Pottery Barn is one of my favorite places to look for furniture — couches especially — but there is one glaring problem: the lack of customer reviews. As someone who relies heavily on the opinions of others while shopping, my PB habit is sustained only by my knowledge as a shopping editor and past buying experiences, which keep me confident and coming back for more. Before adding to cart, I give myself a pep talk: “This is Pottery Barn; you’re going to be fine.”
Well, since I can't be next to you for a similar pep talk, and since this order of business goes beyond what our best sofas round-up has to offer, I've taken the liberty of collating a list of 12 solid PB sofas to shop now, based on research, both in-store and online.
I spent a few hours last week visiting my local Pottery Barn and sprawling across the nine sofas available in-store to determine what I liked and what I didn’t about each, before combing through the specifications for information on frame material, cushion fill, and more. Next, I considered style and appearance, which if you’re reading Livingetc, I’d assume you value just as much as I do. And of course, I used write-ups at other home design websites along with customer reviews as yet another litmus test for quality when determining whether these pieces were safe to recommend.
As a bonus, I included three additional "honorable mentions" in this roundup with the caveat that I wasn't able to test those pieces in-store. But based on looks, word-of-mouth, and information from PB's website, I thought all three solid enough options to include here, as well. Don't forget the Pottery Barn sale, too: there's always a deal to be had on sofas.
9 Editor-Tested Pottery Barn Sofas
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The Turner
Price: $3699
Size: 103.5" w x 43.5" d x 35" h
Seat Plushness (PB rating): 3 out of 5
My Rating: 2.5
To me, the Turner was a unicorn. I'm not a huge fan of leather couches personally, only because I love the warmth and feel of a basketweave or a boucle, but I have to admit — even I enjoyed this one. The chocolate gravel leather upholstery was rich and delectable — just as beautiful in person as it looked online. Pottery Barn gives it a 3 out of 5 on the plushness scale (5: firm, 1: soft); I mostly agree, but would even drop that down to a 2.5. I tried the 43.5" seat depth and loved it, but if you have any accessibility issues, I'd get something shallower and more firm. My only other qualm? The armrests were a bit lower than I thought.
From a construction standpoint, I'm a big fan of the removable birch legs (excellent for move-in), the loose cushions (can be flipped in the event of spillage), the engineered wood frame (kiln-dried to prevent warping or cracking), and the no-sag spring seat construction. These are all excellent signs of quality, according to the experts I've interviewed, including Dan Campbell, the president of Benchmade Modern; Mads Holm Rabjerg at Carl Hansen & Søn; and Meagan Endres, category manager of upholstery at Raymour & Flanigan, among them. Leather is also a great upholstery if durability and practicality are top of mind; not only is it easy to clean, but many styles soften and morph with age.
The Pearce
Price: $6097
Size: 126.5" w x 95.5" d x 40" d x 38" h
Seat Plushness: 3
My Rating: 3
The Pearce floor model I tried was upholstered in the oatmeal-colored performance boucle, but fair warning that it didn't feel much like boucle to me at all; weave is probably more like it. Either way, though, I found it quite cozy. The back cushions here are firm and plush and push you forward and upright a bit. Not in a bad way, but in a way that might be nice if you want something more structured. I loved the corner wedge; that will be the best seat on this sofa for sure.
In the age-old sectional vs. sofa debate, sectionals are considered ideal for causal, informal settings where relaxation is tantamount. But what I'll also tell you is that, per my conversation with Mads, a sectional might not be the best pick if you plan to move anytime soon. That's because it's possible the uniquely shaped and sized frame doesn't have universal appeal. So keep that in mind before investing — but if you do, the Pearce is an A+ option.
The Jake
Price: $3899
Size: 70" w x 40" d x 31.5" h
Seat Plushness: Not available
My rating: 3
Of the sofas I tried, the Jake leather sofa was, unfortunately, my least favorite. It is still very clearly well-made (according to both my sitting experience and the product details), but I was less impressed by the look of the leather. A gorgeous shade, but there were too many visible marks and scratches on the floor model for me. Possibly just wear and tear from an indeterminate amount of time on display (or something you could buff out with some leather cleaner), but there wasn't a sales rep around at the time that I could ask.
As for the positives: At 25", the seat itself felt nice and deep — great for curling up and reading. The visible ash wood base adds a lovely aesthetic touch. And, in theory, of course, the leather should patina and soften further over time. As I mentioned, I'm personally skeptical of the color I tried (Sandstone in the Keystone leather), but PB offers an additional 29 leather options. There was no plushness rating on the Pottery Barn website, but I gave this a three (medium firm). One more thing to note: the seat height was (or at least felt) a bit lower, so there is less support at the top of the back and neck.
The York
Price: $2899
Size: 95" w x 43.5" d x 36" h
Seat Plushness: Not available
My Rating: 3
I tried two York sofas: the regular York and the slipcovered York Deep. While both were great, I preferred the York Deep to the original. The slipcover was barely noticeable, and the single cushion/bench cushion both looked good and felt good. Functionally, this piece seemed better for relaxing, reading, and loafing more than talking or hosting. You really do sink into it; it's practically begging you to put your legs up. And the extra barrel throw pillows offer something nice in the way of lower back support.
Structurally, the York boasts an engineered wood frame and mortise-and-tenon joinery, two hallmark features of a well-made couch. And if you're not too fond of the bench cushion, opt for the multi-cushion seat, instead. There are lots of fabrics to choose from, including the performance twill that I tried (and liked). It felt beachy and cool, but I'd personally prefer something more warm and cozy.
The Buchanan
Price: $2199
Size (closed): 83.5" w x 39" d x 37" h
Size (open): 83.5" w x 90.5" l x 19" h
Seat Plushness: 4
My rating: 2
A sleeper sofa that's actually comfortable to sleep on? Someone notify the press! Oh, wait ...
All jokes aside, I was quite impressed with the seat comfort of the Buchanan. I couldn't test the memory foam mattress, but the couch itself was great. The seat depth was on the shallower side (at least in comparison to the other sofas I tried), so I felt more supported standing up and down. It would be easy to sit here and chat for longer periods. To note: Pottery Barn gives this sofa a four out of five on the seat softness scale (five being the most firm), but I disagreed; I felt like these cushions were quite plush and soft.
Stylistically, the piece looked far better in person than it does online, so if you have any fears there, I wouldn't worry. The chambray basketweave provides an excellent but practical pop of color (this blue/gray hue is versatile, timeless, and good for disguising stains and marks). And finally, the frame is on the compact side, so it should do well squeezing into a smaller space.
Comfort Modern Square Arm
Price: $3699
Size: 87" w x 40.5" d x 37" h
Seat Plushness: Not available
My Rating: 2
According to the sales associate I spoke with, the PB Comfort Modern sofas are some of the retailer's best-sellers. After a few moments of lounging, it was easy to see why. It's a jack-of-all-trades — modern, clean frame, comfortable, customizable cushion fill and configuration; and there's an optional slipcover available. There are also models with and without piping. I tried two — one with a slipcover and one without, that had memory foam and down blend cushions, respectively. With the first, I sank into the seat rather quickly; it was so plush and soft (I'd give it a two). I was incredibly comfortable, but if you'd like a more structured or firm sit, this might not be the choice for you. I also sank into the down blend cushions, but much slower.
The sofa frame itself felt like a great cross between sitting and lounging. I could be upright but could also easily curl up with a book. It's all about the feel you're after, since the quality here (another engineered wood frame with mortise-and-tenon joinery) is just as good as its counterparts.
The Westwood
Price: $5096
Size: 142" w x 71" d x 41" d x 36" h
Seat Plushness: Not available
My rating: 2
Of all that I tried, the Westwood was probably my favorite. It's large, cozy, and best of all, modular, so you can rearrange the pieces as needed. If you're going to invest in a $4,000 couch, you might as well be sure it will last for years. Comfort-wise, there was just the right amount of give here; the perfect in-between. The barrel pillows are a great support for your lower back when chatting or hosting, but you can just as easily remove them for a movie night or nap.
In a similar article on Apartment Therapy, editors dubbed the Westwood the best modular sofa PB has to offer, describing it as "one of the loungier sofa models on our list" that's "even more elegant in real life." I'd give this a two on the seat plushness scale.
The Carmel
Price: $2999
Size: 98" W x 40" D x 33" H
Seat Plushness: 3
My rating: 2.5
I'd love to nap on the Carmel — name the time and the place and I'll be there. But if I were trying to have a conversation with someone, it'd be too deep, unless I were sitting on the edge of the seat. So personally, I'd use this in a room where lounging is the top priority and the only talking is to the effect of "pass the remote." Don't take that as a read, either; this is an incredibly comfortable piece. You can also buy it in widths ranging from 62" to 122."
Big Sur Square Arm Deep Sectional
Price: $5598
Size: 124" w x 73.5" d x 46.5" d x 38" h
Seat Plushness: Not available
My Rating: 1
The Big Sur sectional is my first one for seat plushness and comfort. I sat on a model with the extra wide chaise (detailed in the product specs here and pictured to the left), and though I liked it, it felt a bit less practical to me. In theory, it has a lot in common with the chaise on the Westwood, but it felt excessive. I also didn't care for the performance linen fabric. Of course, these are all preferences — the actual construction boasts all the quality benchmarks of a well-made sofa.
Honorable Mentions
Price: $3599
Size: 86" w x 42" d x 31" h
Seat Plushness: 3
Though I didn't get a chance to try this leather Chesterfield sofa myself, it is a PB best-seller, if that sways you at all. If classic elegance is what you're after — perhaps a vibe that looks more Pride & Prejudice than it does Emily in Paris — a Chesterfield could be just what the doctor ordered. Button tufting, a tuxedo back, and roll arms reminiscent of high society and afternoons in the English countryside — what more could you want?
Price: $2749
Size (closed): 85.5" w x 35.5" d x 38" h
Size (open): 85.5" w x 86.5" d x 38" h
Seat Plushness: 4
If you liked my endorsement of the Buchanan sleeper sofa but we're hoping for something with a bit more personality, the Cameron Slope Arm Sleeper (another best-seller) could be the move for you. The curved sides offer a touch more visual interest, but you get the same convenience of a hidden mattress. These seats are pretty firm and upright, though, which is a departure from the Buchanan. Otherwise, add in a few Pottery Barn pillows and you're golden.
Price: $2749
Size: 80" w x 45" d x 34" h
Seat Plushness: 3
The Carlisle is another best-seller. I didn't get the opportunity to sit on it myself, so I looked back at Apartment Therapy's testing guide — their editors described the seat as medium-firm with an overall sit that's neither too relaxed not too structured. The build and appearance definitely leans more traditional, but other elements, like the tapered loose back cushions, add a contemporary edge.
How should I style my Pottery Barn sofa?
You might have noticed that Pottery Barn sofas keep it simple in the way of patterns, letting quality and silhouette do the talking. Turns out, this classical approach is actually a favorite of interior designer Pantea Bionki.
Keeping with the retailer’s timeless look, the designer suggests selecting "a solid fabric for the sofa itself, and then incorporating patterns and textures through throw blankets and pillows." This simple styling technique "allows for easy seasonal changes without altering the sofa," providing a "cost-effective way to refresh the look throughout the year," she explains.
Seasons come and go, but a well-chosen sofa is forever. Consider pairing it with one of Livingetc's favorite Pottery Barn coffee tables and Pottery Barn rugs — a formula for the perfect living room.
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