The 9 Best Couches, Tried and Tested
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.”
Best Armless, Cute-as-a-Button Couch: Sixpenny Home Olea Sofa
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.
Best Small-Space Sofa: IKEA Morabo Loveseat
Sit tester Rachel Davies, our very own digital associate design editor, was very familiar with the leatherlike upholstery their Morabo loveseat would be wrapped in. While it looks 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.
Best Leather Sofa: Burrow Block Nomad Sofa with Ottoman
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 color, fabric, leg, and arm styles), she got the 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!
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Best Midcentury-Modern-Style Statement Sofa: CB2 Bowtie Black Wool Sofa
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!
Most Versatile Couch: Petrie Midcentury Sofa by CB2