We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space (2024)

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The sheer number of products you have to choose from when shopping for furniture (or anything, for that matter) is both a blessing and a curse. Sure, you’ll eventually find the exact sofa you want, but doing so could easily entail a lengthy process of trial and error. What looks like a well-made, beige upholstered couch online might show up feeling alarmingly lightweight and looking slightly… green in color, for some reason? So, how do you save yourself from dealing with a disappointing big-ticket purchase and difficult return process? By reading our Personal Shopper series, of course! In this series, we visit the physical showrooms of all your favorite furniture retailers and try products out first-hand. So far, we’ve gone toWest Elm,Pottery Barn,, Urban Outfitters, and Burrow to test their living room seating (and more!). After these visits, we give you the full breakdown of which couch or sectional is right for your space.

For our latest installment, we ventured out of NYC and headed to Secaucus, New Jersey, to visit the Ashley store and check out its sofas. We were expecting lots of pieces and a wide variety —and we were certainly not disappointed. From adaptable modular sofas to doze-worth sleeper sofas, there’s something for every type of sofa-seeker on this list.

Why Ashley?

Despite a rising number of online DTC competitors in the sofa marketplace, Ashley has held its own as a legacy retailer and continues to produce high-quality sofas at reasonable prices. In addition to offering its signature homey, traditional silhouettes, Ashley also boasts a wide selection of modern sofas and sectionals that look right at home in both busy family households and young adults’ apartments. And when we say wide, we mean we looked at upwards of 40 models in the store. To spare you the scrolling, you’ll find our 11 favorites down below for a variety of home aesthetics and lifestyles.

The Sofas

The Criteria

We judged every Ashley sofa in-store based on the following five criteria, giving each category an average rating between 1 and 5. These scores helped us determine who the sofa suits best, from the busy parent to the small-space apartment dweller.

Seat firmness: How soft or firm are the seat cushions? How do they contribute to overall posture and comfort?

Seat depth: How far do you have to scoot to meet the backrest? And when you do, are you in an upright or reclined position?

Loungability: Can you spend hours on this sofa or chair? And would you want to?

Durability: Is the fabric easy to care for and able to withstand everyday use? Does it require frequent upkeep and spot cleaning?

Appearance: What style does it best suit? Does it lean more traditional (i.e., rounded lines, tufted cushions, classic silhouettes) or more contemporary (i.e., clean lines, bright hues, modern silhouettes)?

Every Editor-Tested Sofa and Sectional at Ashley

What Impressed Us:The ultra-soft leather upholstery.

I viewed a surprisingly large number of modular sofas in Ashley’s store, including the Emilia sectional. Each module of this sofa is fully finished on all sides and can be moved to create countless configurations. Another unexpected but welcome feature of this couch was its ultra-soft leather upholstery, which covers the backrests, seats, and arm cushions. (An indistinguishable faux leather match covers the exterior areas.) Sitting down, we also found that the seats were splendidly deep and wide, not to mention plush, which isn’t super common with leather couches. The upholstery is prone to grain and shade variation over time, but this is to be expected with softer leather. Plus, the Emilia still appeared to be in great condition in the showroom.

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What Impressed Us:The wide seats and velvety fabric.

In case you couldn’t already tell, we prefer sofas with wide, deep seats and a sink-in feel. It’s only natural, then, that the Soletren was our favorite model of the 40-something we viewed. It’s almost more of a loveseat but wide enough to seat three. In other words, this sofa is great for apartment dwellers looking for a cozy but modern addition to their living space. A cool detail about the Soletren is that it has three back cushions, which gives it a homey vibe, but only two seat cushions, which is a trendy touch. The couch is available online in two upholstery colors, though we especially love the oatmeal shade we viewed — it’s not as stark as white, but it’ll still brighten up your surroundings. And, at under $800, this pick won’t break the bank.

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What Impressed Us:The clean silhouette and asymmetrical chaises.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Creswell sectional is that it has both a right- and left-facing chaise, and they’re not the same length. So, whether you want extra legroom while snuggling or a bed-like napping spot, this pick gives you both. We deemed it the best model for families not only because of its expansive seating but also because of the durable upholstery. When you sit on the Creswell, you’ll find that its polyester fabric isn’t quite as soft compared to some of the other models. But because it’s not as delicate, it won’t be as difficult to spot-clean. Also, the sectional’s seats and back cushions are relatively firm but plush enough to be comfortable without swallowing you. The chunky block legs and wide, slightly curved arms are also a nice touch.

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What Impressed Us:The roll arms and included throw pillows.

The modest Carnaby sectional proves that you can still stretch out on a chaise even if you’re dealing with limited square footage. This model is surprisingly compact in person but still incredibly comfortable thanks to its plush back cushions and seats. The seats are narrow, but the wide chaise makes up for that. We also liked the sectional’s textured, linen-like cream fabric, as well as its barely exposed block feet. Additionally, this is one of the Ashley sofa models that comes with complimentary accent pillows — five, to be exact. Oftentimes, pillows that come with a sofa might not match your aesthetic. But in this case, the accessories are just as neutral and pleasant-looking as the main attraction. Finally, the Carnaby is available with the choice of a left-arm- or right-arm-facing chaise, so you can customize it to your living room’s layout.

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What Impressed Us:The unique legs and shimmery upholstery.

Although Ashley is a legacy retailer, most of the sofas we viewed in-store skewed more modern as opposed to traditional. The Kananwood, however, is an obvious exception. It sports a classic silhouette with its roll arms, charming turned bun feet, and high back. You also get three back cushions and three corresponding seat cushions. But this is no dowdy couch! When we got up close, we were delighted to find that its velvety ivory-and-brown fabric has a slight sparkle — a subtle but statement-making quality that lends a youthful vibe. As you might expect, this sofa has firm backs and seats, so it’s not exactly a prime lounging spot. But you can rest assured that its high-resiliency foam fill and solid platform foundation will resist sagging for years to come.

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What Impressed Us:The pull-out bed and hidden storage compartment.

If you live in a small studio, chances are that you’re on the hunt for both function and fashion. The Kerle will no doubt serve you well with its small, 89-inch-wide frame, pop-up sleep surface, and storage chaise. You’ll be able to simultaneously cut down on clutter and keep blankets and pillows within easy reach, and if guests ever need to crash overnight, they have a convenient spot to do so. Both components of the sectional come equipped with large, easy-pull tabs, so accessing the hidden features is seamless every time. Oh, and did we mention the couch has a dual USB charging port on the side? In short, the Kerle is a great starter couch, because it gives you a lot of bang for your buck. And with its simple design and neutral upholstery, it’ll never look outdated.

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What Impressed Us:The suede-like upholstery and wide seat modules.

We’re not kidding when we say the Allena sectional took our breath away. The blocky, low-to-the-ground seat modules looked like they were floating despite their impressive size. Indeed, they’re both ultra-wide and ultra-deep, giving you plenty of space to recline and balance a drink. What makes this model even more unique is its rich, chocolate-brown upholstery that looks and feels like suede. Usually, this is a tricky fabric for couches, but the dark color will prevent the sectional from looking worn, even after years of use. Also of note is the light-colored stitching along the edges of each module, which creates an eye-catching contrast. To my surprise, the seats were quite firm, but we think that makes this sectional all the more fitting for social gatherings. It’s a great pick for the entertainer who has space to spare.

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What Impressed Us:The fleece-like fabric and extra-wide chaise.

The Zada sectional is so soft and cozy that when we sat on it for the first time, we didn’t want to get up. In other words, we love it. It’s the be-all and end-all of inviting sofas with its fleecey white upholstery, faux fur throw pillows, and modern but slightly rounded lines. The seat cushions were deeper than we expected and we gladly sank right into them. The chaise, which can be either left-arm or right-arm facing, is also super wide — almost wide enough for two. Naturally, a white couch is always a risk, so we wouldn’t recommend this pick for families with kids or pets.

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What Impressed Us:The convenience and compact frame.

If you ask us, a Twin sleeper is one of the most underrated pieces of furniture. You can either make up for your lack of a sofa without sacrificing a lot of space or add a snuggly chair-and-a-half to your living room. And in both cases, you also get an extra sleeping surface for guests. We first viewed the Rannis in a Queen sleeper size, but we found the Twin version to be much cuter and, naturally, more suitable for small rooms. It has the typical pull-out bed, which was very easy to unfold and put away. The bi-fold mattress is made of supportive memory foam and sits atop a sturdy steel frame that can undoubtedly hold a lot of weight. And when it’s in chair form, the Rannis looks like the typical cozy accent piece (especially if you get it in white upholstery).

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What Impressed Us:The reversible cushions and modular design.

The Tanavi is essentially a fabric version of the Emilia leather sectional. The best thing about this couch, aside from its plush seats and wide silhouette, is the fact that it’s modular. You can buy the five-piece model as is or customize its configuration when you click the “sectional builder” button on the product page. As a result, what might look like a sofa for a big, open living room can easily be tailored to fit a more modest space. The Tanavi is also quite versatile; regardless of whether you opt for the gray or off-white upholstery, it’ll seamlessly fit in with a range of aesthetics — minimalist, farmhouse, boho, coastal, etc. Additionally, the sectional’s side pillows and cushions are all reversible, making this pick even more relaxed than its laidback silhouette might suggest.

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What Impressed Us:The center console and adjustable positions.

Ashley had a lot of cool power-reclining sofas on display. Among them, we found the Francesca model to be the most stylish, not to mention incredibly convenient for changing sitting positions. It has power controls on the interior of each arm, as well as USB charging ports, so you can charge your phone while you doze or stream your favorite shows. The seats are firm, but you get plenty of lumbar support. And of course, if you don’t have the space for a chaise on which to elevate your legs, this is the next best thing. The Francesca also boasts a wide center console, where you’ll find two cup holders and a roomy storage compartment for your remote and movie night snacks. Looks-wise, we love that this sofa has a square silhouette; it looks more modern than the typical rounded silhouettes you see on a lot of recliners. Its grainy, auburn-colored leather (and faux leather match) upholstery will also work wonders in a space that could use some warmth.

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