SHOP OUR FAVORITE FINDSShop Now

What are you looking for?

Shopping

We Sat On 79 Sofas In-Person From IKEA To Crate & Barrel… Here’s Who Came Out On Top

Welcome to possibly the largest online in-person sofa review that’s been on the internet…I’m not kidding. If you’ve been around for a handful of years, you might remember that we did this post in 2021. Masks were on, and three butts sat on a lot of sofas in-person. It was me, Mallory, and our wonderful contributor at the time, Ajai. But now that 5 years have passed, it was high time to update. Ajai is now on the East Coast, so it was down to Mallory and me to hit the pavement to help you all with the very overwhelming task of finding the right sofa. The good news is that we added four new retailers and A LOT more sofas from the ones we already covered last time. Buckle in, folks. Now, if the sofa was still available but not in store, I kept the old photos. Just don’t want you to be confused as you scroll:) Ok, let’s dig in.

Buying a stylish yet comfortable sofa online is like trying to hit a baseball with your eyes closed. There’s A LOT of information you need in order to make a successful sofa purchase that just isn’t possible to attain behind the barriers of a computer screen. I’m talking information like: 1. How soft is the fabric? 2. Is the cushion too hard or too soft? 3. Can somebody comfortably crash on this sofa and sleep the entire night through without getting irreversible back pain? You will never be able to know unless you know a guy who’s had your dream sofa and lets you try it out, or if you go to the store to test it (which, what is this, the 1800s?) We’re here to be your internet friends who actually did that thing people did before technology: we went to all our favorite sofa stores, sat in all of the sofas, and we’re dropping the full review, right here, right now, on this blog.

We must start out with the more affordable sofas from that one Swedish furniture store enigma…

IKEA

IKEA has forever been the go-to store to get an affordable sofa. As a retailer, some are better than others. But because of rising prices across nearly every industry, IKEA prices are up, so really consider your options when shopping for one of the main relaxing spots in your home.

STOCKHOLM 2025 – $1,999

When the first words out of Mallory’s mouth are “Oh, she’s comfy,” we are off to a great start. This one was an immediate “yes” from both of us. The seat is deep, the fabric was great, and that simple Scandi joinery on the base made it look extra special. Now, that price tag isn’t cheap, but we don’t have to tell you that even IKEA hasn’t been able to fight against rising costs. I do think that if you love the style and the price point is in your budget, this is a good buy.

STOCKHOLM – $2,499

If you’ve ever sat on an IKEA leather sofa, then you know IKEA leather is just ok. It’s real leather but doesn’t necessarily feel expensive. Aside from that, we both thought this sofa was comfortable and that you could definitely take a nap on it. As far as shape and style go, I really like it! It’s very MCM, and I like the subtle tufting on the cushions. I’m a little confused about the price because in-store it says $1,899, but online it’s $2,499. Maybe just price-check before you buy:)

MORABO – $2,099

Good back support, depth is standard, sort of firm… if you’re older, you’d probably like sitting on this because it’s not too soft where you sink into it and then it’s hard to get up. Ajai said her 6’4 husband would want a deeper sofa for sure. The leather isn’t the best quality (if you’re looking for the same style but better quality, try the Article sofa we are all very obsessed with…all their leather is REALLY good quality). Lastly, the one thing we were a little unsure about was the leg sleeves happening…kinda looks like the sofa legs were a little chilly & needed some extra warmth, maybe? We were a little apprehensive about those, but otherwise, the sofa was not bad, not great. Maybe a 7/10.

Here it is in a fabric, if you don’t want the leather.

UPDATE: If you want to know how much this exact sofa has increased since we first published this post 5 years ago, it’s $600. That isn’t to discourage you from purchasing, but more to give you context as we keep moving through these sofas.

SODERHAMM – From $969

This is THE sofa that made IKEA the woman she is today. It’s a wildly affordable price that has been something people have loved for years, and if you don’t love the legs, you can swap them out very easily through pretty pegs or various Etsy shops (also just realized you can do this with the Morabo sofa above if you’re also unsure about the leg sleeves).

Ajai loves this sofa and has used it multiple times for different clients. It’s very classic and iconic. People love it because it’s modular and it comes in a bunch of different fabrics and colors, so you can really personalize it and make it your own. Also, the depth is really good on this sofa. It’s a perfect lounger/ploppable sofa, so if you’re looking for a cozy/den/movie night sofa, this is probably the best bang for your buck. 9/10 (some of us thought it could be a little less firm, but if you like a medium cushion firmness level and an affordable price, this is the one for you).

We tested it again, and this is our 2026 review: We still feel the same in that it’s a great sofa for the price and there are great (but not cheap) options online for awesome slipcovers.

We didn’t mind this gray fabric though! But as you can see, you do have to work at keeping the sofa looking fluffy, not flat.

JATTEBO – From $1,800

This is a new sofa, and we were big fans! This brown velvety fabric was soft, and the seat cushions were comfortable. The one downside is that the back is low, but you can get an added “headrest” pillow. I’m sure you can tell that the seat is deep, so that combo of deep seat and low back is not the best for lounging unless you are lying down. One good point that Mallory made was that it is a good “against the wall sofa,” not a floater sofa. That way you can use the wall to prop up other pillows behind your head for support. All in all, we loved the style and comfort. Oh, wait, there’s one more surprise…

Every modular piece is a storage piece! Here it is in a more corduroy kind of fabric, which we really liked too. So if you are also looking for some good storage, this sofa could be a great fit for you.

STOCKHOLM – $1,899

For the third Stockholm sofa in this post (why do they all have the same name?!), this one was not a winner for us. We really didn’t love how the fabric felt, and it wasn’t that comfortable. For that price, it should be better. The color was darker and prettier in person (although it could look brighter in sunlight). Others may disagree, but this one was a no-go for us.

UPPAKRA – Frpm $1,730

Ok, we have a winner! Compared to the others, this one is comfy, 10/10, and has cute wood legs! I wouldn’t say we loved the look with the ottoman, but aside from that, this sofa is modular so you can make any configuration your heart desires. It also comes in a bunch of other fabrics. Like this one below:

This is basically a boucle and would likely get dirty without much effort. Also, those metal legs are the other leg option.

HYLTARP – $1,249

Another 10/10! This was another favorite of ours. It’s really comfortable, the bench seat looks so elevated, the fabric is good, and it seems like it will wear well. It gives a big ole Nancy Meyer vibe. And if you want a custom-looking sofa or want to change up the look, you again could buy a Bems sofa slipcover for much less than replacing with a new sofa or actually paying for a custom sofa.

UPPLAND – $899

This one has a stiffer and a higher back cushion than the Hyltarp above. However, with a normal seat depth, this sofa could be perfect for older people who don’t want low and super deep sofas. The only issue is, of course, the wrinkling, but hopefully in a home with fewer people sitting on it, it wouldn’t crease as easily?

KIVIK – From $749

Here’s the deal. This is a beloved IKEA sofa. I even bought one when I lived in Melbourne. It’s pretty comfy and has a nice high back cushion. But something we couldn’t help but notice was how poorly the covers fit on the cushions. The seams seemed to be fighting for their life to stay in place. There’s a clearer example below…

See what I mean?? So this isn’t to say “don’t buy,” but it’s something to look out for and consider.

GRUNNARP – $999

A sleeper sofa! This one is not too deep, medium comfort, but if you plop down with enthusiasm, you will likely feel the bottom of the sofa. We do like the overall shape, the bench seat, and the legs. In terms of the longevity of the seat cushion’s shape, we aren’t sure it would look good for a super long time. This one could be a good office/guest room sofa as opposed to the main living room sofa.

SALTSJOEBADEN – $999

A new IKEA sleep sofa. We thought the seat cushion was pretty comfortable; the fabric weave feels like a performance fabric, and the shape was simple, clean, and versatile. Personally, I don’t think I’d run to get this one, but it comes in other colors and could work in almost any space.

EKHOLMA – $999

This is another sleeper sofa that’s new on the IKEA lineup, but it wasn’t our favorite. The seat cushion was pretty firm, and the front wrinkling was a bummer. But the shape is super simple and elegant, and we liked the linen-like fabric. It could work as an accent sleeper, again, in an office or flex room, but aside from that we think there are better ones to spend your money on.

FRIHETEN SLEEPER SECTIONAL – $999

This sofa is so well designed: the chaise lifts up to a bunch of storage underneath, and then the main part of the sofa comes up to create an entire full-sized bed. The design is VERY smart for small space living, so it makes sense why everyone would have this in their college apartments. The only major con to this sofa is that it’s EXTREMELY firm. I’d kinda equate it to sitting on a rock.

Here’s a better picture of the functionality.

GULLVALLA – $449

This is a new tightback cute sofa. We thought the cushions were comfortable and the price is unbeatable ($399 is the loveseat price). It comes in a cute green too! But…It is small. Mallory, who is 5’7″, felt like it was a sofa made for children. Just something else to consider:)

JOYBIRD

This is a brand we’ve heard a lot about but never had the chance to sit on their sofas. There were some big hits and some we’d personally pass on; come see.

Camden – From $4,441

Mallory and I might be forever changed, and that’s because we finally sat on a power recliner sofa. As Mallory was reclining, the words, “This is why they call it JOYbird” just fell out of her mouth. This one was truly so comfortable, and a headrest pops up as you recline. We would buy! It’s also not too deep. Perfect in every way.

Please enjoy Mallory’s bliss. This baby is pretty modern in style, so let me show you the next one in case you want more options.

Fritz – $4,956

This one is a little more classic style-wise but just as comfortable. We actually weren’t the biggest fans of either of these sofas’ backs, so we think they are best against a wall and not floating. However, that’s our personal preference, and the backs may be totally fine for someone else. Want to know the best part? Both of those seats recline individually! Everyone gets a comfy seat:)

Please enjoy my bliss.

Lewis – $4,258

This one is so pretty but unfortunately not comfortable, which was a shock. We expected to sink in, and sink in we did not. If you love a super firm and super deep seat cushion, this is your sofa, but if it’s not, we think you should pass.

They have SO many different fabrics to choose from, which is of course awesome. The power recliner sofas have a more limited selection, but still you have a lot.

Bryant – From $3,425

We deemed this one their version of “The Cloud” sofa. It’s comfy, deep, and the perfect napping sofa. You might just get a little tired of needing to fluff the seat cushions every time you get up.

Wilder – From $2,999

For a firmer sofa, this one was pretty and super clean-looking. It’s got a medium depth, and we really like the long side pillows.

Holt – From $2,699

This one wasn’t our favorite. We thought it was too firm for our preference and that velvet’s look and feel wasn’t for us.

Anton – $2,441

Similar to the one above but a little different! The style couldn’t be more classic, and it’s more of a medium firm.

Carin – From $3,813

I thought the style of this sofa was really cool and fun! The cushions are deep, which can be nice, but it was fairly firm. I prefer my sofas to be a bit more sinkable.

Millie – $2,870

Another cool modern sofa that is cool and chunky. When Mallory sat on it, she said she felt boxed in. I didn’t exactly have that same response, but I totally got it. So if that’s something that might affect you, I’d skip. This one is medium firm and super deep but has pillows to offset how deep it is.

Sebastian – From $3,841

We thought this one looked great, but I think we can all tell from the look on my face that the seat cushion was a little too firm.

WEST ELM

The great news is that most of the sofas we reviewed last time are still available! But we of course added some new ones, so we’ll start with the new, followed by that last batch:)

Maud – From $1,500

We loved the simple, clean style; it was very comfy, but the back is high so it’s up to you if you prefer a high back cushion or not. Overall, such a pretty sofa.

Harris – From $899

While pretty, this sofa did not pass our “comfy” test. But it’s on the more affordable side, and if you like a firm sofa, then this could be perfect for you!

Marin – From $1, 599

First and foremost, we loved the style and fabric! It’s definitely on the structured side. The bench cushion feels like a firm down filling as opposed to plush down filling.

Wyatt – From $1,399

This one is definitely pretty but didn’t blow us away. The tufting is a simple but nice touch, but the overall firmness made us decide it was a no.

Haven – From $1,399

This was a standout! We loved how super comfortable this beaut was. It’s the perfect movie sofa. And this angle isn’t the best, but it’s really so simple in the best way. 10/10.

Kane – $2,999

As you know, Caitlin is very anti-curved sofa for your main sofa. So this one is great because it is kinda curved but you can still lean against the sides. However, this one is on the firm side, but that’s also expected just by looking at it. So we still think this is a better sitting room sofa. Not uncomfortable but not plush.

Harmony Modular Sofa – From $1,599

Need a big, comfy, ploppable sofa that every single person would want to snuggle up on??? THIS IS FOR YOU. The Harmony modular sofa from West Elm is so classic and so comfortable. It’s practically unoffendable other than the fact that it’s a white fabric that could get dirty (but then you could just get it in a different color, guys, so it’s really unoffendable). This comfy sofa shape will pretty much never go out of style, and it’s perfectly soft yet feels structured enough that it won’t wear too quickly. And even if it does wear a little, I think it’s so forgiving that it will be that cool/casual look that instantly makes people feel comfortable in your home. We are big fans (especially Ajai, who has a sofa that looks pretty much identical to this one).

Andes Sofa – From $1,199

This sofa is a little higher off the ground, which would bring a lot of airy-ness to a room if you have a lot of low, chunky furniture and want to mix this kinda thing in. She’s sleek, she’s sexy, and she has some very nice legs (you can customize and choose which color legs you want, which is fun). It’s definitely more firm than a lot of the sofas we sat on, but not uncomfortable (like the IKEA sleeper sofa uncomfortable). 6/10.

The Drake Sofa – From $1,499

This is a great mid-century modern sofa that’s a little more sophisticated than the others. It’s a good amount of cushy and plush. Definitely great for small places. We’ve been talking a lot about the den/lounger sofa versus the cocktail/living room/formal sofa, but what if you are in an apartment and can only have one sofa? This one is a great in-between: comfy enough to lounge, not too deep to the point where guests feel uncomfortable, and stylish yet classic so you won’t have to rebuy a sofa because it was too “trendy”. 9/10

Dennes Leather Sofa – From $1,699

SO classic. How could we not sit on this classic gal? She’s THE perfect apartment sofa when you’re low on space, investing in your first big piece, and want to make sure you’ll love it and other people will too. It’s that sofa that is a sure-fire buy. Pretty much unoffendable. A lot better quality than the IKEA version of this sofa, and all in all a really comfortable. 9/10

REJUVENATION

While Emily has a now-discontinued sectional in her family room that’s SO comfy (so not sure why it’s no longer available), we haven’t reviewed their sofas in-person in a store, so we were delighted to stumble upon a Rejuvenation in the flesh. Overall, the comfort and quality are superb. If you have the budget, their sofas are wonderful, but of course we have thoughts:)

Reeseville – $2,819

I mean, look at those arms! Modern traditional at its finest. The back is very high, but the seat is deep, and it’s perfectly sinkable. We loved it. This was the first sofa we sat on at RJ, so it set the bar high.

Luisa – From $2,499

Another beautiful sofa, and we really loved the fabric. The back cushion height was pretty perfect, hitting Mallory (5’7″) at her middle back. Oh, and the legs are a simple, perfect wood spindle. 10/10

Roswell – From $3,499

This sectional is a loungey one for sure! But here’s the deal: The seat felt a little higher, and this version had a very deep seat. So unless you are very tall, the height:depth ratio was a little uncomfortable. The good news, though, is that for this sofa there are 3 different depth options! So this way you can decide what’s best eith for you and/or your family.

Wrenton – From $3,099

This is a solid, simple modern option where you can depend on the high quality. The back height is good, but also a lower seat (not crazy low). However, this is another one where you have seat depth options!

Hastings Leather – From $5,099

Good leather sofas aren’t cheap, and this one proves that. But we thought it was pretty comfy for leather, and the quality is wonderful. It looks new without looking stiff and fake, but also worn without looking too “vintage”. A solid buy if this style is what you are looking for. It also comes in lots of other configurations.

Monrowe – From $2,799

To me, this a Rejuvenation staple! Emily has had it in leather, but it’s just as wonderful in the velvet. It’s comfortable but structured, so if you have the budget, you won’t be disappointed with this one. That smile is real!

CB2

Oriole – From $4,897

Here’s the deal. Style-wise, this is a beautiful modern sofa that has a nice deep seat. But Mallory and I both felt that this was a 9/10 on the firm scale. However, the 3-seater starts at almost $5k, which is so much money for a sofa that, at least for us, we would not look forward to lounging on at the end of the day.

Deseo – From $2,998

This is a really beautiful sofa and IS comfortable! Form and function, baby. There are so many configurations, and this color fabric is really gorgeous. This is the perfect napping sofa because it’s also very deep, which means it may not be great if you have a trickier time getting up from a deep seat.

Corroy Scatter – $2,099

This one was pretty comfortable! That particular color wasn’t our favorite, but there are 69 other fabric/color options. Mallory didn’t love the seam detail, but I think it could look great in the right space. Again, it’s all personal preference!

Lumis – From $2,598

This is CB2’s version of “The Cloud,” and we really loved it…it has a better cushion structure. It still will likely need to get fluffed often but won’t look as messy as the Restoration Hardware one (Mallory owned The Cloud because her ex desperately wanted one and it was the bane of her existence).

Berkeley – From $2,299

This was our CB2 winner. It’s very comfortable, has a great back cushion height, and while there are so many other fabric options, we loved this Jade color. With this beaut, there’s no need to choose between style and comfort.

Muir – From $2,399

A truly beautiful sofa, but one for a sitting room or just not your main sofa. It’s pretty firm, as we expected, but the base (sorry it’s so hard to see) is really stunning.

DESIGN WITHIN REACH

When you see a Design Within Reach, you must go inside of the Design Within Reach. Let’s just say it did not disappoint. The price points are steep, but these are forever pieces, hands down.

Reid – From $6,895

Let me preface that the 86″ sofa starts at $6,895. These sofas are expensive, but as you will soon read about this one, it’s incredible. If you have the budget, this and a few others are forever sofas. First off, this one is SO comfortable, like 100/10. I wish I could play you the silly video we recorded to hear how we sounded when we first ploped down. It’s just a perfect modern sofa that will look great with any style. The seat depth and back cushion height were a dream for us too. Blown away.

Emmy – $9,095

A beautiful wood frame with a nice down bench seat and a really good depth. That price tag is hefty, but this is not a sofa that is ever going out of style. It’s stunning and classic.

Pawson Drift – From $12,895

You have to see this unreal wood frame on the site because this photo isn’t doing it justice. And, of course, it’s comfortable. It’s a Herman Miller after all. The only thing we didn’t love was the feel of the fabric. It was a bit itchy. So if this is your dream piece and you are ready to drop some real cash, get samples of the fabrics to make sure you find one you love!

Muse – From $4,495

While I’ve loved the style and color of this sofa from the moment I saw it, I found out on this day it’s not a “comfortable” sofa. Or at least it’s VERY firm. Some people might love that. This would be great as an accent sofa, but for most of us the price point doesn’t justify not making it the primary sofa.

Float – From $10,795

Here’s another sofa from the same designer, and it’s another modern masterpiece. I wasn’t sure if I was going to love the big nubby fabric, but I really did! It’s very comfortable but also incredibly deep. It’s a statement in the best way.

INTERIOR DEFINE

Okay, Interior Define has one very important thing down to a science: comfort. And as they say, comfort is key. If you’re not familiar with Interior Define, their sofas are what they do, and they do it well. I actually had an Interior Define sofa in my first apartment that was VERY comfortable, so we love them and are excited to review this company. Basically, here’s how it works: they have 3 levels of cushion fills: double down (softest), down alternative (medium/soft), and standard down blend (firmest, but still cushy). Mallory liked the down alternative the best; Ajai and I were big fans of the double down. The double down, they said, needs to be fluffed the most, but was SO comfy to the point where you might not want to ever get up (which is a plus for some people). We sit on all of them…so we’ll show ya.

Oh, and by the way, you can customize any of the sofas to be any fabric you want, with any leg you want…here are just SOME of their options:

these are their leg options…how cute are those little bobbley ones?? (that’s for sure the technical name btw)

Jasper Sectional In Down Alternative – $4,370

Here are the beautiful Ajai and I sitting on the Jasper Sectional in Down Alternative (Mal’s favorite). There’s a little give in the cushions, as you can see, so it’s comfy enough to lounge on, but it’s also not awkward for guests to sit on if they don’t wanna get all up in your white sofa upon entrance into your place. It also is perfectly sized for an apartment that only has room for 1 sofa (aka most apartments) and is shaped to perfectly foster conversation if that’s what you’re looking for in a sofa. Mal said she would 100% buy this exact sofa for my apartment if comfort and conversation-making are both priorities. It’s truly the best of both worlds, and because of its versatility, you’ll get lots of bang for your buck.

Winslow Sofa – $1,935

Okay, here’s something important we haven’t discussed much in the sofa department: 1 long seat cushion versus multiple. There are benefits to both in my opinion. The single-seat cushion gives you less opportunities to lose things in your sofa, but more opportunity for wear in the cushion fill (especially if you go for double down like this one below). But lots of people prefer one or the other –– and we’re down to debate favorites in the comments below. Mal said this sofa was a big win for her, and we all agreed it was SO comfortable, but it might have been a wee bit too deep; the associates at Interior Define told me you can customize the depth, which is SOOO SMART and why we love this company.

Lukas Sofa – $2,920

Mal’s immediate reaction to this sofa was that it was too deep (42″) and a little too firm (standard down), then we all remembered you can literally customize the depth and the firmness to what you like, so there’s pretty much no way to hate any of these sofas. Again, you can also change the color/fabric and the length so you can truly have anything you want here, which makes it hard to say anything bad about these sofas. If you like this style (Lukas sofa), you might also like the Tatum sofa (that green one in the back) because they’re very similar.

Sloan Sleeper Storage Sectional – $5,050

Okay, let’s talk more about sleeper sofas, shall we? This sofa is created exactly like the IKEA one, except it’s made more for adults and less for college apartments (probably also because of the MASSIVE price difference). This was the standard down we were sitting on (so the firmest one that takes a second to break in), and it was still very comfortable. We were really just huge fans of the fact that it pulls out into a full-sized bed and then also has a storage component so you can store your extra bedding for said bed under the chaise (genius).

The very kind employee working there showed us how it looked pulled out (and he did it in his 6-inch very cute Jeffrey Campbell boots…that was probably more impressive than the couch itself). The mattress was compressed in plastic for store model purposes, so it will expand more than this, btw. If you’re in the market for a high-quality, awesome sleeper sofa that will last and doesn’t feel like a rock (like the IKEA one), this is a very good purchase.

CRATE AND BARREL

Before I get into these sofas, overall this was our favorite stop hands down, no question. If you are looking for a high-quality sofa and have the budget, these were the most comfortable and beautiful, but classic. Almost every sofa was a winner, but as always, we have opinions.

Barrett II Sleeper – From $1,999

We were totally blown away by the comfort and then found out this version we were sitting on was ALSO a sleeper sofa! This collection has every size and configuration you could want. The regular sofas are even cheaper too! This is the perfect sofa if you need your main sofa to also double as a bed. You aren’t sacrificing comfort for functionality. Mal called this 1000/10. It’s truly the most comfortable sleeper sofa we’ve ever sat on, and the style is so incredibly versatile, so it will last you forever.

Retreat – From $2,299

I really don’t want to sound redundant because this won’t be the last time I say this, but this sofa was SO comfortable. Mal called this her fav of the day. It’s deep, so great for some solid lounging, but with those lumbar pillows it feels like the perfect “normal” depth. The style again is simple, but we loved the proportions and the cushion structure really feels like it’s going to hold well over time. This is a truly great sofa.

Monterey – From $2,299

Actually, and so is this one. If you want a teeny bit more detail, I love the wonderful love the angeled arm shape; the cushions feel a little overstuffed in a good way, plus having those side arm pillows makes it even more comfy to relax on. Oh, and the back is the perfect height. This can go in any room that needs a sofa, but it’s a real movie room dream. We loved this fabric too.

Here it is in the sofa version!

Griffin – From $3,299

Ok, this one was not our favorite on the comfort scale. It’s beautiful, but the cushions are firm, like a 6-7/10 comfort. The seat height is also a little low. Basically, we wouldn’t recommend this as your main sofa unless you love firm.

Drift – From $2,398

Buckle up because we have another power recliner rec, and this one was the TOP favorite. The style is oddly almost identical to the Joybird one (this one doesn’t have the visible seams) but even more comfortable and with prettier/better fabric options. We kept saying “PEOPLE NEED THIS SOFA!”

Can you tell we were in heaven? It’s so freaking comfortable. We want to power recline forever.

This one, as opposed to the Joybird one, goes all the way down. Because of that, you will need some space behind it if it’s up against a wall (which we recommend).

Lounge – From $3,998

Here’s their second power recliner. The design is good, but it’s not as comfortable as the other. However, the high back is great if you want more upper back support! The controls are visible, which, depending on your preference, can be a good or not-so-good thing (it’s not our fav). When Mal sat on it, she instantly wished she had been able to recommend this one to her 95-year-old grandmother who recently bought an expensive power recliner from La-Z-Boy and has been really unhappy with it.

It also doesn’t recline flat, but I think for most people that’s totally fine.

Mal was also in love with this fun patterned fabric. Y’all power reclining sofas have come a looooong way.

Unwind – From $2,599

We can only assume this one is their “Cloud” and we were just as unimpressed. Is it super sinkable? Yes. But we thought it might be too soft. Plus, as you can see, it would need constant refluffing to not look like a mess all of the time. It wasn’t for us, but that doesn’t mean it can’t work for other people.

Lotus From – $2,399

Now, this one gives “Cloud” vibes but won’t drive you nearly as crazy with the need to fluff 100 times a day. The cushions have better stuffing, it seems. It’s really comfy, super sinkable, and not too deep. If you want a “Cloud-like” sofa, look at this one instead.

Oceanside – From $1,999

A great-looking sofa that, for us, was on the firmer side. We felt this would be a great option for people who have a harder time getting down and up from sofas because it sits higher and the back is a good height. It is still kinda deep, but that can be fixed with a pretty support pillow.

Tidal – From $2,199

An organic modern beauty! She’s deep, low, and comfy but not the most sinkable if that’s what you are looking for. Also, it’s hard to see, but it has a wood base that really adds a little extra something!

Gather Wood Base – From $2,399

The last Crate & Barrel sofa is another wood base beaut (also comes without) and is super comfortable. Again, it’s firmish in a supportive way and has that Goldilocks-perfect back height. This one isn’t too deep, which is definitely a feature that a lot of their sofas have.

POTTERY BARN

Windsor Slipcovered Sofa – From $1,399

BIG yes. To me, this is a Pottery Barn sofa through and through. It’s the Nancy Meyers look! This one is clearly a better quality than the IKEA one, given that the shape is better, it’s more comfy, and you can’t even feel the cushion cracks (as in Mal thought it was a bench seat). Honestly, we thought this was/is their best.

Pearce Square Arm Sofa – From $1,999

There is nothing wrong with this sofa, but there also wasn’t really anything special either. It was a little firm but still comfortable, has a high back, and an overall nice look. We think you could do better though:)

Sierra Sofa – From $1,499

This sofa was basically another miss for us. It was…fine. The cushion quality didn’t feel the best, and honestly we much preferred the Crate and Barrel version.

Carlisle – From $2,099

This beaut, on the other hand, was special. Look at that traditional but low roll arm?! We’d say this was medium firm, and unfortunately you could feel the cracks. But the back cushions were perfectly squishy, and we loved this color.

Jake Leather Seadrift Wood Base Sofa – From $4,299

This leather sofa very much gives “California Casual.” The lighter tone of the leather is super pretty, but the cushions were firm. However, structure isn’t a bad thing, and I’m sure this sofa will look great for a long time.

Turner Square Arm Leather Sofa – From $2,899

Now this leather sofa was comfortable and deep! A great loungey leather option, but beware that the back cushion is high.

Big Sur Square Arm Double Wide Sectional – From $3,798

Ajai’s sweet sweet baby, Jack (ah, he was so little then!), met us at Pottery Barn to test out this sofa with us, and he was a big fan (his schedule was booked up earlier in the day, so he had to catch up with us later). As a bestseller from PB, it’s very comfy, and we LOVE the double-wide (feels like you can just drown in this sofa in a good way).

PB Comfort Square Arm Sectional – From $3,548

This sofa is also a bestseller according to PB, which makes a lot of sense because it’s super classic, very comfortable, and you can choose from a bunch of different configurations and even decide if you want roll arms or square arms. This collection pretty much comes in anything you could possibly want (we love customizable sofas/sectionals!!)

ROOM SERVICE

Naturally, I had to include our sofas because, well, we love them! If you are looking for a sofa that’s designer-style AND comfortable, then these are for you:)

Barb – From $1,830

photo by kaitlin green

This one is very special to me. I LOVE those arms and how the leg is placed so much. It’s cool, unexpectedly versatile, and comfortable. The cushions have a bit of structure to them, so they will keep their shape. I think that this is a chance to get a really special, unique sofa for a really affordable price from what’s on the market. Oh, and they come in 2 sizes.

Alice – From $1,800

photo by kaitlin green

This one we designed for the farmhouse! It’s not going to be the sofa you sink into, but it is still comfortable (that was very important to us). The curves are subtle, the feet are so cute, and we love that it can have those back pillows or be a traditional tightback. Also comes in two different sizes.

Oscar – From $1,970

photo by kaitlin green

If you are looking for a beautiful and perfectly sinkable sofa, THIS IS IT! It’s a bestseller for a reason. I love a bench seat so much, and the side pillows are there for maximum comfort. It might need a little refluffing given its wonderful sinkability, but it’s a great sofa everyone will love. Two sizes, too!

Otto – $2,130

photo by kaitlin green

This is a very recent review Emily had of the Otto🙂

From Emily: “I recently fell in love with it (again). I was over at my brother’s house for our rained-out family reunion, and we all sat on it (it’s long, so a lot of people), and I sat down on it and was so delighted by how comfortable it was. Of the two sofas at their house, the Oscar is the preferred one for extreme comfort (it’s a 12/10 on the comfort scale), but it can look messier because of it (this is the nature of an extremely soft and sinkable sofa). So I forgot how comfortable the Otto was. I was so excited to hear all my family say how much they loved it, with my nephew not even knowing that it was part of our collection. I think it has also gotten a little softer with time. It’s really deep, and my brother-in-law said that when he has dog-sat over there, it’s his preferred napping sofa. Anyway, I really love all our sofas for different reasons, but we designed ALL of them to be comfortable. Some of them look more comfy because they have a loose back and a loose seat cushion, but the tighter back and seats often don’t get the comfy credit they deserve. Shout out to the Oscar and the Otto. (and boy is it fun to be back in that house showing people around :)).”

Milo Sectional – $2,700

photo by kaitlin green

This is our modern organic classic beauty. It’s perfectly chunky and low and so comfortable. That bench seat is sink-in-able and the cushion-y back. It’s neutral but not boring, and we all love it. It comes as a sofa (non-sectional) too!

PHEW! Now THAT’S what we call a review!!! Thanks everyone for sticking with us and reading this monster of a blog post. We hope that it was helpful and would love to know your thoughts on these sofas/your favorite sofas in general in the comments below! Thanks for staying with us through this whole thing!

Love you, mean it.

Fin
Subscribe
Notify of

162 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Emma
5 years ago

This was really helpful! We’ve kind of been talking about a new couch some time in the future, so now I know a bit more about which ones to keep in mind and which ones to not consider further. Great work, y’all!

Sabrina
5 years ago

Help! I’ve been looking at the CB2 Perimeter sofa online for months but the reviews are abysmal. How comfortable is it actually? I don’t need it to be plush and loungey but I do want something where I can have my morning coffee and not feel like I’m sitting on cardboard ?

Allison
5 years ago

Thank you so much for this in-depth review! I can’t imagine how much time it took to create this post. I’ve literally had my eye on Interior Define’s Jasper for years (in the Sage velvet), so I’m so glad to know it gets y’all’s seal of approval. I’ll most likely be moving in a little less than a year and am now for sure putting the Jasper at the top of my “things to buy for the new home” list. Yay!

Sabrina
5 years ago
Reply to  Allison

My kids are named Jasper and Sage! Ha ha.

Rusty
5 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

?

Traci
5 years ago
Reply to  Allison

I have the Jasper and I really dislike it. The back cushions turn into bolsters and there is no comfortable way to sit on it. If it had a narrow seat you could sit upright. If it had higher cozy back cushions you could lounge. It is between and it is so uncomfortable no matter how often I plump and reverse the cushions. I am actively shopping to replace it

Terryn
5 years ago
Reply to  Traci

If it’s in the sage velvet, maybe you can make Allison a deal and sell it to her…?

wally
5 years ago

Do the same for anthropologie couches! I’m desperate for a yellow velvet Chesterfield and anthro is one of the few places that sells one. Joybird used to, but they only have a leather Chesterfield now.

Tess
5 years ago
Reply to  wally

My dear daughter and I sat on all the sofas at anthropologie and found them all very firm so we were sitting on top of the cushions instead of sinking into the cushions they looked beautiful but didn’t have that cushy plushh factor at all!:(

cindy
9 days ago
Reply to  wally

I love my anthro sofa! I have the Willoughby and it is comfy and deep. My only complaint is that I wish I had just one bottom cushion instead of two bc they are flattened down where the two meet bc I apparently sit right there a lot, and I find it hard to re-shape them.

Sarah
5 years ago

just a note: Our designer steered us away from Interior Define because of issues with quality/longevity. (She recommended crate and barrel, but we actually ended up going with Maiden Home.)

I’ve also heard about similar issues with West Elm couches (like enough issues that there was an article written on vox about it.)

Lisa
5 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

I have a very lived on interior define sofa that is 4 years old with no sign of wear yet.

Lisa
5 years ago
Reply to  Lisa

Another Lisa chiming in to say my Interior Define chaise is awesome and feels very high quality.

JEM
5 years ago
Reply to  Lisa

Same – 4 year old Interior define that looks amazing and lives with a 5 year old and dog.

Liz
5 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

We have the West Elm Drake reversable sectional and would not recommend. Use it a ton, but upholstery pilled almost immediately and there is a noticeable dip in the corner seat. Wish the quality were highter, but no.

Kersten
5 years ago
Reply to  Liz

Agree, stay far, far away from West Elm sofas. They look good, at least at first. I’ve had two (one leather and one linen-y fabric, bought around the same time) and neither of them held up at all! Fabric pilled, legs wobbly, not comfortable at all. After a year or two the fabric one looked so bad we gave it away and started using our older (but seemingly much better made) IKEA sofa.

deb
5 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

We’ve had the West Elm Henry sofa for about a year and a half and must say that I’m disappointed in how the cushion structure has held up. The spot that my husband sits in exclusively is already “smooshed/sunk.” He’s a pretty average sized guy & I do trade the cushions around, but still the one spot, ugh! Yet, our 20+ year old IKEA leather Karlanda (that they no longer make) is in near perfect shape. That one spot is slightly sunk, but not dramatically.

Laura
5 years ago
Reply to  deb

We have had the Henry for many years…the back cushions broke down and the seats got smooshy after a few years, so I took them all out of the covers, wrapped the backs in batting and added an extra layer of foam to the seats—it worked like a charm! Probably need to do it again now that I have toddlers who like to climb on the back but really these fixes have held up for years!!

Amy Anderson
5 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

I bought the Savile sofa from CB2 and the seam between the bottom cushions busted from light/normal use in four months. CB2 replaced it but then the same thing happened again 3 months after that. Ultimately they gave me a full refund so 10/10 for customer service but 1/10 for quality at CB2 in my book.

Liz
5 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

We have a 7+ year old Andes sofa from West Elm in Navy velvet and it’s held up absolutely beautifully! Like I’m talking, one couch in the apartment, eat dinner on it every night kind of sofa. We got the 50/50 down/foam fill. I’ve been super happy with ours. The only slightly worn down areas are the arms, but it’s not very noticeable (and I’m picky).

Tricia
5 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

I have the exact Drake sofa pictured from West Elm and I couldn’t be happier. Have had it for about 2 years. It doesn’t take up a lot of space but has enough room for everyone to sit. The performance velvet has held up really well to my daughter and two large dogs.

Jen
5 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

I HATED my interior define Sloan. It was uncomfortable and looked heavily worn after 6 months. They told me I should be fluffing my cushions and using a de-pilling device daily – who has time to Fluff cushions EVERY day?! I donated it after 4 years but honestly wish I had done years ago.

Sara
5 years ago
Reply to  Jen

So, I think the Interior Define Sloan is VERY dependent on the fill you choose and the fabric. My first one I got the down fill with the mod velvet and I was pretty unhappy with the wear/look approaching a year in as was my neighbor. They do allow you a free exchange within a year, which is what I opted to do, and I went with the one my neighbor chose for her exchange. My other friend got the down alternative to start and never had issues. I have been much, much happier with the down alternative and a different fabric. Now two years in, it is still super comfy, my kids abuse it and I get tons of compliments. I do have to fluff the back pillows once or twice a week (like where my husband insists on sitting to work all day), but overall quite happy. The customer service was great. And I discovered after my 2-year-old took a pen to the couch cushion you can wash them in the washing machine and they clean up great!

Sarah
5 years ago
Reply to  Sara

Very curious about which fabric you ended up going with for the replacement. Considering a new couch but definitely need something that will hold up well to 2 small children!

Jen A
5 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

Ooohh that is so disappointing to hear about Interior Define! I have been eyeing the Maxwell sofa for a long time but we don’t have a showroom where I live to test it out in person. It’s always such a gamble to know which things will last! That’s interesting it was significant enough for a designer to steer clear of them.

Admin
5 years ago
Reply to  Jen A

for what it’s worth, i *LOVE* arlyn’s maxwell sofa – surprised to hear this feedback!!

Jen A
5 years ago

Thanks for this vote of confidence! Ahh and that is great to know because I think Aryln’s LR makeover was where I got the idea for it in the first place. :+) I loved her post/reveal and it gave me the idea to maybe use a similar furniture layout in my space, if I can make it work. I had previously been thinking I needed to have the chaise on the window side of my room but seeing how she put the chairs along the windows made me rethink my space layout and was so helpful! I have the extra challenge of some pocket doors in play, so I need to tape everything off on the floor first but am hopeful.

Love hearing about this real life experience of not only Arlyn, but you-as-guest giving it a thumb’s up! Thanks Caitlin.

J
8 days ago
Reply to  Jen A

I love my Maxwell— I got it in velvet with the down fill and it is glorious. Cozy, nappable, and has survived many toddler and cat pee accidents with grace and gusto

Megan
5 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

How do you like your Maiden Home sofa? We ordered one but haven’t received it yet, and I’m anxious about it since we didn’t get to do a sit test before buying it!

Angela Gaston
5 years ago
Reply to  Megan

Maidenform is amazing. Best couch I have ever had.

5 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

We also got a Maiden Home sectional after hearing bad things about the quality of Interior Define. We got The Dune sectional in performance chenille. It was the BEST purchase we made for our living room. It’s chic, comfortable and durable.

Megan
5 years ago
Reply to  Erin

Thank you, Angela and Erin! Can’t wait to get ours!

Linhhth
5 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

We have had our Interior Define sectional 4 years now and it’s holding up amazing.

Sea
5 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

I need to chime in on the comments about some of these chain stores and the quality, etc. for example Crate, their sofa collections are made and sourced from various manufacturers. So it’s not apple to apples when comparing a sofas from Crate or say West Elm. It’s a small pool of manufacturers and they all buy pretty much from the same sources.

Sarah
5 years ago
Reply to  Sea

Sea, that’s helpful! One thing we were told is to look for furniture that was made in North Carolina (so including some anthropologie pieces) instead of going just by brand.

Kate
5 years ago

This is so helpful! We did a similar sofa hunt last spring with lots of research. Our living room is narrow so we had very specific tight dimensions for a sectional (it needed a chamfer corner). We went with Crate and Barrel’s Axis sectional over the PB Comfort sectional and have NO REGRETS. After a year of heavy tv-watching and home lounging in the pandemic, it’s held up beautifully. We went with the base fabric as we have a dog. Pupper has come in with muddy feet and played on the couch…and it all wiped right off! I am team CB for sectionals now!

Susan
5 years ago

I have a 1940s very small bungalow. The unicorn I cannot find in a new sofa is one that has seating area but small proportions all the way around so that it visually doesn’t swallow up the space. Where I CAN find the right sized couches is vintage on fb marketplace- they knew back then how to make couches that actually fit in real people’s homes (there are literally millions of post war bungalows and they all needed a couch) however the vintage ones are nearly all covered in hideous fabric and there is only one guy in town who can recover then and he’s backed up 9 months. Nearly none of the couches reviewed here would work for my space and I can’t find a store I can visit in person that makes properly proportioned ones for me to try out. I could cry. We are on our 3rd shitty couch because nothing works

KM
5 years ago
Reply to  Susan

Maybe start now the process of sourcing a vintage sofa/wait-time for reupholstery, and then you don’t need to buy crappy couch #4?

Susan
5 years ago
Reply to  KM

I find vintage sofas all the time, but have no place to store them while I wait for an opening for upholstery. The last one I passed on was screaming orange flowers in a large scale which we couldn’t live with. I already did the ” throw a cover over the vintage sectional while I save up for upholstery” gig, but with 3 kids and a dog it was a daily hourly battle to ever keep the cover from being a wrinkled sloppy mess. I can tolerate some mess but it’s our only lounge space and it was awful. I will look into the suggestions

Stephanie
5 years ago
Reply to  Susan

Have you looking into getting a loveseat instead of a sofa if your space is limited?

Grace
5 years ago
Reply to  Susan

I ended up with West Elm’s Hamilton sofa after trying to solve a similar problem. I needed something long enough for my 6’+ partner to stretch out on, but the room is overall quite small, as was the doorway. This was one of the only full size sofas I could find that was not too deep and had slim arms & back that didn’t unnecessarily bulk up the sofa.

Jean Henderson
5 years ago
Reply to  Grace

My smallish Hamilton leather has been a “no”. Leather stunk for more than a year. Cushion quality is bad even w rotating monthly. I’d say when it comes to less expensive quality go for performance upholstery. And u can replace the foam. My old PB white slip covered sofa and loveseat and chair wore really well Mitchell and Gold.

BW
5 years ago
Reply to  Susan

This was awhiiiile ago, but we got a great, affordable sofa from Macy’s back in the day for our small space. I want to say it was around 76″, very comfortable, and held up really well over the 6ish years we had it. We would have kept it if we hadn’t moved cross country!

Paula Carr
5 years ago
Reply to  BW

Yeah, we got a leather sofa from The Broadway when it was still around, so if you know L.A. you know how old this sofa is! It’s held up to all the dogs we’ve had over the years as well. I love it because it was around 80″ or less, the arms weren’t too high, and it had a fixed back cushion. Wearing like iron. I’m only looking at new sofas because I’m starting to get that “new sofa itch.” What? It’s not only for cars!

aforss
5 years ago
Reply to  Susan

Room and Board makes some sofas in petite proportions. Their sofas also last really well as long as you pick a fabric that’s designed to be durable — my parents’ 20-year-old sofa and my 12-year old sofa from them still look and feel basically like they did when they were new. Here is their guide to seating for a “small living room” that might be helpful:
If you live close enough to go to a store, their sales staff are often very knowledgable and helpful too.

Sheila
5 years ago
Reply to  aforss

I second @aforss recommendation of Room and Board. I have their Reese sectional and a friend has a Jasper sofa, both for over 10 years and in good shape. Both are modestly proportioned, not over-stuffed pillow-y sink holes but still comfy. If you aren’t close to a store, you can set up a design consult online or by phone, too.

Katie
5 years ago
Reply to  Susan

We’re in a similar small home. I found a local furniture store had great options (Bilt Rite if you happen to be near Milwaukee). The more trendy “fashion” sources in this article had literally nothing that fit the dimensions we needed.

StephanieZ
5 years ago
Reply to  Susan

Check out CladHome… they could make one custom for you. Their prices are pretty comparable to these as well.

Rae
5 years ago

We’ve had 3 sofas in our life so far. A a white slipcovered sofa from West Elm, a turquoise movie sofa from CB2 (purchased during their colorful days) and a green velvet Stockholm sofa from IKEA. The leg on the West Elm sofa broke, the CB2 sofa did not have a welt edge so it started unraveling at the seams, and the IKEA sofa has held up like a champ. It has walnut legs, and it’s beautifully made. I’ve had it for about 5 years now. When it comes down to it, the quality of IKEA items is often on par or (in my case) better than their counterparts. Unfortunately IKEA often gets a bad rap in the design community because it offers high, medium and low cost items, making home furnishings accessible to virtually everyone on the planet. Long story short, I would definitely recommend their sofas.

Terryn
5 years ago
Reply to  Rae

I had an Ikea sofa that lasted through 20 years, 6 moves, and 2 very active boys and all their friends… If I had it my way, I would still be on an Ikea sofa.

Mary Hodges
5 years ago

I am in love with your designs and have been forever. But none of these beautiful sofa’s have back support for a tall person. (Husband is 6’5″ and we love modern design but can’t find any that actually fit a 6’5″ person) Could you add an addendum for at least ONE MODERN SOFA in the entire retail world that will comfortably support a 6’5″ man – PLEASE… we need you SO Bad to please help us with this dilemma. Thank You!!!

Kj
5 years ago
Reply to  Mary Hodges

Ethan Allen has a few sofas that are 38”H and a few 36”H ones.

Mary Hodges
5 years ago
Reply to  Kj

Thank you so much!

Mary Hodges
5 years ago
Reply to  Mary Hodges

Thank you so much!

Kj
5 years ago
Reply to  Mary Hodges

This Bassett sofa is 39” H.

Mary Hodges
5 years ago
Reply to  Kj

Awesome, thanks!

Alanna
5 years ago
Reply to  Mary Hodges

Crate and Barrel Axis is 37” and Room and Board Morrison is 36”!

Mary Hodges
5 years ago
Reply to  Alanna

Thank You!

Tess
5 years ago
Reply to  Mary Hodges

Restoration Hardware has some large scale furniture

Mary Hodges
5 years ago
Reply to  Tess

Thank You!

Susan G
5 years ago

I want to buy a couch this weekend (sales baby!). Has anyone tried the West Elm Harris Sofa? This would be the tv/ den couch so I was thinking blue velvet with the super deep (46″) cushions.

Amy
5 years ago
Reply to  Susan G

I have had two sofas from West Elm and they were both horrible. They start out comfortable but the cushion material is very poor and does not keep its shape. Not only are they then uncomfortable but the covers do not stay in position. Customer service is horrible. They finally replaced my first sofa after Apartment Therapy got involved because so many readers had problems with them. The sofa we got as a replacement is worse. I would never buy anything from West Elm again.

Liz M
5 years ago

We did a sit test at a ton of places back in 2018 and we decided upon the Pottery Barn York sofa with bench cushion. In my opinion a bench cushion is the only way to go when trying to snuggle up to watch a movie! Whenever people come over they always say our couch is the most comfortable sofa ever. We also recently got the C&B Loung II sofa and its amazing. A little more firm but its great for kids – it gets softer as it wears in and it super washable!

Roberta Davis
5 years ago

While I’ve seen most of these online, it’s helpful to see you ladies sitting on them to give me an idea of how comfortable they would be! Thanks for the reviews!

Abby
5 years ago

This is really helpful! I’m also looking for super honest reviews on MaidenHome furniture – I know that it’s not in stores so that makes it difficult – but I would love to know thoughts on comfort, style-ability, etc.! If anyone has experience with their pieces please share! good bad and ugly 🙂

Sarah
5 years ago
Reply to  Abby

When ours arrives in about a month I can report back!

Lindsey Hill
5 years ago

Sooo….I have had the Ikea Kivik three seater sofa with a chaise for six? years now and I looooove it. My husband also loves it which is really saying something. The cushions are firm but are still very comfortable and loungey without looking like crap after a few episodes on Netflix or an entire season of whatever, let’s be honest. We have the borred green gray cover, which they do not make anymore 🙁 But it’s a lovely sagey gray color that goes with everything. I have washed it so many times and always looks brand new when I put it back on the couch. I have said to myself so many times that I’m in my thirties and I need to get some real furniture, but with as good as this thing has held up I don’t really see the point…especially when you can order gorgeous covers from companies like Bemz.

Sabrina
5 years ago
Reply to  Lindsey Hill

We have had an Ikea Kivik for 10 years and it’s still just as comfortable as the day we bought it and the cushions are still just as structured! And that is with daily use including our 2 kids. Everytime I think about spending $$$$ on a new couch I just can’t bring myself to do it!

Rusty
5 years ago

I’ve wanted a new sofa for my difficult living room for years (Only one wall. Two walls have leadlight swing doors and another is the fireplace).
Now I’m free…I’m seriously looking.

I’ve been reading so much about how great velvet is re: durability and care, but it seems too good to be true.
Is it reallllly true???

I have a hairy dog and messy friends who spill stuff regularly.
People who have lived with velvet sofas….is it true???? ?

Kristi B
5 years ago
Reply to  Rusty

Rusty- I adore my velvet sofa. So much so I don’t let people eat or drink on it?…well at least not my kids and company has been spill proof so far. It just feels so good to sit on. Dog does not sit on sofa but her hair does not stick to it as it wafts around between vacuums..I really love it.

Lynn
5 years ago
Reply to  Rusty

We had a velvet couch years ago and so regret getting rid of it. We had a kid 3 dogs and 4 cats and it looked amazing after 3 years. Cats mostly don’t like how it feels so thry don’t acratch it. We had it in hunter green amd it his all sins. My kiddo was 3 and used to say soft soft when he would lie down.

Kelly
5 years ago
Reply to  Rusty

Yes! Mohair velvet really stands up well to large monthly parties with wine and snacks, 2 dogs and grandkids! Ours is sage green. Still looks so beautiful after 8+ years.

KT
5 years ago

I’ve had the Morabo from Ikea in black leather for about five years now, and it’s held up great! It’s certainly not the most comfy or cozy, but it is very durable. The leather has not scratched or stained (despite messes: spilled yogurt, soup, etc.) and is starting to get a very nice patina. Also, the seats are not saggy…they look as great as the day we bought it! We similarly didn’t like the legs it came with, so we just swapped them out (nobody ever suspects it’s Ikea!). In retrospect, I wish we had bought the Article sofa instead (I think it’s maybe more comfy and a little less MCM “office”) … but at the time the Morabo was half the price (~$750).

Kristi B
5 years ago

Very helpful. Thank you!
The ecelectic grandma sofa (KST) is so beautiful. Had not seen this one…
One more: I have dreamed of owning Ginny McDonald’s Belmont sofa in Goldenrod since you featured it here.. So good!

michaela
5 years ago

Ahhh, I’m literally waiting on my custom Interior Define sofa to arrive within the next month or so, and I’ve been so excited and anxious about it! I’m glad they get a thumbs-up from you in terms of comfort and quality (I’m pretty sure I read on a previous post that y’all liked them, because I had to have gotten the confidence to order from somewhere.) But now that I see the Sloan sofa above, I’m nervous it’s going to be more boxy/square than I envisioned! The sleeper sofa is definitely different than the sectional w/chaise we ordered, but like, compare the styling of the cushions on the website to your photo—doesn’t it seem like the back cushions are more plush and boxy in your photos than they are online?? Maybe it has to do with the fill they’re showing? Fingers crossed over here! D:

Jean Henderson
5 years ago

The comments in this post are beyond amazing!! What a great community!!

Abby
5 years ago

Love this post, thank you! I’m looking for a comfortable and beautiful sectional that has clean lines but doesn’t lean MCM — I’ve done the MCM thing and in my new house (just bought, yay!) I’m wanting a vibe that feels more welcoming and comforting. Two I have my eye on are the Ever sofa from C&B and the Neva sofa from Sixpenny. If anyone has either of these I’d love to hear your thoughts! My top concerns with both are whether it’s actually easy to clean them (two kids, a husband and a dog) and if they just look totally worn out after a short time, and not in a good, lived in way. Also when I saw the Ever in person at a store, it was dirty, so I’m wondering how often it has to be cleaned. Finally, is it just nuts to think you can have a white sofa with kids and dogs?? My kids are 10 & 14 so no toddler messes, but they are still kids/don’t care about keeping things clean.

Julie
5 years ago

I’m reading this sitting on my FRIHETEN SLEEPER SECTIONAL. 🙂 It’s a really great small apartment sofa. A little firm, but not hard, and nothing a few pretty pillows can’t fix! If you don’t want to spend too much and/or have limited space, it’s a good purchase. I’ve had mine for over 5 years, it’s a little less firm, but it still looks nice, even though I eat on my couch and have spilled so. many. things. on it.

HKW
5 years ago

Thank you for these very helpful reviews! Especially great for those of us who aren’t near some of these shops to try ourselves. Was so hoping you’d have feedback on the Crate and Barrel Pershing Sofa, which I’ve been eyeing. Or maybe some readers do? Also, has anyone tried sofas from EQ3? It’s a Canadian company but seems to ship to the U.S. Thanks!

Sabrina
5 years ago
Reply to  HKW

EQ3 is great quality! It’s been a few years since I was last in one of their showrooms but I wouldn’t hesitate about buying a sofa from them.

HKW
5 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Thank you! Their pieces look great and the price point is excellent.

Kimberly
5 years ago
Reply to  HKW

I had my EQ3 sofa for 12 years & it really held up, stayed comfy, looked great, did not wear throughout the years. I would definitely purchase from them again. Their wait time was long when I need a sofa right away in early pandemic or I would’ve ordered from them.

Julie
5 years ago

Thank you for this! Very helpful! Ditto some of the comments above on Maiden Home sofas and has anyone tried the West Elm shelter sleeper sofa? We’ve also owned one of the smaller West Elm love seats, and no problems for at least 8 years (discontinued now, but looks a little like Hamilton with a single cushion). It was always in our bedroom though (not as used as living room, but still doing well.

Mary B.
5 years ago

I was so hoping somehow you had ventured to the CladHome showroom and could give some reviews. Any feedback on the ones that have been owned by the EHD team? (I know Emily had one for a little while) – I love the idea of supporting a woman-owned business, but it’s so hard to pull the trigger! Though the fabric samples arrived and the reagent amberjack is the golden velvet of my dreams!

Kaiulani
8 days ago
Reply to  Mary B.

Shavonda Gardner loves her’s! Clad is on my list for my next one.

Lisa P
5 years ago

We recently converted our guest bed into a full time office. Thanks covid. We have guests twice a year so we are looking for a sleeper sofa for our loft. But do people prefer a sleeper sofa or to just sleep on the sofa itself? For me, sofa all the way. I know I’m overthinking it but has anyone really ever slept on a comfortable pull out bed as an adult…

Mary B.
5 years ago
Reply to  Lisa P

I have! My friends have a sofa from Crate & Barrel that folds down to be a sleeper sofa (kind of like 2 twins side by side) but it’s far better than any other sofa bed I’ve slept on, and we owned a sleeper sofa for a few years – even with a great mattress it still was just so-so. But my trick was to keep an egg crate topper in the closet and add that on top of the mattress below the mattress pad for guests, and it definitely helped, but took up a decent amount of closet space. I don’t see their exact looking sofa on the site but the sleeper part looks similar to the trundle bed models.

Lisa P
5 years ago
Reply to  Mary B.

I’ll check that out, thank you!

Stacy
5 years ago

I’m so confused as to why some of these reviews have ratings and others don’t…? And curious why there wasn’t a formal ranking, worst to best or vice versa? This sort of research post is AMAZING, but would be so helpful if the ratings were clear and the picture of the sofa wasn’t at the bottom, and often separated from the review of it by adverts. Maybe the picture underneath the name/price link next time? Just a thought for ease of reading because this gave me such a headache having to scroll down to the bottom of the review to see the sofa so I could know what was being reviewed, then scrolling back up to read.
All that said: I love these sorts of investigative posts and would be thrilled to see more!

AM72
5 years ago
Reply to  Stacy

Omg thank you for saying that, I thought for sure it was just me! Between the advertising pics mixed with the couch pics my eyes were going crazy and I kept looking for the /10 ratings and not seeing them! Overall these roundups are SO helpful and I’m grateful for the effort but these tweaks would DEF make them more easily read and helpful!

Kaitlyn
5 years ago

Saw some comments asking about Maiden Home – I purchased the Ludlow sectional in velvet a year ago, so while it’s too early to see true longevity it’s perfect! It seems really excellently made, and it fits the bill for serving as our 1 couch that we use for both TV lounging & entertaining. The website gives you a pretty good idea of what to expect in terms of firmness and pitch/depth. We also have our bed from there and it’s excellent, too.

Kate
5 years ago
Reply to  Kaitlyn

I am about to pull the trigger buying a Ludlow in performance velvet! My one concern is the arms seem very short— just two inches above the seat height. Has that been an issue for you? I would love to hear

Cici Haus
5 years ago

Oh my goodness Jack is adorable! I mean, that’s definitely not my entire takeaway from this thoroughly researched article…ha! This was very helpful! We’re moving into a new house with like 500 living spaces (actually four but it seems like a billion) so we’re in the market for a new loungey sofa(s). I know this is a controversial statement, but I just do not like sectionals! Corner ones without a chaise are okay, but I much prefer two single couches.

Carrie
5 years ago

One comment about mohair – not sure how current mohair compares to vintage but I have a vintage (1940s) mohair lounge chair (it was my grandparents) and my cat decided it was a GREAT scratching post. She’s never scratched on any other furniture, just that chair.

Cheryl
5 years ago

Epic round up! These posts are like the backbone of why this blog is so useful, just seeing butts in seats that we’ve all scrolled past online is exciting. However my criteria is simple: durable as hell. If I’m spending $3-5,000 on a sofa I want that bad boy for years. But who can say if the cushions will still be holding their shape, if the material will be pilled or faded by then? I’ve been through too many good looking sofas that don’t stand the rest of time at all. I contacted Pottery Barn when after two years our cushions were totally misshapen and they offered to sell me replacement cushions. I’m wondering why they don’t just improve them so I don’t need to replace them? When I was fresh out of college and poor, I never thought about anything but price point and I get that most people can’t throw down on a piece of furniture. But I still wish more care were devoted to these pieces of furniture. So frustrating. Last month I decided I’m taking a risk and trying a Mitchell Gold sofa with a good warranty. I saved up for that bad boy and it… Read more »

Kj
5 years ago
Reply to  Cheryl

I loved the MG+BW sofas I sat in and was considering ordering one, but I was put off buy some very negative reviews I found online when I got home. We have an 18 year old Thomasville sleeper sofa that has stood the test of time … but of course Thomasville went out of business (their name was sold but it’s not the same company).

Stephanie
5 years ago
Reply to  Cheryl

We have an MG+BW sofa (Hunter sofa) and love it. We got it 2 years ago and it’s held up very well, even with very high use during stay-at-home pandemic times. It’s so comfortable too – can’t say enough good things about it.

Hana
5 years ago

I am a huge fan of slip covered sofas so I bought two Pottery Barn square arm sofas for my living room. They are very comfy but the back pillows are waaay to slouchy and look messy all the time. I am going to have a upholsterer redo them as Pottery Barn’s customer service was terrible and told me that’s part of the design. I won’t buy anything from them again!

Jen
5 years ago

We have two sofas from Interior Define. We have a custom length Asher sectional for our basement that we’ve had since 2016..it’s 10 feet long but they worked with us to customize in 3 pieces instead of the standard 2 so we could fit it down our basement stairs. It’s great for lounging on movie nights because our whole family can sprawl out and it has held up super well…not a pill in sight. As a side note the fabric on the chaise part was punctured in transit and they sent someone to repair right away and you can’t even tell it was there. We purchases a Jasper sofa and ottoman last summer and it is so beautiful and comfortable. The one caveat I would say with the Jasper is that the back cushion smooshes down pretty easy and so I am constantly refloofing it. Maybe part of this is due to my son who thinks the couch is an obstacle course but something to consider. The Asher has more structure so everything stays put better.

5 years ago

This is such a helpful article! I’ll definitely bookmark it! Do you have any advice on online-only furniture, like Apt2B? Their styles are so cute, but clearly you can’t sit on any online-only furniture until you get it. Is the best advice there just make sure they have a generous return policy? Thank you!

C
5 years ago

More Jack photos please! Best part of the post, and it was a really good one!

Jenn
5 years ago

William Sonoma Laguna sofa / sectional super comfortable, and i’ve tried tons too!

Kristyn
5 years ago

Does anyone have feedback about Sixpenny sofas? I’ve been eyeing the Devyn sofa. It would be great to have a slipcovered sofa.

Will K
5 years ago

Looking to buy my first couch and didn’t realize how pricey they were. 😮

Alicia
5 years ago

Respectfully as this post obviously took a lot of work, people need standard comparison information that can actually inform their decisions rather than just anecdotal impressions: frame construction, key dimensions including seat depth and height, cushion construction, et al. And if impressions are all there is to offer, a comparison chart with key impressions listed in common categories would be really helpful.

Tess
5 years ago
Reply to  Alicia

Maybe a publication like Consumer Reports would have alternate gritty details But I have to say I do like the personal observations

Lauren
5 years ago

I will never buy furniture from West Elm again. My love seat started pilling within months and their customer service refused to stand behind their product. I replaced it with a sofa from CB2 that hasn’t pilled at all in years. My sister has a sofa from Crate and Barrel that’s in perfect condition after 12 years with 2 cats and heavy use. I also appreciate how Crate and Barrel and cb2 have reviews, including negative ones, on their websites, plus their customer service is really good. I haven’t been as happy with my Joybird sofa. The fabric was supposed to be good for pets, but it snags easily and looks much more worn than my Cb2 sofa despite being a few years newer. They sent me a replacement cushion, but the issue just happened again, so at this point I’m resigned to it.

5 years ago

Uh oh you forgot Clad Home! With an LA showroom and free shipping nationwide we have thousands of very happy customers who found us after less than stellar experiences with all of the box stores you reviewed. Our sofas are all made in LA and highly customizable! For the most custom options, the highest quality, and the fairest prices, it’s always Clad Home.

Dena
5 years ago
Reply to  Rosa

I am going with a Clad home sofa. I have talked to your team a couple of times and they are really helpful and nice! Just got my samples which are beautiful and it’s the decision on fabric that is taking me so long!!

Carolyn
5 years ago

Really appreciated this review as we are in sofa deliberations this week! You mention the Article sofa but I couldn’t find the actual review of it in the blog post. We have been considering a few from Article as we love the chairs we got from there almost 2 years ago. Which model do like at Article and is there a blog post on it that I missed??

Emily
5 years ago
Reply to  Carolyn

I have the Timber sofa from Article and I LOVE IT. Love it. Super comfy, price is right, looks beautiful.

5 years ago

Amazing read, thanks for all the insight!

Hazel
5 years ago

All these sofas look so deep and uncomfortable! I am unsure why they make sofas so deep except to sleep on!

Traci
5 years ago

Please review Room and Board!

Chrissy
5 years ago

Wow. Talk about timing! I just spent hooooours today researching durable sofas. According to my research, features that should be taken into consideration are: framing (solid, kiln-dried hardwood is best), joinery, and suspension. I have a spreadsheet tracking all the details!

My top contenders so far are Interior Define and Maiden Home. I am planning to check out ID in person in the next few weeks (and they have a discount for certain professions!). Would love to hear more comments on these 2 brands. I found these articles to super informative:

Chrissy
5 years ago
Reply to  Chrissy

I forgot to mention fill (High density foam, down, blends, etc.)

WindyWanda
5 years ago

Well, one thing you forgot to mention, or didn’t know about, is the supply chain problem…we ordered a sofa and chair from Pottery Barn on approximately 1/2/20, were told “8-12 weeks”, which was prior to the whole pandemic shutdown, so we thought we might be okay. Not. After 4 weeks and NOTHING online indicating our order was being processed, we became nervous. After 8 weeks and still nothing online, we cancelled the sofa, which we didn’t need as much, but kept chair order. After 12 weeks and no info available, we cancelled the chair order.

WindyWanda
5 years ago
Reply to  WindyWanda

But, thanks for all the info! I will also add that we have the IKEA Friheten in our guest room/den and it is very firm. For a room that gets little use it’s great (we got it in the “pleather”). We wanted cheap for that room and for the money it is worth it. We do keep a memory foam topper and feather topper when we are making it into a bed, so that chaise storage is great. We are WELL beyond college age and it’s fine for what we needed, occasional overnight guests, once a year or so.
I am actually thinking about a new sofa for our living room, so thanks again for this info!

Beth
5 years ago
Reply to  WindyWanda

Agreed! I ordered a sectional from Interior Define last fall, and it took over FIVE MONTHS to arrive. This would have been fine if I was replacing a sofa, but I was moving into my first home and therefore didn’t have anything to sit on for months. If I had known it would be that long, I probably wouldn’t have ordered through Interior Define (I like my sectional, but for the cost, I’m not absolutely in love).

5 years ago

I have the friheten sofa from IKEA and you said it’s hard. Yes it is. As a sofa might be ok, maybe 8 of 10. But as a bed is the best ever. I have never slept in such a comfortable bed and believe me that I invest in my beds, but that sofa is so good as bed than in some point I considered to replace my main bed with that sofa. I understand you check many sofas in a row and is difficult to do a proper review, but with this one from IKEA you need to spend a night or even better, a week sleeping on it and tell. You back goes strong, any kind of pain goes totally and when you wake up you still have a nice sofa to watch tv. I will buy it over and over again

Meg
5 years ago

Thanks for this big review! I did a massive search for a new sofa a few years ago and it was no small effort. I’ve got to share for others that while a lot of the West Elm sofas looked nice, nearly all but the most expensive ones felt like low IKEA quality at twice (three times?) the price. If you’re looking for something that will maintain shape and look good for more than a few years I’d knock nearly all of the West Elm sofas off your list. We ended up also looking at Macy’s. They’ve also got a lot of not great stuff, but many of their high end pieces are made by the same company that makes many of the Room and Board sofas, but are a little less expensive. I loved the look of some of the ID and Article sofas, but not being able to try them out in person was a deal breaker for us.

5 years ago

We have the Asher from Interior Define and I could 100% recommend it if you’re not a loungy person — like in a living room without a TV, or where TV watching isn’t the main focus, it’s perfect. It’s beautiful, cleans like a dream (we have the green velvet), and looks almost identical to when we got it in 2019 and we have 3 kids who use it a ton. I only wish we would have gotten one with a higher back rest for lounging and watching movies, because it works for that but isn’t exactly *built* for that, and you can tell when you sit on it for long periods of time. And that’s actually the only thing you CAN’T customize with Interior Define, so we would have had to pick a different model. All that to say I love it and want to move it to our more formal living room eventually which I’m sure I’ll love for years to come!

Paula Carr
5 years ago

I hate the Leeann Ford sofa. It looks like a (messy) bed chopped in half. I can only imagine this in some corner where no one sees it.
Love the look of the Ross Cassidy one! Wish it came in more fabrics and the arms were a bit lower.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

162
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x