Where to buy a sofa – I’ve tried well over 300 sofas, and these are the 15 brands and retailers that have impressed me the most

Buying a sofa is serious business – for one, a sofa is a big financial investment. But it’s also one you’ll have to live with for several years – or at least that’s the way it should be as sofas shouldn’t be just discarded after a year or two, and they should be of good enough quality to last ideally at least a decade. And knowing where to buy a sofa that will stand the test of time in terms of quality and design is key.

As Ideal Home’s Room Decor Editor, it’s part of my job to try and sit on as many sofas as I can get my hands on – I’ve tried well over 300 sofas at this point in pursuit of finding the best sofas on the market. And I’m actually starting to lose count exactly how many I’ve sat on since there are so many. But if you ask me about a sofa, I’ll know whether I’ve tried it and what I thought of it.

Having tried so many different sofas, I’ve also come to recognise what the best places to shop for a sofa are. Whatever your style or budget you’re working with, there’s something for everyone on this list of my top recommended brands and retailers that I’d happily buy my own sofa from.

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Where to buy a sofa – the quick list

• Andrew Martin: luxury sofas of the highest quality
• Castlery: modern sofas with many modular options
• Darlings of Chelsea: wide range of upholstery options
• Furniture Village: comfortable budget buys
• Habitat: stylish yet affordable sofas
• Heal's: high-end sofas from various brands in one place
• John Lewis & Partners: practical and stylish
• King Living: designer-style and quality sofas at mid-range prices
• Loaf: squishy seating that's perfect for lounging
• Next: made-to-order and ready-made sofas, both own-brand and other brands
• Raft Furniture: sustainable, customisable sofas made to order
• Sofa.com: wide range of styles and great upholstery options
• Sofa Club: wide range of modular sofas with next-day delivery
• Sofology: super comfortable sofas with innovative technology available
• Swyft: sofa-in-a-box with super fast delivery

15 of our favourite places to buy a sofa

There are many things and several factors to consider when shopping for a new sofa. And while some are very personal, such as how deep you want your sofa seats to be or whether you want a traditional Chesterfield style or one of the best modular sofas which often feel more modern.

And while those things are largely down to you, one of the things I can help you with is where to buy your next sofa to make sure you get yourself a stylish, high-quality and long-lasting product.

1. King Living

Hailing all the way from Australia, King Living is becoming an increasingly popular sofa brand in the UK, too, as the brand now boats three showrooms here. And for good reason – the brand does designer style and level sofas at mid-range prices.

The one thing that I find when bringing up King Living with others is that people believe it’s more expensive than it actually is. And I’m by no means claiming it’s a budget brand but King Living sofas are no more expensive than most John Lewis sofas, for example.

I myself own a King Living sofa – the 1977, Package 3 specifically. So I am partial to this recently relaunched modular design with removable covers which was originally released in - you guessed it - 1977. But I understand that this very modern and curved style is not necessarily a crowd pleaser. But something like the Jasper sofa, on the hand, is. Incidentally enough, the Jasper is also super comfortable, sizeable and modular – as you’ll find, King Living does sectional sofas really well in case you’re looking to future-proof your home with a modular sofa. That’s why the brand just released another sectional design just last month called the Haven which is equipped with a set of ergonomically shaped arm rests, too.

2. John Lewis & Partners

John Lewis & Partners offers a brilliant range of sofas, from contemporary designs to timeless classics. The brand blends comfort, quality, and a great range of upholstery options in its in-house range, as well as offering sofas from independent brands Swoon, Swyft, and more.

The Ideal Home team cannot get enough of this Lozenge Grand 5-Seater Chaise End Sofa, and can you blame us? The boucle furniture trend is still alive and kicking, and this John Lewis & Partners addition is just the latest piece to add to our obsession. Featuring an asymmetric shape and space for five, it’s not as expensive as you’d imagine, either.

But I also love the new addition to the brand's modular range called the Flow, which is both comfortable and stylish with its curved design and quilted backrest. And, of course, we shouldn't forget about the Barbican which has earned the status of the best corner sofa in our best sofa buying guide.

3. Next

In all honesty, prior to trying some of Next’s new sofas last year, I never really thought of this brand as a go-to for sofas but more so a place to shop for home accessories and smaller pieces like accent chairs.

But that has since changed after I had the opportunity to sit on some of Next’s made-to-measure designs which are excellent and even some of the ready-made models like the Next Crosby modular sofa offering built-in storage which I was very impressed with. Not to mention all the other brands of sofas you can find at Next, including the much-loved MADE and the new Cath Kidston sofas are not only super pretty but so pillowy and comfortable, too.

4. Sofa Club

Sofa Club has been on my radar for a while and I’ve always liked the look of their sofas. But it was only earlier this year that I was able to give them a try as the brand is rapidly expanding and opening up new showrooms, including one in Croydon which I’ve paid a visit to.

I was very impressed with their wide offering of modular sofas which is a sofa category that I especially love and think can be beneficial for many different kinds of homes and living rooms. The Carmen sofa was one of my absolute favourites as it doesn’t only feature a modular design, but it’s also beautifully curved and it perfectly strikes the balance between soft and supportive cushions, resulting in the ultimate comfort.

Sofa Club is one of the very few sofa brands that offer next day delivery. But in order to deliver on this, the brand doesn’t offer a wide range of upholstery options. So most of the sofa models will come only in one or two upholstery finishes and most of the colours available are on the neutral side.

5. Habitat

Long gone are the days of circling our favourite items in the Argos catalogue, but that doesn’t mean that we’ve stopped lusting over Argos products. Especially as Habitat at Argos offers original and on-trend designs while keeping its prices low. So, it’s perfect if you’re looking to decorate your living room on a budget.

Our star sofa from Habitat at Argos has to be the Hendricks sofa, for its effortless style and simplicity, previously also named the best value large sofa in our buying guide. Habitat's launched a made-to-order sofa service which included the Hendricks, but it's currently being put on pause. But if you're looking for something more affordable and available right now, our top budget sofa buy, the Julien, starts at only £595.

6. Darlings of Chelsea

At Ideal Home, we know the importance of the sofa. And if you won’t settle for anything less than handcrafted goodness, Darlings of Chelsea could be the best sofa brand for you. Offering everything from leather sofas to handcrafted sofa beds, it has a sofa to suit every style and budget. Plus, they’re just so effortlessly chic.

If your sofa style revolves around sinking into a giant marshmallow-esque cushion, the Purley Extra Deep Range was made for you. Its extra deep cushions offer the ultimate comfort, while the hardwood frame still offers that sense of stability and quality you need for such a focal point in the living room.

7. Castlery

Castlery is a new name on the UK furniture and sofa scene as of last September. But it’s one of the few sofa brands that really impressed me in recent times. Originally from Singapore, Castlery has a strong presence across Asia and Australia where its mostly modular sofas (and other furniture designs) enjoy much popularity.

I had the opportunity to try a few of the brand’s sofa designs at its London pop-up a few months ago and was impressed with each and every one of them. They have something of a Soho Home look without the super high price tag that you’d be confronted by if shopping at Soho Home.

The Solari’s unique, curved shape would be my top pick but I was also impressed by the Marlow style which reminded me of a croissant (in the best way possible) and made me pleasantly surprised at how soft and comfortable it was. And yes, all of the sofas mentioned here are modular.

8. Heal's

While Heal’s has an extensive range of its own-brand sofas which are very good in their own right, it’s actually the wide offering of sofa designs from other (mostly high-end) brands that I love going to Heal’s for.

It’s the one place where you can try (if you live or find yourself near one of the physical Heal’s stores) and buy design classics like the Togo from Ligne Roset, along with styles from younger, cool brands like Muuto, which aims to bring a new perspective to traditional Scandi design.

9. Sofa.com

Not only does Sofa.com offer some super on-trend sofa shapes that rival designer seating (at far more affordable price points), but it offers a brilliant selection of upholstery options that mean you're pretty much guaranteed to find a sofa colour and fabric to match your living room decor.

While the brand's bestseller is the more traditionally shaped Bluebell sofa, the Jack is favoured for its budget-friendly price that's perfect for first-time sofa buyers. But it's the newcoming Ren that's impressed me most recently as one of the best and most innovative modular sofas on the market.

10. Furniture Village

For Furniture Village, comfort is key. This brand understands the importance of having a comfortable place to sit at the end of the day, and its countless sofas in all different shapes and styles revolve around this key point. Upholstery options are somewhat limited, but that means price points are very affordable.

I like the Sienna sofa because it's a unique and modern take on a Chesterfield sofa. While the Bronwyn sofa is the perfect traditional sofa – actually the best one on the market as per Ideal Home's best sofa buying guide.

11. Andrew Martin

Andrew Martin is definitely a sofa brand that falls into the high-end, luxury category which is, of course, not within everyone’s budget. But if you do have the money to spend on a luxury sofa, Andrew Martin is one of the top places I would recommend.

Similarly to Darlings of Chelsea, Andrew Martin’s sofas are made by hand in the UK and the brand believes in its products so much so that it offers a 30-year structural guarantee on its sofas. There is a lot of thought, as well as innovation that goes into the design of its sofas, while also offering some more classic, traditional styles. And there is a lot of room for customisation so that your sofa fits your needs and desires.

The Truman modular sofa design is one of my favourites and also one of the top sellers of the brand – so it’s perhaps no surprise it’s ranked as the top luxury sofa in our best sofas buying guide.

12. Raft Furniture

It’s very difficult to find a sofa brand manufactured here in the UK. And it’s near impossible to find one that manufactures as locally (at least to me) as in London. But this is exactly where Raft Furniture’s manufacturing is based – and I was lucky enough to be allowed behind the scenes, tour the North London factory and see every step of the sofa manufacturing process first hand.

Raft’s sofas are made to order and this approach is not only more sustainable, but it also means the sofas can be customised to your needs and preferences – from various cushion filling options to make them either softer or more supportive to thousands (!) of upholstery choices available for you to choose from.

I’m personally a big fan of the Loft modular sofa, which is also available in the Studio version which is a great small living room idea since it comes with slimmer, more space-saving armrests than the original.

13. Swyft

Alongside Swyft's focus on style and comfort, this brand has focused on practicality and the ease of ordering a new sofa. After all, choosing the right sofa can be stressful! Offering a 'sofa in a box', Swyft sofas will quite literally be delivered in a box on your doorstep. In doing this, they promise super fast delivery times.

Buying a sofa relies on a certain level of understanding of space and size, but the modular aspect of the 3-seater Model 03 solves everyone's problems. This is our star product because you can pick and choose how you set up this sofa and move it around in a way that works for you and your living room. And it's pretty stylish, right?

14. Sofology

If you want a made-to-order sofa that’s super cushiony and comfortable then Sofology is the place for you. My favourite styles from the brand are not necessarily space-saving so they might not be great for your small living room ideas, but they make up for that in comfort.

The aptly named Cocoon is ideal if you really want to feel enveloped and almost hugged by your sofa, owing to the design’s high arms which are level with the backrest. But if you don’t have a lot of space to work with you, you could get it as a two-seater, too.

And still in the name of the ultimate comfort, Sofology specialises in technologically advanced sofas, whether it’s stylish recliners - that’s a thing we’re about to see a whole lot more of - like The Flex. And the brand’s even managed to build a mini fridge into its design to keep your drinks cool when watching TV or a movie.

15. Loaf

At Ideal Home, we’re all about that laid-back living, and Loaf offers that in abundance. Focusing on sofas that are the definition of both squishy and squashy, its designs all look as comfortable as they feel. And with sofas in so many different shades and colours, you’re bound to find one that works with your living room colour scheme.

We know a white sofa is risky, but you’ll be happy to know that our top pick from Loaf comes in so many different colours. 132 of them, to be exact. Its Crumpet sofa offers extra-deep cushioning for extra comfort, and that’s something we just can’t get enough of in the office.

FAQs

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