I Test Sofas for a Living — These Are the 16 Comfiest Sectionals for Every Space and Need

Folks who love hosting will appreciate the Thataway sectional’s unique, open-angle silhouette. Its low-profile, geometric shape gives guests plenty of room to spread out and chat without awkwardly making them sit too close to each other. Editors say the sofa’s shape will make cramped living rooms feel more open, too.

The center wedge piece on this L-shaped sectional creates the coziest, rounded seat. It’s one of many reasons we dubbed this model as one of the best for households with kids and pets — there’s room for everyone to pile on! Factor in the removable cushions and plentiful easy-care upholstery options, and you’ve got a couch you’ll cherish for years to come.

Apartment Therapy’s former Commerce SEO Editor, Sarah Vasquez, called this Albany Park sectional a “goldilocks find,” and it’s a claim I can confidently co-sign. “These cushions truly cannot be beaten,” she wrote. “They’re somehow sink-in cozy, deep, and supportive, all at once.” What’s more, there’s a great selection of upholstery fabrics to pick from, including easy-care options.

If durability and size are your top priorities, consider Floyd’s Two-Piece Form sectional. It’s modern, modular, and made for real-life messes. One editor even said the Form’s heavy-duty, high-performance fabric upholstery held up against her cat’s constant scratching. It also has a wider seat that’s perfect for lounging.

Article’s best-selling Timber sectional is mid-century modern style at its finest, sporting an exposed honey oak base, out-turned legs, and a clean-lined silhouette. The foam-filled cushions have the perfect level of softness and bounce, and it comes in various apartment-friendly configurations.

The first thing Shopping Writer Alexa noticed about this sectional when she tried it in-store was how plush and comfortable it felt. “It’s a big, loungy sofa that doesn’t have added bulk, making it a dream come true for smaller spaces,” she wrote. It comes in a 78-inch width that’s perfect for apartment living, and the modular design means you can always add seats as your needs change.

I love the Arlo Sectional’s compact silhouette — and if you’re an apartment dweller, you will, too. It has a clean and simple silhouette that’ll style seamlessly with practically any decor aesthetic. And after testing it in person, I can confirm that the chaise is bigger than it looks. It offers plenty of space for sprawling out as you queue up your favorite show. The cushions are stain-resistant and reversible, should you need to give your sectional a quick pick-me-up.

Burrow’s Range sectional is Scandi-cool meets MCM-flair, with its low-profile wood legs and sleek silhouette. Editors say the modular design is easy to assemble and super-versatile, too; AT’s former Deputy Lifestyle Director Madeline said she plans to reconfigure hers into two seats with two ottomans. “It’s just the right amount of firm so you don’t feel like you’re sinking into it, yet it’s surprisingly soft for such an angular style of sofa,” she adds.

Small-space dwellers will appreciate the Ciello sofa’s compact, modular design. It’s packed in multiple, easy-to-manage boxes for seamless maneuvering through narrow hallways. “I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable this sofa is, and its design doesn’t look cheap at all,” AT’s former SEO Writer Hayley writes in her review. “The performance fabric feels incredibly high-quality, and the cushions are a dream to sink into.”

Out of all the couches AT’s former shopping writer Kendall and I tested at West Elm, the Haven Sectional was the absolute best for movie nights. “Its movable back and arm pillows, long bumper chaise, and wide, deep bench-style seat cushions make it ideal for those who love to stretch out, lie down, sit up, or get creative with their lounge positions,” Kendall said in our review. And it’s not just pillowy and inviting — it’s also incredibly stylish, with 100 upholstery options to choose from.

This extra-large slipcover modular sofa from Acanva is the best of all worlds. It has a extra-deep seat, armrests that double as ottomans, and removable, machine-washable covers so you can keep it clean. Best of all: It's on sale for Black Friday right now.

When in doubt about buying a sectional, go with a modular option, like Pottery Barn’s Westwood sectional. It has three separate chair modules and a detachable ottoman, so you can have fun splitting them up and reconfiguring based on your mood. Low back pillows also provide lumbar support, while wide seats mean you can sit and lie down in virtually any position.

CB2’s Deseo sectional is another great modular option. It’s available in a variety of upholstery fabrics, though I loved the charcoal-colored performance velvet I saw in-store. Naturally, it offers endless configurations, and you can add on extra modules if you ever need to increase the amount of seating in your living room. With a low profile and far recline, the Deseo is a great pick if you enjoy napping on the sofa, too.

It can't be denied: Double-wide seating makes for a luxe, superior lounging experience. That’s why Pottery Barn’s best-selling Big Sur sectional is the perfect couch for movie nights. Anywhere from two to four people can be seated facing forward and still have their own space to move around. Bonus: The cushion fill is a bouncy foam wrapped in a down blend that yields unbelievable comfort, all while maintaining clean lines and a sharp, modern look.

This small-space-friendly sectional quickly earned my stamp of approval. When I visited Ashley’s brick-and-mortar store to test all of the sofas, I determined that the Carnaby is “surprisingly compact in person but still incredibly comfortable thanks to its plush back cushions and seats.” Plus, I love its cream-colored upholstery and traditional touches, like the roll arms. Oh, and it comes with six accent pillows!

Design Within Reach’s sofas cost a pretty penny, but after testing all of them in-store, I can understand why. The Pastille sectional, for example, is unlike any other sofa I’ve seen thanks to its seemingly suspended chaise, which almost appears to be floating. It also has a compact yet loungy silhouette, and you can choose whether you want the chaise on the left or right side.