm collection

Value, Circularity, and Why Buying Used Matters

Let’s be blunt: fast furniture is landfill furniture. Choosing pre-owned designer pieces extends product life cycles and reduces waste without compromising aesthetics. The EPA’s data is not subtle—80% of furniture & furnishings still ends up landfilled. Every time you buy second-hand, you dent that number and support small, local resellers doing the hard work of repair, curation, and logistics.

Kashew POV: We’re pro-design and pro-durability. We’ll always steer you to quality over quantity, craft over hype, and local shop owners over fast-ship algorithms.

What a Good Used Listing Looks Like (Checklist)

• Clear dimensions and multiple photos (front, back, underside, edges) .
• Materials called out (e.g., kiln-dried hardwood frame, top-grain leather).
• Noted wear with close-ups; minor scuffs are normal and negotiable.
• Pickup/delivery options and reasonable return window.

On Kashew, listings are curated by trusted resellers— that’s where those RH unicorns pop up at up to 80% off retail.

Where to Start

Browse our brand collections: RH · DWR · Room & Board · Crate & Barrel · Pottery Barn · West Elm

Brand-by-Brand “Buy Used” Cheat Sheet

• Restoration Hardware (RH) — Hunt sofas, marble/stone coffee tables, metal lighting. Check cushion cores and stone edges.
• DWR — Hunt authentic Herman Miller/Knoll seating, USM Haller storage. Verify tags/serials.
• Room & Board — Hunt solid-wood dining tables, beds, casegoods; excellent American craft.
• Crate & Barrel — Hunt Basque/Yukon/Parsons tables; family-friendly durability.
• Pottery Barn — Hunt slipcovered sofas with kiln-dried hardwood frames.
• West Elm — Hunt metal/stone/solid-wood pieces; inspect veneer edges closely.

FAQs

Is it worth buying a used West Elm sofa?

Yes—especially if the frame is solid and the fabric is clean. Avoid pieces with loose joints or sagged suspension. Veneer casegoods are fine if edges are crisp and unbubbled.

What’s a “good” discount on used designer furniture?

For popular brands, 30–70% off retail is common; rare or mint pieces may list higher. RH finds can hit up to 80% off on curated marketplaces.;

Are Pottery Barn sofas durable enough to buy second-hand?

Many PB sofas use hardwood and even kiln-dried frames, which is exactly what you want for longevity. Inspect cushion fill and mechanisms on sleepers.

Which dining tables age best?

Solid-wood tables from brands like Crate & Barrel (Basque, Yukon) and Room & Board wear beautifully and can be refinished.

Why should I buy used instead of new?

Design quality at a lower price, faster availability, and a smaller footprint. Remember: 12.1M tons of furniture & furnishings were generated as waste in 2018; 80% was landfilled. Keeping good pieces in circulation matters.

Ready to Shop?

Curated, pre-vetted, designer furniture from local sellers—delivered. Start with our brand hubs and set alerts for your favorites:

Final Tip from Team Kashew

If a listing checks the boxes—quality materials, honest wear, solid bones—don’t overthink it. The best pieces move fast. Set alerts, ask smart questions, and say yes when you find “the one.”

Further reading:

• EPA furniture & furnishings waste data (2018): 12.1M tons generated; 80% landfilled. (US EPA)
• Room & Board: 90%+ made in America. (roomandboard.com)
• DWR: Access to Herman Miller, Knoll, USM classics. (Design Within Reach)
• Pottery Barn sofas: Hardwood/kiln-dried frames (what you want when buying used). (Good Housekeeping)
• Crate & Barrel dining tables: solid-wood standouts. (Food & Wine)

P.S. We stand for sustainability, design integrity, and local shop owners. If that’s your vibe too, you’re our people.