We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
As a home and commerce writer, I do a lot (like, a lot) of online shopping, testing, and reviewing on a daily basis. I spend hours poring over customer reviews, I make pro and con lists, take Instagram polls, talk to friends and family, and reach out to interior designers to get every last morsel of information about the best possible product in a given category. So you can bet I did the same when it came to buying a couch, as it’s such a large purchase. After weeks of researching, my boyfriend and I finally landed on what we thought would be the perfect sofa: a moderately-priced, neutral modular sectional with a chaise lounge for stretching our legs out on. As it turned out though, our search was far from over.
It started with shipping delays (of course!), which left us sans sofa for a good month in our new apartment — understandable nonetheless. When the model finally arrived, it was missing the legs we ordered and instead came with different legs in the incorrect amount, plus the chaise was nowhere to be found. This led to another two months of back and forth with customer service to get the proper parts. In the meantime, we simply weren’t impressed with the couch. It was stiff, shallow, and the fabric, which appeared beige online, was actually white and prone to staining. To prevent our dog from leaving marks behind on the cushions, the sofa sat covered in blankets most of the time. It just wasn’t functional for our lifestyle, which happily revolves around hanging on the couch together with our dog. By the time we finally had the full setup, we admitted defeat and resigned ourselves to another arduous couch search, which we fully anticipated costing us more money and resulting in more frustration.
For more content like this follow
One place I didn’t think to look in our first sofa search bubbled up to the top of my list this time around: Raymour & Flanigan. While I was busy getting swept up in the trendy DTC sofa brands, high-end custom pieces that weren’t in our budget, and a slew of over-priced sectionals on Facebook Marketplace, I forgot to consider a traditional furniture showroom like Raymour & Flanigan.
I usually love to hunt down an eclectic mix of vintage and secondhand furniture, but like anywhere else, you can find gems in a bigger super-stock store if you keep your eyes open. With this in mind, I did some preliminary research on their site before heading to the showroom in Elizabeth, New Jersey (conveniently located next to an IKEA, a win-win!). We sat on lots of different couches, but in the end settled on the one I had spotted online: the Wilkinson sofa.
I have plenty of praise for this couch, but what sold us above all else was the incredible depth and plushness of the seats. After months of feeling like we were perched on a piece of cardboard in front of the TV, sinking into the showroom model had us immediately “ooh-ing” and “ahh-ing” in anticipation of afternoon naps, cozy WFH days, and movie nights. Aside from how perfectly cushy it is, the piece has a very classic silhouette. That said, it’s not definitively traditional or too modern either, so it plays perfectly with the random mix of styles in the rest of the apartment. We were then shocked to find out that it came with free white glove delivery just three days later, if we wanted it.
After all the shipping delays and extremely long lead times of 2020 and 2021, we were giddy with excitement over how quickly we’d be set up with our brand new couch. Bonus: It also came with five couch pillows I’ve since recovered in pillowcases more my style, but they’re great for adjusting the depth of the couch (to sit farther back or closer to the edge) to your liking. Oh, and the whole purchase came in well under $2,000 (you can often find the Wilkinson on sale, as it as right now).
Now, almost six months later, we’re still on couch — I mean cloud — nine (sorry). The sofa remains plush and stain-free, and it’s been through the wringer already (think: dog accidents, coffee spills, and, yes, a melted chocolate bar debacle). Thankfully, it’s upholstered in heavy-duty performance fabric, and all the cushion covers zip off for actually-easy laundering. I put them in the wash on a cold, gentle cycle then lay them out to dry, and they’re usually ready to go back on in less than 24 hours. In terms of other maintenance, I’ve removed some pills here and there with a very handy fabric shaver, and we flip and rotate the cushions every few weeks so that they wear evenly. The Wilkinson fits two humans and a sprawling French bulldog with room to spare, so we each have plenty of space to watch TV, eat, and nap. We didn’t think we’d be able to find a couch we truly loved within our budget, but sometimes you’ve just gotta go back to the basics to find the perfect piece.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Since I first moved to New York City nearly a decade ago, I’ve been through a lot of couches. From questionable, cash-only Facebook Marketplace pickups to what was dubbed “the cheapest couch IKEA has ever made,” I’ve seen pretty much everything Big Sofa has to offer to a young, fresh-outta-college guy with roommates. And, for years, those janky couches and their lumps, bumps, and “stains we don’t talk about” worked for me and my two roommates who were equally apathetic about the thing we sat on while we drank beer and watched “The Departed” for the fifteenth time. However, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked I moved in with my lovely girlfriend, who (rightfully) wanted a sofa that was new, comfortable, easy to assemble, complemented our (small) space, looked modern, and wouldn’t disintegrate after one lease renewal. What she wanted was a sofa that we’d have for years — one that we loved so much, we’d actually want to establish and enforce a “no eating on the couch” rule. What she wanted was the Owen Chaise Sectional from Castlery.
For more content like this follow
The Owen is a gorgeous, sleek sectional that’s as nice to lounge on as it is to look at. It comes in two colors, Pearl Beige and Olive Gold, and features a walnut-stained base that matches practically any aesthetic. It has a deep seat, padded armrests, and adjustable legs to make sure you never have to shove a matchbook underneath your sofa to stop it from wobbling. And, because it’s elevated, there’s some room for under-couch storage. You can also choose which side you’d like the chaise to face, which is a huge bonus if you’re working with a small space. They also throw in two pillows, which I’ve found to be dangerously comfortable when working on the couch.
The thing I love most about the Owen is that it feels big. Like, really big, especially compared to the tiny IKEA couches we’re used to. (In fact, my girlfriend and I often joke around and say, “how’s it going over there?” since we feel so far away on opposite ends of the sofa.) However, it’s actually pretty compact for a sectional, and it doesn’t take up our entire living room. And, I’m not the only one that feels this way. “My husband and I spent a lot of time looking for a sectional that’s not too large or small and this one is the perfect size for literally any home or apartment,” one reviewer writes. “It’s beautiful, the cushions velcro down to the base, and feels really durable. This sectional is incredibly comfortable and we can stretch out with no problem.”
In terms of delivery, you can either have the sofa delivered to your front door, or pay extra to have it brought into the room of your choosing, with the additional option of having the couch set up for you. I had the couch brought directly into my living room, where I put together the couch by myself. Setup was a breeze: You just take the couch out of the packaging, screw on the feet with the included Allen key, secure the chaise to the main sofa with the built-in alligator attachment, and pop on the cushions. It took my girlfriend and I about 20 minutes from start to finish, and the hardest part was lugging the cardboard down the two flights of stairs in my walk-up apartment.
I really can’t recommend this piece enough: The look, feel, and size of the sectional are a massive upgrade from my past couches. So, if you’ve been struggling to find a sectional that checks off all of your boxes, do yourself a favor and snag the Owen Chaise Sectional from Castlery while it’s on sale. Trust me — it’s a lot better than the seventh page of Wayfair search results or getting lost in an IKEA showroom (again).
Microfiber couches are a popular sofa choice because their synthetic material is stain resistant and easy to clean. That means they can hold their own against everything from takeout pizza dinners to pet cuddles and sticky kid fingers — and if a mess does take place, it can be relatively easy to clean.
For more content like this follow
But how exactly do you clean a microfiber couch? While they don’t stain as easily as other fabrics, they are susceptible to watermarks. You want to make sure you don’t accidentally create a stain through routine maintenance cleaning, so to avoid that, here are the methods experts swear by.
How Often to Clean a Microfiber Couch
To keep up with maintenance, spot treat stains immediately so they don’t settle into the fibers, and vacuum the cushions and interior weekly. To keep smells and dirt at bay, deep clean your microfiber couch once or twice a year. “If you’re single and have no kids, pets, or a lot of traffic, clean your couch at least once a year to not void the 12 month Scotch Guard protection,” says Irvin Ricardo Alexander, owner of Los Angeles-based ACC Alex Carpet Cleaning. “But if you’re a couple with a dog or you have kids, I say at least twice a year.”
Before choosing your desired cleaning method, locate your couch’s manufacture tag to see what the fabric can and can’t handle. According to Home Depot, your couch is likely to be one of these codes:
Method 1: Rubbing Alcohol
If you’re trying to tackle stubborn or lingering stains on your couch, furniture brand Joybird recommends treating it with rubbing alcohol. This is great for S-tag couches, and you can use this method to clean the entire sofa or spot-treat stains.
If your microfiber couch has a W-tag, you can use soap and water as your cleaning agent. Your cushions will smell refreshed and odor-free in 10 minutes flat.
Luckily, Albany Park is here to help. The Black-founded brand is an editor favorite here at AT, thanks to its quality craftsmanship, genius packaging, and tool-free assembly. Each of their stylish sofa options comes in a wide range of fabrics and colors, so there’s sure to be something that will match your existing decor or act as a catalyst to a whole new look for your space. Oh, and we haven’t even gotten to the best part: For a limited time, Albany Park is offering an extra 15 percent off (plus free shipping!) select furniture items in honor of Labor Day. Simply browse our favorites below and enter the code LDAY15 at check out. Your future December self is already thanking you.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Amazon — Shop deals daily on everything from sleepers to storage sofas and more for the home (and beyond!).
Pottery Barn — Save up to 70 percent on items like furniture and rugs for indoor and outdoor use during the 4th of July Warehouse Sale.
Macy’s — Shop everything from brand-name mattresses to sofas and furniture during the July 4th Sale.
Anthropologie — Enjoy up to 70 percent off during the Summer Savings Event.
Etsy — The (first ever!) All Things Home sale is still on and full of discounts on everything from skillfully-made furniture to quality outdoor entertaining essentials, unique gifts, and more for the home.
Edloe Finch — Get 12 percent off of select furniture when you use the code HAPPY4TH at checkout. Shop our favorite picks from the sale.
Horchow — Save up to 30 percent sitewide on furniture, rugs, and more.
Joss & Main — Save 15 percent off with code TAKE15 during the furniture and home decor brand’s July 4th Sale.
Rejuvenation — Take up to 25 percent off of lighting, furniture, and more during the Warehouse Sale.
Houzz — Save up to 75 percent on home furnishings to add to or recreate your space with.
AllModern — Enjoy up to 15 percent off of furniture and more during the massive Fourth of July Sale when you checkout using the code GET15.
Urban Outfitters — Shop discounted furniture, home decor, and more in Urban Outfitters’ expansive sale section.
Apt2B — During the 4th of July Sale, take 15 percent off of everything sitewide, 20 percent off orders totaling $2,999 or more, 25 percent off of orders $3,999 or more, and 30 percent off of orders $5,499 or more.
Annie Selke — The furniture and sofa brand is offering made-to-order rugs are 20 percent off when you checkout using the code CUSTOM.
Havenly — Save 45 percent on full size design packages with code FIREWORKS. You can also take an additional 10 percent off of on-sale home decor, from lighting to accent furniture, when you use the code JULY22 at checkout.
Castlery — The furniture brand’s 4th of July Sale is offering up to 30 percent off of stand-out pieces like outdoor furniture, perfect for summer gatherings.
Interior Define — Take 20 percent off of custom upholstery and design your ideal sofa this summer.
Lulu and Georgia — Take 20 percent off your entire order of coveted home decor, rugs, furniture, and more.
Design Within Reach — Get 15 percent off of your order of all things for outdoors and in, from furniture to decor, during the Independence Sale.
Chairish — Shop up to 50 percent off of best-selling items, including outdoor furniture and entertaining essentials, seating, tables, storage and organization, rugs, lighting, and art.
Lumens — Snag up to 50 percent off of lighting, furniture, and more during the Fourth of July Sale.
HAY — Get trendy sofas and sectionals, lighting, and much more for the home at 15 percent off during the Summer Sale.
Arhaus — Shop up to 50 percent off of select outdoor furniture and indoor decor gems during The July Fourth Sale.
Modloft — Save up to 30 percent on sofas, dining sets, and other design-forward furniture during Modloft’s The Fourth Event.
