We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space

Growing up, no one ever teaches you how to buy a couch. The sheer number of products you have to choose from when shopping for sofas (or anything, for that matter) is both a blessing and a curse. Especially at a retailer like Ashley, which has so many options. 

So, how do you save yourself from dealing with a disappointing big-ticket purchase and difficult return process? By reading our Personal Shopper series, of course! In this series, we visit the physical showrooms of all your favorite furniture retailers and try products out first-hand. For our latest installment, we ventured out of NYC and headed to Secaucus, New Jersey, to check out Ashley’s sofa offerings.

Despite a rising number of online DTC competitors in the sofa marketplace, Ashley has held its own as a legacy retailer and continues to produce high-quality sofas at reasonable prices.

In addition to offering its signature homey, traditional silhouettes, Ashley also boasts a wide selection of modern sofas and sectionals that look right at home in both busy family households and young adults’ apartments. And when we say wide, we mean we looked at upwards of 40 models in the store.

We judged every Ashley sofa in-store based on the following five criteria to help us determine who the sofa suits best, from the busy parent to the small-space apartment dweller.

• Seat firmness: How soft or firm are the seat cushions? How do they contribute to overall posture and comfort?

• Seat depth: How far do you have to scoot to meet the backrest? And when you do, are you in an upright or reclined position?

• Loungability: Can you spend hours on this sofa or chair? And would you want to?

• Durability: Is the fabric easy to care for and able to withstand everyday use? Does it require frequent upkeep and spot cleaning?

• Appearance: What style does it best suit? Does it lean more traditional (i.e., rounded lines, tufted cushions, classic silhouettes) or more contemporary (i.e., clean lines, bright hues, modern silhouettes)?

Every Ashley sofa was tested by former Shopping Writer, Nikol Slatinska. Nikol has written for Apartment Therapy since 2022. She has tested and reviewed furniture for the Personal Shopper series to help readers find the best pieces for their homes, especially small spaces. From sofas and bed frames to dining tables and accent chairs, she’s covered it all — making her a furniture expert. 

Nikol spent the day at the Ashley store in New Jersey to evaluate the brand’s sofas on their design, durability, and loungability.

What impressed us: I viewed a surprisingly large number of modular sofas in Ashley’s store, including the Emilia sectional. Each module of this sofa is fully finished on all sides and can be moved to create countless configurations. Another unexpected but welcome feature of this couch was its ultra-soft leather upholstery, which covers the backrests, seats, and arm cushions. (An indistinguishable faux leather match covers the exterior areas.)

Sitting down, we also found that the seats were splendidly deep and wide, not to mention plush, which isn’t super common with leather couches. The upholstery is prone to grain and shade variation over time, but this is to be expected with softer leather. Plus, the Emilia still appeared to be in great condition in the showroom.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available as an ottoman, loveseat, sofa, and four-piece sectional
• Dimensions: 131.5” long, 131.5” wide, 36” high
• Upholstery: 2 options

What impressed us: In case you couldn’t already tell, we prefer sofas with wide, deep seats and a sink-in feel. It’s only natural, then, that the Soletren was our favorite model of the 40-something we viewed. It’s almost more of a loveseat but wide enough to seat three. In other words, this sofa is great for apartment dwellers looking for a cozy but modern addition to their living space.

A cool detail about the Soletren is that it has three back cushions, which gives it a homey vibe, but only two seat cushions, which is a trendy touch. And we can’t forget that as a sleeper sofa, it unfolds to reveal a queen-size mattress.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available as an ottoman, loveseat, accent chair, and oversized chair
• Dimensions: 96″ long, 40″ wide, 39″ high
• Mattress dimensions: 60” long, 72” wide, 4” high
• Upholstery: 1 option

What impressed us: The first thing you’ll notice about the Creswell sectional is that it has both a right- and left-facing chaise, and they’re not the same length. So, whether you want extra legroom while snuggling or a bed-like napping spot, this pick gives you both. We deemed it the best model for families not only because of its expansive seating but also because of the durable upholstery.

When you sit on the Creswell, you’ll find that its polyester fabric isn’t quite as soft compared to some of the other models. But, because it’s not as delicate, it won’t be as difficult to spot-clean. Also, the sectional’s seats and back cushions are relatively firm but plush enough to be comfortable without swallowing you. The chunky block legs and wide, slightly curved arms are also a nice touch.

Specifications:

• Styles: Available as a storage ottoman and swivel accent chair
• Dimensions: 125″ long, 87″ wide, 39″ high
• Upholstery: 1 option

What impressed us: The modest Carnaby sectional proves that you can still stretch out on a chaise even if you’re dealing with limited square footage. This model is surprisingly compact in person, but still incredibly comfortable, thanks to its plush back cushions and seats.

The seats are narrow, but the wide chaise makes up for that. We also liked the sectional’s textured, linen-like cream fabric, as well as its barely exposed block feet. Additionally, this is one of the Ashley sofa models that comes with complimentary accent pillows — five, to be exact.

Oftentimes, pillows that come with a sofa might not match your aesthetic. But in this case, the accessories are just as neutral and pleasant-looking as the main attraction. Finally, the Carnaby is available with the choice of a left-arm- or right-arm-facing chaise, so you can customize it to your living room’s layout.

Specifications:

• Styles: Available as an ottoman, three-piece sectional, and four-piece sectional 
• Dimensions: 100″ long, 67″ wide, 39 “inches” high
• Upholstery: 1 option

What impressed us: Although Ashley is a legacy retailer, most of the sofas we viewed in-store skewed more modern as opposed to traditional. The Discota sofa, however, is an obvious exception. It sports a classic silhouette with its roll arms and high back. You also get three back cushions and three corresponding seat cushions.

It’s upholstered in a soft, neutral fabric that would look good in any space. The cushions are packed with high-quality foam, giving them a soft and comfortable feel. The sofa also comes with matching accent pillows, which is an added bonus.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available as an ottoman, oversized chair, and loveseat  
• Dimensions: 100″ long, 40″ wide, 39 “inches” high
• Upholstery: 1 upholstery option

What impressed us: The Lindyn sectional is so soft and cozy that you won’t want to get up. It’s the be-all and end-all of inviting sofas with its cord upholstery, matching throw pillows, and a modern, blocky look. 

The chaise, which can be either left-arm or right-arm facing, is also super wide — almost wide enough for two. It’s the perfect spot to lounge on or take a nap. It’s available in two colors: fog and ivory.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available as a modular loveseat, oversized swivel accent chair, oversized chaise, modular sofa, and more
• Dimensions: 138” long, 70” wide, 38” high
• Upholstery: 2 options

What impressed us: If you ask us, a twin sleeper is one of the most underrated pieces of furniture. You can either make up for your lack of a sofa without sacrificing a lot of space or add a snuggly chair-and-a-half to your living room. And in both cases, you also get an extra sleeping surface for guests.

We first viewed the Rannis in a queen sleeper size, but we found the twin version to be much cuter and, naturally, more suitable for small rooms. It has the typical pull-out bed, which was very easy to unfold and put away.

The bi-fold mattress is made of supportive memory foam and sits atop a sturdy steel frame that can undoubtedly hold a lot of weight. And when it’s in chair form, the Rannis looks like the typical cozy accent piece.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available as a recliner, full sleeper sofa, and queen sleeper sofa
• Dimensions: 54″ long, 40″ wide, 39″ high
• Upholstery: 2 options

What impressed us: This sectional has a cool and modern look that’s completely modular. The five pieces are free-floating without connectors, which means there are endless configuration options. Keep them all together to create a sectional, a long sofa, or separate them to create separate seats, almost like a home movie theater. 

On top of being modular, it’s upholstered in Next-Gen Nuvella fabric that’s not only soft, but also durable and easy to clean. The cushion covers are removable and washable, and the fabric is stain-resistant. That makes this sectional perfect for families and busy households, whether there are kids or pets running around.

Specifications:

• Styles: Available as an oversized accent ottoman, modular sofa, modular loveseat, recliner, and more
• Dimensions: 107″ long, 107″ wide, 36″ high
• Upholstery: 4 options

What impressed us: Ashley had a lot of cool power-reclining sofas on display. Among them, we found the Stoneland model, which has a distressed and old school look that’s packed with modern conveniences. It has power controls on each side, making it easy to change your seating position. 

If you don’t have the space for a chaise on which to elevate your legs, this is the next best thing. The Stoneland also boasts a wide center console, where you’ll find two cup holders and a roomy storage compartment for your remote and movie night snacks.

Specifications:

• Styles: Available as a manual reclining sofa, manual reclining rocker, power recliner, and power reclining sofa
• Dimensions: 82″ long, 41″ wide, 42″ high
• Upholstery: 2 options