I Test Furniture for a Living — These Are the Best Traditional Pieces For a Cozy Home Vibe

There’s much to love about Ashley’s Carnaby chaise sectional, including the fact that it’s small-space-friendly and available with either a left- or right-facing chaise. It’s actually one of my favorite living room seating options from the retailer, and I’m normally a modern furniture enthusiast. But I love the charming roll arms on this sectional, as well as the soft, cream-colored fabric. And it comes with accent pillows!

Pottery Barn’s Sausalito dining table instantly made an impression on me thanks to its ornate, Roman-style legs and spacious surface. It’s already quite large when round, but the table extends into an oval via a drop-in leaf, which makes it able to seat up to six people. (Pottery Barn is a gold mine of extending dining tables, by the way.) I also liked its grainy texture, which further adds a lived-in feel to the overall design.

Ashley had so many cozy bed frames on display when I visited, including a number of sleigh headboard beds. If you don’t want something that out-there, though, consider the Robbinsdale bed. In addition to having a rustic touch you’d expect from farmhouse-style furniture, this frame also has lots of built-in storage in the form of two footboard drawers and a flat headboard surface that could double as a shelf for your bedside essentials.

I definitely felt transported back to a different time period when I sat on CB2’s Marconi sofa. It has a very low profile, and I noticed that its whiskey-colored upholstery was soft and tufted into a cool argyle pattern along the back and arms. As for the back, it’s low and firm, but the included lumbar pillows offer plenty of support. This pick will instantly add an old-world ambience to your living space.

The Gemma chair from Raymour & Flanigan gives me grandma chair vibes in the best way. Its seat is on the firmer side, but the overstuffed back cushion adds plenty of plushness and lumbar support. I also appreciated the chair’s linen-like upholstery, as well as its tall legs, which help keep the silhouette current despite the chair’s traditional elements, like its roll arms and prominent piping.

Sitting at Pottery Barn’s Livingston desk, I felt like an elected official. With its imposing size and stately crown molding, how could I not? Not only does the heirloom-quality desk offer ample drawer space, but it also features a sizable work surface for multiple monitors. Because this pick is contract grade, you can be certain it’ll hold up splendidly after years of use. The fact that it’s available in five wood finishes also doesn’t hurt.

I’ve tested a handful of Chesterfield sofas in both leather and fabric upholstery, but Raymour & Flanigan’s Hutchinson model is easily my favorite one. The tufted silhouette is opulence at its finest. I could easily visualize its rich leather form next to a grand fireplace and ornate Persian rug, though there are so many ways you could style it. Available in a rich brown color, the Hutchinson is sure to bring an old-world sensibility to your living space.

If you tend to use your coffee table as a dining spot or work surface, there are plenty of functional models within the Personal Shopper series that would suit your needs. The Winona table from West Elm is more of a showpiece, so it’s better used for displaying decor and making your living space look beautiful. The table achieves this with its sculptural pedestal base and elegant round surface, both features that’ll make the surrounding area look thoughtfully curated.

This might be one of the most customizable sofas I’ve tested not only at Pottery Barn but at all of the retailers I’ve visited as a whole. The Carlisle comes in three sizes and more than 100 upholstery fabrics, not to mention with your choice of cushion fill. Although its arms and legs are traditional in style, modern details like the bench seat keep this small-space-friendly bestseller looking fresh.

Deputy Commerce Editor Alicia tested Wayfair’s Jacob coffee table when visiting the retailer’s first brick-and-mortar store, and she highlighted its distressed material, which gives the table a lived-in look. “Because of the distressing, each individual coffee table is slightly different; no two are alike,” her review reads. Although it’s relatively unique compared with most modern coffee tables, the Jacob table remains easy to style with a variety of other furniture and decor.

Before I checked its product tag, I assumed the James recliner was just another stylish accent chair on Pottery Barn’s floor. I found its cushions to be supremely soft and fluffy as I leaned back against the cool leather. Of course by this point, I’d figured out it could recline into a variety of positions. You can opt for a manual version of the recliner, which changes position when you press against the headrest and footrest, or a power-reclining model. In any case, your new chair will look sophisticated and feel so comfortable, you’ll find it hard to leave your seat.