A sofa in this section might be a better fit for you than one of our picks. There might be one here with a style that suits you better, or perhaps something we consider to be a flaw is less of a dealbreaker for you. Our goal is to provide you with as much feedback and information as possible, so you can pick the perfect couch.
If you want a tufted sofa at an affordable price: The Article Sven Sofa was a close contender to the Article Ceni for being a pick, and several Wirecutter staffers own and love it. The Sven comes in leather, velvet, or fabric, and the medium-firm cushions have a generous seat depth of 24 inches, which can easily accommodate cross-legged and side-lounging positions. We also tested a green velvet armchair version of the sofa, the Sven Lounge Chair, and the fabric on the chair was soft to the touch, with a sumptuous, mossy richness to it.
A few caveats: The soft back cushions tend to sink in, and they can require frequent plumping. The seat cushion is tufted on one side only, so you won’t be able to flip it or remove the cover to wear each side evenly, but you can flip the back cushions. Though most of our staffers who own the Sven like it, one hated it: She reported that the velvet cushions faded where the sun hit them, and the cushions started sagging (she has since replaced this sofa with a new one from Room & Board).
If you want an ultra-customizable mid-century style sofa that’s built to last: BenchMade Modern’s Skinny Fat Sofa has been a favorite of ours for years. The Eva Sofa, our pick from BenchMade, only narrowly won out because of its unique curvy base. But if this rectangular style is more your cup of tea, we think you’ll be equally happy. In addition to the customizable width and dozens of upholstery options that come with the Eva Sofa, you can also choose from two seat depths (standard or extra deep), two cushion fills (standard or down alternative), and four leg finishes. A tester who’s had the Skinny Fat since 2016, with the original, standard depth seat, said they wished it were a little deeper. So we’re glad that BenchMade Modern now offers the extra deep version, for those who want a more laid-back sofa option with classic, contemporary lines.
If you like the Room & Board Metro but want a sofa with a slimmer silhouette (and a higher seat): The Room & Board Stevens Sofa feels like a skinnier and taller cousin to our Metro pick. We tried the Stevens at a showroom, in the “standard” depth (23 inches). And we appreciated the soft yet supportive cushions; they had a “just right” depth that the showroom representative said a lot of people find universally appealing. This sofa has a seat height of 19 inches, so we think it’s a good option for anyone taller than 5-foot-9 and for those who prefer a sofa that’s easier to get in and out of. One staffer has had the Stevens 106” Chaise (standard depth) in the Dornick camel bouclé fabric, with walnut legs, since fall 2024, and they called it “Nice and cozy. It almost feels like a Goldendoodle.” This person has also had a 112” Metro Chaise Sofa, a version of our pick, since 2019. And they said that despite the Stevens being 6 inches shorter in width, it feels just as spacious as the Metro, due to the slimmer armrests. The only reason the Stevens isn’t our main pick is because we think the Metro’s proportions are slightly more universally appealing (and we have more long-term experience with the Metro), but we think the Stevens is a close second.
If you want a mid-century-style sofa that’s not low to the ground: The Room & Board Jasper Sofa was a close contender for being our pick, but the Metro’s more universally appealing dimensions won out. Unlike most mid-century sofas, the Jasper has a tall, 19-inch seat, which should appeal to those with taller frames (or anyone who prefers a sofa that’s easier to get in and out of). One staffer, who has a 2-year-old and a dog, said that her four-year-old Jasper (a sofa with chaise version) looks basically as good as the day she got it. She noted that for her and her family, the Jasper feels on the shallower and firmer side (it has a 21-inch seat depth). Another staffer, who has had the Jasper sofa in mustard velvet for about a year, said she is extremely happy with it so far; she said it’s not too firm or too plush, and it offers great support. She’s 5-foot-4, and she said she does need to put a pillow behind her back if she wants her feet to reach the floor.
If you want a sustainable, easy-to-maintain mid-century-style sofa: Sabai’s The Essential Sofa is the company’s original sofa offering, and it was. Compared with Sabai’s The Elevate, our current pick, this sofa has a more-classic, mid-century-style silhouette. One staffer has had the sectional version in seafoam velvet, with natural legs, since early 2023, and she said it’s “incredibly easy to clean,” despite kids spilling food and milk on it, with no visible stains. She said her only complaint is if you happen to sit directly along the gap where the chaise and bench cushion meet, you can feel yourself sinking. But otherwise, she said it’s very comfortable to sit on. As with The Elevate’s velvet fabric, pet hair can easily stick to this sofa’s fabric, but a pet hair remover roller takes it right off. The Essential is on the firmer side, so it’s an upright sofa to sit up in, rather than one you can sink into. Both The Essential and The Elevate have a low-slung, 16-inch seat height, but The Essential has a slightly shallower seat depth (22 inches versus The Elevate’s 23 inches).
If you want a more-affordable, cloud-like sofa: During testing, the Floyd Sink Down Sectional was a favorite with self-described “loungers.” Its 34-inch-deep seat encourages lying back and getting cozy; it’s even 2 inches deeper than the similarly proportioned (and much more expensive, by almost $2,000) Sixpenny Aria Grande. Unlike the armless Aria Grande, the Sink Down has low armrests and arm cushions that you can prop yourself up against. The Sink Down lets you easily configure anything from a one-seater lounger to four-seater sectional. You can also get individual seat units to make your own custom configuration. Like the Aria Grande, each seat comes in its own box, fully assembled, and has alligator clips along the bottom to connect to an adjacent seat.
A few caveats: The Sink Down sofa we received, in Sand Crypton fabric, had a crooked and puckered seam along one of the arms and back rests. The fill on the seat cushions also looked underfilled, despite lots of fluffing. One person on staff ordered a Sink Down sofa and was similarly disappointed with the filling on the seat cushions, so she ended up returning hers. Floyd also has one of the more punishing restocking fees for returns (30%); if the return is due to a product defect, however, the restocking fee is waived.
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