<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001116755</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DESIGN WITHIN REACH INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DWRI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001358623</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCSF Equities, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33486</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001344696</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sun Capital Securities Offshore Fund Ltd</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33486</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001288467</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SUN CAPITAL SECURITIES FUND L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33486</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001358621</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sun Capital Securities Advisors, LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33486</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001358622</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sun Capital Securities, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33486</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193052</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEDER MARC J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33486</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193057</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KROUSE RODGER R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33486</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>400000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.80</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2523200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>400000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.80</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2523200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By SCSF Equities, LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">SCSF Equities, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;SCSF Equities&quot;), is the direct beneficial owner of the shares reported in Table I.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The securities reported in Table I may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Sun Capital Securities Offshore Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands corporation (&quot;Sun Offshore Fund&quot;), Sun Capital Securities Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;Sun Securities Fund&quot;), Sun Capital Securities Advisors, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;Sun Advisors&quot;), Sun Capital Securities, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;Sun Capital Securities&quot;), Marc J. Leder (&quot;Leder&quot;) and Rodger R. Krouse (&quot;Krouse&quot;).  Leder and Krouse may each be deemed to control SCSF Equities, Sun Securities Fund and Sun Advisors, as Leder and Krouse each own 50% of the membership interests in Sun Capital Securities, which in turn is the general partner of Sun Advisors, which in turn is the general partner of Sun Securities Fund, which in turn is the managing member of SCSF Equities.  Sun Offshore Fund owns a majority of the membership interests in SCSF Equities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Leder and Krouse may each be deemed to control the Sun Offshore Fund by virtue of their being the only directors of the Sun Offshore Fund.  Sun Offshore Fund, Sun Securities Fund, Sun Advisors, Sun Capital Securities, Leder and Krouse expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares reported in Table I, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.  The filing of this form shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is, for Section 16 purposes or otherwise, the beneficial owner of such shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit 24 - Limited Power of Attorney, dated December 29, 2006, by and among the Reporting Persons (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit B to Amendment No.6 to Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Persons with respect to the Issuer on March 17, 2008).</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>SCSF EQUITIES, LLC, By: /s/ Brian J. Gavsie, as Attorney-in-Fact for Marc J. Leder</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>SUN CAPITAL SECURITIES OFFSHORE FUND, LTD., By: /s/ Brian J. Gavsie, as Attorney-in-Fact for Marc J. Leder, its Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>SUN CAPITAL SECURITIES FUND, LP, By: Sun Capital Securities Advisors, LP, Its: General Partner, By: Sun Capital Securities, LLC, Its: General Partner, By: /s/ Brian J. Gavsie, as Attorney-in-Fact for Marc J. Leder, its Co-CEO</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>SUN CAPITAL SECURITIES ADVISORS, LP, By: Sun Capital Securities, LLC, Its: General Partner, By: /s/ Brian J. Gavsie, as Attorney-in-Fact for Marc J. Leder, its Co-CEO</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>SUN CAPITAL SECURITIES, LLC, By: /s/ Brian J. Gavsie, as Attorney-in-Fact for Marc J. Leder, its Co-CEO</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Brian J. Gavsie, as Attorney-in-Fact for Marc J. Leder</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Brian J. Gavsie, as Attorney-in-Fact for Rodger R. Krouse</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
