The Best Sofas Do More Than Just Sit Pretty

Is there a piece of furniture more important to your aesthetic than one of the best sofas? We know that having (or not having) a top-tier couch can make or break your home’s decor, and to help ensure you never, ever end up with a sad sofa selection—or worse, a futon—we’ve curated a list of best-selling silhouettes to support your search for pieces with major star quality. In our quest, AD’s dedicated team of editors and contributors welcomed 13 top-of-the-line styles into their homes for a thorough sit test. We tried modern sofas of all shapes and sizes: from love seats to three-seaters, and from cute and cozy to long and lounge-y. We also examined a wide variety of styles from midcentury modern to super contemporary. Keep scrolling to find out which models and retailers made the cut.

PS: If a sectional sofa is more your style (and you actually have the space for one), check out our dedicated guide here.

Here’s each of the best sofas we tested, if you’d like to skip ahead to the nitty-gritty reviews–if not, scroll to your heart’s content.

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The Classic Scandi Design

Article Sanders Velvet Sofa

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$1,099

Article

The Modern Sleeper Sofa

West Elm Shelter Sleeper Sofa

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$2,699 $2,159 (20% off)

West Elm

The Go-With-Anything Silhouette

Lulu and Georgia Cleary Sofa

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$4,998 $3,998 (20% off)

Lulu and Georgia

Read the full review here.

With clean lines, smoked oak legs, and a luxurious-looking velvet finish, Article’s Sanders sofa “makes an impact without feeling massive,” according to senior digital design editor Zoë Sessums. A detectably Scandi-inspired design, its rounded edges and plush cushions fulfill the desire for a softer-looking silhouette that’s still statement-making—especially in one of the expensive-looking jewel-toned hues. Sessums chose Pacific green velvet upholstery, telling us “the color sets a bold, yet versatile mood in my living room without overwhelming the space, and I love that Article manages to keep its designs stylish without being fussy or overpriced.”

The Modern Sleeper Sofa

Read the full review here.

While not all sleeper sofas are created equal, West Elm’s best-selling Shelter sofa will sway your opinion on dated pullout couches. The Shelter is another classic low-profile sofa that lets you enjoy the best of both worlds: a comfy seat to kick back on during the day, and a world-class bed to lie your head on at night. Bench-style seating, rounded edges, and oversized pillow cushions bring the sleeper into modern times, while the equally advanced gel-infused memory-foam mattress keeps sleepers cool and supported. “I especially like that the seat cushion is one piece, so you never feel like you’re falling through a crack, and it doesn’t sag,” says contributor Yelena Alpert, who tested the sofa in an olive green performance velvet. “My son had to use the sleeper for almost a week because we were doing renovations in his bedroom, and he said it was better than his regular mattress,” she notes. With 186 upholstery options to choose from in twill, microfiber, or chenille, there are made-to-order customizations for anyone.

The Go-With-Anything Silhouette

Read the full review here.

A true chameleon, Lulu & Georgia’s Cleary sofa brings a streamlined look to a space, no matter where you land on the design spectrum. Its style-agnostic appeal is exactly what you’d want if your aesthetic is constantly in flux, with clean lines and bench-style cushion seating that gives an elevated look. The sofa was exactly what commerce senior vice president Lisa Aiken had in mind for her Connecticut home, “something that would not only be cozy and inviting but would aesthetically stand out as a modern anchor for our living space.” Aiken went on to tell us the sculptural piece is “as comfortable as it is beautiful,” and was especially impressed by how it pulled together her space. “In terms of durability, the Cleary sofa feels like a piece that will last,” she says. While Aiken opted for a cinnamon-hued velvet, it’s also available in various linen, bouclé, and velvet upholsteries (as well as three different widths) to fine-tune your textural preferences.

The Nap-Friendly Number

Read the full review here.

The low-profile Sebastian sofa from Joybird is another contemporary silhouette we like for giving your living room a polished feel that’s not too formal. “I looked all over the internet for couches and, ultimately, was drawn to Joybird’s Sebastian model because of its rounded silhouette and the brand’s expansive variety of color and fabric options,” senior entertainment editor Rachel Wallace says. A sister brand to La-Z-Boy (so you know the comfort will be top-notch), Joybird’s designs cater to more youthful home owners and apartment dwellers, with its Sebastian sofa scoring major points in the lounging department from our tester. “This is by far the most supreme nap sofa I have ever experienced,” Wallace says. “It is so easy to remove the back cushions, and when you do, it turns the sofa into a sort of velvet daybed with plenty of room to stretch out.”

The Small Space Savior

Read the full review here.

When it comes to finding a couch conscious of smaller spaces, Room & Board’s Vienna sofa is the solution to all your square footage woes. Commerce director Rachel Fletcher described it as a supportive sofa that’s not too plush or downy but well made and comfortable for the occasional nap. “I haven’t seen a bit of sagging yet and the cushions are very supportive,” Fletcher says. While the robust upholstery options appeal to real materialists (read: Over 200 choices are available), our tester ultimately opted for a brick-colored bouclé fabric, “particularly for hiding stains and scratches (and because it matches my dog’s fur).” She continued to say that the upholstery is, “incredibly thick and substantial, but not scratchy as I was worried it might be.”

Describing the delivery experience as “flawless,” Fletcher was more than impressed. “I cannot understate this, and I have experienced the full spectrum of furniture deliveries in this line of work. While you do have to pay $159 for the white-glove service, it is very much worth it, in my opinion.”

The Movie-Night Star

Castlery Jonathan Sofa

$1,998

Castlery

Read the full review here.

Senior commerce editor Rachel Fletcher tried out Castlery’s Jonathan sectional in 2022 and graded the spacious seating with As all across the board. When it came time to select sofas for last year’s Seat Week, we jumped to put the brand’s new and equally popular sofa version of this boxy piece of furniture to the test. The Jonathan sofa mirrors the same streamlined and ultra-cushioned silhouette as the sectional—its legless look almost makes it resemble a seat you might find at one of those dine-in theaters. It’s overstuffed and inviting, but still supportive. Reviewer Sarah Madaus said it was so comfortable (she also rated it an A), she asked her partner to cook dinner so she could keep sitting in it.

Arhaus Kipton Sofa

$5,400 $3,700 (31% off)

Arhaus

Read the full review here.

The Kipton is all about clean lines and maximum comfort. With its classic, square-arm design and all-American ease, it’ll be at home in any kind of space. Go minimalist with a neutral shade or be your own interior designer with one of the brand’s textured patterns—there are 80 styles to choose from, and their selection of Badlands performance fabrics is moisture- and stain-resistant. But this piece of furniture is not just about looks. AD Pro senior editor Lila Allen had this to say about her Kipton’s coziness: “I find this sofa to be really cushy and enveloping—but let’s be clear, this is not an upright, formal sit. It’s lazy and low, but still supportive.”

Design Within Reach Muse Sofa

$3,695 $2,771 (25% off)

Design Within Reach

Read the full review here.

With a sculptural form that commands the room, the Muse by Australian designer Sarah Ellison is the definition of laid-back in luxury, without all the fuss. Sold exclusively at Design Within Reach, this sumptuous design is supported by a hardwood frame and can be wrapped in three shades of velvet as well as white bouclé. It’s a new classic with a low profile, but an unmistakable presence. Our honored sit tester, contributor Sydney Gore, has declared that “the Muse is the It girl of sofas, and she’s about to have a moment.”

Albany Park Lido Sofa

$1,869 $1,324 (29% off)

Albany Park

Read the full review here.

As a furniture brand (which, fun fact, was founded by football player Darryl Sharpton and his wife, Jessica Ross), Albany Park aims to make quality staple pieces at affordable prices, and that ethos shines with the Lido sofa. Clever’s also tried out the brand’s sectional sofa in white bouclé, so we were all too excited to test the Lido sofa as well. It’s a simple yet stylish design that will mesh with most decor styles. It doesn’t take up too much space, but tester Will Porter reported the couch has a seat depth that lends itself to a variety of sitting styles. The brand also offers free shipping and tool-less assembly, which makes investment pieces like these even more attainable.

Burrow Arch Nomad Leather Sofa with Ottoman

$3,098 $2,323 (25% off)

Burrow

Read the full review here.

Our sit tester Terri Williams is a professed leather-sofa lover, and she was, in her words, “over-the-moon happy” to give the Burrow Block Nomad sofa a try. Customized in camel-colored leather with chic metal legs (though customers can choose from several different fabric, color, leg, and arm styles), she got the perfect leather couch she was seeking in style and comfort. Terri praised the high-end topstitching on the upholstery and the layers of foam in the seat and back cushions, as well as the sofa’s versatility. Thanks to its modular design, you can easily add a chaise or more sections as life requires.

IKEA Morabo Sofa

$1,249

IKEA

Read the full review here.

Sit tester Rachel Davies, our very own digital associate design editor, was very familiar with the leather upholstery their Morabo love seat would be wrapped in. While it looks and feels like a leather sofa, it certainly isn’t priced like one. With the two-seater coming in at under $1,200, it’s one of the best couches on the market at that very affordable price point, and it’s great for a small space, like a city apartment.

Editor’s note: The Morabo in brown leather, which our reviewer tested, is no longer available.

Much like our criteria for selecting the best sectional sofa, there are many factors that went into each of our reviews to give you the insight you need to pick the perfect couch for your home.

Ordering and customization process: Shallow seats or deep seats, armrests or armless, down seat cushions or foam cushioning, upholstery or leather (or leather-like), comfy or formal—each of the sectionals we tested has possibilities. No matter the style of your living room, basement, guest room, or home office, we aimed to find an aesthetic for all, and we also documented the lead times and expected delivery timelines for each model.

Couch delivery and assembly: Curbside or white-glove, fully assembled or DIY. And, if DIY, how many pieces did the sofa arrive in, and how difficult was the assembly? Could you get the sofa up stairs or into an elevator on your own?

After installation: Here we asked some tough functionality questions of each sectional: Is it practical for a modern home? Is the couch kid- and/or pet-friendly? What are the care and cleaning instructions? Are some fabric options better than others? And did it look better IRL than in the photos?

You’ve come to the right place! Check out the rest of our Seat Week stories for everything you need to know.

• The Very Best Sectional Sofas, as Tested by Our Editors: We decided that we couldn’t sit on this one any longer—we shipped sectional sofas into the homes of AD contributors to test them firsthand. No matter what sofa style you’re looking for, we’ve got it and reviewed pieces from Maiden Home, Pottery Barn, Benchmade Modern, Castlery, Allmodern, West Elm, Interior Define and more.
• The Best Dining Chairs Eat Up the Competition: Sit in style with these tried-and-tested seats.
• Sleeper Sofas Are Stylish and Supported, but Never Saggy: From reclining futons to pullout beds, these double-duty sofa beds often get a bad rep.
• Affordable Couches That Don’t Skimp on Style: We scoured the internet for beautifully designed couches, all under $2,000.
• We’re Suddenly Feeling Leather Sofas: And we’re breaking them out of the bachelor pad starter kit.