We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at CB2 — Here Are the Best Ones to Suit Your Style and Space
Shopping for furniture online is no easy feat — especially if you have your sights set on an expensive bed frame or dining table. You want to make sure the investment is worth it, but this can be hard to do based only on product photos and, occasionally, customer reviews. Lucky for you, our Personal Shopper series delivers the details on all of the furniture from your favorite home retailers, including West Elm, Burrow, Pottery Barn, Wayfair, and more. Essentially, we visit the brick-and-mortar stores of these brands to test their furniture and decor. After our visit, we provide a detailed breakdown of which sofa, dresser, or rug is best for your space.
On one of our most recent visits, we stopped by CB2’s 3rd Avenue Manhattan store to check out a few different furniture categories, including sofas. Not only are CB2’s sofas some of the most stylish we’ve ever seen, but we also appreciate the brand’s commitment to sustainable material sourcing and extensive quality testing. We’ve included nearly every model we saw in the list below, with the exclusion of one to avoid redundancy in terms of materials and silhouette. Keep reading to learn about the sofas’ specifications and determine which one is best for your space.
Why CB2?
Browsing CB2’s offerings online feels akin to looking through a highly curated home inspiration moodboard. The brand’s sofas in particular are best characterized as modern, trendy, and well-crafted. CB2 also exercises responsible manufacturing practices, using sustainably sourced materials for its products, such as preferred fibers and FSC-certified wood from responsibly managed forests. Additionally, the retailer offers free design services with experts to help you choose pieces that best suit your personal style. You can book an appointment in-store or opt for a virtual consultation if you don’t have a CB2 near you.
The Sofas
- Best Leather Style: Rodez Sofa
- Best for Small Spaces: Strato Sofa
- Best Modular Style: Deseo Modular Corner Sectional
- Best for Lounging: Lumis Modular Chaise Sectional
- Best for Families: Faible Chaise Sectional
- Best Traditional Style: Marconi Sofa
- Best Textured Style: Mylene Bouclé Sofa by Goop
- Best Cozy Style: Leonne Bouclé Sofa by Goop
- Best Statement Maker: Sevigne Leather Modular 4-Piece Sectional by Goop
- Best for WFH: Camden Sofa
- Most Luxe Style: Ceva Sofa
- Best for Socializing: Curvo Sofa by Goop
- Best Armless Style: Plinth Sofa
The Criteria
We judged every CB2 sofa in-store based on the following five criteria, giving each category an average rating between 1 and 5. These scores helped us determine who the sofa suits best.
- Seat Firmness: How soft or firm are the seat cushions? How do they contribute to overall posture and comfort?
- Seat Depth: What posture does the sofa best support? How deep or shallow are the seats?
- Loungability: Could you spend hours on this sofa? Could you nap on it? 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 the sofa 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 Editor-Tested Sofa at CB2
Best Leather Style: Rodez Sofa
What impressed us: The ultra-soft upholstery and rounded silhouette.
We quickly noticed that most of CB2’s sofas, including the Rodez, have impressively deep seats. This model also wowed us with its inward-curving arms and firm seat. It would make a great replacement for a first sofa that’s on its last legs; we could envision the Rodez in a young adult’s industrial-style loft. Its tan leather upholstery is soft to the touch, so it does scratch easily. As a result, we wouldn’t recommend the sofa for busy households with pets or young children. That being said, the more wear the sofa accumulates, the more personalized it’ll feel in your living space. We viewed it in the 105-inch length, but the 88-inch version would be great for small spaces.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
- 88 inches long, 40 inches wide, 26.5 inches high
- Available in 4 upholstery options
- Also available as an accent chair
Best for Small Spaces: Strato Sofa
What impressed us: The small footprint and all-around tufting.
The most compact sofa we viewed in-store was the Strato. At only 80 inches long, it’s small, but it makes a big statement, thanks to its wide channel-tufted upholstery. The back and arms come up quite high, making you feel cocooned as you sit back. The Strato’s seat and back are pretty firm, so we think it could benefit from some accent pillows for added comfort. As is the case with many of CB2’s sofas, this one comes in performance fabric upholstery options, so although it looks luxe, it won’t prove too difficult to clean or maintain. And it goes without saying that this pick will receive endless compliments from anyone who visits your place.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
- 80 inches long, 38 inches wide, 27.5 inches high
- Available in 33 upholstery options
- Also available as a modular sectional
Best Modular Style: Deseo Modular Corner Sectional
What impressed us: The armless configuration and charcoal-colored velvet.
This was the first modular sectional we saw as we made our way around the showroom, and it remains our favorite modular option. The version in the store was actually comprised of one bench module, a corner module, and a short end module as opposed to two benches, but that’s the beauty of the Deseo: There are endless configurations, and you can add on extra modules should you ever need to increase the amount of seating in your living room. Also, we’ve seen a lot of sofas with velvet upholstery, but never in this deep charcoal color, which further makes the Deseo stand out from other models. A low profile, far recline, and plush seats make this armless stunner a nap-worthy pick, too.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Best for Lounging: Lumis Modular Chaise Sectional
What impressed us: The oversized seats and pillowy cushions.
The Lumis looks not unlike the famed Cloud couch, which is a living room classic at this point. It, too, is modular and features the fluffiest cushions out of all the sofas we tested. If you’re renting or working with tight quarters, you might not be able to fit a full Lumis sectional in your space, so we’d recommend this oversized model for homeowners, instead. It’s the perfect crash pad, whether you’re hosting movie night, entertaining relatives for the holidays, or just vegging out after a long day. Its cream-colored, linen-like performance fabric was a nice detail, too.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
- 126 inches long, 42.5 inches wide, 27 inches high
- Available in 30 upholstery options
Best for Families: Faible Chaise Sectional
What impressed us: The low profile and super-deep seats.
Consider the Faible sectional the Lumis’ streamlined sister. It has the same oversized silhouette and deep seats (the deepest of all the CB2 sofas, in fact) but without cushions that’ll need regular fluffing. We think this model is ideal for large families because no one will have to fight over seats, and the upholstery options include a few performance fabrics for easy cleanups. Additionally, the Faible has a spongy, supportive feel, extra-wide arms that practically double as side tables, and a clean design that fits in with a variety of interior decor aesthetics. A store employee informed us that the Faible is CB2’s best-selling couch, and we’re not at all surprised.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Best Traditional Style: Marconi Sofa
What impressed us: The prominent button tufting and lumbar pillows.
You’ve likely noticed already that CB2 predominantly caters to modern tastes, so the Marconi naturally stood out to us with its vintage-inspired design. It has a very low profile, but, for once, this sofa’s seats were of a regular depth. Its whiskey-colored upholstery was soft and tufted into a cool argyle pattern along the back and arms. We could smell the leather as we sat on its medium-firm seat, which only added to the sofa’s old-world appeal. The Marconi was actually designed for a classic Milanese restaurant, so adding it to your space will help give your living room a posh, club-like ambience. The sofa’s back is also low and firm, but the included lumbar pillows offer that necessary support. It’s a showpiece, but it’s not wholly impractical.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
- 81.5 inches long, 33 inches wide, 24 inches high
- Available in 5 upholstery options
- Also available as an accent chair
Best Textured Style: Mylene Bouclé Sofa by Goop
What impressed us: The bouclé upholstery and cozy, rounded shape.
We’ve viewed a lot of bouclé sofas both for this series and outside of it, although none made as lasting of an impression on us as the Mylene sofa. For one, its upholstery was an elegant mix of black and white as opposed to the usual single-tone bouclé. It was also fuzzy and soft, not unlike an expensive wool sweater, although this fabric is made of synthetic materials. The bench seat is of a normal depth, and it is firm but still comfortable. We also liked how the back wrapped all the way around, which only added to the Mylene’s cozy vibes. This sofa is part of CB2’s collaboration with Goop, and the collection is every bit as sophisticated as we’d expect from Gwyneth Paltrow.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
- 97 inches long, 39 inches wide, 28 inches high
- Available in 18 upholstery options
Best Cozy Style: Leonne Bouclé Sofa by Goop
What impressed us: The compact size and body-contouring back.
Up next, we saw the Leonne sofa, which, similar to the Mylene, was curved and upholstered in bouclé. This couch felt a tad less grand, though, and instead more suitable for greeting guests for afternoon tea or flipping through magazines on a lazy Sunday morning. It has cute stubby legs, a firm seat, and feels as homey as a teddy bear. At 90 inches long, the Leonne isn’t the smallest sofa we looked at, but it’s still a solid choice for small spaces. Its taupe hue is also a refreshing departure from your typical brown, black, or white upholstery. Clearly, CB2 and Goop are not afraid to experiment with interesting colors.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
- 90 inches long, 38 inches wide, 27.8 inches high
- Available in 19 upholstery options
Best Statement Maker: Sevigne Leather Modular 4-Piece Sectional by Goop
What impressed us: The rolled backs and grid pattern on the cushions.
Our first impression of the Sevigne sectional was that it looks like those popular Bottega cassette bags because of its grid-like leather cushion pattern, which almost looks woven. Our second impression was that it’s big — like, really big. This oversized model is modular, though, so you can move its ottoman chaise to whichever side needs extra legroom or split the sofa into two daybed-style chunks. This pick comes in a beautiful taupe color that’s at once neutral but different from the norm. Rounded back cushions basically double as head pillows, and we also couldn’t get enough of the Sevigne’s round, textured wooden legs. Wherever you look, there’s a cool detail to observe.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Best for WFH: Camden Sofa
What impressed us: The ‘70s-inspired silhouette and crisp white fabric.
If you’re hesitant about the idea of owning a white couch, know that the Camden sofa comes upholstered in white performance fabric and that it’s also available in more than 30 other fabric options. This alone makes it a great choice for people who like to do everything from one spot, whether that entails eating, working, or hanging out. The Camden also has a soft and plush bench seat that still manages to offer plenty of support, so you could sit on it for hours without feeling discomfort. Looks-wise, the sofa is impossible to ignore, thanks to its Space Age design. It might be vintage-inspired, but it’ll undoubtedly level up the contemporary aesthetic in your living room.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
- 101 inches long, 37 inches wide, 31 inches high
- Available in 34 upholstery options
- Also available as an accent chair
Most Luxe Style: Ceva Sofa
What impressed us: The long, bench-style seat and unique fabric color.
The Ceva reminded us of the sprawling sofa in photos of Coco Chanel’s iconic Paris apartment — only the Ceva is upholstered in a mellow blue velvet. Its singular long seat invites you to lie down, while low, wide back cushions provide that touch of support to keep you from completely sinking in. The wide square arms and angular lines prevent the Ceva from looking outdated, as does the tall platform base. At 103 inches long, this model is quite lengthy, but you’ll be happy to learn that it’s also available in an 86-inch sleeper version.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
- 103 inches long, 38 inches wide, 31 inches high
- Available in 33 upholstery options
- Also available as a sleeper sofa
Best for Socializing: Curvo Sofa by Goop
What impressed us: The bubbly shape and contrasting stainless steel legs.
We’ve seen low-budget retailers try and fail to replicate a glam sofa style, but Goop’s Curvo sofa is the real deal. It looks positively lavish without being ostentatious. We credit its smooth woven linen upholstery and fluidly curved back for that. Contrasting metallic legs only add to its allure. Both the seat and backs are quite firm, but you get enough space to spread out. The sofa’s curved shape also lends itself to social hangouts, whether you’re hosting a party or an impromptu gossip sesh.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
- 95 inches long, 38 inches wide, 30.5 inches high
- Available in 19 upholstery options
Best Armless Style: Plinth Sofa
What impressed us: The upholstered plinth base and generous lounging space.
The Plinth sofa’s armless silhouette and incredibly deep seat make it feel more like a daybed than a proper couch. Between its soft seat and back, chunky bouclé upholstery, and thick plinth base, it makes you feel like you’re lounging on a stack of down featherbeds, even if the sofa is not actually that tall. It’s the kind of seat you could spend hours in, scrolling on your phone or leading deep conversations. This structural model would look dashing paired with organic shapes, like a kidney bean-shaped coffee table or wavy-edge rug. It comes in a slew of neutral fabric colors, along with some experimental jewel tones that would make styling the Plinth that much more fun.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
- 79 inches long, 45 inches wide, 29 inches high
- Available in 22 upholstery options