My husband and I had the same issue and settled on a small sectional from Room & Board. (They actually have even more stylish/modern options than the one we chose - like the Jasper, but we were also dealing with a very narrow front door and stairs in our last apartment, so also required a really low back/profile.)

We have ours set up with a round wood coffee table and two (mismatched) chairs, so that it's also comfortable for non-tv entertaining and the tv isn't completely the focus of the room.

Some older pictures are here (we've since gotten a larger rug, moved the low bookcase out, and switched the position of the tv and vase to further deemphasize it, but I think you can get an idea of how it works):
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SAbgZgI19pyIMrmthI9KuOYuCsnXrtKP1YO5jQNr0rQ?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oAzBTQ_XgKYgWBZimY3ip-YuCsnXrtKP1YO5jQNr0rQ?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SNq7IroLn0bdbdGzvUmw3OYuCsnXrtKP1YO5jQNr0rQ?feat=directlink

I love a modern room, wanted clean lines and a low profile for my couch, and love spending hours on my couch watching football. I went with the CB2 movie sofa: http://www.cb2.com/movie-steel-sofa/f6378

Could someone please retire the expression "man cave," along with the word "granny," to describe rooms and décor?

My suggestion is to remember what's more important here, the relationship or the decor. I'm sure you can find a comfortable sofa that hopefully will look OK with your decor, but being overly concerned with getting the most perfect sofa for the decor may not be productive.

I agree with the sectional idea. Great for guests, and for football games.

How about cream/offwhite leather. That way crumbs and feet don't make so much of an impression and is easily cleaned. And get an ottoman that can serve as a feet-up thing or as a coffee-table. My BF is taller than me and if we buy a couch - seating depth and a higher back is important...

This seems to be a common disagreement. I don't typically link to my blog in comment sections, but I wrote a post about this very topic a few years ago.
http://gimmeakisss.blogspot.com/2010/03/im-having-tom-cruise-moment.html

Long story short, hubby wanted something super comfortable, I wanted a mid-century couch with clean lines and sleek upholstery - no overstuffed furniture for me! We settled on a couch from Z Gallerie, which is no longer available, but you could find something similar at places like Crate & Barrel, Ikea, etc. Just get something with clean lines, but enough padding to still be comfortable. I promise a compromise is possible!

I'd suggest compromising on a (manly) leather sofa with clean modern lines, plus an armchair that you really enjoy sitting in (and can watch TV on your laptop in if you don't want to watch the game). You can then leave him lying on the couch with a beer and decorate round him. Keep the chic co-ordinating cushions in a hamper to come out only when guests are due. The key thing is being happy when there's just the two of you.

Any sofa that is comfortable and suits a more neutral color scheme should be perfectly fine for your needs. I assume "football friendly" means there might be some nacho dip stains in your future? Leather, leather, leather. But actually, you should probably discuss with him the notion of not taking "cave" to heart and going caveman on the sofa.

I would recommend any of the sofas at Room and Board that fit your aesthetic and is comfortable. If his concern is you'll pick a bright purple sofa or something, compromise and get something nuetral.

I like the Henry Sofa at west elm. It's SUPER comfy and looks pretty good too.

We were confused with this as well...I wanted a modern look but we also wanted something that would be comfortable for guests when the "guys just wanna hang out". So we didn't want to spend too much and wanted a fabric that would be durable. We ended up getting the IKEA Karlstad in the isunda grey. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S69840434/

WE LOVE IT. Husband loves lounging, sleeping, playing video games on it..so it's entirely comfortable. But it still looks modern.
Here's what it looks like in our space: http://www.bumpyroadtohome.com/2012/05/bonus-room-pictures/

I got a more contemporary Gus Modern sofa for the living room because it was my "baby" and honestly, I wish I could have gotten another karlstad instead.

In my life, the masculine requirements for the sofa were defined as:

1. 35" or greater deep seat
2. no tufting or excessive "poofiness"
3. leather

my requirements were:
1. minimalist modernist arms (no rolls or scrolls)
2. no T cushions
3. one single cushion for the seat (cracks are whack)

There are A LOT of sofas and sectionals out there that match all of the above, and we eventually chose something that fit our space the best.

A good sofa will meet all of these requirements; a really good one is one you will keep for life, so choose carefully.

A lot of sofas are popping into mind...

This sofa would be perfect, if you have the room for it (it is very, very comfortable). Not sure who carries this line since Conran's U.S. closed, but I am sure someone does --

http://www.conranshop.co.uk/363808/NAVIGLIO-SOFA/Product

Actually, Conran's carries a lot of sofas that fit the bill (Wardour, Elan, Ghost, William, Winny, Mex Cube, etc.) --

http://www.conranshop.co.uk/Furniture/Sofa/Products

Another line which would have options for you is Montauk-- check Grace, Hunter, Emanuelle, Tufted, Geoffrey, Victoria, etc.:

http://montauksofa.com/

But my favorite sofa, the one I can't resist suggesting because it reminds me of a vintage football for some reason (!) is Mario Bellini's Le Bambole for B&B Italia, ideally vintage leather, like so:

http://www.midmod-design.com/archive/4ac516793ffb6/Mario-Bellini-Le-Bambole-sofa-for-BB-Italia-1973

It's been reintroduced into production, so you can buy new, but it is so gorgeous in vintage condition -- the leather just get better! This sofa marries well with a lot of modern and contemporary pieces, and would make a fabulous foundation for your home and life together.

I've recommended pricier sofas because in my experience, they are better made and are more comfortable, so please consider that aspect of it when researching your options.

Good luck and have fun!

I have to second ericahd on the Room & Board sofas. My fiancé and I found a charcoal grey Jasper on craigslist, and we love it. It's stylish for me, but the color and fabric are durable enough to handle feet, it's easy to clean, and comfortable enough for him to take a pretty serious nap.

And trying to find a comfortable balance between two people's styles is a reasonable thing to do, no matter who was there first. Especially in tight rental cities like New York--the decision about who moves in to who's place has a lot more to do with logistics and rent than some sense of territorial rights. It's a reasonable question, stop scolding her for asking it.

One question: why would you ever buy a piece of furniture that isn't comfortable? Just find a modern and good looking sofa that you can both enjoy sitting on and make sure it is long enough for lying down and has upholstery you aren't afraid to snack on. I got the Reese sofa from Mitchell + Gold and I love it--clean lines, very comfortable. The other trick with any upholstered piece is to spring for the down filling, it's much softer and more comfy, though it needs to be plumped back into shape.

Why all the hating on this poster? Yes, she moved into what was his apartment, but it is their apartment now to decorate and create together. Nice that she wants to take into account both of their needs and likes.

I say go with a sectional in a dark color, with modern lines, in a synthetic fabric that is easy to clean. I would try to get one that has a bit of cushioney feel to it. Now I get that is not a modern look, but I'm not talking over stuffed either. Be sure to have a good spot for the remote and a bottle of beer nearby. And be sure on game day to let him keep the room as messy as he likes, strewn with coasters, beer mugs, and other garb of his favorite team.

Move out now, before it's too late! I sure wish I had!

We watch a lot of football on our Clarke sofa from Room and Board. You could add the selectional piece if he need to to stretch out in the the direction of the game. (http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product/detail.do?productGroup=19166) If you have company over you could move that piece to another part of the room to create another seating section. It is very comfortable and unfussy.

I second the Montauk comment - really good quality, really comfy, a variety of styles. Expensive, but worth it for the quality. Plus, there's a showroom in Soho to try them out!

Since when can a couch not be both nice-looking and comfortable? You just have to get out there and shop around.

And your needs for entertaining and his for game-watching aren't even at odds: a comfy place to sit, somewhere to set your beverage, and some snacks within reach.

I decorated for our life, not for our visitors. We live there all the time, they, you know, visit. If you spend time in the living room (as in the room you live in) then make it comfortable, friendly, spill proof, nap friendly, etc. If your friends insist on a formal space, then meet them in a hotel lobby or other formal space.

I think Parnassus is smart by breaking down the elements to what he thinks is comfortable and what you like in a modern sofa.
He'll want:
a deep seat,
higher loose back cushions
bench seat cushion
long enough to lie on

You'll want:
Sleek lines
tall legs - maybe metal
straight thin arms

Check out our Case Study sofa at Steven Anthony Inc. We can make this in any length, any depth, bench cushion, with or without tufting, and your choice of legs. Great choice of fabric or leather http://www.stevenanthonyinc.com/sofas/2-039.php

contact me for more information Tracy Steele Designs 646.337.3341 tsteeledesigns@gmail.com

Similar situation here (though BF wanted it comfy for movie-marathons and video-game playing rather than sports - we're both the sports fans in our house, though don't tend to have many other sporty folks in our circles), and I ended up dragging him to Ikea and came to an agreement on the Karlstad as well, in Sivik Dark Gray with the aluminum tapered legs. I added in a matching ottoman so that it would go with the couch and be there to stretch out on or to be extra seating if needed, and he's been relatively happy ever since - he hates to admit when I'm kinda right sometimes, just to (playfully) get my goat, but he sees how much nicer the place looks with the one large sofa rather than what we had before (two Klippans shoved into the only corner that they'd fit).

I have the Movie Sofa from CB2 and I love it. It's quite large so I don't know if your space would allow for it. If so, it's perfect for lounging, comfortable, neutral, and has the bonus feature of being large enough to accommodate an overnight guest. I've had mine for 5 years and it's held up very well.

My husband and I watch a ton of football from our EQ3 Reverie sofa. Super comfy, comes in a bunch of colors and if you want to kick the tires, they have galleries in NYC and Brooklyn. We found this couch at the first store we looked at, went to five other stores, and then came back and ordered it. Plus, the company has a bunch of other options, including sectionals, and everything's made in Canada.

He's just wary of something frilly, lacy, dainty, or anything that could be linked to European nobility. Basically, he doesn't want to get an earful if he spills a little beer or crushes a cheese-powder-flavored snack into it.

Clean lines and comfortable, and he won't care more than that.

Also, if you agree on a huge TV, he should let you do whatever you want with the rest of the room. Compromises, right?

I agree that a shared space is to be shared, no matter who lived there first. We agreed on a comfortable gray sofa with classic lines.

But it's free "rein" not free "reign." It comes from a way of using loose reins to guide a horse.

I like certain sofa features, too! Can you post a picture of the kinds of sofas you're attracted to (and identify what he doesn't like about them)? Also, what's your price point?

I look for sofas that I can clean w/ oxyclean or that hide dirt pretty well; sofas whose seat cushions can be flipped or reversed for longevity and last minute spot-hiding; sofas that have tight backs, because loose back cushions are hard to keep tidy and drive me nuts; sofas that are sleeker than they are "muscular." They also MUST be worthy of napping on! Because the reality is that someone, sometime is going to nap on that sofa. :)

Dont just focus on the couch. Think about the bigger picture and how you would BOTH like to use the room. You know if he wants to do football parties. He is going to want a table of kind to put snacks on and drinks on during the game. Also if he has some collectible that he loves that is sports related think about a way to display it in a nice way that you can also maybe move a vase in front of it for a more proper living room. There are so many ways to do this its scary. So many options it comes down to personal taste.
Just sit down and think about how he wants to use the room and how you want to use the room. LIke you both want seating. You both want a coffee table. ect .Then think about what you dont want like a ton of sports stuff everywhere. And he would not want pink lacy pillows. So sit down with paper and pen and hash out a plan. Decorating takes time and money. If you start randomly buying things its not going to work. Come up with a plan and do it little by little. That way if you find something doesn't work it can be change. Instead of going out and buying a new complete living room set to find out, it doesn't really work for you.

We went with the Gus Modern Richmond sofa. Still super comfy, but nice and modern. http://www.onlyhuman.ca/richmond-sofa.html

We had the same problem... a game-watching guy, a decor-minded gal... and settled on the Verano from Crate & Barrel.

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/verano-sofa/s256393

We ordered it in the stock fabric and are very happy with how comfortable and durable it is. When you remove the back pillows, it is larger than a twin-sized bed, which makes it great for an overnight guest (we have no guest room either). Just make sure it fits through your stairwells/elevator! (If you order it in the stock fabric, they will let you return if it it doesn't fit upon delivery. If you get a custom color/fabric, you won't be able to return it.)

The West Elm Henry could be an option. We've got the opposite situation (modern husband/slightly less modern wife), and the Henry worked for us.

@mginwa - Well, people have different ideas of what is comfortable.
My ex-boyfriend had a giant green marshmallow of couch, that was not only ugly (in my eyes) but it was so poufy and smooshy, that I couldn't be comfortable on it. I'm a small person, and I always felt that part of poofs were pushing my head forward... (like the headrest on airplane seats - horrible!) and my feet couldn't touch the ground because it wasn't form-fitting.

My couch is a Midcentury Modern style... streamlined and firm. I can sit all the way back on the seat, and nothing is pushing at my head and messing up my hair. He would hate it!! He would think it was too stiff and that the back is too short.

I don't think there is a such thing as a universally comfortable couch.
It's the same reason there hundreds of kinds of running shoes. Not the same for everyone.

Now, let me tell you about my office chair - that keeps sending me to the chiropractor!!

Same disagreement here -- we settled on the York sofa from Room & Board (his choice) in a custom color (my choice).

I just didn't give him a choice. "it's me or the couch".

Not everyone has the same idea as to what comfort is. My husband likes a big cloud; I find that suffocating and like something firmer.

IKEA Tidafors.

I would recommend that you both go to a few stores together to see if there's a style that you both happen to like by accident. My first thought was to recommend a classic brown leather couch and then dress it with more feminine touches (pillows, blankets, etc). When the guys come over, just throw the pillows in a storage ottoman that also functions as a coffee table.

I'm surprised to hear so many people recommending the West Elm Henry. My 86-year-old mother came to live with me. She complained and complained about every seat in the house. So I took her shopping and let her choose a couch. Any one that suited her, so long as it had modern lines. Her requirements were: firm seating (not cushy), very narrow depth so she could sit up straight with her feet on the ground. She also needs a low height for that because has shrunk to 5'3". She picked the Henry.

I don't find it comfortable at all and my brothers who come here to visit her won't sit on it. It's OK depth-wise for me but I have short legs (petite pants even though I am 5'6"). Also the cushions scrunch down and you can feel the hard bottom of the sofa under them. I can't imagine a full-sized man thinking it's comfortable. While, looks-wise, Iove the tuxedo style, I chose the basketweave fabric in the color flax. That, I have truly come to regret. No one sits on this sofa except light-as-a-feather granny yet the cushions are always wrinkled. No one eats on the sofa, and due to light use it's not showing dirt, but it still always looks bedraggled. Perhaps their "Performance" velvet fabric would work better, but I live in the desert so that was a no-go.

@ tracie_middleclassmodern

I used to sell furniture for a living and the "big cloud vs. something firmer" was the #1 disagreement among men and women in both sofas and mattresses. Of course there were exceptions, but on the whole the men wanted a marshmallow and the women didn't. We often had huge fights right in the store.

I can't tell you how many husbands wanted to buy those recliners that look like they are blown up with an air pump and the wives would be shrieking, "You're not putting that in MY HOUSE." To the original poster I would say: if you found a mattress you both like, you'll settle on a couch. But it will require patience. And the closer you are in height, the better. If he's a lot taller, you're going to have to get some pillows for your back.

My favorite. It makes an awesome pull out for guests too!

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80198974/

Here are some room sets to give you an idea of what a couple of the sofas I suggested look like when mixed with some MCM and other modern pieces.

Here's La Bambole:

http://www.desiretoinspire.net/blog/2010/12/28/youll-find-me-on-the-couch.html

And here's the Naviglio:

http://momentoitalia.blogspot.ca/2012/10/naviglio-sofa-modern-classic.html

The reason that I recommended these two in particular is that they are simultaneously firm and cushy, comfortable but never messy.

I also had to answer this same question a little over a year ago. My bf and I purchased the Freestyle sectional in Pewter from Ashley Furniture. We love it. The fabric is a thick soft corduroy and has held up wonderfully through many food and booze events. Price is great too, it was around $700 when we purchased. I do have to warn you its quite large but if you have the space I highly recommend it. Good luck in the search!

http://ashleyfurniture.com/Showroom/Showroom.aspx?PageId=Showroom&CategoryID=7&ItemNo=5820117&SetDomTab=1&SeriesNo=58201&CollectionId=&style=&PageNumber=1&IsClicked=1&CatPageNumber=1

Lovesac Sactional!!!!

no to a sofa w/ a chaise attached, yes to leather, mind the scale.

The beautiful part about a deep couch is that there is plenty of room to settle in and surround yourself with decorative pillows and throws. But you should definitely consider the wear and tear of the couch, you don't want something that's going to be spilled on and then never be able to get out the stain, you'll only resent him every time you see it;) West Elm has some great picks or check out this site for a great comparison guide: http://home-and-garden.become.com/deep-couches
Good luck!!

@mschatelaine - i agree that pricier sofas typically do suggest a better made product by way of materials and construction; but pricier obviously doesn't mean better designed, as i found most of the sofas at your suggested links to be eyesores at best, or absolutely hideous in others.