To eliminate decision fatigue, Albany Park offers just three models Albany, Park and Kova and its furniture comes packaged in apartment-friendly, space-conscious boxes that can easily be manoeuvred in stairwells, tight hallways and throughout any home. Articles mission is to make great, stylish furniture long-lasting and well-priced. Camelback: The aristocratic profile of the camelback (also called a humpback sofa) is unsurprisingly attributed to the hump at the center of the backrest. Among other things, shes been an editor at Metropolis, where she focused on the intersection of environment and design; a manager at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection; a designer; and a freelance writer. There is evidence that flame retardants are bad for the human immune system, reproduction, endocrine system, and neurologic function, and may be linked to cancer. And because both are smoother, theyre less likely to be scratched into remnants by a pets claws. With its supply chain fueled by digital printing and made-to-order manufacturing, The Inside offers customers the ability to personalize their pieces with more than 100 iconic fabric choices. Our testers varied in height, weight, and age (including some jumping children). Beyond style, cushions are the most subjective element when youre picking out a sofa. Weve updated Articles in-room delivery and assembly policy to reflect a $20 price increase. Shipping & delivery:About $150. Article understands that consumers dont wait to wait months for new furniture to arrive and it aims to get most orders from its warehouse to your front door in two weeks or less. Most frames are made of some kind of engineered wood. If you want to expand the sofa in the future, you can order individual modules. Things we didnt love: There is a trade-off to the compact style of Burrow sofas. Our approach here is similar to the one weve taken in our buying guide to refrigerators: We dont have official picks for specific sofa models. The Ceni three-seater, with woven polyester fabric upholstery, normally sells for $1,150. Almost every aspect of Inside Weathers furniture can be customized from the arm height and cushion detail on its sofas to the surface design and base style on its tables. Though the Sven Lounge Chairs seat is medium-firm, we found that the soft back cushion sinks in, for a pillow-like feel, and requires frequent plumping. Crafted from premium water and stain-resistant materials and a wooden seat deck, the Bundle Sofa is built to last. Three-seaters range from about $2,000 to about $3,000 (less expensive than BenchMade Modern but pricier than Article or Burrow). Founded by Christiane Lemieux and Britt Bunn, the company offers unprecedented access to inspired design at the most compelling prices. Return policy: Returns are free within 30 days of delivery (youll be charged a 10% restocking fee if you dont keep the original packaging). A little storage can go a long way. Sofas are made to order and typically ship within a month. What we liked: Floyd sells just two sofa styles, so its not the first place to go if you want to browse a lot of looks. Follow these steps to ensure that you dont become a cautionary tale for future generations of sofa shoppers. Instead, we point you toward brands and companies that stood out in our research and testing. If you redecorate or have a change of scenery, its furniture is built to adapt with easy-to-change upholstery covers so you can refresh your space without needing to break the bank on new furniture. Each product is fully customisable, allowing you to choose the fabric, legs and cushions on each, so that your furniture is unique to you. Also note any motion transfer, which tends to be most prevalent in sofas with spring suspensions. And weve found both to be comfortable and well constructed, with high-density foam cushions, webbing suspensions (which we discuss in this section), and solid walnut or oak bases. Sometimes there are two humps, and the sofa usually sits atop four to eight exposed wood legs. The most durable sofas have frames made with traditional mortise and tenon joints, which require fewer staples and less glue to hold the frame together, but reinforced corners can also add durability. And were confident about the frames construction, which blends steel with birch plywood and steel legs. Two Wirecutter staffers, who have owned Kiviks for 10 and eight years, respectively, both say they have liked this sofa. The Maiden Home range includes sofas, sectionals, chairs, beds, and ottomans. Burrow has a strong focus on sustainability to ensure its couches are as good for the planet as they are for your Netflix binges. You can see whether flame retardants are present in your sofa by checking the California labeling standard, TB 117-2013 (PDF). Use this test: Lift the front corner or leg of the sofa about 6 inches off the floor. One of our testers has had a BenchMade Modern sofa for more than five years, and he periodically rotates the cushions and washes the slipcovers. Inside Weathers furniture is made-to-order from its workshop in California using carefully selected materialsits sofa, for example, upcycles over 200 plastic water bottles. The metal connectors that link the seat backs also feel a little wobbly. A measure of a fabrics durability, rub count is tested by a machine (video) that rubs back and forth over the fabric until the material wears down. Companies that source and manufacture within the United States, or that have streamlined their supply chains to rely mostly on local sources and factories, typically have shorter lead times. This is not yet an exhaustive list of the companies you should consider when buying a couch online. There are so many styles, types, and sizes of sofafrom buttoned-up Chesterfields to the Dal-inspired Boccathat best is often a matter of personal taste. Return policy: Returns are accepted within 30 days for any reason (this incurs a $49 shipping fee, as long as youre in the continental US), plus $50 if you dont save the packaging. The Sectional offers five color options for its soft, canvas-like fabric (made of 100% polyester): an off-white and four dark, cool tones. The quality of the frame, supports, cushions, and upholstery will affect how long a sofa lasts; this is something we elaborate on in our companion piece, Sofa Buying Advice From the People Who Design and Make Them. Its worth double-checking expected lead times before you place an order, so you know what to expect. She also said assembly was easy and that the components were light enough for her to handle alone. Looking for some Joybird alternatives? Consider 50,000 count as standard, 80,000 as premium, and 100,000 as high-performance. Inside Weather offers free shipping and a unique 365-day home trial, meaning you can return products at any time in the first year. He said the couch is still really comfy, but he has noticed in the past two years that the cushions have started to compress and lose their ability to bounce back. Burrow also goes beyond the industry standards for synthetic stuffing by squashing harmful chemicals from its cushions and its fabrics are made from a material called olefin, which is comprised from upcycled polymers and are naturally stain-resistant. Learn more . Weve tested the Kivik, which has a simple, classic design. A sofas online product page should include measurementsat minimum the width, height, and depth of the sofa. Each shelving unit can be used horizontally or vertically depending on your space, and a set of three simple shelves can turn into full-wall bookcase. Article delivers across the US and Canada for a flat rate of $49. Interior Define stands out in part because of its sheer range of highly customizable contemporary-modern styles and sizes, including sleepers and storage sofas, from sprawling to compact. And the tight-weave fabrics are sturdy, stain-resistant, and ideal for households with kids and pets, since they wipe clean. Return policy: Returns, minus original shipping fees, are accepted in the original packaging within 30 days of delivery via a returns form on Floyds website. You may also notice that certain models, finishes, or colors are out of stock. When youre on a tight budget and an even tighter timeline, we think your best bet is to head to IKEA (you can also order IKEAs sofas on its website). For families with young kids, avoid down-filled cushions, because little feet will likely deform the malleable filling every day. Your feet should rest comfortably flat on the floor while you are in a seated position. We will continue to monitor changes to see if this improves. The company will send you a printout of your items footprint, so you can see whether the piece fits into your space and has adequate clearance to get through doorways and around corners. Average standard sofa price: $2,200 for a three-seater. We spoke with Svenja Diekmann, head of design at Swedish furniture company Hem, at the companys pop-up showroom during the LA Design Festival. We dont have official picks for specific sofa models. We also appreciate the assembly videos and imagery available on its site, so shoppers can get a sense of the product in an actual space and in proportion to people. We have tested The Sofa (in its three-seater-with-chaise configuration) for more than two years, using it daily. We have not had a chance to retest Interior Define sofas, but we hope to do so soon. Almost any Burrow style would be good in a tight space, since the seat depths lean toward the shallow side (between 21 and 22 inches deep). But you can have the sofa delivered to a designated room for $119 and assembled for an additional $80. Most of BenchMade Moderns sofas ship fully assembled with detached legs. The Inside is a direct-to-consumer home furnishings brand taking the decorating experience online. The Index is available in walnut, oak and white finishes and is crafted from Solid Ash (hardwood). But no matter how smartly designed or sustainably certified a sofa is, the lowest-impact sofa will be the one that you like enoughand that lasts long enoughto keep using for years. Some sectionals ship in two pieces and include connecting hardware to lock pieces together. If your kids jump on the sofa, stick with a frame that has sinuous springs or poly-webbing supports, rather than one with more-delicate hand-tied springs. When testing out a sofa, listen for (and avoid) squeaks or creaks. The seat and back cushions have a high-density foam core with either poly fill or a blend of poly and down; this can make some of Sixpennys sofas feel like a cloud, but it also means they are not as supportive. The solid wood legs on Articles Ceni Sofa. You may be able to request samples that are larger than the usual swatch, so you can see what they look like under sunlight and illuminated by interior lights. Its designs also pay close attention to detail with little added extras to make your experience the best it can be. Responsible Down Standard (RDS): This voluntary certification for down verifies that 100% of the products down content was sourced according to certain minimal requirements for humane treatment, including no live plucking or force feeding (for more information, read our post on ethical down). Here are the tips you need to know from furniture designers and manufacturers. The Sofa (which blends Scandinavian modernism with a plush, pillowy look) and The Sectional (which is sleek and modern) are somewhat confusingly named; each is available starting in a two-seater size up through sectional sizes. Things we didnt love: The Sofa model has highly stuffed, foam-filled seat cushions. Warranty: a limited lifetime warranty for the frame, springs, joints, legs, and hardware (does not apply to fabrics, cushioning, seams, tufting, stains, finishes, or any reclaimed wood materials). Otherwise, stick with upholstery fabrics with high stain protection and a higher rub count. Watch:Check out our review of Burrow's Field Collection below: Burrow offers fast and free delivery on every single order. The slipcovers are machine-washablethough Sixpenny recommends dry cleaningand you can order replacements, so it is possible to change your sofas look in the future. Manufacturers used to add these compounds to foam-filled furniture, because the substances supposedly slowed the spread of fire (hence the name). The greenest sofa is the one youll keep, but we share guidance on indoor air quality and sustainability, too. Settee: This is a small upright sofa thats distinguished by its seating for two, and settee is the original name for the loveseat. Because of global events, you may notice longer lead times between placing an order and deliveryin some cases, months. Shipping & delivery: Shipping is free for orders over $999 and $49 for anything under that. The EPA estimates that more than 9 million tons of furniture ends up in landfills every year. It offers free delivery within eight weeks, plus returns within 30 days. If you are unable to do this, however, and you understand the companys return and exchange policies, do a thorough inspection when your new sofa arrives. In our own initial testing, after only a few hours of use, the Kivik sofa looked disheveled and off-kilter. In our experience, Articles email communications with orders and shipping are clear and accurate, and its customer service is responsive. Shop here if: Youre decisive and want lots of customization. Tighter weaves tend to be more water-repellant and less prone to snags than looser weaves. The green velvet has a sumptuous, mossy richness to it and is soft to the touch, and the seat cushion feels medium-firm. Of the companies we looked at, BenchMade Modern offers one of the best return policies and warrantiesa 100-day trial period and a lifetime warranty for the frame and suspension. Things we didnt love: To shop online with confidence, you need good imagery. Both describe a cushioned piece of furniture with a back thats intended to seat more than one person. Here are some (verifiable) terms you may encounter while shopping: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): FSC is a voluntary certification verifying that the wood used in a product is sourced from international forests that are managed in a socially and ecologically responsible way. However, one 5-foot-4-inch tester, who sat in all the styles in the New York showroom (the companys only one), found the backs to be too short (12 inches on the Range, 16 inches on the Nomad, 17 inches on the Field) for long-term support and comfort, saying they hit at the mid-back. Best known for its modular seating, Burrow offers a wide range of fully customizable sofas and loveseats, sectionals, armchairs and ottomans. We've rounded up a bunch of furniture brands with similar product and price ranges to Joybird. She also noted that the lighter weight made the sofa easy to dismantle and reassemble. Shipping & delivery: Its $99 for curbside delivery and $295 for white-glove delivery (which includes in-room delivery, assembly, and hauling away of debris). Within 100 days of delivery, you can return, no questions asked, minus a 10% fee. Weve read mostly positive user reviews about the companys customer service and delivery. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. However, when our 5-foot-4 tester was seated normally, facing forward, it felt almost too deep; taller folks may find it to be just right. But we can walk you through the process and help you balance quality, budget, and space constraints with your unique needs and tastes. Our tester described the tool-free assembly (video) as being mostly straightforward. But she said it was a little fiddly and cumbersome with only one person, since you have to align pre-drilled holes before you can secure modules together with screw knobs. A delivery driver will call to schedule a specific date and time. We found these sofas generous to sit in, and our testers thought they had a decent, albeit firm, ride. Weve been testing the Sven Lounge Chair in velvet for several months of daily use (it has quickly become a living room favorite). The Bundle Sofa is flat-packed for fast delivery and is made to be assembled without any tools. (Room & Board has a great guide to pet- and family-friendly fabrics.) Some people will want slouch-friendly cushions they can sink into, and others will want more-structured support. Generally, youll find four cushion options: Retailers offer a wide range of upholstery fabrics at different prices. Chaise: Imagine the seat of an upholstered chair stretched out, and you have the chaise. Note the sofas widest dimension. Though it has flaws, its the best remote weve found in a dying category. When you buy something online, sight unseen, youre taking a leap of faith. We were impressed by the efficiency with which the Sven Lounge Chair was packed: The legs, which you screw on yourself (no tools required), came zipped into the underside of the chair. In our first round of testing, in 2016, we tested seven sofas from seven companies over several days. The Aria Grande sectional arrived almost completely assembledwe just had to arrange the heavy seat cushions and pillows, and connect the sections (when aligned, they attach with alligator clips). You may need to negotiate between different-size people in your household. Specialising in modern, artisan crafted furniture and decor, Industry West considers its style to be new modern, with a timeless feel. We outline the most important things to consider when youre buying a sofabefore, during, and after shopping. But when in doubt, ask. We expect to add to this list in our next update. The tester, who is 5-foot-3, noted that the sofa was relatively comfortable, but she said she wished the back were higher or the seat depth were greater, to accommodate seated lounging. Industry West's products range from bedroom decor to garden furniture, so youre bound to find what youre looking for, no matter what that may be. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). We independently review everything we recommend. The Nomad collection also comes in performance velvet and leather. We list everything you need to know about sofas, including the common styles, which is best for your lifestyle, and how to spot a quality sofa. Burrows modular furniture offers customization opportunities ranging from fabric color to leg style and even arm height. Is it still comfortable with two or three people? And the cushions all fit inside the seat volume, creating a 70-pound compact cube23 (H) by 43 (W) by 48 (L) inches. Shopping online for a sofaprobably one of the bulkiest and most expensive pieces of furniture youll ownrequires a huge amount of trust. And she reports that its cushions look plump, unfaded, and virtually like new, even without washing the upholstery or flipping the cushions (but with regular vacuuming). To learn how quality sofas are made, we visited three furniture factories: Los Angelesbased BSC Furniture, which at the time was manufacturing BenchMade Moderns line of upholstered seating (the companies have since parted ways); the facility for Modernica, a modernist furniture manufacturer, also based in Los Angeles; and the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams factory in Taylorsville, North Carolina. Rub the sample against your neck, arms, and back to determine whether it will truly be comfortable for long periods, like when youre napping. Sabai uses environmentally friendly fabrics, made from natural fibers and recycled water bottles, FSC certified wood, certiPUR-US certified foam, and recycled fiber pillows. When youre testing out a sofa, remember that any swaying is a sign that the frame isnt strong. And you shouldnt machine-wash or remove the cushion covers (the covers have zippers for manufacturing purposes, but in its FAQ, Floyd advises against removing them). Upholstery fabrics sometimes share a rub-count rating, which indicates their longevity. Shipping & delivery: Shipping to your door is free, but in-room delivery and white-glove (including assembly) delivery are not available. But if you frequently host people with physical needs that are different than yourssuch as a family member with arthritis or a friend who uses a wheelchair, or youre dating a super-tall member of the WNBAyou may want to take their comfort into account, too. At the risk of stating the obvious, if the sofa youre interested in is from a company that has a showroom or brick-and-mortar retail location near you, check it out in person. The right one for you will depend on how much space you have, how many people you want to seat, and whether you plan to use the sofa for napping or hosting overnight guests. Return policy: Sofas can be returned for a refund within 30 days of delivery, minus original shipping fees, plus a $50 return fee. The frame uses FSC-certified wood and domestically sourced maple and jute webbing suspension, and it is assembled in North Carolina. And because of the heavy showroom traffic, this should give you a good indication of how cushioning will fare over time. Instead, we help you navigate companies to compare value, shopping experience, and customer service. Some users report the cushioning in the Ceni Sofa sinking over the years and the fabric upholstery being prone to pilling. Placing the order is slightly cumbersome, since you have to manually enter the upholstery information youre interested in. Articles in-room delivery and assembly policy, Things to consider before you order a sofa, Article: Modern style and comfort at a competitive price, BenchMade Modern: Highly customizable, meticulously constructed, with a lifetime warranty (and a higher price tag), Burrow: Tailored, modular sofas that are better for smaller spaces, Sixpenny: Like a literal cloud for lounging, with a limited lifetime warranty, Floyd: Modular design and customization (with limits), Sabai: A compact sofa made with recycling in mind, Quality construction (and what to look for), How to Prepare for Furniture Delivery video, Habitat UKs six-step sofa-fit checklist, cotton canvas, linen, leather, and velvet fabrics, Sofa Buying Advice From the People Who Design and Make Them, international manufacturing (subscription required), rising shipping costs (subscription required), add these compounds to foam-filled furniture, whats coming out of your foam mattress, measured from the edge of the front of the seat to the front of the back cushion (video, upholstery merchandise manager at Room & Board. Its site allows you to easily search for almost any item of decor or furniture - with the option to simply browse freely, or the ability to search by your preferred style - be that bohemian, industrial, minimalist, or anything else. In our first round of testing, one Wirecutter tester worried about long-term sagging. Free shipping, one-to-three week delivery, and 30 day returns. Survey the easiest points of entry into your home, together with any obstacles that could complicate delivery. Requesting samples is a good way to understand the quality and characteristics of the fabric youre buying. After a mattress, a sofa is likely the most-used piece of furniture in a home. But we stopped recommending the companys products in 2017, after a number of readers reported negative experiences with Joybirds customer service, long delivery times, and even manufacturing defects. These are the things that have made living, working, and taking care of ourselves (all from home) easier. We highlight things to think about before you buy, whether online or in person, including the type and the style you want, what size will fit in your home, how to check for quality construction, how many people you want to seat, and what you should avoid (and invest in) based on your lifestyle. Combined with the lack of spring or webbing suspension, they made the sofa feel less comfortable than others weve tested. Sixpenny received some of the highest praise from our tester, who declared the Aria Grande sectional to be like a literal cloud. With their pillowy back cushions and cotton slipcovers(they also have a recycled faux fur and leather), these sofas tend to have a slightly lived-in yet modern appearance, like an upgrade to a 1990s-era TV couch. (BenchMade Modern offers two cushion fills: a foam-and-fiber cushion, which is firmer, and a foam-and-trillium cushion, which is plusher but needs fluffing.). The zipper flaps on the Skinny Fats cushions closed evenly, and the stitching was tight and even. California passed a labeling law in September 2014, and companies are largely complying to meet the California market. Maiden Home crafts designer quality pieces, made by American craftsmen, without the retail markup. To keep your couch looking fresh, vacuum it regularly, and be prepared to clean up messes quickly. In retail stores, weve seen shoppers sitting like theyre upright mannequins, which is likely not the way they would sit or lie on them at home. If theres an IKEA in your area, you can test out sofas in person. Burrow now offers a range of wall shelves and credenzas to help you make the most of your space. There are limited options for customizing both The Sectional and The Sofa. Also, review warranties and return policies. Compared with other sofas weve tested, Burrow sofas tend to have shorter seat heights (16 to 17 inches) and shallower seat depths (21 to 22 inches), which some people may find uncomfortable for lounging. It supplies a wide range of furniture from sofas, tables, and chairs to bedroom staples like beds and dressers. In this round, we landed on testing sofas or upholstered armchairs from four additional companiesBurrow, Sixpenny, Floyd, and Sabaiand we revisited two of our previous picks, Article and BenchMade Modern. And its modular design means that all pieces can be shipped in regular boxes helping to save money on shipping and ease of delivery (no more wresting fully assembled sofas around tight corners). The back cushions on The Sofa require frequent flipping and plumping (like some Article and Sixpenny sofas), and since theyre quite squishy, we find ourselves wishing the seats were deeper. English roll arm: The cushioned yet firm high-back sofa is distinguished by its low contoured arms leaning outward. Its easy to scroll through and select swatches, with fabric content and weight available at a glance. Prices for its sofas - as an example - range anywhere from $239 to $4,326, with hundreds of options to choose from. Jordan and Anne England believe that fantastic design should invoke happiness. We independently select everything we recommend. However, IKEA is an option to consider for its affordability, availability, and the yearlong return policy for unused merchandise. Be honest with yourself about how youll sit on the sofa. We asked interior designer Bri Ussery of Dr Design House, to join us and give us an overview of the Allform sofa: Burrow makes clever, uncompromising furniture for modern life at home. Some sofas ship fully assembled, some ship with detached legs and separate cushions, and others require more-extensive assembly. Theyre available in a variety of sizes, from loveseats to sectionals, and come in a great (and well-explained) range of upholstery fabrics. Though we love IKEAs simple Scandinavian styling, its couches are neither well constructed nor particularly comfortable. This company basically offers only one stylethough its available in multiple configurations and sizes, from armchair to loveseat to three-seater and corner sectionals. Luckily, most sofas no longer use them. Each one was that companys best-selling model at the time; we thought best-sellers would represent the designs that the companies had the most experience in manufacturing. Traditionally this sofa features one side with an arm and the other side without (aka a mridienne sofa or fainting couch), but many chaise designs forgo arms altogether. You can also filter by ready-to-ship, should you need a sofa within a month. (Our tester hosted three dogs at once on the Range sectional, and it was no worse for wear.)