If you’re trying to snag a good deal on a couch, the best time to shop is on or around national holidays, like Presidents Day, Memorial Day, or Labor Day—but this comes with a catch. “Retailers bring inventory in all year, and the items left behind are the ones reduced, so you may have to sacrifice some of your needs and wants when waiting for a sale,” explains Lorele Lesoing, Founder and Lead Designer of Lee Douglas Interiors. Here are the best places to buy a couch for your home. In addition to its superior selection, Wayfair is also popular thanks to its quick shipping. In-stock items will often arrive within a matter of days, though there are some made-to-order sofas that can take 10 weeks or more to ship. The brand offers free shipping on all its sofas, and the site has regular sales and promotions for those looking to score a deal. The one major downside of shopping at Wayfair? Due to the lower price points, the quality can be hit or miss, so be sure to read plenty of reviews to get a sense of the construction and durability of each sofa. Nomad sofas arrive via free ground shipping, and while you do have to put them together yourself, there are no tools required for assembly. The furniture is made in the USA, and there are a variety of sofa layouts and styles to suit different aesthetics. There are even some sleek leather options! However, if you decide to return your Burrow sofa, their return policy is more complicated than most. Returns with original packaging within 30 days will incur a shipping fee equal to 10 percent of what you paid, and if you don’t have the original packaging, it jumps up to 20 percent. Additionally, Burrow sofas are only backed by a one-year warranty, which is quite short considering the fairly high price point of the furniture. A lot of Apt2B’s sofas are on the more trendy side, but there are options like the Harper Sofa that have a more classic style. Most products can be customized in dozens of upholstery options, and despite being made-to-order, many will ship in as little as four weeks. You can opt for either free entryway delivery or white glove delivery for a flat rate of $129, and the brand also offers extended warranties that cover things like stains, pet damage, chipped or dented surfaces, accidental rips, and more. For those who are intimidated by all the options available, Interior Define has retail locations around the country where you can work with design professionals. The brand also offers a number of discount programs, including ones for military members, healthcare workers, and even people who are moving. They have a flat-rate shipping fee and a 60-day return period on custom items, but because everything is made to order, the brand charges a 50 percent processing fee on returns. Pottery Barn is known for its high-quality construction, which typically includes hardwood frames, classic construction techniques, and durable materials, but of course, its prices are equally high-end. The brand offers free design services if you need help putting together a room, and most furniture comes with white glove delivery, where it will be assembled and installed in your home. Floyd only has a few couches to choose from, so if you don’t like the style, this brand might not be for you. However, it does prioritize sustainability, and in 2022, it will become one of the first carbon-neutral furniture brands. You can return Floyd furniture for up to 30 days (though you’ll be charged a 10 percent restocking fee), and the frame of its sofas is backed by a 10-year warranty. The cushions are only covered for three years, though. Despite the brand’s unique collection of products, its prices are still fairly reasonable, and most products ship quickly, arriving in just a few weeks. The brand offers flat-rate shipping—though it only ships to the contiguous 48 U.S. states—and you can initiate a return for up to 30 days. Urban Outfitters does charge a 15 percent restocking fee on most of its furniture, and if you see something you like, it’s best to act quickly, as popular items often sell out and may not be restocked for several months. While it has a good selection of designs, Castlery doesn’t offer much in terms of customization. Its sofas typically come in two or three fabric options, and you can’t change the wood color or size of the furniture. Select major cities qualify for free shipping on orders over $999, but there’s a fairly short return window of 14 days, and you’ll be charged a 20 percent restocking fee for any unwanted furniture. If you love Lulu & Georgia furniture, the brand has a reward program that lets you earn cash rewards for any money you spend. They offer white glove delivery for a flat rate, and if you decide to return your purchase, you have 60 days to do so and will be charged a 10 percent shipping fee. However, keep in mind that anything made-to-order (which includes many of their couches) cannot be returned. While Article does offer a good combination of neutral and bold upholstery options, they don’t have the same variety as some other retailers. Most sofas are available in four or five colors, and there’s no way to have a couch made in a custom fabric. You have 30 days to decide if you want to return your sofa, and there’s a $49 return shipping fee, as long as you have the original packaging. If you need help designing your living room, Room & Board offers free design services, either in-person or virtually, and your furniture will be assembled and placed in a room of your choice with the brand’s flat rate full-service delivery. Another thing that makes the brand stand out from others is its flexible return policy—they simply ask that you “make a return or exchange in a timely manner,” and there aren’t any return fees. There are a few caveats to keep in mind when buying a sofa from IKEA. First, you’ll be tasked with assembling the furniture, which some people find to be frustrating, but that’s part of how they keep prices so low. Additionally, delivery isn’t always available on select items, as it varies depending on what’s in stock at the closest distribution warehouse. Finally, IKEA furniture often isn’t the most comfortable, but the brand’s sofas are typically backed by a 10-year warranty. Some popular designs from Birch Lane include the Lucia Slipcovered Sofa, which has the casual, lived-in look that’s key in farmhouse decor, and the Wisbech Sofa, with its classic silhouette and more than 50 upholstery options. While select furniture is in stock and may ship fairly quickly, other sofas are made to order and may take several weeks for delivery. While Joybird sofas are fairly expensive, the brand offers a variety of features to make your shopping experience easier. You can take advantage of free, no-obligation design services, and there’s a “Decide Later” option that lets you lock in sale pricing, even if you’re not totally sure what fabric or design you want yet. Joybird has a unique order tracking system that lets you monitor the progress of your custom design, and there’s even a marketplace for returned items called FloorFound, where you can score deep discounts on gently used items. The Dune is one of the brand’s popular sofas, offering a modern twist on a classic slipcover. It’s available in eight sizes and 11 fabric options, and it has a casual, beachy aesthetic that’s elevated by details like flange seams along the armrests. Maiden Home furniture arrived via white glove delivery, and you can return furniture for up to 30 days, though you’ll be charged a 10 percent return fee. When it comes to returns, there’s both good and bad news. The good news is that Inside Weather allows you to return furniture for up to a year, but the bad news is that it’s not free to do so. Returns made within 14 days are charged a 10 percent “environmental fee,” and anything after that is subject to a 20 percent fee. So you’re better off deciding whether you want to keep your purchase sooner rather than later. The Devyn Sofa is one of the brand’s signature designs—it has lush, deep seats and a contemporary shape, and it’s covered with a modern version of a slipcover. The brand offers free threshold delivery and a limited lifetime warranty on its products, and it even offers free returns within a 30-day period. There are select sofas in-stock and ready to ship, but custom-made designs may not be available for 14 to 16 weeks. To help you design your ideal couch, Ethan Allen will send up to 10 free fabric swatches, and the brand also offers free design services. Furniture is delivered via “Premier In-Home Delivery,” which includes product inspection and assembly in your home, and the cost of delivery will vary depending on the purchase amount and delivery distance.
Customization Options
Some retailers offer a range of upholstery options for each couch design, and you might even be able to request sample swatches. Others will allow you to configure sectional couches to be larger or smaller or to add a chaise to either end. However, some furniture brands offer couches with fewer choices to make. You’ll want to decide how important these different factors are in your room’s design. It’s also good to keep in mind that custom options can take longer to manufacture and deliver.
Delivery and Assembly
Make sure the delivery and assembly services offered by whatever retailer you choose meets your expectations. Some retailers offer a full white-glove delivery, where the company will assemble furniture and place it in your desired location, sometimes for an extra fee. Other companies might ship your couch in several sections, and you’ll need to assemble it yourself. Similarly, some companies allow you to schedule your delivery at a very specific time, while others don’t. Check which services you’ll be getting so there aren’t any unpleasant surprises when your sofa arrives.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce. As a design enthusiast, she has firsthand experience with couches from many of the brands on this list, including Pottery Barn, West Elm, IKEA, Article, and Wayfair. She also spoke with Lorele Lesoing, Founder and Lead Designer at Lee Douglas Interiors, for expert tips on the best places to buy a couch and what to look for while shopping. While evaluating different retailers for this list, Camryn considered factors such as their selection, style range, materials and construction techniques, customization options, and return policies. She aimed to include retailers that offer couches at a variety of price points, including brands that offer both ready-made and custom-designed sofas.
