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Soon after my wife and I signed the lease on our dream house, the reality of furnishing the new space started to sink in. We were thrilled by the walkable neighborhood, charming architectural details, and extra square footage, and wanted to make sure our furniture reflected our new life phase. We felt like we had graduated past IKEA and Living Spaces, but weren’t exactly ready to throw down $20K for a vintage piece on 1stDibs.
Ever committed to thorough research, I found myself staring at sofas and sectionals online for hours. I was paralyzed by indecision – searches for “best affordable sofas” returned things that felt low-quality; searches for “most popular sectional” turned up page after page of uninspiring options; searches for “most comfortable sectional” led me towards sofas that were way too large for our space. Every time I thought I had found “the one,” I spiraled into a maze of second-guessing. Would that white fabric show every crumb and dog hair? Is this sectional too big for the room, or worse, too small to be comfortable? Is this color too close to the dreaded Millennial gray?
The reviews hurt more than they helped – one person’s “perfectly firm” is another’s “sitting on concrete.” Between measuring our new space over and over, coordinating delivery timelines with our upcoming move-in, and trying to imagine how this piece would impact our design, I had nearly given up. That is, until a serendipitous Instagram ad for Albany Park came across my feed.
We like
- Elegant design
- Large, but works for compact spaces
- Pet-friendly performance fabric
- Customizable details
- Options for built-in storage
We don't like
- Assembly can be challenging
- No option for white glove delivery
- Higher price point
My Couch Conundrum, Solved
The Barton Chaise Sectional from Albany Park stopped my scroll at first glance. Its clean, mid-century modern design struck the perfect balance between style and comfort that I was looking for. I clicked through and was thrilled to see a ton of fabric options, from sleek velvet to leather to performance tweed, which immediately caught my attention as a dog owner. You can also choose between three different wood finishes for the legs, which is a level of detail that I really appreciated.
The modular design gives you a ton of flexibility – the Barton comes in multiple configurations, from a classic three-seater to an L-shaped sectional with a chaise on either side, allowing you to customize the layout to fit your room. And the storage ottoman was a no brainer add-on for us, since we needed to optimize for our small-ish space.
Albany Park doesn’t have any brick-and-mortar locations, so I wasn’t able to see the sofa in person before clicking “add to cart.” They do offer up to 20 (!) free fabric swatches – an offer I did not take them up on – but move-in day was fast approaching and we needed to get the show on the road. Purchasing sight unseen did make me a little bit nervous, but TQE had already blessed the brand and after the countless hours I had put into my search, I was just relieved to have decided that the Albany Park Barton was the one.
Fast, Easy Shipping…and a DIY Reality Check
These days, it’s not unusual for custom furniture to take several months (or more!) to arrive. And there was no option for expedited or white glove delivery on the Albany Park website, so post-purchase I was entirely at the mercy of the supply chain. But luckily, Albany Park products are made in North America and ship for free to the 48 contiguous states & D.C., and I was excited to see that my order had shipped in under two weeks – even sooner than what had been promised on their website. Tracking was simple, and before I knew it I had set up my delivery window.
Assembly is definitely a two-person job – nothing is particularly heavy, but the size of each piece makes them pretty unwieldy. You don’t need any special tools to get the job done, other than an extra dose of patience: some of our brackets were a bit mis-aligned and it took several tries (and deep breaths) before we had clicked everything together. We were also left with quite a bit of packaging material in the aftermath, so I do wish there was an option for white-glove delivery to handle assembly and disposal. Maybe in the future!
BEST OVERALL
The Barton Chaise Sectional from Albany Park combines modern silhouettes with exceptional comfort. This sophisticated sectional features a sleek, minimalist design with clean lines and a low profile, making it a versatile addition to any contemporary living space. Its seating area is upholstered in a plush, high-performance fabric that’s soft to the touch and durable, ensuring long-lasting use. On top of all that, the sectional includes a spacious chaise lounge, perfect for relaxing or entertaining a large group. Its modular design allows for flexible arrangement, adapting to your room’s layout and your personal preferences. The Barton Chaise Sectional offers superior style, support, and comfort making it our best overall sectional.
We like
We don't like
We like
We don't like
The Verdict: One Month (And Several Muddy Paw Prints) Later…
We’re now about a month into our relationship with the Albany Park Barton Sectional, and we are thrilled with it so far. The cushions are firm and hold their shape really nicely, so it doesn’t require a ton of daily maintenance to look presentable. The chaise sectional plus storage ottoman provide a ton of space for lounging, and we’ve had up to five adults sprawl out comfortably for movie night.
We ended up choosing the performance fabric which has been incredibly durable and stain resistant. I mentioned a dog earlier – just a few days after the couch arrived, Harold ran in from the yard and tracked mud all over the chaise. After a momentary panic, I took a wet cloth to the light fabric… and much to my relief, the mud lifted right out. In the days since, Harold has chosen a favorite spot on the chaise and I am much more relaxed about the occasional dirt he leaves behind! And rest assured – for those moments when water won’t cut it, the seat cushions and covers on the Barton Sofa are removable.
For those seeking the sweet spot between quality, style and price, the Albany Park Barton Chaise Sectional delivers exceptionally high returns. While the assembly process could be smoother and white-glove delivery would be welcome, these minor inconveniences are far outweighed by the Barton Sofa's thoughtful design, impressive durability, and genuine comfort. One month in, we're confident we made the right choice – this versatile, well-crafted piece hit all our must-haves and elevated our living space.
End your endless couch search and shop Albany Park here.
