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. Though some of the companies we looked at have showrooms or brick-and-mortar stores, the bulk of this guide covers direct-to-consumer companies that sell online. Generally, this may be because of issues with international suppliers (wood that is harvested in Europe or Asia, for example) or international manufacturing (subscription required). Still, the presence of these certifications may give you peace of mind that the companys claims have backup. 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. Camelback: The aristocratic profile of the camelback (also called a humpback sofa) is unsurprisingly attributed to the hump at the center of the backrest. Interior Defines cushion matrix notes that certain cushion types will require more-regular fluffingand this is just a reality of some sinkier sofa styles. But it may also be due to issues with domestic suppliers, as in the case of foam. Survey the easiest points of entry into your home, together with any obstacles that could complicate delivery. (Our tester hosted three dogs at once on the Range sectional, and it was no worse for wear.) Well keep an eye on how this particular fabric wears over time.). Is it still comfortable with two or three people? (Our tester hosted two dogs on the Aria Grande in Sundazed Coral cotton linen, and it has held up fine so far. It simply means the company could afford to pay for the certification process and thought doing so was worthwhile. And because both are smoother, theyre less likely to be scratched into remnants by a pets claws. Though the Loyd Chair we ordered was beautifully made, the angle of the seat back made it hard to sit upright and encouraged a more-reclined positionsomething we might have foreseen had we viewed models sitting in the chair. Habitat UKs six-step sofa-fit checklist is another excellent resource. At a minimum, all companies that sell furniture in the United States must follow domestic and international regulations that limit certain harmful chemical content, such as formaldehyde levels in wood, foams, and textiles. This means that The Sofa lacks bounce, despite its cushy appearance. Katie Okamoto is the lead editor of sustainability at Wirecutter. The companys seating comes in a range of sizes, including armchairs, loveseats, three-seaters, and sectionals, and it can usually be dispatched in a few days (Article clearly lists the shipping windows on each product page). When you buy something online, sight unseen, youre taking a leap of faith. Though its pricestarting at about $550is almost impossible to beat, in this case you get what you pay for. 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. For an extra fee, you can have the sofa delivered to a specific room, but assembly is not available. 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. We still reference specific models weve tested, but our focus is on the brand or company. If you have delicate wood floors, carefully consider the legs of your sofa. And the Sven three-seater sofa (88 inches wide) ranges from $1,300 to $2,100, depending on your choice of velvet, woven, or leather upholstery. 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. If you find the couch uncomfortable to get up from, you might want to try a higher seat level and firmer cushions, and avoid very sinky materials like down or memory foam. These are the things that have made living, working, and taking care of ourselves (all from home) easier. 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. What do the best and worst online reviews say? We spoke with Svenja Diekmann, head of design at Swedish furniture company Hem, at the companys pop-up showroom during the LA Design Festival. To help determine what best serves your lifestyle, think through the following questions. But generally, people who are shorter than 5-foot-3 may prefer an inside seat depth of 19 to 21 inchesmeasured from the edge of the front of the seat to the front of the back cushion (video). Shop here if: You love a cushy couch with a relaxed look, deep seats, and lots of color and fabric choices at a fair price. Our testers found the high-resilience foam cushioning on both the Skinny Fat Sofa and the Loyd Chair to be comfortable, if on the firmer side. The zipper flaps on the Skinny Fats cushions closed evenly, and the stitching was tight and even. Its also a good idea to avoid decorative detailing, like tufting buttons or frilly trim; for some kids, pulling and picking at these will prove irresistible. Weve tested Articles Ceni Sofa and the Sven Lounge Chair (an armchair version of the Sven Sofa). She holds a bachelors degree in environmental studies, as well as a masters in architecture, and has covered the overlaps between sustainability and other topics for publications including The Atlantic, Newsweek, and Catapult. So youll also have to like that one look. Floyd tells you the number of boxes and their dimensions and weight before you order. Average standard sofa price: $1,500 for a three-seater. Return policy: Sofas can be returned for a refund within 30 days of delivery, minus original shipping fees, plus a $50 return fee. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Some accessibility rules of thumba short seat height can be taxing on arthritic knees, and a shallow seat depth can be uncomfortable for people of above-average heightcan help. When youre testing out a sofa, remember that any swaying is a sign that the frame isnt strong. The frames are made of hardwood, with bent plywood panels and polyester webbing, and the cushions combine medium-density foam, shredding fill, and fiber wadding. Its worth double-checking expected lead times before you place an order, so you know what to expect. Were here to help you understand what to expect when you buy from a company, whether or not you can trust its claims, and what your options are if you end up hating your new sectionalso you can get a sofa youll love, with fewer headaches. Shipping & delivery: Its $99 for curbside delivery and $295 for white-glove delivery (which includes in-room delivery, assembly, and hauling away of debris). 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. A number of customer reviews from 2019 through 2022 cite issues with manufacturing defects, unresponsive customer service, and poor communication. To keep your couch looking fresh, vacuum it regularly, and be prepared to clean up messes quickly. Below are the eight most common styles sold today. The other front leg should eventually lift with it. 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. BenchMade Modern typically can make and deliver a sofa in 24 days, even if you need it in a special size; this is far less time than the eight to 12 weeks it takes most furniture companies to fulfill orders. Shop here if: Youre in a hurry to purchase a couch and money is the biggest factor in your decision. Removable legs allow for simple delivery for tight spaces. Beyond style, cushions are the most subjective element when youre picking out a sofa. The EPA estimates that more than 9 million tons of furniture ends up in landfills every year. Return policy: Returns are free within 14 days. After a mattress, a sofa is likely the most-used piece of furniture in a home. Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI): This is a voluntary standard verifying that wood-based products are sourced from forests that are managed in an ecologically responsible way. 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. Tighter weaves tend to be more water-repellant and less prone to snags than looser weaves. What we liked: Sixpenny sofas tend to be rumpled-chic takes on the Lawson style, and they come in nine versions, seven of which are available as modular sectionals that you can reconfigure. Warranty: lifetime for frame and suspension, one-year warranty for cushions and fabrics. Weve tested the Kivik, which has a simple, classic design. Weve updated Articles in-room delivery and assembly policy to reflect a $20 price increase. Though we like the configuration tool (this lets you visualize different dimensions and see zoomed-in swatches) on each product page, these renderings dont give us a sense of the product in real life. You can see whether flame retardants are present in your sofa by checking the California labeling standard, TB 117-2013 (PDF). And this is especially true with sofas, which often cost hundreds or thousands of your hard-earned dollars and can be a hassle to return. The production, shipment, and delivery of products may be impacted by pandemic protocols, labor shortages, shipping container shortages, and rising shipping costs (subscription required) that are outside the companys control. Subscribe now for unlimited access. She also said assembly was easy and that the components were light enough for her to handle alone. As a friend put it, You could see into your future.. No-fuss upholstery and a neatly tufted button back make for an easy fit into even the most minimalist of living rooms. Also note any motion transfer, which tends to be most prevalent in sofas with spring suspensions. 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. 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. Shop here if: You have a smaller budget and want a good variety of styles and fabrics, from sleek, mid-century modern looks to classic leather sofas. In our experience, this is simple to do, and overall we found The Sofas assembly to be straightforward, though easier with two people. We perused their websites, visited showrooms, and compared fabric samples. You also can usually find out how a sofa shipsin sections that just need joining or completely disassembledin the company FAQ or by emailing customer service. We independently review everything we recommend. Some companies are introducing buy-back or trade-in programs, or redesigning their furniture so it can be disassembled and its components repurposed. In 2022, we spoke with Phantila Phataraprasit, co-founder of Sabai, about the companys approach to designing for a sofas lifecycle. The company will also customize the size of your sofa, which is handy if you have an odd-shaped living room. Shipping & delivery:About $150. Shes been studying, working in, and writing about the complexities of sustainability since 2005. And because of the heavy showroom traffic, this should give you a good indication of how cushioning will fare over time. Swatches: You can get up to 10 free swatches through an online form; not every couch style comes in all fabrics or leathers, so check before ordering your swatches. The company also recently launched a buy-back, second-hand program. 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. What we liked: Founded in 2019, Sabai is still a relative newcomer, yet it has already redesigned its sofa with an eye toward end-of-life disassembly and recycling, removing glues, unnecessary plastic, and redundant materials. What we liked: Article offers a range of sofa typesincluding loveseats, sectionals, and sleeper sofasin modern and trendy styles. But we think for the price you get better quality, including a lifetime guarantee for the frame. But we recommend having a helper. (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 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. As a designer, he learned the ins and outs of mass-market product design, from conception to manufacturing. Shopping online for a sofaprobably one of the bulkiest and most expensive pieces of furniture youll ownrequires a huge amount of trust. The greenest sofa is the one youll keep, but we share guidance on indoor air quality and sustainability, too. If you have a household with pets or kids, Sixpenny recommends opting for a tighter weave and heavier cotton. It still looks great for the most part, and the fabric has held up well (two adults, no pets). A steep stairway, a narrow corridor, a low overhanging fixture, or a small elevator can all present insurmountable challenges. IKEA sells a range of sofas and sectionals. For both sofa styles, you will need to access the PDF instructions on Floyds website. We like Floyd for its quality, pricing, shipping and delivery communication, ease of ordering, and materials transparency, as well as the options its design affords for future expansion. Shipping & delivery: Shipping is free for orders over $999 and $49 for anything under that. Instead, look for sofas with frames made of furniture-grade plywood, engineered hardwood, or solid wood. Down-filled cushions are kept in check by the clean lines of this mid-century modern sofa. The company does offer various kinds of virtual appointments and assistance. We found Room & Boards How to Prepare for Furniture Delivery video particularly insightful for visualizing unforeseen obstacles. The color was accurate to the site, customer service was great, and delivery was a breeze. Claims like natural, upcycled, sustainable, locally sourced, and climate pledge may be meaningless, since they are not always regulated or verified by an independent party. Our outside tester, a dog-owning friend of one of this guides authors, has had the three-seater in indigo velvet for two years. If you feel achy after only a few minutes, consider a different style or size. If you have specific physical seating needs or preferences, such as a high seat height, firmer cushions, or more back support, you are probably already shopping with those specs in mind. We think Sixpennys cotton canvas, linen, leather, and velvet fabricswhich are hand-dyedare some of the most beautiful weve seen. 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. Return shipping is prepaid. Consider 50,000 count as standard, 80,000 as premium, and 100,000 as high-performance. Both The Sofa and The Sectional are available in two-seater, three-seater, and sectional configurations. The Ceni three-seater, with woven polyester fabric upholstery, normally sells for $1,150. Our testers have lived with these models in their homes over several months, hosting parties, movie nights, and various pets. The Nomad collection also comes in performance velvet and leather. The staffer who owned the sleeper version of the Kivik for eight years said they used it in the guest room or office: It moved with us four times and was still in excellent condition when we sold it in 2020.. All three sofa stylesthe Nomad, Field, and Rangehave exposed legs and clean lines, giving them a mid-century modern look. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. The solid wood legs on Articles Ceni Sofa. 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. That said, the few stains weve seen so far on the Sundazed Coral cotton linen sofa weve been testing have been relatively easy to spot-clean. It looks like someone from our Care team has been in touch to look into t Seat cushions are high resiliency foam with Polyester, Back cushions are fiber down blend in a down proof cambric shell, Loose, reversible cushions with removable covers for seat, Some assembly required (approximately 5 minutes). Weve all heard the horror stories about someone who purchased the sofa of their dreams only to discover it would not fit through a doorway, navigate a stairway, or fit inside the room. Our tester said she broke a sweat doing this by herself. We outline the most important things to consider when youre buying a sofabefore, during, and after shopping. Things we didnt love: There is a trade-off to the compact style of Burrow sofas. But if you have a large family or pets, wed recommend leaning toward 50,000 because the amount of friction across the fabric surface will add up. Examining your prospective sofa in person is the best way to get a feel for it and avoid the hassle of a bulky return. 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. Instead, we help you navigate companies to compare value, shopping experience, and customer service. Gregory is a former industrial designer and current writer and editor who has been covering home design since 2006. Our testers varied in height, weight, and age (including some jumping children). Because of global events, you may notice longer lead times between placing an order and deliveryin some cases, months. As you browse, youll encounter a host of sustainability and performance claims and certifications related to upholstery. The companys social media offers some snippets of real-life settings, but it can be hard to find your specific configuration. But the company provides detailed delivery windows by product and region, and it updates shipping estimates on product pages. Weve redesigned this guide to make it easier to find the best sofa for you, including what to look for and which companies to consider. The metal connectors that link the seat backs also feel a little wobbly. Sometimes there are two humps, and the sofa usually sits atop four to eight exposed wood legs. Its easy to scroll through and select swatches, with fabric content and weight available at a glance. And even if a company does include third-party certifications, like Oeko-Tex fabrics or Greenguard Gold, their product is not necessarily healthier for you and the planet than some others. We initially recommended Joybird in 2016 because of the furnitures quality, comfort, and pricing, as well as the variety of modern-to-retro styles the brand offers. Some users report the cushioning in the Ceni Sofa sinking over the years and the fabric upholstery being prone to pilling. Declare: This product-labeling system, owned by the International Living Future Institute, verifies that a company has voluntarily disclosed all product content, and it certifies the absence of Living Building Challenge Red List chemicals that have been found to be harmful to human health. We had hoped the company would solve these problems after its acquisition by La-Z-Boy in July 2018, but weve found that these same issues continue today. Weve added sofa companies Burrow, Sixpenny, Sabai, and Floyd. BenchMade Modern sends a free, true-to-size footprint of your sofa to roll out across the floor; if youre considering another company, you can create your own using newspaper, cardboard, or paper taped together. We havent had the chance to order and assemble a Sabai sofa in house yetand well update this guide once we do. We wanted to find sofas that could be easily ordered online and returned. Even though those foams dont contain flame retardants, they still release gasses and, often, related odors for the first couple of days, but these should dissipate soon. To conform to TB 117-2013, each piece of upholstered furniture must include the following lines, with one of the lines marked with an X: The upholstery materials in this product: _X_ contain added flame retardant chemicals, _X_ contain NO added flame retardant chemicals. Note any valleys between cushions, which can make squeezing in multiple people uncomfortable. The SofaBaton U1 has a good physical design and lots of features for the price. Narrow your search to the styles that appeal to you and that will complement your home. In our own initial testing, after only a few hours of use, the Kivik sofa looked disheveled and off-kilter. Residential rub counts above 25,000 are usually considered fine. And were confident about the frames construction, which blends steel with birch plywood and steel legs. And that pillowy comfort means the cushions require frequent plumping to look put together. 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. The coronavirus has turned life upside down. 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. In brief, this is what to look for. Placing the order is slightly cumbersome, since you have to manually enter the upholstery information youre interested in. The return process is more cumbersome than most weve reviewed, since youll be asked to email photos to show an items current condition and/or potential defects. Average standard sofa price: $2,500 for a three-seater. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. Shipping & delivery: free threshold delivery to your door, or white-glove delivery (assembly in your room of choice) for $100. Although we do our best to capture user feedback, its helpful to also get a sense of what people love or hate about the sofa, especially over time. Some retail companies, like IKEA and Wayfair, offer augmented-reality apps so you can visualize furniture in any space. And because the cushions are covered with the same fabric on both sides, this sofa was one of the only ones we tested that had cushions we could flip. But you can have the sofa delivered to a designated room for $119 and assembled for an additional $80. 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. Available in a variety of timeless colors, you're sure to find something that matches your decor. If you want to expand the sofa in the future, you can order individual modules. 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. (Sixpenny also offers an easier-to-care-for recycled faux fur which the company says can be easily machine-washed and spot cleanedand leather options for some models.) But later, scientists demonstrated that the compounds didnt actually work as described. For an added layer of protection, you may also want to consider a sofa with a slipcover or upholstery that you can remove and launder. Upholstery fabrics sometimes share a rub-count rating, which indicates their longevity. The cheapest fabrics are generally more susceptible to stretching and staining. Within 100 days of delivery, you can return, no questions asked, minus a 10% fee. Keep up with what were up to. Determining which sofa is the best is a subjective decision. Check legs for color or wood stain/grain mismatches. The slipcovers are removable and washable, but its not a simple task youll want to have to do regularly. Swatches: Swatches come in swatch sets by sofa style and fabric type (leather, fabric, velvet). Sit or lounge how you normally would, and note how it feels over time. Those who prefer a more upright position, or who are looking for a sofa for entertaining, may like these proportions. With its 10-year frame guarantee, Interior Define offers one of the longer warranties weve seen (short of BenchMade Moderns lifetime warranty). We dont have official picks for specific sofa models. Most frames are made of some kind of engineered wood. This is not yet an exhaustive list of the companies you should consider when buying a couch online. The arm on BenchMade Moderns Skinny Fat Sofa. Unlike many sofas, The Sofa has no suspension; the double-foam seat cushions simply rest on a thinly padded plywood base. Microfiber and leather upholstered sofas are the easiest to clean and maintain. 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). Note the sofas widest dimension. Search for the same manufacturer or model, note advertised age, and check for patterns of places that wear has occurred over time. Exchanges are free with the original packaging. We have not had a chance to retest Interior Define sofas, but we hope to do so soon. Shop here if: Youre decisive and want lots of customization. Although Burrow offers a limited range of performance fabrics (between three and five, depending on the line), the deep neutrals, navies, and greens are rich and saturated. California passed a labeling law in September 2014, and companies are largely complying to meet the California market. Use this test: Lift the front corner or leg of the sofa about 6 inches off the floor. Things we didnt love: Among the many glowing Article reviews we saw, there were a fair number of negative ones, most of them pertaining to durability. So far theyve held up well, but well see how they perform over time. In our experience, small spills wipe off with a damp cloth. But based on thorough in-person inspections, extensive research, and user feedback from a tester who owns one, we think a Sabai sofa is worth considering if youre looking for an affordable, compact model with replaceable parts, including slipcovers. Follow these steps to ensure that you dont become a cautionary tale for future generations of sofa shoppers. If you bought a Joybird sofa and are happy with it, your experience has been much like that of our testers. The Sofas configuration is less flexibleyou wont be able to turn a two-seater into a three-seater, for instance. 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. 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. And you prefer cotton or leather fabrics or dont need synthetic performance fabrics to withstand day-to-day messes. Were in the process of testing sofas from additional companies, and we are expanding our research to serve more people and capture a broader range of perspectives. Inspect stitching and piping sewn across cushions, to check whether they align consistently. And for the price, youre getting high-quality constructionhardwood frames with plywood corner reinforcementand high levels of comfort, due to spring suspension and foam-core cushions with soft down or poly fill. The volcanic gray cushion on Articles Ceni Sofa. Sofas and couches come in many shapes and sizes. 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. When testing out a sofa, listen for (and avoid) squeaks or creaks. Some sofas are supported by fabric poly-webbing, which can be even more durable than sinuous springs, depending on the quality. Things we didnt love: To shop online with confidence, you need good imagery. Gather everyone for a movie marathon or a game night with this Anton 102" Wide Velvet Sofa & Chaise. Because of its petite proportions, the settee works well in smaller apartments, in a pair facing each other, or placed within unexpected spaces like bedrooms, offices, or even hallways. 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. What we liked: Compared with other online offerings we tried, BenchMade Modern sofas are relatively expensive. The products may be held up in shipping ports for weeks or months, which can sometimes impact the state a product is in when it arrives at your door.
Sitemap 18