Ah, the sectional sofa, the workhorse of the living room; the do-it-all seating option; the piece of furniture that’s able to replace every other piece of furniture. A great option for informal spaces or homes where movie nights reign supreme, the section is an economical choice at that, especially if a three-seater and a loveseat aren’t in your budget.
As Livingetc’s in-house sofa expert, a good sectional sofa, in my opinion, is three things: (1) from a reputable sofa or furniture brand; (2) built from a solid hardwood or engineered wood frame (metal/steel are also fine); (3) backed by positive customer feedback. Everything else is preference — things like cushion fill, plushness, upholstery (and if you satisfy #1, you can’t go wrong in any of those departments) — but frame build, retailer reputation, and strong customer recommendations are non-negotiable. From there, it’s easy to find the best sofa for you.
Each sofa I’ve selected in the below 9-item edit satisfies all three of my prereqs, while the first six were actually tried and tested by either myself or someone in my trusted circle of colleagues and friends. I was not able to get my hands on the final three, they are well-known/renowned options, and worth having on your radar because their reputation precedes them.
Here’s a look at nine of the best sectional sofas you can buy now, according to editors and friends of Livingetc.
Tried and tested
Price: From $4196
Size: 142" w x 71" d x 41" d x 36" h
Configuration: Modular/Reversible ottoman
Pros: sleek shape, best-seller, incredibly plush
Cons: plush sit might not work well for those with back and knee problems
I recently spent an afternoon sitting on as many Pottery Barn sofas as I could, and of them all, the Westwood was my favorite. It was large but economical, big enough for multiple people but somehow not overwhelming. The sit was equal parts firm and plush — something right down the middle — and the lounging experience felt instantaneously cozy. The best part? This is a modular sectional, meaning you can reconfigure and rearrange the seats as the seasons (and your living quarters) change. (If you're going to spend thousands on a couch, make it one that can grow with you.) If you want something lounge-forward, for maybe a basement or movie room, this is the one I would pick.
The included barrel pillows provided a nice touch of lower back support, but without them, you can curl up into these cushions, no problem (the sit is quite plush otherwise). Of course, the Westwood is crafted with that signature Pottery Barn touch we all know and trust; truly, this is one of the best places to buy a couch. We're talking an engineered wood frame (high quality), mortise-and-tenon joinery (the best of the best), and no-sag sinuous steel springs, a style of seat suspension that isn't the very best on the market but a close second and very common. For the cushions (which are loose, by the way; another plus), select from 139 different upholstery options, including leather, basketweave, and linen.
Price: $5296
Size: 118.5"W x 79"D x 28"H
Configuration: Reversible Ottoman
Pros: reversible sectional
Cons: pillows lose shape easily
This Lotus was recommended to me by my colleague Barri Grossman, who had nothing but positive things to say about her white sofa purchase despite an 11-year-old son and a dog being among those who use it. As such, I'd recommend this sofa for those looking for a sectional for their main living area. "It's so comfortable yet stylish and has kept pretty clean and white considering the high-traffic room it's in," Barri tells me. Plus, it's modular, so "you can [customize the] size and shape to fit your room." Her only big complaint is that "the pillows lose shape easily so we're constantly needing to fluff and reset them."
Moreover, Barri isn't alone in her love of the Lotus; it's actually a Crate and Barrel best-seller. Customers described it as uber comfortable, with a plush, deep seat and large frame. "We absolutely love this couch!!" wrote one buyer. "So cute and comfortable - get compliments all the time!"
Important to note: while Barri opted for a white or ivory-colored fabric, you are not beholden to that color yourself. The "nordic frost" fabric is the only one in stock (meaning the sofa would arrive much faster than a custom product), but you can choose from 208 made-to-order fabrics if you don't mind waiting.
Price: $1595
Size: 108"W x 83"D x 31"H
Configuration: Left- or right-facing available
Pros: 15-minute assembly, included throw pillows, fits 5-6
Cons: corner cushion sometimes sinks into frame
I'm 3.5 months into owning this modular L-shaped sectional from Living Spaces, and for the price, I have nothing but good things to say so far. As someone who reads all about couches for a living, this sofa was truly a steal. It has strong product specs (a corner-blocked solid wood frame, which is an excellent option, plus a sinuous steel suspension and removable legs) and strong customer reviews — a combo typically reserved for the more expensive sofas on the market, not a $1600 sectional that took less than 15 minutes to assemble and seats 5-6 when needed. I'd describe the sit as medium-firm, and I love the blue/gray performance fabric we chose It's very versatile and has so far resisted any stains.
Now for my two qualms: (1) the couch took about a month-ish to arrive. So definitely not the best from a quick-delivery standpoint. And (2) I find that the corner cushion tends to sink down into the frame a little bit, enough that if you're lounging in that spot, you might eventually have to stand up and fix the cushion before sitting back down. It's not the end of the world, but also not a problem I would expect with a more expensive option.
Price: $2699.99 (Was: $3535)
Size: 31'' H X 79'' W X 42'' D
Configuration: Left- or right-facing available
Pros: washable slipcover, sub-15-minute assembly
Cons: price has increased significantly over the years
One of my closest friends, Makenzie B., purchased the Kian back in 2018, when she lived on the West Coast. Flash forward six years and two big moves and she's still got it. She loves the size, noting that it's "pretty deep and can fit quite a few people comfortably" (both her parents and all four siblings could fit without issue). She describes the sit as "not too soft that it doesn't hold its shape," but not so hard that you don't sink into it. Assembly was easy — she only had to add the cushions — as was disassembly, which was required for both her moves.
As for the material, she says it has held up quite well, a miracle considering her three small dogs. She picked an ivory-colored slipcover sofa (I chose a pinstripe option, pictured above, for something different), so there are definitely a few marks, she says. but there are no rips, and she attributes the stains to her four-legged friends, not the product. She has never machine-washed the slipcover (it doesn't fit in her washing machine), but has tried washing it in her sink. It somewhat worked; but she expects better results when a machine is involved. "Overall, would buy again," she concludes. Consider this option if you're looking for something slipcovered for convenience and practicality.
Price: $1599
Size: W(58.3"+37.4") x D36.4"/63.6" x H34.3"
Configuration: Left-facing
Pros: easy to clean, great customer service, compact frame for small spaces
Cons: sectional is not reconfigurable, a bit stiff at first, per some reviews
If you haven't yet, I implore you to consider Castlery in your search for a new sectional sofa. The internet brand has some of the best customer reviews I have seen to date, and on almost all of its furniture. It leans on the more expensive side of the middle-tier price point, but the quality seems to warrant that. They offer generous manufacturer warranty policies, like 3-year frame and 1-year foam and fabric coverage on the piece shown above, and frequently discount best-selling products in various retail holidays and events.
You'd probably be well off with any of Castlery's sectionals, but my colleague Nicole Abbondandolo recommended this gray sofa specifically in one of our conversations. She mentioned the brand's "excellent customer service," and thought the Tana was "reasonably priced and trendy in comparison to a West Elm." She's had the couch for roughly 2 years now and is overall very happy with the "price, delivery and [ease of assembly.]" A few reviews also mention how this is a good option for small spaces — of course, it's a sectional, so it's larger than a loveseat, but it's surprisingly compact while still seating three people.
Price: $1199
Size: 92.5" W x 92.5" L
Configuration: Corner/L-shape
Pros: removable/washable covers, good for rooms with low ceilings
Cons: heavy, mixed customer reviews
IKEA is a great place to shop for budget-friendly, minimalist sofas, sleeper sofas, and sectionals — especially if that sectional is the PÄRUP. IKEA is generally quick delivery, as well, so this could be perfect for those of us that need a sectional fast.
"I bought this sofa some eight years back for our TV room," writes Livingetc Content Director Lucy Searle. "I needed a contemporary-looking, low-backed, clean-lined L-shape that could comfortably seat four to six people in a low-ceiling space without overwhelming, and it was perfect for the budget I had at the time in terms of size, shape, and proportion." Overall, Lucy has majority great things to say about this couch: "It's comfortable, roomy, sturdy — and the removable covers mean it's been easy to keep looking as good as new, too" (an especially tall order given Lucy's house pets, which include a dog and even a rabbit. She describes the sit as slightly to the right of medium-firm, and notes that the back cushions keep their shape quite well — "a must in a room where your sofa is going to get all the abuse and none of the love a living room couch might." As for the drawbacks, well, this IKEA sectional is really quite heavy, which makes vacuuming and rearranging all the more difficult. "However, I also recognize that its weight is what makes it so strong and durable - in the years we've had it, I've never heard it creak and there's no sign of sagging."
Other Sectionals We Love
Price: $2707 (Was: $4164)
Size: 120"W x 39"H x 79"D
Configuration: Modular
Pros: infinitely modular, niche upholstery categories
Cons: slightly difficult assembly, per some reviews
Sofa brand Albany Park is known for its Kova collection, home of the "world's most comfortable sofa" (self-proclaimed). Dedicated design junkies might have read mentions of the Kova elsewhere on Livingetc, or in various publications across the internet, where it has become Albany Park's claim to fame. The value proposition is simple: the Kova is infinitely modular; all you have to do is purchase the starting blocks, whether that's a loveseat, a three-seater, or, if you'd like to jump right into customer configurations, a sectional.
For instance, shown above is the L-shape sectional, comprised of a three-seater plus an added armless component. You could make it a wider sectional by adding a fourth armless component, or turn it into a U-shaped sectional by adding that extra component and angling the left panel. The choice is yours. Albany Park also offers a variety of different fabric types, including pet-friendly, machine-washable, and sustainable fabrics. so if you have hyper-specific fabric needs, or think you'll be moving in the next 2-3 years and don't want to start your sofa search from scratch, consider the Kova.
Price: From $5580
Size: 119"W x 80"D x 31½"H
Configuration: Modular/Reversible ottoman
Pros: lifetime guarantee, incredible comfort
Cons: large investment upfront
The sofa that spawned a thousand dupes. The definitive sectional. This is the Cloud Sofa from RH, one of the most renowned furniture retailers of the last fifty years. Of course, this is an investment; it's not every day you can drop $5500 on a couch. But if you have the means and want to own an instantly recognizable piece of design history, the Cloud Sofa is the way to go.
Construction-wise, the Cloud is, of course, top-notch (did I mention RH offers a lifetime guarantee?). This uber-comfortable sectional boasts a hardwood/engineered wood frame with corner-blocked joinery (stellar, all around), a pocket spring suspension system that's unique to RH, a high-resiliency foam (the highest-grade) seat cushion core, wrapped in leather and down, and the opportunity to custom configure and upholstery your sofa if you prefer a different arrangement or fabric.
Price: $2499
Size: 34.5"H x 107"W x 107"D
Configuration: Corner/L-shape
Pros: strong MCM look and feel
Cons: fewer upholstery options than other retailers
In my estimation, Article is one of the best places you can buy a couch in today's day and age. Quick-delivery options, fabulous customer service, a 30-day guarantee, strong customer reviews, and most importantly, well-designed products — this Canada-based brand has got it all at an affordable and fair price point.
Take the Sven tufted velvet corner sectional, for example: This is a huge couch for just $2500. While that is, of course, not chump change, something similar to this could cost $1000 to $2000 more at a higher-end retailer (and spoiler alert: it wouldn't be made any differently). I'm recommending a piece from the Sven collection because it's Article's best-selling sofa. It has mid-century modern sensibilities, a limited but not overwhelming number of different upholstery and color options (like the green velvet seen here), and boasts enough customer reviews that you can draw your own conclusions about the brand if you don't believe me.
How much should I spend on a sectional sofa?
The general rule of thumb is that the more money you spend on a sofa or sectional, the better it will be. That said, there is, of course, an upper limit; once you get over $1500, the difference in product quality lessens (at least in my opinion). For instance, a Walmart sofa will likely never hold a candle to an Article sofa, but an Article sofa could work just as well if not better than a Maiden Home or RH sofa, so long as it's given the proper care. That in mind, I'd recommend spending, at minimum, $700 on a sectional. If you have the wiggle room, somewhere between $1,000 and $3,000 is even better. At that price point, you'll typically be getting a well-made, well-crafted sofa that will last a long time, likely with a manufacturer's and maybe even frame warranty to boot. Customer service is better, upholstery is better, and comfort increases big time.
There are certainly $350 sectionals out there that might wow you. But chances are it will either break in a year or two, or, in the same way, you'll be eager to get rid of it. So while there's no need to make your wallet cry, you'll certainly be better off if you invest more in your couch upfront.
