Best Overall
Article Abisko Sofa
ARTICLE
- Comfort5/5
- Ease of Use5/5
- Durability5/5
- Quality5/5
- Value5/5
- We thought this couch was supportive, comfortable, and stylish.
We thought this couch was supportive, comfortable, and stylish.
- The material did attract some pet hair, though we found it easy enough to brush off.
The material did attract some pet hair, though we found it easy enough to brush off.
When we first saw the Article Abisko couch, our initial reaction was that it looked quite firm and uncomfortable. While it is firm, we found that the firmness actually makes the couch comfortable as it offers more support than other options.
We placed the Abisko in our home office and used it frequently to read, hang out, and nap as often as we could because we thought it was so cozy and fun to use. It’s equally pleasant to both sit and lie down on, we noted, and we reported that multiple guests expressed how comfortable it is, too.
There aren’t a ton of customization options on this couch — Article only offers two plush velvet fabric colors, a yarrow gold and Pacific blue — but we found the ordering process to be straightforward. The couch was delivered on the day it was scheduled to arrive, and assembly took about 20 minutes and just involved screwing on the legs and disposing of the boxes.
The velvet fabric itself was soft, durable, and clearly high-quality. We were impressed by the overall construction and appreciated that the cushion fill was dense and substantial. Throughout the six-month testing period, the cushions didn’t lose their firmness or become lumpy in any way, and there was no noticeable wear and tear or color fading. Although the velvet does attract some pet hair, we found it relatively easy to brush off.
In testing, one to two people tended to use this couch at the same time, though we thought you could probably fit up to four if you had to. We liked the size of the couch and noted that it’s wider than a standard couch, making it easy to lie down or tuck your feet in while sitting.
Overall, we found that this couch was a great value as we thought the price was reasonable for the quality. We also loved the design of the couch and felt that it was a great piece of furniture for your home.
Product Details: Dimensions: 28 x 91 x 35 inches | Material: Velvet
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ABIGAIL WETZLER
Best Budget
West Elm Oliver Sofa
WEST ELM
- This couch delivers a polished look.
This couch delivers a polished look.
- There are fewer customization options than many other West Elm sofas and you can’t reverse the cushions.
There are fewer customization options than many other West Elm sofas and you can’t reverse the cushions.
Most of the midcentury modern couches on this list top $1,000, making the West Elm Oliver Sofa less expensive for those who still want this style.
Although the fabric and leg finish options here are more limited, West Elm does offer the option of either a 72- or 82-inch width, as well as three upholstery fabrics (a dove color in twill, pewter yarn dyed linen weave, and dark olive chenille). The 72-inch width has two cushions, and the 82-inch has three and can seat another person.
Regardless of which upholstery color you choose, the Oliver sofa is undeniably stylish. The legs, which are made from solid rubber wood in a light walnut finish, are ever so slightly splayed. The overall look is polished but still comfortable, in part thanks to the deeper seats, which offer plenty of room to curl up with a book, watch movies, or take a nap.
The seat and back cushions are dense (they have high-resiliency polyurethane foam cores) and are semi-attached, which means you won’t be able to reverse them — but this also helps them maintain their shape.
As Stephan notes, the sleek and narrow design of midcentury modern couches means that they’re often on the firmer side, which may feel less comfortable to some. The Oliver sofa is definitely firm — West Elm rates it a “5” on their firmness scale, with “1” being the softest and “5” being the firmest. So if you prefer a soft, plush sofa, this may not be the best option for you.
Product Details: Dimensions: 72 x 32 x 30 inches | Material: Twill, linen, or chenille
Best Splurge
Kardiel Woodrow Skandi Sofa
KARDIEL
- While you will certainly pay more for this couch, the materials are high-quality and you benefit from a lifetime warranty.
While you will certainly pay more for this couch, the materials are high-quality and you benefit from a lifetime warranty.
- The walnut wood sides and frame are gorgeous and eye-catching, but there isn’t the option to customize the wood color if that’s important to you.
The walnut wood sides and frame are gorgeous and eye-catching, but there isn’t the option to customize the wood color if that’s important to you.
The Kardiel Woodrow Skandi Fabric Sofa is undeniably an investment. But with the steeper price tag comes a truly stunning midcentury modern sofa made from luxurious materials. The entire couch is stitched and crafted by hand, for one, and it’s incredibly stylish. There’s also button-free tufting, high-quality fabrics, and walnut wood sides and frames that give it a warm, distinctive appearance.
The seats, though supportive, are deep and comfortable with medium firmness, and the two included bolster cushions are a nice touch. Also good: It comes with a lifetime warranty, which may help you justify the higher price tag.
Though it doesn’t have the most customization options on this list, there are still plenty of upholstery finishes to choose from: there are five gorgeous leather shades, two velvet colors, a classic canvas, or a dark gray boucle. The non-leather upholstery colors make the price a little less expensive, too.
Product Details: Dimensions: 86.75 x 32 x 34 inches | Material: Canvas, velvet, leather, or boucle
Best Modular
Burrow Block Nomad Sofa
BURROW
- Comfort4/5
- Durability4/5
- Quality4/5
- Value5/5
- Size5/5
- We thought it was stylish and versatile, and a great starter couch for a family since you can add to it over time.
We thought it was stylish and versatile, and a great starter couch for a family since you can add to it over time.
- It’s not the softest couch for lounging.
It’s not the softest couch for lounging.
Burrow’s Nomad Collection Block Nomad Sofa is a modular couch, which means it comes in multiple pieces to make it easy to move and adapt to your space. We used it at our home where multiple adults, friends, and their two kids frequently sat on it, and loved the look and feel.
We noted that this couch was a classic midcentury style that we thought would go with many different types of decor. The back pillows are designed to be reversible if you want to switch up the look of the couch, which we thought was a nice touch.
This is the ideal couch for an apartment, playroom, or guest room, we noted, because it's lightweight, comfortable, and has a nice look to it. You can add to the couch system with other pieces over time like a sectional or an ottoman, so we thought it made for a good starter sofa for a first home, apartment, or expanding family.
The ordering process was intuitive and easy to navigate and assembly was simple. Each of the pieces arrived in its own box (five total) with everything wrapped neatly in plastic. Two people were able to set the couch up in under 30 minutes without any tools, thanks to the straightforward directions.
We like that Burrow offers several customization options. With this style, there are five upholstery colors to choose from and six leg finishes (including both wood and metal). You also have the option to invest in a few upgrades, such as a moveable chase, ottoman, lumbar pillows, and a sleep kit at an additional cost. We didn’t opt for these and regretted not getting the ottoman, which we thought would have given the couch more of a lounge-like feel.
The fabric felt high-quality and also appeared to be highly durable. During testing, a child spilled something on the couch and it came out quickly with a little soap and water. Burrow even notes that you can clean the fabric with water and bleach.
We loved the size of the couch, which we thought was compact with no wasted space. The cushions are dense and well-made, and it held up perfectly for nearly three months, even with two little kids jumping on it.
As for comfort, we did note that this pick is better for sitting rather than lying down. While it’s certainly comfortable enough to sit on, we noted that there’s very little ‘squish’ and you don’t sink into it.
Product Details: Dimensions: 85 x 35 x 33 inches | Material: Velvet, leather or olefin fiber weave
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / MEG LAPPE
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / MEG LAPPE
Best Customizable
Room and Board Jasper Sofa
ROOM and BOARD
- There are 200 fabric options to choose from, as well as multiple sizes.
There are 200 fabric options to choose from, as well as multiple sizes.
- While there are an infinite number of customization options, shipping times vary based on which fabric you choose.
While there are an infinite number of customization options, shipping times vary based on which fabric you choose.
If customization options are what you’re after, this pick from Room and Board is the best choice for you. With the Room and Board Jasper Sofa, you have a truly impressive number of ways to customize the couch to your exact specifications.
Most of the midcentury modern couches on this offer at least one or two fabric upholstery colors, but the Jasper sofa has more than 200 color options, including a range of materials such as velvet, plain weave, boucle, and microfiber. Since the list of colors can be overwhelming, we recommend sorting by general color or feature, such as performance or fade-resistant fabric.
What’s more, you also can choose your leg style (such as round, square, or tapered) and finish (walnut, maple, ash wood, or metal if you prefer), as well as the size. The Jasper style is available in a 98-, 96-, 86-, 71-, or 60-inch width option, each with slightly different seat configurations.
Though the customization options can be dazzling, this is also a comfortable place to lounge. The seats are also reasonably deep — the standard 86-inch version has cushions with a 36-inch depth, making this one of the roomiest couches on this list to lounge on.
Product Details: Dimensions: from 60 x 25 x 36 inches | Material: 200+ options
Best for Small Spaces
AllModern Geo 2-Piece Sectional
ALLMODERN
- Comfort3.8/5
- Ease of Use5/5
- Durability5/5
- Quality3/5
- Value3/5
- It’s a stylish and slim option that offers several customization options.
It’s a stylish and slim option that offers several customization options.
- The cushions are on the firmer side.
The cushions are on the firmer side.
With a length of 84 inches and reversible chaise L-sectional, the AllModern Geo 2-Piece Upholstered Sectional is an excellent choice for apartment dwellers or those in small spaces who would like the look and feel of a midcentury modern sectional but don’t have tons of room.
In our experience, the delivery process couldn’t have gone smoother. The delivery service was communicative and friendly, and the couch was easy for two people to assemble in under 20 minutes.
The ordering process was easy, too, and we found the site uncomplicated to use. There are 18 upholstery colors, including a mix of materials such as velvet and performance fabric. You also have the option to choose either a walnut or natural wood leg finish.
We sat on this couch every day since it arrived, and it became our de facto reading lounge chair. The couch can seat two people while sitting, but we noted that it may feel a little cramped if they both have their legs outstretched but bent.
We couldn’t feel the framing of the furniture at any given point as the seat cushions were too firm to feel anything underneath them. The fabric also feels durable and high-quality, and we were able to clean off stains easily.
As with many midcentury modern couches, the cushions on the Geo are on the firmer side. We felt that it was more of a ‘socializing’ couch and not a cozy movie night kind of couch. Still, we added, it’s very supportive and not uncomfortable. We didn’t experience any neck or back pain after sitting or lying down on the couch. Plus, the circular pillows on each end help with lounging and lumbar support.
Product Details: Dimensions: 37 x 84 x 63 inches | Material: Leather
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / KIMBERLY SOUZA
Best for Large Spaces
Castlery Adams L-Shape Sofa
CASTLERY
- It’s offered in three different fabrics and leg finishes.
It’s offered in three different fabrics and leg finishes.
- The return window is only 14 days, which is shorter than other retailers.
The return window is only 14 days, which is shorter than other retailers.
If you have the space for a large, statement-making midcentury modern couch, you can’t go wrong with the Castlery Adams L-Shape Sectional Sofa. With its large 102 x 102 inch “L” shape, this couch has a sleek silhouette and will be the true centerpiece of your living room.
Castlery offers a few customization options, including your choice of three upholstery fabrics (dove gray, pearl beige, or indigo blue) and three metal leg finishes (black, brass, or silver). If you’re feeling indecisive, you can request all three fabric options as free samples to see how the color looks in your space.
Whether you have a large family or entertain often, you’ll appreciate that this comfortable couch can fit at least five people, likely more. Worth noting: Castlery’s return window is shorter than many of the other retailers on this list, so if you decide that this couch isn’t for you, you’ll have to return it within 14 days. A warranty isn’t included, but you can opt to purchase a two-, three-, or five-year warranty for an extra fee.
Product Details: Dimensions: 102.4 x 102.4 x 33.1 inches | Material: Polyester