When living space is limited, most of us resort to a design technique I like to call Hug the Wall. In trying to preserve our precious floor space, we push our couches, end tables, and light fixtures all the way to the periphery, refusing to let them encroach into the center of the room.
Maybe that's why the sectional sofa has always seemed like the height of luxury: it connotes a room so overflowing with space that the couch can be as L-shaped, as U-shaped, or as endlessly modular as it wants. The real secret, though, is that you don't need a ton of space to score a pretty great sectional.
In fact, the ten brands below – some of our favorites when it comes to any interior design challenge – have perfected sectionals that pass the Goldilocks test with flying colors. Not too small to be cramped seating, not too large to dwarf a petite apartment. In fabric, size, and oftentimes price, these couches are just right.
Our Top Ten Picks
Albany Park
The Kova Sofa with Ottoman and Console (on sale for $1,953)
Albany Park claims to make "the world's most comfortable sofa" – and with the feather-blend cushions the brand uses, it might have a point. The Kova is just one of several sectionals Albany Park offers, but we love this iteration for the included (and color-coordinated) console. With its mattress-quality foam, this is the kind of couch you start off sitting on. Within ten minutes, you're horizontal. Naptime has a new home base.
AllModern
The Hailee 2-Piece Leather Chaise Sectional (on sale for $1,350)
On the other end of the spectrum, this Hailee sectional is leather-clad and much more upright. But there's tons of comfort to be had here between the bolster cushion and the elegantly sized chaise. It's a great option for firm sofa lovers who need a piece that's built to last – and makes a statement. Bonus points if you're bold enough to opt for the pitch black leather.
Apt2B
The Vera 2-Piece Sectional Sofa (on sale for $3,015.80)
Next up in materials: velvet. Apt2B makes the Vera in three irresistible colors – blush, grey, and honey – each made with velvet so soft you can't stop touching it. Despite the fabric's high-maintenance reputation, this couch is virtually stain-resistant, with velvet that's as cleanable as it is breathable. We love the slightly bolstered seat height, and we love the three included toss pillows even more. It all adds up to feel like a comfy throne, in the best way.
Article
The Timber Sectional ($2,749)
As the owner of a leather Article couch myself, I had to shout the brand out too for its truly exceptional product. The Timber sectional is available in both fabric and leather upholstery, but I couldn't be a bigger fan of how the Charme Tan leather looks and feels. With its textured, lived-in appearance, and the perfect amount of support you get from those side pillows, Article brings real warmth to the mid-century modern genre. Count me among the brand’s legion of rave reviews.
Burrow
The Range 4-Piece Sectional ($2,195)
Leaving mid-century in the past, Burrow opts for an aesthetic that's altogether more futuristic. The Range sectional looks like something from a space-age cocktail party, but the perks of this couch are no science fiction. All of the brand’s sectionals are modular and can be arranged in countless configurations, and come with overstuffed cushions and expansive seat depth for maximum comfort. Who said avant-garde couldn't be cozy?
Castlery
The Madison Chaise Sectional Sofa ($2,199)
Global favorite Castlery has finally expanded into the US market, and we're here to sing its praises. The Madison sectional is a great case study of what the brand does so well: mix classic elements like biscuit tufting with eye-catching, contemporary rubber wood legs. Castlery makes comfortable, everyday furniture with thoughtfully surprising details, with a level of quality that's increasingly rare in its price range. Team Leather will be thrilled to learn there's an option for them too, with the same comforting round bolsters.
Floyd
The Two-Piece Sectional ($1,590)
Floyd keeps it simple. Rather than overwhelming you with different models, when you're browsing for a sectional the brand offers you: The Sectional. However, it does come with anywhere from two to five pieces, and we highly recommend the two-piece version for smaller living spaces. With an asymmetrical option that incorporates just one armrest, it's got a striking silhouette and multiple densities of foam to ensure support. Floyd's seating stays close to the floor, practically begging you to lounge on it – and that's a challenge we're willing to accept.
Joss & Main
Atelier 2-Piece Upholstered Sectional ($3,199)
Joss & Main is another brand that thrives in the details. Though the Atelier might look like a classic rectangular couch when looking head-on, the extended footrest will catch your eye when you see it. The down-fill cushions are even better, bringing a softness you might not expect from such a crisp profile. With its block feet hardly noticeable, the upholstery is the thing, and this creamy off-white couldn't look more elegant. Though it might be one of the most expensive sofas in our roundup, Joss & Main certainly makes a good case for leveling up.
Rove Concepts
The Antonio 2-Piece Sectional ($2,727 for members)
Somewhere between Burrow's neofuturism and Floyd's understated chic lies Rove Concepts, a brand pushing truly unique design concepts with European flair. Take the Antonio sectional's pillows for example, which leave windows of negative space instead of filling the entire couch back. These playful, customizable moments give Rove's seating a real point of view – and make them a top contender for anyone shopping for a conversation starter.
West Elm
The Dalton 2-Piece Chaise Sectional (on sale from $3,098)
The brand might not need any more PR to add to its significant market share, but there's no denying that West Elm makes a fantastic product. This couch in particular is rated as Contract Grade, meaning it's suitable for residential use but made to commercial standards – in short, it's designed to stand up to years and years of heavy use. That doesn't mean it's stiff, though. Quite the opposite: it's a low-profile, buttery soft sofa with sink-in cushions that feel like a big hug. With options in width, configuration, fabric and leg style, it's a piece you can tinker with 'til it checks all your boxes.
And there you have it: ten high-end, low-cost brands that have tailored the aspirational sectional for modern-day living quarters. They come in different shapes, fabrics, and finishes, with options to suit whichever vibe you're currently curating – but they've all got a truly stellar quality in common. So bid adieu to your flat, linear sofa and start embracing the modular life. We have a feeling you won't look back.
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