Finding the right sofa can be a daunting task as it’s one of the most used pieces of furniture and biggest investments for your home.
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There’s usually hefty price tags attached to these dream sofas you see on your favorite designers’ Instagram pages, but fortunately, getting this high end look doesn’t have to be expensive!
In my recent search for the perfect sofa for our new living room, I had strict criteria. It had to be just the right size (95-100”), an elegant classic style with only one or two seat cushions, slipcovered and easy to clean, natural linen fabric, AND budget-friendly.
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It was a tall order to find something that checked all the boxes, but months of searching paid off and I finally found “the one”. Along the way I came across plenty of other worthy contenders that almost made the cut (most were just the wrong size) and saved them to a collection to save you hours of searching! I’ve grouped them into three different price ranges for every budget, and would gladly consider any of them for my own home.
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Word of advice: When I sat down to put this blog post together, I found that many of the sofas were sold out/no longer available or the price had gone up (including the one I bought!) My advice to you if you find “the one”—don’t wait to buy! It could go away tomorrow and you don’t want to live with regret on such an important purchase. Most of these stores offer free returns so you could always send it back if it doesn’t work out. Happy shopping!
With its modern clean lines, this 84″ sofa is available in over 150 different fabrics with removable, reversible cushions. It has a 5-star rating and you can order free swatches, which is always a huge plus! On sale right now for $978.
The most affordable item on this list, the Brynn sofa is only $539 (40% off right now!) The cushions are feather down filled and it features a performance ivory fabric slipcover. 11 reviewers give it 4 out of 5 stars. If budget was the biggest factor, I’d jump on this deal!
The Knutsford sofa is a more traditional style, with its firm seat cushion, tweed upholstery and espresso legs. I love the single bench cushion and shape of the arms, and can see this working in both formal and casual living rooms. A worthy competitor at just $730 with 4.1/5 stars.
Update as of June 2021: It looks like the original sofa (Montgomery) was renamed to Witham and the price has increased! Another more more formal option, this classic style sofa stands out with delicate curved arms and turned wood legs. It’s available in over 100 fabrics and has 125 4.5 star reviews with plenty of customer photos.
Update as of June 2021: The original sofa (Fairchild) has been renamed to Altom, with a $400+ price increase. One of the most popular sofas on Birch Lane with 959 reviews at nearly 5 stars, this plush down filled sofa is the perfect blend of casual and formal. Also available in over 100 different fabrics with free in-home delivery. My favorite part is the arched back detail.
Easily the best looking Ikea sofa, in my humble opinion. The benefit here is that you can test it out in person before you buy. The drawback? It’s only available in a few fabric options.
Look familiar? It’s the sofa I chose! 2+ years later and I couldn’t be happier with it—it’s everything I wanted and more (check out my 1-year review in this post). This sofa tends to go out of stock often, so I found this option that is almost identical!
Here’s an option with a taller back and arms for those who aren’t into low profile sofas. The included matching cushions are a bonus, and the slipcovered cushions are reversible. Unlike some of the other sofas though, this one is only available in one color option.
With its elegant swoop arms and single seat cushion, the Myrtie sofa has a classic look that can look great with any style. It’s currently on sale but there are no reviews and no fabric samples available, so it’s a riskier move (but Wayfair has a 30-day return policy!)
One of the longer sofas at 93″ and on sale for only $1019, you certainly get a bang for your buck with the Clausen! It’s a safe choice with 538 nearly 5-star reviews and plenty of customer photos. There are several fabrics to choose from, but unfortunately it’s out of stock at the moment (expected to return Jan 1 though, so mark your calendar!)
Update as of June 2021: It looks like this sofa has sadly been discontinued! The gorgeous curved back, single seat cushion and tailored slipcover had me at hello. This is another great deal at $1105 for a full sized 93″ sofa, though it’s only available in three different fabrics (which you can get swatches of before ordering).
One of my favorite designs on this list, I love the subtle rolled arm detail which gives the Dieter sofa a slightly more traditional look. It’s a deep and full sized sofa with reversible cushions, available in many different fabric options.
Update: It looks like Wayfair changed the design of this sofa slightly, but they also dropped the price considerably! Another nice option from Wayfair’s custom upholstery line, available in over 150 fabric options. The 94″ Madison sofa features down-blend cushions and has a simple, clean design. There’s 31 reviews with a nearly 5-star rating and real-life customer photos, so it seems to be a safe bet!
This one comes with an added bonus feature of a pull-out sleeper bed. It’s currently on sale for only $1113, comes in a variety of fabrics with free samples, and has 43 4+ star reviews. It’s the only sofa bed on the list and you can’t beat the price for this size/style!
Update as of June 2021: The price has since increased a few hundred dollars. This sofa came on my radar while searching for something within my criteria over 8′ (not easy to find!), and it comes in three sizes—85″, 98″, 110″. It’s the longest sofa on this list, so perfect if you have a large living room. There’s plenty of fabric options to choose from plus free in-home delivery. I’ve never heard of or ordered from this particular site, but they do offer a 30-day in home trial.
Update as of June 2021: It looks like this sofa has sadly been discontinued! I was drawn to the size (96″), beautiful 100% linen fabric and sophisticated shape of this sofa. It’s currently out of stock but expected to return Dec 12th, so worth bookmarking if it checks your boxes!
Update as of June 2021: Guess they realized the demand because the price has gone up considerably! This 100% linen sofa looks like it should be double, if not triple the cost! The swoop arms and tailored pleated skirt give it a sophisticated yet casual look, and others must agree because it’s currently sold out (expected restock date of Jan 1). Worth waiting for if you want a super high end look for less!
4. Wyatt Sofa
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Update as of June 2021: This sofa has been discontinued. I discovered SixPenny earlier this year after seeing their furniture pop up in my Instagram feed, and fell in love with the cozy casual style. Their Wyatt sofa is one of my favorite designs, is available in two sizes and a handful of fabric options. I actually ordered two of their Wyatt chairs for my living room—can’t wait to share them with you soon!
Update as of June 2021: The price has increased. Another option from SixPenny, The Elias sofa is a mix of modern and traditional with rolled arms and a relaxed fit linen slipcover. Also available in several ready to ship + made to order fabrics.
6. Gabriel Sofa
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Update: You can now see this sofa in action in our playroom! The price has also increased. The third SixPenny sofa on this list, the Gabriel has a unique look with its slim arms and bench cushion that makes it look super high end. It’s one of my favorite profiles on this list and worth looking into if your style is more sophisticated.
The Theodore sofa from Z Gallerie reminds me a lot of my Chateau sofa, the only difference being the seat back cushions. This one is available in two sizes, a handful of fabric options and the largest size is currently on sale for $1198 (down from $1599). As always, make sure to read the reviews before ordering!
I just want to curl up on this sofa and take a nap! Something about the extra deep bench seat, matching cushions and round bolster pillows that give it a perfectly relaxed lived-in look. It has removable slipcovers and only available in one fabric type, but it has 100+ 4.5 star detailed reviews to answer your questions before ordering.
Want to keep looking? I’ve found that Wayfair has the largest selection of nice sofas overall, and Birch Lane (Wayfair’s sister site) has a decent collection of affordable slipcovered options.
2021 update: Here are a few more beautiful budget sofas I’ve come across in recent months—it might be time to create an updated 2021 version of this post!
Thank you so much for this round up Jenna! I’ll be looking for a new sofa in a few months and this is just the style I’m searching for. Elegant but still curl up cozy. Yours is beautiful and looks gorgeous in your living room. All the heart eyes!
Jenna Suesays
So glad it’s helpful Jessi!
Sue Csays
This overview is very helpful, although I will try and get something made in Canada (home). Your review however is a great resource re shape and style, and seeing them all in one place! I am building in 2020; my new living room will be central to the living space (like yours). I’ve never started with a sofa to anchor my room; your advice is very helpful. Thanks!
Ice Cream & Tequillasays
Great list! I love this style.
I don’t know if I could purchase a sofa without sitting on it. Its such a large purchase (money-wise) and its not easy to return if it doesn’t work out.
Jenna Suesays
Agreed it’s risky, that’s why reviews are so important! There’s so many more options online than in store, so it’s worth it to me to find the right sofa at the right price vs settling for only what’s available locally!
Welcome!
Hi, I’m Jenna and I’ve been designing and DIY’ing my way through homes since 2008. Join me as I learn, share my experience, and hopefully encourage/inspire you along the way!
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Jessi Letendre says
Thank you so much for this round up Jenna! I’ll be looking for a new sofa in a few months and this is just the style I’m searching for. Elegant but still curl up cozy. Yours is beautiful and looks gorgeous in your living room. All the heart eyes!
Jenna Sue says
So glad it’s helpful Jessi!
Sue C says
This overview is very helpful, although I will try and get something made in Canada (home). Your review however is a great resource re shape and style, and seeing them all in one place! I am building in 2020; my new living room will be central to the living space (like yours). I’ve never started with a sofa to anchor my room; your advice is very helpful. Thanks!
Ice Cream & Tequilla says
Great list! I love this style.
I don’t know if I could purchase a sofa without sitting on it. Its such a large purchase (money-wise) and its not easy to return if it doesn’t work out.
Jenna Sue says
Agreed it’s risky, that’s why reviews are so important! There’s so many more options online than in store, so it’s worth it to me to find the right sofa at the right price vs settling for only what’s available locally!