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You’re not imagining it: It’s a confusing time to buy a couch. Classic brands and DTC companies make great sofas and terrible sofas, which often look quite similar. And although manufacturers provide a ton of specifications and customizations — upholstery material, cushion-fill material, Martindale rating, the style of the joinery and springs — it can feel daunting to translate all that information into an understanding of how a couch will actually look and feel once it’s in your home.
The good news is that there are plenty of great couches out there, often for the same affordable prices as the terrible sofas. To find them, I began by caucusing designers, co-workers, and friends, and honed in on two indispensable qualities: comfort and durability. Any big-ticket item of furniture should invite you to sit on it for hours without the urge to move to a comfier seat. It also should, with reasonable maintenance, last for a long time and not deflate, discolor, fray, sag, or break within a few years. To test for comfort, I put on my walking shoes and went to 11 showrooms across New York City — from an eerie basement off Union Square to accidentally crashing a workday at Hem’s second-floor showroom-slash-office — and sat on a final tally of 57 couches. (Article, which doesn’t have a showroom, shipped its Sven couch to our office.)
Durability is trickier to measure. As a thrifty shopper who was radicalized by a 2017 Awl piece about the West Elm Peggy sofa, I start from a place of skepticism about any sofa’s life span, even an expensive one. But I couldn’t simulate years of wear and tear on dozens of sofas, so as a proxy, I asked longtime owners of sofas on this list about how they’re holding up. I also deployed a strategy I’ve developed for my own furniture purchases: scanning Reddit and Craigslist. The theory is this: If buyers feel scammed by a furniture company or sofa model, they will be vocal on Reddit (search the brand name, and browse r/furniture and r/BIFL). If there’s unanimous hate, I stay away. I also search for models on Craigslist, the best way to find pictures of how a sofa might look after a few years of wear and tear. Alarm bells go off if my search turns up a lot of sofas that look sad and deflated. If the sofa looks great — or if I don’t see many listings, indicating that buyers aren’t reselling — that’s a good sign.
What we’re looking for
Frame
The frame provides a sofa’s structure, supporting your weight when you sit down. Look for strong materials like hardwood and metal, and avoid plywood or particleboard, which are weaker and more prone to breaking. The frame will also often contain springs, which help distribute your weight for support and bounce. Where possible, I’m listing what style of springs a sofa contains.
Fill
A good couch is a comfortable one, and ergonomics specialists like Esther Gokhale, a posture-focused integrative therapist in the Bay Area, said that being able to keep a lengthened spine on it (a.k.a. not slouching) matters most. Most couch cushions have a foam core wrapped in a softer and more pillowy material, like polyfill, feathers, down, or a blend of all three. High-quality foam and filling are the most important qualities in how comfortable your couch is — look for high-density or high-resiliency foam. In general, a firmer couch translates to a higher proportion of foam in the seat cushions, and a fluffy, sink-into-a-cloud couch means more fill.
Upholstery
Upholstery is the most fun aesthetic decision when buying a sofa — go for anything from buttery leather to mid-century tweed to velvet. To avoid cushions that go threadbare or pill, look for their Martindale rating, a measure of a textile’s resistance to abrasion. I’m looking for a rating of above 40,000 Martindales for the heavy daily use you can expect from a sofa.
Size
A couch is a big-ticket item, and some genuinely might be too big to get through your door, so make sure you measure — multiple times. Carlie Rice, social-media manager at online interior-design service Havenly, says that many of the company’s designers swear by placing masking tape on the floor to map out the dimensions of their possible couches. “You really want to get a good feel for the dimension of the sofa before buying it,” she says. Most of the couches here are available in different sizes, though the average length is around 80 inches. We’ve noted all the sizes available for each model so you can find the best couch for your specific space.
Best overall
Frame: Engineered hardwood, sinuous spring | Filling: Polyfoam; fiber and feather-down blend | Upholstery: 246 options, including performance fabrics | Size: 78, 90, and 102 inches
In my odyssey to sit on every sofa in New York City, there were only a few that compelled me to sit on them again and confirm that they really were as comfortable as I first thought. One of them was the Crate & Barrel Oceanside sofa, a customizable, reasonably priced, fits-anyone sofa with some of the comfiest seat cushions I encountered. It occupies a good middle ground between firm and cushy — a nice soft sink without the “falling into a pit of pillows” feeling that signals high maintenance to keep cushions looking plump. I tested a model upholstered in performance fabric (Ascend in ivory) and was surprised at how soft and non-crunchy it felt.
The Oceanside has a minimal, well-proportioned design and comes in a ton of configurations: You can customize your height and depth and build out a custom sectional. Although I don’t have a tester who can speak to its long-term durability, it has good reviews online, with most complaints relating to its lowish height and some customers’ experience of long lead times. In the standard size, you’ll sit 17 inches off the ground with a 30-inch-high backrest, which is on the low end. For taller households, it also comes in a “regular” height, with a seat 19.5 inches off the ground (a bit higher than you’d sit in a standard dining chair) and a 32.5-inch-high backrest.
Best less-expensive leather couch
Frame: Solid and engineered wood | Filling: High-density foam, polyester and duck feather fill | Upholstery: Leather | Size: 72 and 88 inches
The Sven couch by DTC furniture company Article is everywhere — it was recommended by several experts we consulted, and it was the most-repeated model when we polled stylish people about their couches. “It’s got that iconic mid-century look that many clients are seeking,” says Alexandra Kalita, founder of Common Bond Design. It also appealed to ergonomics expert Gokhale, who noted that the firmness “gives you the chance to tip your pelvis forward a little if you want to sit upright,” and “when you sit back, there’s room to have your sacrum supported.”
After two weeks of testing in the Vox Media office, I’ve concluded that the Sven is a solid choice for a stylish leather couch on the less-expensive end of the spectrum. My testers scored it around a B+ for comfort, with some unevenness in the cushions and a supportive, firm, non-cushy feel. I noticed a few cost-cutting details — some sewing errors on the bolster pillows; the zippers on the cushion covers are made of plastic, not metal, and become unthreaded easily when you’re zipping them back up — but it is, all told, a couch that looks and feels more expensive than it is. One thing to note is that the Sven has an issue with cushions sagging or deflating over time, which is more noticeable in non-leather upholstery. The brand recommends fluffing them to reinflate the filling, and if you’re a DIYer, you can also supplement them with your own filling (I recommend Reddit-favorite retailer the Foam Factory).
Best less-expensive fabric couch
Frame: Engineered hardwood frame with slot and tenon joinery, sinuous spring | Fill: High-resiliency polyurethane seat cushions, 50% polyester fiber, 45% duck feather and 5% duck down fiber back cushions | Upholstery: Over 100 fabrics | Size: 76, 82, 92, and 104 inches
The Harmony is a highly versatile, highly customizable couch that’s been in the West Elm catalogue for years. “We’ve used this sofa in so many projects as it’s insanely comfortable and has great lines,” says Joslyn Taylor of Swoon, the Studio. It has many of the specs I look for — a hardwood frame, sinuous springs, and down cushions — at a lower price than many other sofas with the same qualities. It’s comfortable without being cushy — I returned to the West Elm store in Chelsea twice to conclude that it is a good sit — and comes with three different sizes of cushions, perfect for nestling in and getting comfortable. It’s also easy to customize, with two different depths (41 inches and 47 inches) and over 100 choices of fabric, including performance fabrics, yarn-dyed linen, and over 40 shades of velvet. It comes in every configuration imaginable: as a sofa, a sectional, sleeper, and chair-and-a-half.
Best velvet couch
Frame: Laminated hardwood, sinuous springs | Fill: High-resiliency foam, fiber padding, hypoallergenic blend of down and feathers, spring coils | Upholstery: Ten fabrics, over 100 colors | Size: 69, 79, and 89 inches
Anthropologie’s Willoughby sofa is the platonic ideal of an overstuffed vintage velvet couch. “It nods to an iconic George Smith, but for a fraction of the price,” says Taylor. It isn’t squishy or fluffy like the RH Cloud, but is still quite comfortable for a firmer sofa, with an even, bouncy sink. Though it comes in leather and brushed cotton, it is most popular in cotton-polyester velvet, which has a substantial, plush handfeel. Upholstery with a dense weave is also great for pets with claws — a fabric with a more open weave, like linen or bouclé, will be irresistible to cats, but velvet is dense enough that it’s hard to get a claw into and won’t snag easily.
Best down-filled couch
Frame: Engineered wood and hardwood with corner-blocked joinery, pocket springs | Fill: High-resiliency foam, down, and feather seat cushions; feather, down and polyfiber back cushions | Upholstery: 98 fabrics, including leather | Size: Five lengths, from 72 inches to 120 inches
The RH Cloud was the first sofa I tested, and I think all the other sofas suffered for it. The fluffiest of fluffy sofas, you sink into its feather-and-down-filled cushions and never want to leave. It’s a favorite of celebrities and influencers, including Stas Karanikolaou, who included it in her list of things she can’t live without. “I have an emotional attachment to it. I spend probably 70 percent of my life on my couch,” she says. “It’s like you’re laying on a duvet.”
It’s worth noting that, like other down-filled sofas, the RH Cloud is not low-maintenance. Down has the magical ability to reinflate again and again after it’s compressed, but it requires fluffing to get air back into the fibers and restore that nice fluffy loft. If daily or weekly cushion refluffing does not appeal to you, a firmer sofa like Anthropologie’s Willoughby couch or the Hem Palo may be preferable.
Best (less expensive) feather-filled couch
Frame: Solid pine | Fill: Feather | Upholstery: Performance polyester-nylon | Size: 86 inches
This feather-filled sofa from World Market is one of the Strategist’s favorite less expensive couches and was recommended to us by two designers, Baylee Floyd and Emerie Forehand, both of whom love its breezy, coastal style. (It also has dozens of glowing reviews on World Market’s website.) Floyd mentions it specifically as an affordable dupe for the RH Cloud couch with similarly squishy, fluffy cushions and a “casual, laid-back vibe.” Forehand compares it to “a big comfy bed,” perfect for lounging and napping.
Best low couch
Frame: Wood, steel | Fill: High-density foam | Upholstery: 70% virgin wool, 30% viscose; 7 colors | Size: 77 inches
Hem is a Swedish furniture company with pieces that are distinctly Scandinavian, without the mid-century sensibility of Arne Jacobsen or Hans Wegner. The Palo is a firm, low, elegantly proportioned modular sofa that comes in several different configurations — including a sectional and a daybed-like lounger — and allows for add-ons over time, like additional seats, armrests, and even a mini side table. “Hem is worth the splurge,” says Aelfie Oudghiri, a Brooklyn designer known for her rugs. “This couch is shockingly comfortable.” Interior designer Lucy Harris agrees. “We used the Palo modular sofa for a client, and it is higher quality than you would expect for the price.”
When former Strategist senior editor Margaret Rhodes tested it a few years ago, she described it having “a specific kind of austere comfort.” After sitting on it myself, I agree: Although you don’t sink into it, its firm cushion is supportive, and I could feel the quality of its construction. It has a modular steel-and-wood frame, which translates to greater durability, and the wool-viscose upholstery feels soft and substantial.
Best soft slipcover couch
Frame: Hardwood and plywood, webbing, sinuous springs | Fill: High-density foam, choice of feather down or poly fill | Upholstery: Removable slipcovers in linen, cotton canvas, velvet, and faux fur; 31 colors | Size: 72 or 84 inches
If you like Belgian linen sheets and taking naps, you’ll love the Sixpenny Neva sofa. It’s a fluffy, squishy sofa with easy-to-remove slipcovers and cushion fill that’s proportionally heavier on the down (or polyfill, if you have allergies or concerns about animal products) and lighter on the foam than the average sofa. The trade-off is that the Neva will never look crisp and untouched, and you’ll have to occasionally refluff the cushions to keep them plump, but it’s incredibly comfortable. It was recommended by multiple designers, including Jenn O’Brien, who loves “the unfussy, casual air this sofa has.” Eva Lee, director of BuzzFeed’s newsroom operations, bought the Neva love seat in the washed-cotton-linen fabric: “I liked the lived-in look of the Neva and it’s a great size for a New York City studio apartment like mine.” It was also important to Lee, who has a dog, that the sofa be slipcovered: “I’ve washed the covers multiple times now, and they slip back on easily and still look good,” she reports.
One caveat is that the Neva is not the lowest-maintenance sofa, best suited for those who enjoy the highs and lows of caring for natural fibers. (I am in this camp, but I don’t have pets or kids.) Other than a recycled synthetic faux fur, the upholstery fabrics are all made from cotton, linen, or a blend of the two, without synthetic fibers, and aren’t treated with products to make them stain- or UV-resistant. That means they break in beautifully and have a lovely handfeel, but the color may change over time. Thread-dyed cotton linen is best for UV resistance, and it also helps to wash all the slipcovers at once to keep color even. You can find more of the brand’s textile-care recommendations on their website.
Best firmer slipcover couch
Frame: Hardwood; glued, double-doweled, and corner-blocked joints; sinuous springs | Fill: High-resiliency foam; feathers, down, and fiber | Upholstery: 23 fabrics, including performance fabrics and linen | Size: 12 sizes, from 60 inches to 120 inches
For a slipcovered couch with a firmer feel and lower-maintenance upholstery, I recommend the Maiden Home Dune, which comes recommended by interior designer Emily C. Butler: “I have purchased several Maiden Home sofas for clients over the past year with great success,” she says. (The brand is also a Reddit favorite.) The Dune has a similar breezy, lived-in look to the Sixpenny Neva, with a few features that translate to easier maintenance. The cushions are firmer and require less fluffing, and the sofa also comes in performance fabric, which helps prevent stains from setting. Like the Neva, slipcovers can be removed and washed, and both brands recommend air-drying.
Best chunky couch
Frame: Wood, springs | Fill: High-density foam, down | Upholstery: 36 fabrics, including leather | Size: 92.25 inches, 121.75 inches
After months of research, creative director Isabel Castillo Guijarro bought the Mags 2.5-seat sofa from Hay because it had all the elements she was looking for: low, comfortable (“sturdy but not hard”), timeless, and durable. Guijarro placed it in the middle of the room and enjoys it as a “social sofa”: friends can sprawl out, sit on the armrests, or lean against the back without obstructing conversation.
I tried it out at the Design Within Reach store in midtown Manhattan and was impressed by the quality of the construction and materials. It was firmer than I expected, not at all squishy or fluffy — a salesperson told me that “soft” in the name refers to the sofa’s soft curves rather than the feel of its cushions — but it was comfortable and supportive. It has a big, fun, chubby footprint (even the smaller size is larger than many sofas on this list), so it may be better suited for large spaces than small apartments. Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens has the Mags sofa and reports that it’s durable: After almost two years, it’s holding up well, with no pilling or sagging.
Best mid-century-influenced couch
Frame: Hardwood frame, webbing | Fill: High-resiliency foam; feather, down, and fiber; downproof ticking | Upholstery: 223 options, including leather and performance fabrics | Size: 79, 89, and 102 inches
I found out about the Pierson sofa from Alyssa Shelasky, a columnist at the Cut and editor of the “Sex Diaries” series, who bought it after a long search for a couch with her ideal depth of 40 inches (“Deep enough to blissfully watch The Traitors after a long stressful day of deadlines and parenting, but not so deep that I never left my apartment again.”) The sofa has a lot of qualities I’m looking for — a hardwood frame, high-quality foam cushions, tons of fabric options — and is very comfortable to sit in, with a firmer, supportive feel. I especially liked the leather version — leather is tricky to sew, and the Pierson had some of the best sewing and finishes I saw in all my showroom visits. Most of the company’s furniture is made in America, including the Pierson, which is manufactured in Texas.
Best statement sofa
Frame: Pine, plywood, MDF, steel springs | Fill: High-resiliency foam | Upholstery: 8 options | Size: Modular, from 65 inches to 114 inches
If you’re looking for a sofa with an unexpected design element, consider Audo’s Eave sofa, recommended by Evelyn Zhang, senior designer at the New York Times’ T Brand. After looking at a bunch of Scandinavian brands (Muuto, Paustian, and Woud) and visiting showrooms, Zhang decided on the Eave sectional in a vibrant Yves Klein blue velvet. (The shade wasn’t in the swatch book; the company put her in touch with its fabric supplier for more options.) “I tend to gravitate toward classic, simple designs that have a slight unexpected twist to them,” she says. “I really loved the rounded back of the Eave, which felt quite different and special.” She appreciated the fact that the seat was “deep enough to sit with my legs crossed or cuddle with my dog on,” with enough back support to work or lounge on it every day for hours at a time. It’s also modular, with plenty of customization options — it can be configured as a two-seater love seat, a sectional, or a “dining sofa” with spindle-like metal legs.
Some more living room seating we’ve written about
Our experts
• Ashlie Broderic, interior designer
• Baylee Floyd, interior designer
• Emerie Forehand, interior designer
• Heather Goerzen, Havenly design editor
• Esther Gokhale, integrative therapist
• Isabel Castillo Guijarro, creative director
• Emily Henderson, interior designer
• Joanna Jones, interior designer
• Alexandra Kalita, interior designer
• Eva Lee, director of BuzzFeed’s newsroom operations
• Dan Mazzarini, interior designer
• Courtney McLeod, interior designer
• Jenn O’Brien, interior designer
• Aelfie Oudghiri, Aelfie founder
• Margaret Rhodes, former Strategist senior editor
• Carlie Rice, Havenly social-media manager
• Joslyn Taylor, interior designer
• C.S. Valentin, interior designer
• Sophia Venturo, interior designer
• Evelyn Zhang, designer
Additional reporting by Lauren Ro
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