If Anthropologie and Crate & Barrel had a baby it would be West Elm: their mid-range furniture is partly traditional and contemporary, with something for both the trend-loving and the trend-eschewing. And among the right crowd, a West Elm sofa, in particular, is something like a badge of honor. Yes, the home decor and accessories are equally covetable, but there is something about this retailer's loveseats, sectionals, and three-seaters that spawn an instant "must-have" mentality.
But how, of course, do you sift through the hundreds of couches West Elm has to offer to find the best sofa for you? Why, you ask the experts, of course. And today, that expert happens to be me, a couch-buying maven who has dedicated all of her journalistic time and energy to unearthing all the best sofa-shopping tips from all of the best sources. I was so dedicated to this quest that, in addition to interviewing connoisseurs at Article, Benchmade Modern, and Raymour & Flanigan, I even traveled to Dallas, Texas, to tour a couch factory. And if that weren't enough to convince you, well, I'll also tell you that I'm simply a savvy shopper, with a keen eye for deals and value and a love of interior design and home aesthetics. Combine my knowledge with my taste and you have the perfect person to walk you through West Elm's sofa catalogue.
Today, I'm highlighting nine sofas and sectionals I believe are worth your time, all from West Elm's expansive list of offerings. Many of these are best-sellers; I even have first-person feedback for some of them. But all are stylish, and all of them would look excellent in your living room, especially if you love to be abreast of the current sofa trends. Let's go, my darlings.
The Best West Elm Sofas
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Price: From $1699
Size: 71"w x 38"d x 32"h
Starting off strong with the Marin, a sofa purchased and enjoyed by my colleague Dabee Kaye. "We loved our couch and it lasted for a long time," she tells me. "The ordering and delivery process was very easy." The only downside? "The cushions sunk in after sitting on it for so long." I can see that happening; the cushions are filled with foam and down, which means you'll definitely need to do some plumping here and there (they're all loose and reversible, though, a big plus especially when you have a single-cushion sofa). The sit is medium-firm, and you can choose what size you'd prefer: a 71" width, an 86" width, and a 94" width. All in all, this is a piece that looks great for lounging and laying back.
If you need some extra room for blankets and puzzles, the Marin is also available in a storage sofa configuration, which I loved for its somewhat unique under-bench-seat design. Most storage sofas are sectionals with a storage chaise, so it's nice to see something different, equally as functional, and space-friendly here.
Price: From $649
Size: 72"w x 32"d x 30"h
The use case for the mid-century modern Oliver is that it's (1) an affordable sofa, and (2) a great sofa for small spaces. At just 72" wide, you could certainly squeeze it in a few tight corners. Still, though, you can get three people to fit on here, no problem (trust me, I tried it). I'd describe the sit as medium-firm, bouncy, and comfortable, but I wouldn't describe this as a couch you could curl up on; it's on the upright side, no doubt. If you need something for a sitting room, office, or apartment where the most living room lounging you do is an hour or two of catch-up with a roommate, it's perfect. But if you're a cinephile who loves to host movie nights, I'd pass.
Style-wise, the mid-century look is hard to knock. It's enduring for a reason — it's so minimalist and functional that you almost can't go wrong. One living room idea? Place the Oliver in a room in need of a natural touch; the wooden legs should help. Or, if you need a sofa but can't afford more visual weight, the splayed legs lighten the couch's overall load.
Price: From $2599
Size (closed): 80"w x 38"d x 31"h
Size (open): 80"w x 90"d x 31"h
All of my research tells me that the Shelter Queen Sleeper is one of the best sleeper sofas West Elm has to offer. For one thing, it's a best-seller, but I have spotted a few effusive editorial reviews online, evangelizing the Shelter's easy set-up, convenient size, and fair price (plus there are frequent markdowns). West Elm describes the seat as a 2 on the plushness scale (where 5 is the most firm), but if I were you, I'd expect this to be even firmer than that; for obvious reasons, most sleeper sofas have a firmer sit.
Style-wise, the Shelter has a wrap-around, tuxedo-style silhouette, which really adds to the safe, cozy, bed-like feeling. Add in a performance fabric of your choice (I'd definitely suggest a performance fabric here, as that's going to be more durable under the stress of house guests) and you're set.
Price: From $1599
Size: 76"w x 36"d x 35"h
The Harmony sofa epitomizes the promise of West Elm: it's traditional but also modern; it's retro but also of the now. Something for everyone and every room, hence its inclusion here. TLDR; if you'd like the true West Elm experience, start here. I would also recommend this sofa if you want something super plush, with that sink-into-it comfort; on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the firmest, West Elm rates this a 1. Combine that with the deepest available seat depth of 47" and you're ready to curl up and lay down.
Another benefit of the Harmony is that you can customize the width, a much more fickle measurement than depth, if you ask me, and choose between a multi-seat cushion or a bench cushion. Bench cushions are great for frequent hosts as they eliminate the awkward crack in between seats.
Price: From $899
Size: 66"w x 39"d x 33"h
For anyone looking for West Elm's most classic sofas and another one of their best budget picks, I'd go with the Harris — a streamlined, no-frills, best-selling sofa collection with a bevy of customization options (width, depth, cushion, fabric, and color) for any home. It really is an incredible value; if you can buy during a big markdown period (like the Black Friday furniture sales), you can get the 66" loveseat for as little as $700.
West Elm describes the sit as medium-firm — right in the middle of plush and hard. Another benefit: the cushions are reversible with zip-off covers, which means you can flip them if there's a stain that won't come out or could likely wash or replace the covers. The legs are also removable, a great option if you plan on moving with the sofa and aren't sure how wide the doorways will be in your new home. If you don't want to scroll through everything West Elm has to offer and just want something that will look good and work well for virtually anyone, opt for the Harris.
Price: From $3197
Size: 90"w x 90"d x 31"h
The Andes is your girl if you need something leggy; something that, like the Oliver, balances the visual weight of your room. A sofa is typically one of the "heaviest" objects visually. But if your credenza and your coffee table are already dragging things down, you can't have a heavy sofa, too. The Andes sectional sofa should solve that problem nicely, what with the tapered legs (choose from blackened brass or dark pewter) and lifted frame.
I am not crazy about the fact that this is a eucalyptus frame (that is a softer wood typically used with outdoor furniture), but it's mixed with engineered hardwood ... so that should probably help. And I do like that the cushions are loose, reversible, and covered; like the other options on this list, that gives families a lot of peace of mind.
Price: From $2557.60
Size: 87"w x 87"d x 29.5"h
The Avalon is for those of us who love to follow sofa trends. And what I will tell you is that fluted/channel tufted sofas like this are a big hot spot for 2025. The Avalon is available in 86 different fabrics, but I really do love a performance velvet for this and I love the green; it's the perfect color to ground a trending sofa with a bit of timelessness. In my book, green is a neutral, so this could match with anything, forever. Be warned, though; the Avalon is quite big — it's only available in an 87" and a 122" width — so don't make the mistake of putting a big couch in a small living room.
This couch has a firm sit (a 4, if 5 is the most firm), but I'd expect as much given the style and build. It's doubtful something like this would ever be plush as you'd run the risk of the sofa losing its shape.
Price: $4597
Size: 118"w x 118"d x 37"h
The Harmony modular sectional is for you if you (1) feel comfortable splurging for a couch now to save money later, and (2) you expect to move in the next 2-3 years. A modular sofa is my ultimate sustainability hack. Because the couch can grow and change with you, you're less likely to throw your old couch out and buy a new one; instead, you can just buy new components for the base you already have. If you are a "buy once, keep it forever" type of person, modularity should be at the forefront of your mind.
This sectional has all the pros and cons of the Harmony sofa but in a larger, more configurable package. It's cloud-like (re: the RH Cloud Sofa) and very plush, by West Elm standards. One thing I love is the assembly process. Each piece attaches via an alligator clip, which takes just seconds to set up. Bada bing bada boom.
Price: From $1999
Size: 90"W x 37"D x 32"H
Now, West Elm offers most of its sofas in leather upholstery, but there is just something about the Zander leather sofa that stands out from the pack. For one thing, it's a best-seller, and that's never to be discounted. But for another, it has this silhouette that is equal parts showstopping and simple. It's of another era (1960s and 70s Laurel Canyon, to be exact), but it would look right at home in a living room today. I also like that the seat looks nice and deep, and the width is nice and long. You can fit plenty of people on here and should be able to curl up, no problem.
The feather blend cushions offer a more plush, sink-in sit than a foam core would, and the top-grain aniline-dyed leather should patina and soften over time. One thing to note there, though — while leather is generally quite easy to clean and durable, aniline leather is less protected than its counterparts and will therefore require a bit more maintenance (i.e. buffing and waxing) to keep it looking good. For instance, if you have pets, their claw marks might show on the upholstery. You can very likely buff those marks out, but that might be more work than you'd like.
Are West Elm sofas comfortable?
Comfort is, of course, subjective. So it's worth visiting your local West Elm showroom before buying online to get a sense of how the brand classifies firm vs. plush. Figure out how that differs from your own understanding, then adjust West Elm's rating accordingly. You don't have to do this, but it will certainly pare back the likelihood of returns if you do.
Otherwise, my advice would be to assume West Elm sofas are firmer than they say they are. That is a frequent complaint I hear; that someone received their couch and it was firmer than expected. Now, you could mitigate this risk entirely by sitting on the sofa in the store. But, again, if that's not an option, tack some extra firmness onto West Elm's initial score. If you love a firm sofa, you're likely fine to begin with. But if you're looking for something plush and sink-in, take heed.
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