We Tested (and Rated) All the Sofas at Raymour & Flanigan — Here Are the Best for Every Space and Need

Welcome to another edition of Personal Shopper, the series in which we visit the showrooms of all your favorite furniture retailers, testing and rating everything from dining tables to living room seating, so that you can feel confident about purchasing these big-ticket items online. We’ve been to Pottery Barn, Ashley, Macy’s, and Blu Dot, to name a few, but this time we headed to Broadway to find the best sofa at Raymour & Flanigan.

Because of the sheer number of furnishings, this roundup will be different from previous Personal Shoppers. Instead of listing out every single piece we looked at, we’ve narrowed down the total number to five of the best sofas at Raymour & Flanigan. This condensed rundown consists of our favorite living room seating picks that’ll fit best into a variety of spaces, whether you’re moving into your first city apartment, working with very limited square footage, or looking for your next family-friendly sectional.

Raymour & Flanigan carries furnishings that are high in quantity and quality. Walking into the NYC showroom, I was greeted by a number of trendy seating pieces on the lower level, but the true breadth of their selection was upstairs. While there’s a lot to sort through on the second level, the living room seating displays are conveniently broken up into specific style categories (transitional, coastal, rustic, etc.) and model types, including sleepers and power sofas.

Each model is in stock in a couple of colors to allow for quicker order and ship times, but depending on which one you select, you can find even more color and configuration options online. Although it’s great to have so many options, the idea of picking just one out of all of them can be daunting. So, consider this your guide to the best sofas at Raymour & Flanigan based on in-person testing.

We judged every Raymour & Flanigan sofa, sectional, and sleeper in-store based on the following five criteria to help us determine who the sofa or sectional suits best, from the first-time apartment owner to the frequent overnight guest host.

• 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 Raymour & Flanigan 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 Raymour & Flanigan store in NYC to evaluate the brand’s sofas on their design, durability, and loungability.

What Impressed Us: One of Raymour & Flanigan’s most popular sofas, the Alphie is a solid beginner sofa for those moving into their first grown-up apartment or making do with a tiny space. At just under 85″ wide, this classic couch will fit up against your wall and maybe give you enough leftover space for some side tables.

Although this piece isn’t customizable, it’s neutral enough in both color and silhouette to blend in with your other furnishings no matter which interior style you’re aiming for. Other features of note are its charming round piping, spongey foam cushions, and tweed-like, easy-care fabric. And of course, you can’t ignore that low price tag!

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available in a loveseat andaccent chair styles
• Dimensions: 84.5″ wide, 39″ deep, 38″ high
• Upholstery: One color option

What Impressed Us: In this day and age, you might be used to seeing leather couches that look sleek, modern, or, at most, a little distressed. That only makes the Hutchinson sofa all the more impossible to ignore. It has an almost gothic appeal with its ornate tufting, rolled arms, and nailhead trim, all of which are even more breathtaking in real life.

The sofa’s top-grain leather is smooth to the touch. You’ll find it on the body and arms, while the back and sides are upholstered in a matching vinyl that’s virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. You’ll want to vacuum or dust the Hutchinson frequently to maintain its luxe appearance, but that’s a small price to pay for such a statement-making showpiece.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available in armchair, accent chair, and loveseat styles
• Dimensions: 89″ wide, 40.5″ deep, 31″ high
• Upholstery: One leather/vinyl finish

What Impressed Us: Nothing will instantly brighten up your space quite like the Mirasol sofa. Tufting on the back and seat cushions further adds interest to this mid-century modern piece, while dark, straight feet provide a nice contrast. You’ll find that you’re able to both relax and work from this sofa if needed; its padded track arms could serve as either a spot for your phone or a head pillow. Like many of Raymour & Flanigan’s sofas, this one is also upholstered in a durable, stain-resistant fabric.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available in accent chair and loveseat styles
• Dimensions: 88″ wide, 39″ deep, 35″ high
• Upholstery: 23 color options

What Impressed Us: Another customer favorite, the Arlo sectional proves that even the smallest apartments can accommodate a sofa with a chaise — as long as it’s the right size. This piece looks simple and modern with its clean lines and velvety light grey upholstery. Although the cushions are stain-resistant, they’re also reversible should you need to give your sectional a quick pick-me-up.

Despite this living room staple’s relatively small frame, its chaise still offers plenty of space for sprawling out as you queue up your favorite show. You should also know that the Arlo sectional is one of Raymour & Flanigan’s most customizable offerings. Not only is it available with the chaise on either side, but you can also choose your number of desired seat modules and even turn this piece into a sleeper sofa! Really, it’s only simple at first glance.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available in storage ottoman, longer two-piece sectional, three-piece sectional, sleeper sectional, four-piece sectional, and five-piece sectional styles
• Dimensions: 88″ wide, 65″ deep, 36″ high
• Upholstery: One color option

What Impressed Us: As if it weren’t enough that this power loveseat offers an endless number of reclining positions, it also sports a built-in two-cup holder and flip-top console that conceals a generous storage spot. In other words, you’ll never have to balance your drink in your hands or lean over to grab it from the coffee table again.

The storage area isn’t large enough for blankets, but you can easily store your remote, gaming devices, and other streaming accessories. Fabric-wise, the Rockland power loveseat is upholstered in a super soft microfiber that resembles distressed leather. It’s great for homes with pets, as you can just wipe off any hair with a couple of swipes.

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available in power recliner, power sofa, five-piece power sectional, six-piece power sectional, and seven-piece power sectional styles
• Dimensions: 89″ wide, 36.5″ deep, 39″ high
• Upholstery: One color option