<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-06-16</periodOfReport>
  <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-06-16</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000863821</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RESTORATION HARDWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RSTO</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001051756</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHWARTZ MARK J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PALLADIN CAPITAL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE ROCKEFELLER PLAZA, 10TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Series A Preferred Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>1.9919</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-06-16</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>6150</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>3087504</value>
          <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>0</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>By Palladin Capital IX, LLC</value>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Series A Preferred Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>1.9919</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-06-16</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>3494</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>1754104</value>
          <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>3494</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>By Palladin Capital Partners, LP</value>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Series A Preferred Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>1.9919</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-06-16</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>20</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>10040</value>
          <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>20</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>BY MS2 Partners, LLC</value>
          <footnoteId id="F6"/>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Series A Preferred Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>1.9919</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-06-16</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>497</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>243999</value>
          <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>486</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Series A Preferred Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>1.9919</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-06-16</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>20</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>10040</value>
          <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>20</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>By Palladin Capital Group, Inc.</value>
          <footnoteId id="F7"/>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">The Series A Preferred Stock is convertible into common stock based on a formula using outstanding preferred stock, common stock, and exercisable options within a certain period of time as set forth in the Certificate of Designation.  As of May 21, 2003, the Series A Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of common stock pursuant to a ratio of one share of Series A Preferred Stock to 502.0332346 shares of common stock, subject to a number of antidilution adjustments.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">This form is being filed to reflect a pro rata distribution of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock by Palladin Capital IX, LLC to its members.  The reporting person is the managing member of Palladin Investments, LLC which is the managing member of Palladin Capital IX, LLC, which, prior to the distributions, may have been deemed a member of a Section 13(d) group that owns more than 10% of the issuer's outstanding common stock.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">Immediately.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F4">Not Applicable.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F5">As of May 21, 2003</footnote>
    <footnote id="F6">The reporting person is the Managing Member of MS2 Partners, LLC.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F7">The reporting person owns all outstanding shares of Palladin Capital Group, Inc.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ Mark J. Schwartz</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-08-07</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

