Top 12 Furniture Brands That Hold Resale Value Over Time

Photo by Alexandra Gorn

If you’re shopping second hand because you’re smart (and stylish), here’s the truth: not all furniture ages gracefully on the resale market. Some brands are built with timeless design, durable materials, and name recognition that keep buyers lining up years later. Others… not so much. Below is my opinionated guide—backed by market trends and our own experience at Kashew—to the brands that actually hold value, so you can buy once, love forever, and resell confidently when your space evolves.

How we judge “value that lasts”

• Design icon status: recognizable pieces that stay in demand (think Eames, Togo, Mah Jong).
• Materials & build: solid wood, quality joinery, real leather, replaceable parts.
• Brand equity: companies with decades of design credibility and strong fan bases.
• Serviceability: slipcovers, modular cushions, refinish-able wood prolong life (and price).
• Resale market proof: fast sell-through or near-retail resale, according to marketplaces and reports.

TIER 1 — The blue-chip names (consistent demand, strong resale)

• Herman Miller (& Vitra in Europe): The Eames Lounge, Aeron, and Nelson classics rarely fall out of favor; authentic pieces are easier to verify and hold value far better than replicas. If you can snag an original Eames Lounge, you’re golden.
• Knoll: Saarinen tables, Bertoia seating, and Florence Knoll sofas remain design mainstays. Buy in good condition with original finishes and you’ll have a piece people recognize on sight.
• Fritz Hansen: The Series 7 and Egg/ Swan chairs are perennial auction and marketplace favorites; condition and provenance matter, but demand is steady.
• Cassina: Le Corbusier LC series and other licensed icons reward careful buying (verify tags and dimensions).
• Roche Bobois: Especially the Mah Jong—viral popularity meets modular practicality, which keeps demand strong and pricing resilient.
• Stickley: Mission oak and Arts & Crafts pieces have long resale legs, with robust auction histories.

TIER 2 — Premium retail that holds up (buy right, resell right)

These brands aren’t always “auction darlings,” but they have massive fan bases and strong resale momentum—especially for solid wood casegoods, leather seating, and best-selling silhouettes.

• Design Within Reach (DWR): Licensed modern icons (HAY, Herman Miller, Knoll, Fritz Hansen) and quality private-label pieces hold value because buyers trust the source. Keep paperwork and fabric tags—serious shoppers look for them.
• Room & Board: American-made casegoods and classic, clean silhouettes age well. Neutral fabrics and solid wood finishes have the best resale pull.
• Restoration Hardware (RH): The Cloud, Maxwell, and French industrial lines resell briskly when clean and well-kept; buying pre-loved often means you can later resell with minimal loss. Also, RH is everywhere—which makes price discovery easy.
• Crate & Barrel / CB2: Casegoods and iconic collabs move well; watch for solid wood and leather, and avoid overly specific trend finishes.
• West Elm: Huge demand on resale platforms keeps well-cared-for pieces moving—especially mid-century dressers and dining chairs—though not all SKUs retain value equally.
• Pottery Barn: Comfort-first silhouettes and slipcovered seating have consistent family-market appeal; neutral cotton/linen and performance fabrics help value hold.

Shopping these brands second hand is how you win twice: you save off retail and your exit price later is far less painful—especially when you pick neutral fabrics, timeless finishes, and well-documented pieces (care cards, model names, and tags). Want a head start? We spotlight RH best-buys regularly on Kashew.

TIER 3 — Craft & heritage sleepers (patient buyers get rewarded)

• Bernhardt, Baker, Henredon, Ethan Allen: Older, well-made casegoods and dining sets—especially solid wood—age beautifully and out-punch a lot of fast fashion furniture on resale.
• American Leather / Stressless (Ekornes): Recliners and motion seating in good leather with minimal wear attract serious buyers; replaceable parts and care kits help.
• Arhaus, Serena & Lily: When you avoid hyper-specific finishes, their coastal-modern pieces convert well.

Brands that don’t hold value as well (and how to shop them)

Ultra-budget, flat-pack furniture and trend-locked pieces typically shed value quickly. If you buy them, do it for utility—not resale—and keep expectations realistic. Reinforce, re-finish, and style well to squeeze more life from them. The second-hand market consistently rewards durability and design, not disposable décor.

What to buy used (that tends to keep its price)

• Iconic lounge chairs & dining chairs: Eames Lounge, Aeron, Bertoia, Wishbone, Egg/Swan, and quality mid-century silhouettes. Verify labels and dimensions to avoid replicas.
• Modular sofas with repairable covers: RH Cloud-style, Mah Jong, and quality slipcovered sectionals. Replacement covers extend life and value.
• Solid wood casegoods: Stickley bookcases, Shaker/mission dressers, and timeless sideboards from Room & Board or Crate & Barrel.
• Quality lighting & mirrors: Statement pieces from DWR, RH, CB2—easy to ship and refresh a room without fabric wear issues.

How to maximize your resale outcome (yes, this matters)

• Go neutral on big pieces: Beige, gray, black, walnut, and oak move faster than loud, trend-locked colors.
• Document everything: Keep model names, original receipts, fabric tags, and care cards.
• Maintain well: Condition leather annually, steam-clean fabrics, and protect wood with coasters and pads.
• Think logistics: Choose pieces that fit through doors (and elevators). “No drama” pickup = stronger offers.
• List where the right buyers are: Designer-leaning marketplaces outperform generic classifieds for premium brands. (We cover the why, plus seasonal deal timing, in our holiday/value roundups.)

Okay, but which brands should you hunt first?

If you want the shortest path to value durability, start here:

• Design icons: Herman Miller, Knoll, Fritz Hansen, Cassina, Ligne Roset, Roche Bobois, Stickley.
• Premium retail stalwarts: Design Within Reach, Room & Board, Restoration Hardware, Crate & Barrel, CB2, Pottery Barn, West Elm.

Want a local edge? We publish city guides to help you source great pieces from trusted consignment stores (so you’re not wasting weekends driving all over town). If you’re in Dallas, for example, our guide maps dozens of tried-and-true shops and what to expect at each.

Shop smarter (and sustainably) on Kashew

Second hand isn’t a downgrade—it’s a flex. It’s circular, it supports local store owners, and it lets you buy better design without paying the “brand-new tax.” Browse our latest from RH, DWR, West Elm, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, and Room & Board—nationwide delivery, pro sellers, and pieces up to 80% off retail.

• Shop Restoration Hardware
• Shop Design Within Reach
• Shop West Elm
• Shop Crate & Barrel
• Shop Room & Board

Quick FAQ

• Is furniture ever an “investment”? Buy for living, not speculation. But yes—classic designs can resell near retail, especially from licensed makers (Herman Miller, Knoll).
• What categories hold value best? Iconic lounge/dining chairs, solid wood casegoods, and modular sofas with replaceable covers.
• How do I avoid replicas? Verify labels, dimensions, bases, and hardware; compare to maker specs.
• When’s the best time to sell? Right before big move-in seasons and holidays—buyers are actively furnishing and deal-watching.

Ready to make a savvy move? Browse Kashew’s latest finds and grab a piece that looks good today and sells well tomorrow.