I Test Furniture for a Living — These Are My Favorite Sofas for Lounging

With its relaxed, low-profile silhouette and long side chaise, the Jonathan Sofa just makes you want to lie down. "Despite its structured, blocky shape, it has a cushiony, loungeable sit," wrote one editor. But this isn't one of those couches that's all fluff and no substance — the sofa has exceptional bounce-back, so it keeps its shape even after a long hangout session.

“It doesn’t matter how you position yourself on the Timber Sectional, you’re going to be comfortable,” raved one editor after testing it in-store. “Its seat and back cushions are soft and bouncy, and the armrests have thick, removable pillows that add tons of cushion.” It’s also surprisingly compact for a sectional sofa thanks to the 93-inch wide silhouette and shorter chaise that doesn’t require much front clearance. 

Technically not a sofa, Joybird’s Sebastian Daybed is the next best thing to an actual bed with its extra deep seat. At 82 inches wide, it’s great for small spaces and still provides plenty of room for the whole family to pile on for movie nights. I tested the Daybed myself at the Joybird store and was blown away by its sink-in softness. I loved that it had not one but two sets of back pillows for extra cushion.

Editors named the Harmony Sectional the most comfortable sofa at West Elm, and it’s not hard to see why! The platform base and fluffy cushions give it a relaxed look and feel. “It’s truly cloudlike to lay on,” they wrote, while still being exceptionally stylish and “reminiscent of the step-down sunken living rooms of the ’60s.”

Serial loungers will love laying across this modular sofa’s extra deep seats. Shopping Writer Alexa Casanova and Executive Home Director Danielle Blundell tested the sofa in person and confirmed it’s basically the size of a twin bed — which means it’ll be your guest’s favorite spot to crash! The low, squared-off arms make an ideal headrest, too.

This roll arm sofa from Pottery Barn has a classic but casual silhouette, complete with oversized cushions that will make movie night feel extra cozy. You can customize its size and upholstery to make it match the rest of your space. The sofa’s low profile only adds to its bed-like feel.

“This is a sofa you could easily spend hours on,” wrote AT editors about the Ciello Sofa after testing it in store. “It’s right in the middle between soft and firm, with more of a sink-in feel that still conforms to your body.” The sofa’s thick cushions, deep seats, and pillowy armrests are ready for lounging — and the modular design means you can easily reconfigure it as your needs change.

Almost every furniture store I’ve visited has its own version of the famous Cloud couch, and this is Joybird’s version. The Bryant sectional has incredibly deep, soft seats and an unstructured look. The only downside is that you’ll have to refluff its cushions frequently, but that’s to be expected with any plush couch. Have a tiny living room? This model also comes in a petite size.

CB2’s Ceva sofa is one of the most luxurious couches I’ve seen, thanks to its opulent velvet upholstery (which is a performance fabric!) and bench-style seat that invites you to spread out. Neither its seat nor its wide back cushions are firm, so if you hate hard sleep surfaces like I do, this angular sofa is for you. If the 103-inch model is too big for your space, there’s also an 86-inch sleeper version.

If you’re after something a bit less conventional, I also tested and recommend CB2’s Plinth sofa, which has an ultrasoft and wide bench seat. Its armless design also means your legs won’t bump up against any barriers when you lie down.

Oftentimes, I have to go back to my notes to recall how sitting on a certain sofa felt. But with Pottery Barn’s Union sofa, I can still feel it as if I just tested it yesterday. Sinking into its feather-soft seat felt like how I’d imagine lying on a marshmallow feels. Its back cushions felt just as pillowy. Honestly, I don’t think I could have this in my home if I wanted to be productive on WFH days.