Our Mission to Find the Most Comfortable Couches Has Ended—Here Are the Clear Winners

We'll be honest: When we think of a reclining sofa, something extremely chic rarely comes to mind. We're not trying to insult the world of recliners, but there's something about the very bulky mechanical aspects of the recliner itself that detracts from the sofa's aesthetics. Then Homeboy debuted its Design Your Own Luxe Sofa (yes, that is what it's called), which reclines without ruining the look. When it's upright, you'd never know it can recline, which is why Digital Director Blair Donovan loves it.

"What sets this customizable sofa collection apart from other cloud couch dupes is an optional recliner feature," she explains. "Homebody allows you to fully recline any (or all) of the seats—no extra clearance needed. Even if your sofa sits completely flush against the wall, it can still lean all the way back, and the built-in reclining components stay totally hidden when you're not using them. The piece comes with both a wireless remote and seat buttons to adjust the angle, too."

A sleeper sofa may be famous for its gargantuan size, but, like most things popular in the 1990s, that is no longer the case. Now, plenty of furniture brands make comfortable sleepers that are small enough to squeeze into even the tiniest nook. Here, in her New York City apartment, tester Katie Ludlow made this Birch Lane convertible couch work because she loves to host her friends and sisters who live far enough away to warrant an overnight stay when they’re in town.

"I was very satisfied and pleased when it arrived and thought it looked much nicer in person compared to its online photos,” she says. “It's sturdy and comfortable to sit (and sleep on). It's built well, and the queen bed is very comfy for a sofa sleeper. I ordered it in the Spinnsol white performance twill, which looks very chic and polished. Plus, it’s stain-resistant.”

Albany Park is probably the brand you didn’t know about a few years ago, but have been seeing everywhere recently. Why? Because it’s really picking up traction and fame as one of the best seating brands out there, which makes sense since its inception was borne out of the founders—husband and wife Jessica and Darryl Sharpton—inability to find the perfect couch.

Associate Shopping Editor Janae McKenzie owns the Barton and has nothing but positive things to say about it, including “The sofa's sturdiness, comfort of the fabric, and elegant silhouette make it my favorite part of my home. The pieces are an excellent fit for frequent entertainers, renters, and anyone who loves adding color and style to their space. This elegant sofa is the first thing I want to show off when someone walks through my door.”

This editor-favorite sofa is one of the most comfortable for sitting or sleeping on, as you're surrounded by pillowy cushions on all sides, including the arms. "Every time we have guests over, they rave about how comfy this sofa is—even friends who have slept on it overnight," tester Samantha Jones says. Don't let the white color scare you, as it can handle tough stains thanks to the durable polypropylene fabric. Whatever you spill on it during movie night, clean it right away. If you have the space, you can opt for this modular sofa in a three-, five-, or six-piece set, so if you have a big family, this is the sofa for you!

When tester Editor Katelyn Lunders put this sofa to the test against the original RH Cloud, she was pleasantly surprised by how it balanced comfort and support at a much kinder price point. Also, as a pet parent, she finds the easy-to-clean white fabric a favorite feature.

"It's not really possible to sit up straight on this sofa, but that is kind of the point of the 'cloud couch' vibe," Lunders says. "The base and back cushions are soft yet supportive, so you can sink in but still get up without assistance." The best part about it, though, is that the covers are removable and interchangeable, so if you decide you want to totally switch it up, all you need to do is order the new covers online.

"I can confidently say that the 7th Avenue sectional has only gotten more comfortable over time," she adds. "When I first tested the sofa, I didn't love sleeping on it. Now, I fall asleep on the couch more times than I care to admit and wake up happily rested. I also favor the right side of the couch, but I haven't noticed any sinkage despite sitting there more than on the left side, which is a huge plus."

When tester Danielle Collins moved from Washington, D.C., to New York, this sofa was one of the last pieces she purchased for her new apartment. "I didn't want to just buy a sofa that looked beautiful; I needed it to be extremely comfortable too. I went to so many furniture stores and tested what seemed like hundreds. This was the last one I tested because, as soon as I sat down, I knew this was the one I'd buy," she says. She has a penchant for neutral interiors, so snagging this sofa in one of the brand's most popular colors meant she didn't have to wait months for it. "It arrived only a week or two after I ordered it, and it was assembled by the West Elm delivery people exactly where I wanted it. It's been a year and a half, and I still love this sofa so much," she adds.

Last year, when Associate Shopping Editor Jessica Cherner moved out of her 400-square-foot New York City apartment and into a one-bedroom nearly double the size, she needed a couch that would fill out the sizable living area. "I actually bought this over Memorial Day Weekend last year because I was staying very near a Crate & Barrel store. So, not only did I get to sit on this in person, but I got a pretty good Memorial Day deal," Cherner admits. "Honestly, I'm not super picky about sofas, but I hate anything that feels like it needs to be broken in, and this had the perfect lived-in feel in the cushions, so I bought it that day."

Because it's in a custom color (dubbed Tahoe, which is a navy chenille), it took almost 10 weeks to be delivered, but the timing worked out because she didn't move into the new place until about two weeks before the scheduled delivery. "My only complaint is that the back cushions, which are basically pillows, need to be fluffed once I get up."

When we can't test products ourselves, we turn to those we trust to help us out. In this case, McKenzie's mother, Sheryl, stepped in. She reviewed the Span sleeper from Burrow, and had plenty to say. "What I really love about the Burrow Span sleeper sofa is that it's so versatile. It is super comfortable as a couch, and it’s comfortable to sleep on. There’s no sagging, and when you open it up, it’s really a queen-size bed," she starts. "My pet peeve is sofa beds where you have to move the sofa back and forth to use it as a bed. It fits in our office by simply folding down the front seats. No need to pull the sofa out off of the wall, or push the back of the sofa down to sleep on it."

If you're dead set on adding a leather sofa to your living room, why not go for one that provides all the comfort of a large, cushy sofa in a smaller package? This sectional from Burrow has a movable chaise so it can be rearranged to suit your needs. "I love a leather sofa because the material doesn't trap smells or dust compared to some other fabrics. When it came time to choose one for our apartment, I went with Burrow's Nomad model because it was marketed towards people living in small apartments (me), and it looked modern," Senior Commerce Editor Marina Liao says. "I've had it for over six years, and though the seats have become less pillowy after a while, the leather has held up remarkably well! And, the sectional is still so comfortable. If I had to rebuy a small space-friendly sectional, it would for sure be another Nomad."

For the shopper prioritizing eco-friendly furniture, we recommend this editor-favorite Sabai sofa. The brand prides itself on its Repair, Don't Replace program, which ensures that every part of the sofa can be repaired and reduces furniture waste. The sofa is also comfortably supportive, a great choice for those who prefer a standard seat depth. "Full disclosure: The seat is a firm, like very firm, but I don't mind—especially because the back cushions are so cozy and plush," Cherner says. "I've noticed that the spot where I tend to sit the most (right in the middle) has massively softened up in the years I've enjoyed my Sabai, but if you're looking for a cloud-like sofa that you can sink into, this may not be the one for you."

Like many New Yorkers, Assistant Social Media Editor Bianca Bonetti just moved into a new apartment and needed a sofa that suited her space. Though she had plenty of top contenders, she ended up going with the Riley from Article for a few reasons. Comfort and multi-functionality aside, it was in stock and could be delivered within a week.

"The delivery team took care of everything when it came to placing it in our den and we didn’t need to assemble a thing," she says. "I was impressed with the buttery feel of the stain-resistant performance fabric, and although the couch is a lot firmer than I anticipated, it’s still very comfortable with or without the matching ottoman."

As someone trying to make a small living room feel more functional, she opted for the ottoman. "I’m happy with my decision to get a matching ottoman instead of a sectional because it gives me a lot of flexibility in a small room that’s only eight feet wide." As for the bed part of this fabulous find, it's much easier than the sleeper sofas of decades past. "The sofa bed takes all of 10 seconds to pull out. The memory foam mattress is quite comfortable. I slept on it for the first week I was in my apartment and it’s the perfect solution to turn the den into a guest room when we have company."