The 12 Best Sofas For Your Space, Tried and Tested By AD Editors

Is there a piece of furniture more important to your aesthetic than one of the best sofas? Having (or not having) the best couches can make or break your home’s decor, and we at Clever are here to help ensure you never ever end up with a sad sofa selection—or worse, a futon (though, if you must get a sleeper sofa, we’ve selected a few stylish ones). To support your search for the perfect piece for your place, our dedicated team of editors and contributors welcomed nine top-of-the-line styles into their homes for a thorough sit testing. We tried modern sofas of all shapes and sizes: loveseats to three seaters, cute and cozy to long and loungy. 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 it), 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:

• Most Classic Shape: Arhaus Kipton Sofa
• Best It-Girl Sofa: Sarah Ellison Muse Sofa Two Seater
• Best Armless, Cute-as-a-Button Couch: Sixpenny Home Olea Sofa
• Best Small-Space Sofa: IKEA Morabo Loveseat
• Best Leather Sofa: Burrow Block Nomad Sofa with Ottoman
• Best Midcentury-Modern-Style Statement Sofa: CB2 Bowtie Black Wool Sofa
• Most Versatile Couch: Petrie Midcentury Sofa by CB2
• Best Sofa That’s Also a Recliner: Homebody
• Best Swoosh: Rove Concepts Diane Sofa
• Best Sofa for Smaller Spaces: Albany Park Lido Sofa
• Best Oversized Sofa: Article Leigh Silver Ivory 132" Modular Sofa
• Best for Movie Nights: Castlery Jonathan Sofa

What did we look for in our sit tests?

Much like our criteria for selecting the best sectional sofa, there are many factors that went in to 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 leatherlike), 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?

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?

Best Sofas

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 are 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.”

• Dimensions: Four width options (64", 84", 94", 106") and two depths (40" and 44"), 35" high
• Color options: 80 fabric and color options
• Material options: performance, velvet, washable, textured, seaqual (made of recycled plastic), crypton (Arhaus' proprietary performance fabric)
• Leg finishes: N/A
• Delivery fees: $299 for ground shipping

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 a white bouclé. It’s a new classic with a low profile, but an unmistakable presence. Our honored sit tester, digital design editor Sydney Gore, has declared that “the Muse is the it-girl of sofas, and she’s about to have a moment.”

• Dimensions: Two-seater: 27.2" H 81.9" W 40.6" D | Three-seater: 27.2" H 111" W 40.6" D
• Color options: La creme, caramel, dune, agave
• Material options: Bouclé or velvet
• Leg finishes: N/A
• Delivery fees: White glove delivery is $349, white glove within a specified time frame is $449

Read the full review here.

Don’t let the look of this petite slipcover sofa fool you–it’s a high quality design that was built for lounging. It’s soft but supportive, cozy yet well constructed, with high density foam and your choice of cushion fill. The Olea by Sixpenny Home comes in 23 sophisticated color and fabric options, including multiple natural dyed linens, washed cotton, and velvet. The 72" shape is suitable for a small space, but the sofa is also available in a larger frame or a sectional configuration. There’s an Olea out there for you—if you’re bold enough to go armless.

• Dimensions: 72" sofa: 72”W x 41”D x 35”H | 84" sofa: 84”W x 41”D x 35”H
• Color options: 23 color choices
• Material options: Canvas, velvet (+$100), and four linen weights (+$100-$200)
• Leg finishes: N/A
• Delivery fees: Free

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 loveseat 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.

• Dimensions: 65 3/8" W 36 1/4" D 31 7/8" H
• Color options: Black, dark beige, white
• Material options: Grann, which is IKEA's soft grain leather
• Leg finishes: Metal
• Delivery fees: N/A

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.

• Dimensions: 85" L 35" D 33" H
• Color options: Chestnut, slate, camel
• Material options: Leather or olefin fabric
• Leg finishes: Three wood finishes (ebony, walnut, oak), three metal finishes (black, chrome, brass)
• Delivery fees: Free

Read the full review here.

Live your best MCM life with the Bowtie Wool Sofa, designed by Paul McCobb for CB2. While the style is certainly a throw back, the overall vibe is extremely current. The wool blend was softer than our sit tester, DaVonne Bacchus, anticipated, and he also enjoyed the deep seat for reclining. Paired with a solid wood frame and wood legs, this little number might be more of an occasional sofa or a showpiece than an all-day lounging type of sofa, but what a showpiece it is!

• Dimensions: 86" W 33.25" D 32" H
• Color options: 27 options
• Material options: Plain weave, bouclé, velvet, twill, shearling
• Leg finishes: N/A
• Delivery fees: $249

Read the full review here.

The Petrie is another classic midcentury-modern-style sofa—tufted cushions, tapered legs, upright frame—brought to the 21st century with modern bells and whistles. Available as a two-seater in 65"- (aptly called the Petrie Apartment Sofa), 76"-, or 86"-wide options, or as a 100" three-seater, it’ll fit in a variety of living spaces from small apartments to suburban homes. With 186 upholstery options to choose from in velvet, twill, microfiber or chenille, there are made-to-order customizations for anyone.

• Dimensions: Four width options (65", 76" 86", 100") 36" D 32" H
• Color options: 187 options
• Material options: Twill, velvet, canvas, microfiber, chenille, textured weave, linen weave, bouclé, shearling
• Leg finishes: 11 leg finish options
• Delivery fees: $249 or free in-store pickup

Read the full review here.

Homebody is a new brand on the scene that makes one thing and one thing only: a modular sofa. That said, it’s a highly customizable modular sofa with tons of options to choose from. To start, pick anywhere from a two-seater to a seven-seater sofa. Next, choose any one of their sustainably made fabrics. Then you can choose which pieces of the sofa you’d like to fully recline. That’s right: There are built in recliners and headrests! While sit tester Elaheh Nozari was not impressed by the Homebody delivery process, she rated it “ten out of ten for nap-ability.”

• Dimensions: Varied, with six sectional configurations
• Color options: Coconut (cream) or Rainy Day In (grey)
• Material options: Linen, velvet, pet-friendly
• Leg finishes: N/A
• Delivery fees: Free

Read the full review here.

The Diane is drama, and you do not want to put this baby in the corner. But don’t let her good looks fool you; she’s a big softie on the inside. Polyurethane-padded frame and high-density foam softness to be exact. While you might want to avoid the white bouclé or anything in the cream family for a high-traffic household, Rove Concepts offers several custom shades for this seating option that will be protected from spills and spots.

• Dimensions: 88.6" H 37.4" D 31.1" H
• Color options: Pearl, Caviar, Alesund, Glacier Grey, Solstice
• Material options: Bouclé, felt, velvet
• Leg finishes: N/A
• Delivery fees: Standard shipping is $329, white glove delivery is $479

Read the full review here.

As a furniture store (which fun fact, was founded by football player Darryl Sharpton and his wife Jessica Ross), Albany Park aims to make good quality staple pieces at affordable price and that 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 also brand offers free shipping and a toolless assembly, which makes investment pieces like these even more attainable.

• Dimensions: 75" W 37.5" D 32" H
• Color options: Olive, camel, and dark teal for velvet; alabaster, and hazelnut for bouclé; storm grey for performance fabric; indigo and sand for basketweave; tan for leather
• Material options: Bouclé, velvet, performance fabric, basketweave, and tan
• Leg finishes: Matte brass, natural oak, black, and brown oak
• Delivery fees: Free curbside shipping

Read the full review here.

Article furniture is ideal for anyone looking for minimal furniture pieces that pack a punch of subtle style, which helped make the Leigh sofa perfect for tester Kristi Kellogg’s preferred aesthetic. Despite what you might think looking at this overstuffed beauty, there won’t be any sagging happening with this sofa. In fact, Kristi says that the cushions on the Leigh are full and soft but still offer plenty of support for her back. Plus, its got super spacious for napping or hanging out with friends thanks to a “generous” depth, as Kristi calls it.

• Dimensions: 92"W 41"D 33"H
• Color options: Silver gray, silver ivory, silver taupe
• Material options: Stain-resistant SimpleCare fabric
• Leg finishes: N/A
• Delivery fees: Standard shipping is $249, delivery inside room is $299, and inside room and assembly is $399

Read the full review here.

Senior commerce editor Rachel Fletcher tried out Castlery’s Jonathan sectional in 2022 and graded the spacious seating with A’s all across the board. When it came time to select sofas for the 2024 Seat Week, we were all too eager 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—it’s 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 asked her partner to cook dinner so she could keep sitting in it.

• Dimensions: 89.8"W 39.4"D 27.6"H
• Color options: Creamy white, zenith blue, dark granite, carbon gray
• Material options: 100% Polyester
• Leg finishes: N/A
• Delivery fees: Depending on your location

Looking for more seating stories?

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, Tested and Reviewed by Our Editors: We decided that we couldn’t sit on this one any longer—we shipped 16 sectional sofas into the homes of Clever 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 11 Best Dining Chairs Our Editors Use Every Day: Sit in style with these tried-and-tested seats.
• 12 Best Sleeper Sofas That’ll Make You Want to Hit Snooze (in a Good Way): From reclining futons to pullout beds, these double-duty sofa beds often get a bad rep.
• Curved Sectionals and Sofas—And Why Your Home Needs One: The style upgrade it’s been begging for.
• 26 Affordable Sofas 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.