Finding the perfect sofa for your home is a big decision and can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. During your search, you'll come across a seemingly endless variety of colors, styles, and brands.
Narrowing your options down to a reputable brand you like is one way to narrow down your choices and speed up the process.
To help you decide, we've reviewed several sofas first-hand and contacted expert interior designers for their opinions. We included sofas suited to a wide range of budgets and tastes, so you're bound to find something you like right here.
Read on to explore 27 of the best sofa brands available online today.
Our Checklist: What We Looked for in Sofa Brands
To find this list of the best sofa brands for 2024, we spoke to a number of expert interior designers and Living Cozy contributors who have experience working with and buying from multiple brands. Where possible, we've also looked to get hands-on experience with brands and ship sofas to our contributors to review (we have more sofa reviews lined up for the coming months).
Other factors we considered for brands to be included on this list include:
- Customization: Making a sofa perfect for your home has never been easier and we wanted to highlight brands that give you the ability to not only choose the fabric and upholstery of your sofa, but the configuration and other elements too, so you can make a sofa truly yours.
- Customer experience: Buying a sofa is a big thing. And we looked for brands that aim to deliver incredible customer experiences all the way from buying your sofa to delivery day, and beyond.
- Budget: Sofas can cost anything from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands. We tried to pick out the best brands at each price point whether you're looking for high-end or something more affordable.
1. Cozey
- Starting price: Sofas start at around $1,095
Canadian sofa brand, Cozey, offers highly-customizable, modular sofas that are designed to stand up to the test of modern life. You can customize your sofa through a range of fabric choices, create your own configurations, and also choosing the arm and leg design.
Review: We shipped sofa to one of our contributors to test at home. Read the review about Ciello Sofa or check out the below video:
Products: Modular sofas and sectionals.
Delivery: Fast and free shipping to all Canadian provinces.sho
Cozey makes modular sofa beds as well as sofas and sectional sofas. You can also choose from accent chairs and tables to complete the modern aesthetic in your home.
2. Floyd
- Starting price: Two-seater sofa from $1,180.
Floyd started out as a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign back in 2015, raising 14 times its initial goal. Its founders believed that furniture simply wasn’t built with modern living in mind — it was difficult to buy, assemble, and move so they set out to build furniture for how we live today.
"The Sink Down is manufactured in the US and made from premium non-toxic materials including cold-rolled steel, top-grade birch plywood, max-comfort cushions, and stain-resistant fabric," says Floyd Co-Founder and CEO Kyle Hoff.
Products: Floyd's product range is incredibly simple — it sells just two products The Floyd Sofa and Sectional, both are designed for a lifetime of comfort and modularity.
Delivery: The Sofa is delivered directly to your door four to seven in boxes, depending on your configuration.
Shipping fees: Most of Floyd's products ship for a 10% shipping fee.
Despite its limited offering, you'll find a pleasing array of colors to choose from when customizing your sofa. For instance, you can select from 20 colors when you choose things like backrests or armrests.
3. Maiden Home
- Starting price: Sofas start at around $2,100.
When it comes to your home, Maiden Home believes you shouldn’t settle–for generic design, lesser quality or anything short of a perfect fit. Each of its sofas is handmade to order by craftsman partners in North Carolina—working with woodworking, cushion, tailoring, and upholstery artisans that have each honed their craft from techniques passed down through generations.
Review: We shipped Maiden Home's Varick Sofa and matching ottoman to one of our contributors — read the review here. We also shipped the Jones Modular Sofa to one of our writers, check out the Jones review here.
"Customers seek out Maiden Home because our design ethos and commitment to quality is second to none," founder Nidhi Kapur told Living Cozy. "Our customers are those that are looking to find investment pieces for their home – the pieces they see themselves living with for years, those that will stand the test of time both aesthetically and functionally."
Products: Maiden Home offers a range of sofas, sectionals and modular pieces.
Delivery: Custom pieces are ready for delivery in as little as 6 weeks from time of order.
Shipping fees: Complimentary shipping and white glove delivery service with any furniture order.
With Maiden Home, your buying experience starts when you meet with an interior designer. They will help you choose the best materials and designs for your space.
4. 7th Avenue
- Starting price: Two-seater sofa from $2,300.
7th Avenue was founded transform the way we shop for home products both online and experientially in-person. Its sofas are available directly from its website but the company does have a few showrooms in California and Nevada (with one soon to open in Texas).
the 7th Avenue sofa is designed to last and stand up to the challenges of every day life at home. It features an endlessly modular design so you can configure your sofa however you want — and change its layout anytime. The sofa also has stain- and water-repellent fabrics and removable covers.
We shipped the 7th Avenue Sofa to one of our contributors — check out our 7th Avenue Sofa review here. "Overall, I really love our 7th Avenue sofa, so much so that I would and have recommended it to others," writes Marah Eakin. "I think it’s well-priced for what you’re getting and I love that you can transition it from space to space, design style to design style."
Products: 7th Avenue makes an endlessly modular sofa with stain- and water-repellent fabrics and removable covers.
Delivery: All orders are shipped directly from 7th Avenue's LA warehouse.
Shipping fees: Flat rate shipping for all orders based on distance from its warehouse. Flat shipping rate is automatically shown at checkout.
This manufacturer prides itself on crafting sustainably built, non-toxic furniture. They also offer an equally appealing range of outdoor sofas.
5. BenchMade Modern
- Starting price: Sofas start at around $2,450.
Benchmade Modern's makes mid-century-inspired sofas, and each piece is handcrafted in Dallas, TX, and Los Angeles, CA. The brand was founded in 2015 by Edgar Blazona, a modernist American furniture designer with over 25 years of experience in the furniture industry.
"We want to provide a great quality product at a good price that is custom fit to your room," BenchMade Modern founder Edgar Blazona told Living Cozy.
Reviews: Check out our review of BenchMade Modern's Skinny Fat Sofa and our OG Crowd Pleaser review.
Products: Benchmade Modern has a huge range of sofas, sectionals, chaises, sleepers and more.
Delivery: Production time ranges between 10 and 21 days for each customized sofa with delivery ranging between 10-15 business days after leaving its manufacturing facility.
Shipping fees: Standard (Threshold) Delivery is $249, White Glove Delivery is $399.
BenchMade Modern offers a lifetime warranty on its engineered 7-ply wood frame, bolstered by a unidirectional webbing suspension system. The excellence continues throughout the resilient foam core, trillium-filled back pillows, and upholstery.
6. Serena & Lily
- Starting price: Sofas start at around $2,798.
Serena & Lily is known for its distinctive coastal look. It offers a mix of curated and original furniture collections inspired by California — blending a mix of modern lines; eclectic inspiration with “great American style.”
Products: Serena & Lily has a range of sofas and sectionals.
Delivery: Serena & Lily aims to ship sofas in 6-10 weeks via White Glove Delivery.
Shipping fees: $299 for White Glove Delivery.
You can select your preference from a range of sophisticated, high-quality upholstery when you order items from Serena & Lily. For extra convenience, you can order swatches of your preferred fabrics first to test how they fit into your existing color scheme.
7. Homebody
- Starting price: 2-seater sofas from $3,740.
Homebody was founded by furniture industry veterans on the mission "to create the most comfortable sofas and home goods on earth." To make good on this vision, Homebody cushions feature multiple layers of material, engineered for max support and ultimate comfort. Each Homebody sofa is also modular by design so you can always add new pieces if your needs change.
We recently shipped The Couch to one of our Living Cozy contributors for an at-home test. "The Couch is strong, supportive, and sturdy, while also being soft, comfortable, and inviting. It truly is a family-friendly couch and we are thrilled to have it," says Cassandra Brooklyn who tested the sofa for Living Cozy.
Products: Modular and recliner sofas.
Delivery: Average delivery in 4-8 weeks.
Shipping fees: Free Shipping in contiguous US.
Homebody's sofas are reconfigurable according to your mood or the occasion. It only takes a few minutes to change the layout, and you don't need any tools.
8. Sixpenny
- Starting price: 2-seater sofas from $2,399
Sixpenny believes that furniture should not only look great, but also withstand the test of time, both in terms of quality and longevity. With this in mind, Sixpenny designs its furniture with the utmost care, sourcing the finest natural and recycled fabrics and stuffing cushions with ethically-sourced feathers or recycled vegan poly.
Sixpenny's handcrafted frames are made from kiln-dried solid hardwood, ensuring that each piece of furniture is not only beautiful, but also durable enough to last for years to come. As a direct-to-consumer company, Sixpenny can offer their customers a more reasonable price without sacrificing quality, making their furniture both stylish and accessible.
Products: Sofas, Sectionals, Daybeds.
Delivery: In-stock items typically deliver within 2-3 weeks.
Shipping fees: Free Shipping, plus a white glove option which costs $100.
Sixpenny Designs sofas and sectionals comprise 11 collections and five shapes each. Most of them are available in 36 different colors.
9. Lovesac
- Starting price: A 2-seat Sactional starts at $2,850.
Products: Lovesac’s Sactional is a versatile modular sofa that can be adapted to have up to 10 seats.
Delivery: Orders deliver in approximately 1-2 weeks.
Shipping fees: 100% free shipping on all orders within the contiguous United States.
While shopping for a Sactionals sofa, you can customize every detail, including the seats, armrests, and covers. You can even add StealthTech® to your sofa, which offers immersive, invisible surround sound to complete the experience.
Mid-Range Sofa Brands
10. Allform
- Starting price: Loveseats from $1,145.
Allform is obsessed with providing high-quality modular sofas designed for real life. It uses performance fabrics that are heavy-duty scratch, and stain-resistant without sacrificing a comfortable feel.
We shipped the Allform sofa to our studio in Austin, Texas, and found it to be a very high-quality and incredibly comfortable with medium-to-firm seats.
"Buying a sofa is about both the product and experience. A lot of direct-to-consumer sofas are made overseas and as a result can take two to ten times longer to be delivered to the customer. Allform sofas are US-made which means most of our sofas ship within 1-3 business weeks," says Allform co-founder and CEO, Adam Tishman.
Watch: Check out interior designer Bri Ussery's thoughts on the Allform Sofa below:
Products: Allform offers Loveseats, Armchairs, Sectionals and Sofas.
Delivery: Delivery in 5-10 business days.
Shipping fees: Free shipping to all orders.
Allform sofas have a completely modular design. You select the components you want online and assemble the sofa when it arrives.
The process is simple and fast, so you get to relax as soon as possible.
Check out our Allform review here
11. Burrow
- Starting price: Loveseats start at $995, 3-seat sofas from $1,395.
Burrow’s modular sofas offer customization opportunities ranging from fabric color to leg style and even arm height. The modular design means that Burrow’s sofas can adapt to your environment as you rearrange rooms or move home — making a change to your furniture is as simple as ordering another module. Burrow’s products also feature clever features, such as a USB-charger to help make your life that little bit easier.
"We are relentlessly focused on the experience and relationship our customer has with us from the moment they first hear about us, until years after they're living in a home full of our products."
"Burrow is the most experience-obsessed furniture company in the world," a company spokesperson told Living Cozy. "We are relentlessly focused on the experience and relationship our customer has with us from the moment they first hear about us, until years after they're living in a home full of our products."
Watch: Check out our review of the Burrow Field sofa below:
Reviews: We shipped the Burrow Range, Field and Nomad sofas to Living Cozy contributors for a thorough at-home test. Check out our Burrow Range sofa review here, our Field review here, and our Nomad sofa review here.
Products: Burrow sells a range of sofas, chairs and loveseats as well as rugs, shelves, throws and pillows.
Delivery: Burrow offers a true sofa-in-a-box experience. Its furniture is modular, which means it can be delivered in normal shipping boxes (each box weighs around 40 pounds and fits through just about any door).
Shipping fees: Burrow offers fast, free delivery on every single order.
Not only is Burrow extremely conscious of their customer's needs, but the brand is also committed to the environment. They only use sustainably harvested wood in their sofas.
12. Apt2b
- Starting price: Sofas from $1,198, sectionals starting at $1,868
Found in LA in 2010, Apt2B crafts customizable and handmade in the USA sofas and sectionals that offer a number of bold and popular fabric options and sizing options for any space.
"The thing we're probably most proud of at Apt2B is our Made in the USA collection of customizable sofas and sectionals," Alex Back, Apt2’B’s Co-Founder, told Living Cozy. "We make a great majority of our pieces here in Downtown Los Angeles—LA is our heritage, our birthplace!—which gives us much greater control over what we're sending out into the world."
Review: We shipped Apt2B's Melrose Sectional Sofa to one of our contributors to put to the test. "This couch has exceeded my family’s expectations; we expected it to be comfortable but we have been pleasantly surprised by how sturdy it also manages to be while also being soft and cozy," writes Cassandra Brooklyn. Read our full Melrose Sofa review here.
Products: It supplies a wide range of sofas, loveseats, sectionals and sofa beds
Delivery: Apt2B aims to ship most orders from its warehouse to your front door in five to seven weeks, with some items shipping immediately.
Shipping fees: Free delivery.
When you shop with Apt2B, you get the benefit of an in-browser augmented reality tool. You can use this to see your custom sofa in 3D from all angles.
13. Interior Define
- Starting price: Sofas from $1,395.
Interior Define is all about customization and putting you in the designer's seat. The brand offers a range of sofas made to be uniquely yours, with a range of options of sofa style (with 20+ furniture collections to choose from), length and depths, fabric and upholstery, legs, and seat cushions.
Each Interior Define sofa is made-to-order and constructed by hand from high-quality materials, designed to withstand the challenges of everyday life at home.
Products: Interior Define offers a range of sofas, sectionals, and modular pieces.
Delivery: Delivery times vary for each Interior Define collection. You should see estimated delivery times listed on each product page.
Shipping fees: Upholstered items have a $249 flat-rate delivery fee.
Interior Design makes it easier for you to choose from over 125 different upholstery options by allowing you to order 10 free swatches to view at home. Thanks to this service, you can enjoy the quality of each fabric and visualize how well your new sofa blends in.
14. Article
- Starting price: Sofas from around $1,299.
Article’s mission is to make great, stylish furniture long-lasting and well-priced. Since its launch in 2013 it has delivered its furniture pieces to more than a quarter of a million North American homes and businesses. Article understands that consumers don’t wait to wait months for new furniture to arrive and it aims to get most orders from its warehouse to your front door in two weeks or less.
Review: We shipped Article's popular Sven Sofa to one of our contributors. Read the full Article Sven review here.
Products: Article offers sofas, loveseats, and chairs as well as accessories many other furniture and decor pieces.
Delivery: Many items are ready to ship and can be delivered within a matter of days.
Shipping fees: Flat rate shipping starts at $49
Article's website offers a streamlined shopping experience where you can shop by room, bundles, or items. You can also get inspiration from viewing how previous customers have styled their sofas.
15. Medley Home
- Starting price: Sofas start at around $1,700.
Medley builds furniture made from premium and eco-friendly materials that will make your home cozy for years to come. It aims to make furniture in the best way possible and that means local manufacturing — with all of its furniture being handmade in Los Angeles, California — and an emphasis on quality and comfort.
Review: We recently shipped the Blumen Sofa to one of our writers, "With a deep seat, wide arms, and an angled back, the Blumen is incredibly comfortable," writes Shelby Golding. Check out the full Blumen Sofa review here.
Products: Sofas, sectionals, sleepers and ottomans.
Delivery: Standard lead time is 6-8 weeks and its products ship directly from its Los Angeles HQ to your door.
Thanks to Medley Home's old-school building techniques, you're assured of superior craftsmanship and furniture that is made to last. The plant-based cushions with fluffy wool fiber covers are a first among eco-friendly furniture brands.
16. Sundays
- Starting price: Sofas start at around $1,450.
At Sundays, the furniture shopping experience is designed to be as relaxed and stress-free as a Sunday morning. Founded by four friends with a passion for beautifully functional furniture, Sundays offers a curated collection of pieces that will inspire your space and elevate your home's aesthetic.
This online-first company cuts out the traditional markups, allowing you to get the quality you deserve at an affordable price. Every piece in the Sundays collection is chosen with comfort and relaxation in mind.
Products: Sofas and Sectionals.
Delivery: Free delivery in the US and Canada.
Sundays have been creating timeless, high-quality sofas since 2019. The team is dedicated to making it easy for homeowners to create beautiful, relaxed spaces by offering a seamless shopping process.
17. Blu Dot
- Starting price: Sofas start at around $1,895.
Established in 1997, Blu Dot is a Minneapolis-based designer and maker of modern home furnishings. The brand offers a wide range of modern and mid-century inspired sofas and every piece it makes is designed in its Minneapolis HQ and crafted to have "personality and a purpose."
Products: Wide range of modern sofas and sectionals.
Delivery: Shipping from $139 to the contiguous 48 states and Canada.
Blu Dot is passionate about creating furniture with purpose, and their design process reflects this. Every aspect of their sofas is a collaboration carried out with the strictest environmental principles in mind.
18. The Inside
- Starting price: Sofas from $1,519.
The Inside offers highly customizable sofas. And by making every piece of sofa from scratch, The Inside makes each customer feel like a part of the design process — with 100+ fabrics and velvet options to choose from and customization available on most pieces (its sofa comes in 600 variations).
"We’re making furniture fun, with access to more design for more value. We aim to spread the joy of decorating and to make the world more beautiful than we found it," says The Inside Co-Founder Britt Bunn.
Products: It supplies a wide range of sofas, sectionals and ottomans.
Delivery: Ships White Glove; The Inside's delivery partner carriers will deliver to your room and remove debris.
Shipping fees: Shipping is charged on a per item basis, $189 for sofas, $249 for sectionals.
The Inside's high emphasis on beauty is evident in their selection of sustainably made, superior-quality fabrics and unique prints. Creating your dream sofa with The Inside is meant to be a fun experience, offering good value for money.
19. Anthropologie
- Starting price: Anthropologie sofas start at $1,298.
Anthropologie opened its very first store in the autumn of 1992 in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Now the brand operates over 200 stores worldwide and offers a wide range of contemporary furniture.
Products: Anthropologie offers a range of sofas and sectionals.
Delivery: Usually delivered within 2-4 weeks.
Shipping fees: White glove service for a $149 flat-rate fee, including delivery to your room of choice, unpacking, and assembly.
Thanks to the brand's long history, Anthropologie is well-placed to offer intentional, high-quality designs that appeal to the modern homeowner. If you have a sense of adventure and value individual style, Anthropologie could be a great match for you.
20. Joybird
- Starting price: Sofas from $1,500.
Joybird believes in creating handcrafted furniture from the finest materials, at fair prices. Each piece of furniture starts as a raw material and is transformed to the exact specifications you want. Joybird’s stylish designs are inspired by the Mid-Century movement of the 1950s and 60s, from designers such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Cara Greenburg and Eero Saarinen.
Products: Joybird has a wide ranges of sofas including sectionals, sleepers, modular and loveseats.
Delivery: Lead time for Joybird products is usually 4-8 weeks with products delivered between 7 to 14 business days after production is complete.
Shipping fees: Curbside delivery from $49.
Joybird offers a limited warranty on all its sofas. This coverage includes the foundational elements of the furniture, including the legs, joints, and wood frames.
21. Industry West
- Starting price: Sofas from $695.
Industry West's furniture and decor has an emphasis on high-quality design that brings joy to your home. Specializing in modern, artisan-crafted furniture and decor, Industry West considers its style to be new modern, with a timeless feel to each item. Each distinct item is expertly crafted and designed for modern life with each piece having a strong sense of individuality.
Products: Loveseats, modular sofas, upholstered sofas and leather sofas.
Delivery: Orders are delivered within 7-10 business days.
Industry West has built a solid reputation as an expert in commercial and home furnishings. They're known for quality craftsmanship, innovative design, and appealing aesthetics.
Affordable Sofa Brands
22. Albany Park
- Starting price: Sofas from $895. Use code COZY10 for 10% off sofas and sectionals.
After shopping in an over-priced showroom, feeling overwhelmed with options and then realizing deliver would take 4-6 weeks, Darryl and Jessica Sharpton set out to simplify the sofa buying process. The result is Albany Park, a modern luxury sofa brand, offering designer furniture at a fair price. To eliminate decision fatigue, Albany Park offers just a few models, and its furniture comes packaged in apartment-friendly, space-conscious boxes that can easily be maneuvered in stairwells, tight hallways, and throughout any home.
Reviews: We shipped two Albany Park sofa to Living Cozy contributors to test at home. Check out our Kova review here and our Park sectional review here.
Watch: Check out our video review of the Kova sectional below:
Products: Albany Park sells Sofas, Armchairs, Sectionals, Ottomans and Loveseats.
Delivery: The Kova, Barton, and Lido Collections are custom-made and ship in days. The average order takes under a week to ship, and delivery takes under two weeks.
Shipping fees: All Albany Park products are shipped for free to your front door.
Offer: Use code LIVINGCOZY10 for 10% off sofas and sectionals.
Albany Park keeps things simple by crafting durable, family-friendly, custom-built sofas that can withstand the rigors of daily life. The result is a range of superior-quality, practical furniture that adds creativity and flair to your spaces.
23. Sabai
- Starting price: Sofas from $1,095.
With a mission to make beautifully designed, affordable furniture, Sabai uses sustainable materials and ethical manufacturing to create every piece in its collection.
Each Sabai product is fully customizable, allowing you to choose the fabric, legs and cushions on each, so that your furniture is unique to you. Sabai uses environmentally friendly fabrics, made from natural fibers and recycled water bottles, FSC certified wood, certiPUR-US certified foam, and recycled fiber pillows. Its boxes are also 100% recycled, and no plastic is used in its packaging.
Review: The Sabai Essential Sectional Review: A Sustainable Sofa at an Affordable Price
Products: Sabai offers three products: The Essential Sofa, The Essential Sectional and The Essential Ottoman.
Delivery: Most orders arrive within 3 weeks of your order confirmation.
Shipping fees: Shipping is free of charge in the continental US.
When you shop with Sabai, you'll find a range of beautiful, earth-friendly sofas at a price you can afford. All their sofas are crafted from sustainable, non-toxic materials in local, ethically managed factories.
24. Castlery
- Starting price: Sofas from $950
Castlery was founded with one ambition - to reinvent how furniture retail works. Castlery designs don't fit into a specific bracket — it ranges from mid-century modern to contemporary, and each piece is crafted to make your space feel unique to you.
Products: A wide range of seating options from sofas and ottomans to sectionals and chairs.
Delivery: In stock furniture ships within a few weeks.
Shipping fees: Free Shipping in selected US cities on orders $999+.
At Castlery, affordable prices don't mean low quality or standard designs. They keep prices low by streamlining their processes and carefully sourcing their raw materials.
Free swatches, attractive payment options, and flat rates for shipping add to the appeal of Castlery sofas.
25. Home Reserve
- Starting price: Sofas start at $1,095
Home Reserve builds furniture that lives for the family through a smart set of features that store your stuff, repels stains, and becomes the friendliest gathering place in the house. Each of its sofas is available in a wide range of colors (fabrics are changeable too), and feature hidden storage compartments under each seat cushion.
Delivery: Home Reserve’s ready-to-assemble furniture is delivered by UPS in easy-to-lift boxes.
Shipping fees: Flat rate fees to anywhere in the USA ranging from $35-77 depending on which sofa/chair you purchase.
Supreme practicality and versatility are the key benefits offered by Home Reserve sofas. Thanks to their removable covers, you can create a fresh look as the mood strikes you without breaking the bank.
26. All Modern
- Starting price: Sofas from $450.
AllModern believes that great home decor and furnishings shouldn’t come at high prices. It also understands that you want things delivered quickly and easily. That’s why it aims to get you the best prices, with the fastest shipping possible.
Products: Enormous range of items, including everything from bathrooms to bedrooms.
Delivery: Thousands of items arrive within just 2 days - even sofas.
Shipping fees: Free delivery when you spend over $35.
All Modern's online store offers extreme convenience, allowing you to filter its products precisely according to your design aspirations. Their selection includes sofas, sectionals, and sleeper sofas.
27. Urban Outfitters
- Starting price: Sofas from around $400
Founded in 1970 in a small space across the street from the University of Pennsylvania, Urban Outfitters originated as a unique retail experience and community center for creative, college-age customers.
Products: Urban Outfitters offers a range of sleepers, loveseats, daybeds and more.
Delivery: Most orders arrive within 5-7 business days, some furniture items take 2 to 4 weeks.
Shipping fees: Orders up to $49.99, $4.95 shipping fee. Orders $50 and over are free.
Urban Outfitters' website offers a full range of home furnishings and decor items, so you can create a completely new look for your home in one space. They collaborate with many brands and designers to ensure a myriad of choices for online shoppers.
Tips and Advice for Buying A Sofa
Find the Right Type of Sofa for Your Home
A new couch is one of the most exciting pieces of furniture to buy, but it can also be a stressful experience. So stressful that trying to buy a new couch led to Darryl Sharpton and his wife, Jessica, to found their own sofa brand, Albany Park.
Now you don't have to go as far as the Sharpton's and build your own brand to find the perfect couch. But as a starting point, it can really help to narrow down your search and decide on the type of couch you'd like to buy.
Here's a quick breakdown of some of the most popular couch types:
Sectional Sofas
A sectional is made up of at least two pieces (or sections) that combine to create L or U shaped sofas.
"They are extremely popular right now mostly because of their versatility and configuration options," Allison Thibault, principal designer at Kaleidoscope Design Studio told Living Cozy. "They also come in a wide variety of upholstery and price ranges, making them appealing to most buyers."
Read more: Discover the best places to buy a sectional couch here.
Deep Seated Sofas
Sometimes you just want a bit more space to put your feet up and relax, and that's exactly what deep seated couches were designed for. The average seat depth is around 28-32" and anything over 34" is considered deep-seated.
“Sofas with shallow seats are best for those that prefer to sit upright. Deeper seated sofas are better for when you want to lounge out or curl up,” says Andra DelMonico, a home design expert from Next Luxury. “Since most of us prefer to lounge while binging our favorite show, deep-seated sofas are growing in popularity.”
Read more: The Best Cozy, Deep Seat Sofas
Loveseats
A loveseat is simply a small sofa designed to seat two people, and it's the perfect type of sofa for small spaces and couples. Many loveseats will also come with neat features from reclining options to pull out beds and even built in end tables.
"We love to place loveseats in small living spaces," says Kendall Severson owner of Interior Design Partnership. "Velvet loveseats and settees look incredibly sophisticated in a rich velvet fabric or a bold pattern," she adds.
Read more: The Best Couches for Small Spaces
Sleeper
Sleepers are couches that double up as beds. Sometimes they will include a fold out mattress whereas other times the sofa back can lay flat to make a bed.
"Practical comes to mind especially for that extra guest room, hobby room, or home office," says Vera Jaye. "This multi-use piece of furniture is easy to open and close for those tight-fitted rooms and now come in a variety of styles from traditional to modern."
Convertible
One of the most versatile types of couch, a convertible can be transformed into a number of configurations and can often be converted into a bed.
"I love selecting these for my clients homes because they are so versatile," says interior designer Keri Feeney. You can utilize it as a traditional sofa, as a trundle, a queen bed or just to lounge watching a movie with your feet up."
Popular Sofa Styles
Here's a quick breakdown of some of the most popular couch styles:
Mid-Century Modern
Mid-century modern is one of the most popular sofa styles around right now. Defined by clean, curved lines, and tapered legs, the mid-century modern style has been popular since the middle of the 20th century (roughly 1933 to 1965).
Read more: The Best Places to Buy a Mid-Century Modern Sofa
Chesterfield
Chesterfield sofas are designed with rolled arms that are the same height as the back, deep button tufted upholstery, and nailhead trim.
Lawson
Lawson sofas feature back cushions that are separate from the frame. Lawson's can recognized by their straight lines and will often have seat depth that’s equal to the height of the sofa back above the seat. The arms also tend to be lower than the back.
Tuxedo
Tuxedo sofas are defined by high arms that sit level with the sofa back, and a clean-lined and geometric style. The Tuxedo style is perfect for a more formal style of room and was Tuxedo Park, New York.
English Roll Arm
Defined by rounded arms that are lower than more traditional roll arm sofas. "English Roll Arm sofas are a quintessential classic statement in any home. Their style is timeless," says Anne R. Kokoskie, owner and designer at Styled by ARK. "This sofa can read formal or relaxed depending on the fabric you choose and the adjacency to the other elements in the room."
Read more: Types and Styles of Sofas and Couches Explained [With Photos]
When is the Best Time to Buy a Sofa?
So when is the best time to buy a sofa? When we asked sales and furniture experts about the best times to buy, here's what we learned:
The best time to buy furniture is during the late winter months of January and February just before the launch of new furniture and summer months like July and August as many retailers will offer end-of-summer sales.
“To be honest there's always a sale of some sort in the furniture and furnishings industry,” says Sherri Monte, founder of Seattle based interior design firm Elegant Simplicity. “But when it comes to the interior of your home steepest sales often exist just before the launch of new furniture.”
And what's the best holiday sale of the year?
Early in the year, many retailers offer discounts on furniture when new styles are coming in. So sales offer a great way to move older stock as the new styles come in. This means that Presidents Day (in February) is often one of the best holiday weekends to shop the sales and buy discounted furniture.
“With over a decade as an interior designer, we are big believers in the President's Day sales,” says Monte.
Sofa Buying Tips from the Pros
It's a big commitment to buy a new couch, so we asked some professional interior designers for some tips on what you should look out for:
1. Look for a quality frame
"Solid Kiln Dried Hardwood or High Quality Plywood for a structurally sound piece that will stand the test of time. Kiln drying hardwood removes 90-95% of the moisture in the wood. This helps prevent warping and bowing over time," says Natasha Nicolaou from NatNico Designs.
2. Check cushion firmness and materials
"Firmer seats will feature high-density foam cushions, often wrapped in Dacron or batting that adds extra padding. The higher the density, the firmer the feel of the foam. Low-density foam is regarded by manufacturers as foam with a density of 1.8 and below. Softer seats will feature a blend of foam, fiber and down feathers. Down is exceptionally plush," advises Jessica Harris, Production Designer from Living Spaces.
3. Search for a manufacturer warranty
"A sofa made from good construction will automatically come with a warranty without having to purchase one, manufacturer who provide warranties are confident in their product and you can be too," says Christina Halasz from Halasz Designs.
4. Pay attention to the measurements
"Be sure to note not just the overall height, width and depth of the sofa but also note the arm height. If you have a tight squeeze and you have a
tuxedo style sofa, where the arms and the back are the same height, it adds to the challenge of turning a corner. Find out whether or not the feet are removable. Those few inches can make all the difference in the world," says Arelene Lord, Principal Designer at Lord Designs.
5. Think about how you want to use the room
"The room's function is a major deciding factor when deciding on a sofa. If it's going to be used as a theatre or media room, relaxed soft cushion backs would be the route to go, whereas in a formal living room you’ll want a more fitted and tighter look which feels more put together and polished," says Bre Hance, Founder and CEO of InHance Interiors.
Why Trust Living Cozy
You can count on us for impartial, up-to-date, and honest reviews. Browse our blog for more advice on finding the best sofa for your home.
This guide on the best sofa brands available online was published in July 2024. We keep all our guides as current as possible, so check back regularly for updates and subscribe to our newsletter for priority access to the latest information.