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Why People Choose Barron Designs Over Big Box Home Improvement Stores

Why People Choose Barron Designs Over Big Box Home Improvement Stores

Look, we get it. Using big box brands can feel convenient and safe, especially when shopping for products online. And it’s true–they do offer a level of familiarity that’s hard to beat.

But what are you giving up for that convenience and familiarity?

Typically, you’re giving up a higher quality of craftsmanship.

You’re also giving up a partner who’s highly specialized in faux building materials.

And, maybe most critically, you’re giving up knowledgeable, personalized customer support.

But don’t take it from us. Here’s what customers say about the service from two common big box home improvement stores:


popular brand customer service scoreboard (70.64 of 100)

70.64 of 100 Rating (Disappointing)

popular home improvement brand customer service scoreboard (56.16 of 100)

56.16 of 100 Rating (Disappointing)

That’s where Barron Designs comes in. As a specialty business, we’re committed to crafting high-quality, cost-effective faux building products and providing superior customer service for people just like you.

Keep reading to see why our specialized, customer-centric approach is the right choice over the ubiquitous offerings of more common home improvement retailers.

First, Our Story: A Legacy of Specialization

Barbara Barron was passionate about creating artistic wall and window art. Her art was handcrafted and each piece was unique. In 1972, Barron Designs was created. Over time, her hand-crafted wall art evolved into architectural decor.

Since then, we’ve been at the forefront of home improvement. And, unlike the vast, impersonal aisles of big box stores, we offer a specialized experience with real and faux building materials that bring quality and craftsmanship right to your doorstep.

Today, we’re proud to deliver some of the most innovative, cost-effective, and best-quality products on the market. To prove it, here are seven reasons people choose our products and services over the big box brands:

7 Reasons People Choose Barron Designs For Faux Building Materials

1. Unrivaled Expertise in Faux Beams, Panels & More

Our expertise is not by chance; it's the result of decades of focus and passion. We've dedicated ourselves to mastering the art of faux materials, ensuring that every product from Barron Designs meets your highest expectations for quality and performance.

Our expertise includes years of continually improving our product design to be increasingly authentic, advancing the versatility to install our products in almost any environment, and finding ways to maintain quality while keeping the products affordable.

Learn more about how we built our 50+ years of experience and expertise here.

Unfinished faux beams in a clean, modern kitchen

2. Authenticity That Speaks Volumes

We understand that authenticity is not just a buzzword—it's the essence of true craftsmanship. Our faux panels are molded from real materials, offering an authenticity that big box stores can't replicate. This dedication to genuine quality is why discerning customers choose Barron.

In fact, our products are hand-painted by artisans in the US to ensure they look like the real thing. They’re even designed to include natural variations in pattern and texture to mimic real natural materials. That means all products have slightly unique shapes, knots and burls, colors, and other physical characteristics.

Want to see for yourself? Click here to visit our Inspiration page and see what our products look like installed.

3. A Diverse Range Tailored to You

Our product variety isn't just about having options—it's about finding the perfect fit for your unique vision. From highly popular products to customized solutions, we provide a range that other home improvement retailers simply can't match.

At Barron Designs, you’ll find a wide variety of faux beams, faux panels, faux columns, and even barn doors. We have products designed for both interior and exterior applications. You can order specific colors and textures or order products unfinished to customize them yourself.

Need different sizes or shapes that aren’t shown on our site? Call us at 800-651-4223 (Monday-Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM EST) to get help with your project.

4. Customer Experience: Our Cornerstone

At Barron Designs, you're not just a transaction like you are at other stores; you're part of our story. Our dedicated team is committed to ensuring your experience is personal, consistent, and exceeds every expectation—a commitment that's reflected in our customer support and service.

Customer Experience: Our Cornerstone
Barron Designs, 4.6 of 5 Rating

That’s why we have a 4.6-star rating from over 14,000 reviews across 9+ years of service. For context, you can compare that to a 1.5-star rating from 3,869 reviews for one of the most popular brands and a 1.4-star rating from 3,952 reviews for another, similarly popular, brand (according to the Consumer Affairs website).


popular home improvement brand (1.5 of 5 rating)
1.4 of 5 Rating
popular home improvement brand (1.5 of 5 rating)
1.5 of 5 Rating

5. Credibility Through Recognition

Our products don't just speak for themselves; they're recognized on renowned home design shows and endorsed by industry experts. This credibility is a testament to the trust we've built with our customers and the community.

Our products have been featured on Brother vs Brother, My Lottery Dream Home, Rock The Block, and many others.


My Lottery Dream Home featuring David Bromstad
Rock The Block featuring Ty Pennington, Alison Victoria, Jasmine Roth, Leanne Ford & others
Brother vs Brother featuring Drew Scott and Jonathan Scott

Fun Fact: The on-air talent often ends up using our products in their personal homes. We even have a finish on our site (Toasted Marshmallow) that was designed specifically for David Bromstad.

6. Cost-Effective Without Compromise

We believe in quality that lasts. Our faux panels are made with cost in mind. Still, they also represent a long-term investment in your space—combining aesthetics, durability, and ease of installation for a truly superior product.

Key features of our faux building materials include:

  • USA-made in North Carolina using a special machining process that produces consistent product thickness to minimize the appearance of seams.
  • Hand-painted with high-quality Sherwin Williams paints and techniques to ensure the uniqueness of each panel. This results in a natural appearance that absorbs light and eliminates sheen, which is a giveaway for low-quality faux products.
  • Panels are ready to use indoors or outdoors, requiring no additional coating before installation.
  • Many products can be custom-made, providing you with virtually infinite design options.

Hand hewn faux wood ceiling beams in a living room

While our products may appear more expensive compared to some competitors when you consider their endurance and long-term quality, you realize you’re getting a lot more value for a little more money upfront (and sometimes for the same price or less).

Shopping Tip: Make sure to look at coverage when shopping for products. Some companies sell smaller units so their price per unit may be similar or less but their product is small. It’s well worth it to do a price per square feet calculation.

Have questions about pricing? Call us at 800-651-4223 (Monday-Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM EST) to discuss options on pricing, including commercial projects.

7. Support That Goes Beyond Business

Choosing Barron Designs means supporting a business with a real passion for high-quality home improvement design and products. Our long-term mission helps ensure that when you invest in our products, you also invest in yourself and the future of our shared community.

Our top-notch US-based customer support team is incredibly knowledgeable and ready to help! We’ve also created tons of resources to help you make the right product choices and install your products with ease and precision. If you’re just starting to brainstorm ideas or shop for products, take a look at our Inspiration page. You can explore by room, style, or even request design ideas!

If you’ve made your purchase or want to feel prepared before you buy, check out our Project Resources page. There you’ll find common FAQs, installation guides, reference materials, and more.

Join the Barron Designs Family

We appreciate and share your interest in high-quality building products. Take a look at our faux beams, faux panels, faux columns, or barn doors to see what products can help you transform your space for years to come. Or shop our product samples to see our product quality firsthand.

If you’re not sure where to start, fill out the form below and we’ll help you get started with some design ideas.

Request Design Ideas