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Did we mention we have a few of these in our homes?
When we set out to discover the best couches under $500, our expectations were low. After all, a sofa is one of the more expensive investment pieces, regardless of the size, and $500 is a pretty modest budget. However, after just a few hours of exploring the market, we were pleasantly surprised—shocked, even—that there are so many beautiful options that are within our budget. In fact, some of the pieces live in House Beautiful editors’ own homes, so we can attest to how they’ve held up.
So, if you’re decorating your living space, moving into a new home, or just want to refresh your space, our advice is to start with the sofa because it’s quite literally the biggest piece of furniture in the room, so if you do it last, you won’t have as many options. Trust us: buying the couch first and designing the room around it is the right approach. Luckily, if you snag a couch from our carefully curated list, you’ll have plenty of budget left over for the rest of the space. All of these picks are under $500, and you really can’t go wrong with any of them. Plus, if you keep scrolling past all of the fabulous finds, you’ll find some designer advice from New York-based Amy Tuntasood, who shares the best ways to shop for a cheap couch.
Best DealAnyone with an affinity for grandmacore knows that soft, muted colors and an easy pattern are the way to any true granny’s heart, and this sofa checks both boxes. Though we love it in green, we’re pleased to see it also comes in both blue and gray, so no matter the palette of your living space, we have a feeling at least one of these colorways will work. Plus, if you’re not quite sure how to style such a bold pattern, worry not; the sofa comes with two bolster pillows.
| Dimensions | 81" W X 33" D x 35" H |
|---|---|
| Weight Capacity | 750 pounds |
| Assembly | Yes |
This velvety sofa comes in six colors, all of which skew earth tones—think aqua, ochre, and olive, among others. It’s not just attractive, though; it’s also really comfortable, courtesy of the high-density foam padding and high-strength springs that provide the softest touch. Of course, the cloud-like pillows that buckle to the outside of the arms only add to the coziness.
| Dimensions | 82" W X 32.5" D x 28" H |
|---|---|
| Weight Capacity | 750 |
| Assembly | Yes |
Sectionals—especially U-shaped sectionals–are hardly ever cheap, let alone under $500. This one may clock in at exactly $500, but we’ll take it. Available in four easy shades, this sectional ships in two boxes and is actually pretty easy to assemble. If, however, you’re not up for it, just tack on the professional assembly for a mere $103.
| Dimensions | 16" W X 41" D x 18" H |
|---|---|
| Weight Capacity | N/A |
| Assembly | Yes |
One benefit Prime members can count on is free two-day shipping, which makes big purchases easier to justify. So if you don't have an Amazon Prime membership, this performance velvet sofa is a good excuse to opt in. Available in eight shades, including this elegant minty hue, this glamorous sofa, with a single tufted seat cushion, comfortably seats up to three people. Regarding the color, one customer said, "I was very nervous to order a couch online. People did say the mint color was more aqua. It is BEAUTIFUL." (You can't argue with anything in all caps!)
| Dimensions | 73" W x 31.5" D x 32.5" H |
|---|---|
| Weight Capacity | 881 pounds |
| Assembly | Yes |
While some people prefer their sofas to blend into their living rooms' design scheme, others want them to be the pièces de résistance. If you fall into the latter camp, opt for this curved couch, which comes in multiple colors and is complete with two throw pillows in the same shade. Rest assured, no assembly is required.
| Dimensions | 79.5'' W x 47.6''D x 25.2'' H |
|---|---|
| Weight Capacity | 400 pounds |
| Assembly | No |
Would you even believe us if we told you that this affordable couch was once available in a whopping 31 fabrics and colors? Sadly, that number is down to 14, which may be significantly less than it once was, but still more than enough options to choose from. Our personal favorite hue is this warm, earthy neutral. Crafted with a solid wood frame that stands upon slender metal legs, this simple sofa is a must for anyone looking to add a touch of midcentury modern vibes to their space. In case you're wondering, the matching throw pillows are included.
| Dimensions | 84" W x 33" D x 33" H |
|---|---|
| Weight Capacity | 700 pounds |
| Assembly | Yes |
Anyone who likes to host at home needs a convertible sectional where guests can spread out. This L-shape sectional, which comes with a movable chaise, is perfect for just that, as it can comfortably seat four people. "As someone who loves hosting movie nights and having friends over, a pull-out couch is essential. In the cramped spaces of a New York apartment, seating is always at a premium, so when it came time to upgrade my couch, I knew the Dishaan convertible sleeper would be a great fit," contributing writer Amanda Le says. "The assembly was straightforward, and it even came with two throw pillows, which was a nice touch. Best of all, it's priced under $500, which feels like a real bargain these days. My favorite feature, though, is the large storage chaise—it's a total game-changer for stashing extra throw blankets, pillows, and all those little odds and ends that tend to clutter up a space." Her one qualm with this couch? It's on the firmer side, but Le is hoping she can wear it in a bit.
| Dimensions | 84" W x 53" D x 33" H |
|---|---|
| Weight Capacity | 700 pounds |
| Assembly | Yes |
One of the only downsides to a cheap couch is putting it together—especially if you don't have a ton of tools or help on hand. For anyone who tends to struggle with assembly, this is the sofa for you. "Though carrying the two boxes up three flights of stairs was a chore, this couch from Wayfair was insanely easy to put together, and I love the final look of it," admits Assistant Editor Meghan Shouse. "The material is so soft and feels like it's good quality, and since it's a corduroy velvet fabric, my cat has no interest in scratching it up." Of course, like any piece of furniture, it's not perfect. Shouse says that the pillows took some time after the initial unboxing to fluff up, but once they did, they became quite comfy.
| Dimensions | 97" W x 58.5" D x 35" H |
|---|---|
| Weight Capacity | 600 pounds |
| Assembly | Yes |
If you feel coziest inside the comfort of an old, worn sweatshirt, this is the sofa for you. The upholstery feels more like super-soft fleece than anything else, and it has two back pillows to match, so no matter how you lounge, you'll be highly cozy. We're not the only ones with an eye on this funky piece; it's already sold out in seven colors, so if you're interested, add it to your cart before this soft beige hue sells out as well. Plus, it's under $500 and ships free.
| Dimensions | 59" W x 30.3" D x 31.5" H |
|---|---|
| Weight Capacity | 600 pounds |
| Assembly | Yes |
Complete with tapered wooden legs, skinny bolster pillows, and a subtly tufted seat cushion, this olive green sofa is easily one of our favorites. In fact, we don't expect it to be on offer for long. It's not just pretty to look at, though; it's really comfortable, courtesy of its pocket coil construction. That may not sound like something to improve comfort, but it's basically just added support so that you don't sink too far into the cushion. It also prevents sagging. One reviewer said, "I am so glad I decided to buy this sofa because it is so elegant, chic, and classy at the same time. The price wasn't bad either."
| Dimensions | 75.6" W x 32.5" D x 33" H |
|---|---|
| Weight Capacity | Not listed |
| Assembly | Yes |
You may think there are thousands of couches, so finding a few would be easy. While you're right that there are seemingly unlimited options, we'll be the first to tell you that they're not all equally beautiful and comfortable. In fact, after weeding through tons of reviews (both good and bad), we realized that the options are rather slim! How did we identify and recommend the best options for House Beautiful readers? First, we filtered by price. Next, we looked only at the most beautiful ones because, let's face it, if we're buying a cheap couch, we don't want it to look cheap. Lastly, we reviewed the reviews and added the highest-rated products to our final list.
Instead of arbitrarily picking a budget for a couch, figure out how much you can and want to spend. Next, calculate the cost of the rest of the pieces in your space. At this point, you'll have a good sense of what a good budget for a couch is. That said, if you're looking to save, anything under $600 is generally considered an affordable purchase. On the other hand, if you're not starting your decoration journey from scratch and are buying a new couch to spruce up your space, you may want to consider spending a tad more because, generally speaking, more expensive sofas are built with higher-quality materials that last—think foam instead of polyester and real wood instead of laminate.
These days, picking out a couch for a small space isn't much of a challenge. There are a few limitations when it comes to shape, at least. The only potential issue? Size. Ideally, the pieces that maximize your living room's size are an L-shaped sectional and a traditional three-seater. If you're really short on space, you may want to ditch a couch altogether and go with a classic loveseat. The only shape that likely won't fit is a U-shaped sectional, which can close off a smaller living room.
"We like to draw furniture plans to see all the pieces we are using in a room and determine the scale and space between them," interior designer Natalie Kraiem explains. "However, for the non-designer consumer, measuring with a measuring tape and even using blue tape to mark the sofa in the space is always the best idea to visualize the size and shape." She's not wrong. The number one mistake people tend to make when buying large-scale pieces is forgetting to measure.
On another size-related note, Tuntasood offers, "Pay particular attention to the height of the backrest (for reasons mentioned above)—avoid options that feature backrests that end at your mid-back, as they may not provide adequate support and comfort." Ultimately, backrest height won't matter in a small or large living room, but it is important.
Associate Shopping Editor Jessica Cherner has been reviewing furniture for nearly eight years, including everything you would need to know about couches and sofas. She has written stories like the best down-filled sofas, best curved sofas, and a guide to buying Chesterfields (if you don't know what this is, give it a read). In addition to her work, she's on a never-ending quest to decorate her own New York City apartment with budget and size constraints in mind. Thus, she'll only recommend the affordable, high-quality pieces she herself would buy, too.
For this story on couches under $500, Cherner also chatted with two interior designers who offered some expertise on snagging beautiful sofas on a budget. Natalie Kraiem is an Argentine-born design and project director of her namesake firm, Brooklyn-based Natalie Kraiem Interiors. She's outfitted several stylish homes across the country, including a New Jersey beach house, which was prominently featured in House Beautiful. Amy Tuntasood is a Feng shui expert, interior designer at Upstate New York-based Salem Home Designs, and a licensed real estate agent. Their advice, coupled with Cherner's thorough research, helped curate this list of the best affordable couches.
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