We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Shopping The 7 Best Midcentury Modern Couches of 2024, According to Our Research and Testing We researched and tested the best midcentury modern couches that are comfortable, easy to set up and use, and durable enough to last many years. By Kathleen Felton Kathleen Felton Kathleen Felton is a writer and editor with more than a decade of experience at women’s lifestyle publications. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on November 20, 2023 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews The Bottom Line Our Testing Process What to Know Before Shopping Your Questions, Answered Who We Are What Is BHG Recommends? Better Homes & Gardens / Kimberly Souza Though there are many interior design styles out there, midcentury modern is a popular option for its retro feel. While you can incorporate the look into your home through decor, the best midcentury modern couches can be the perfect finishing touch for a space. “Personally, midcentury modern is one of my favorite styles to design with since it's effortlessly classic,” says Jennifer Stephan, an interior designer based in New York. “Midcentury modern is also great to accessorize due to its minimalist nature: You can add fun pillows to a sleek walnut and tweed pillow for an effortlessly cool vibe that is timeless.” Even better, Stephan says, is that many iconic midcentury modern furniture pieces are regularly made into more affordable replicas for household use — and that includes classic couches. To find the best midcentury modern couches, we researched and tested several different products at home. We evaluated each couch based on ease of use, comfort, durability, quality, and value. We also consulted Stephan, an interior designer with more than 10 years of experience, for additional insight into the midcentury modern style. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Article Abisko Sofa at Article.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Budget: West Elm Oliver Sofa at West Elm ($649) Jump to Review Best Splurge: Kardiel Woodrow Skandi Sofa at Kardiel.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Modular: Burrow Block Nomad Sofa at Burrow ($1,279) Jump to Review Best Customizable: Room & Board Jasper Sofa at Roomandboard.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best for Small Spaces: AllModern Geo 2-Piece Sectional at Allmodern.com ($980) Jump to Review Best for Large Spaces: Castlery Adams L-Shape Sofa at Castlery.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Overall Article Abisko Sofa Article View On Article.com Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Ease of Use 5/5 Durability 5/5 Quality 5/5 Value 5/5 Why You Should Get It We thought this couch was supportive, comfortable, and stylish. Keep in Mind The material did attract some pet hair, though we found it easy enough to brush off. When we first saw the Article Abisko couch, our initial reaction was that it looked quite firm and uncomfortable. While it is firm, we found that the firmness actually makes the couch comfortable as it offers more support than other options. We placed the Abisko in our home office and used it frequently to read, hang out, and nap as often as we could because we thought it was so cozy and fun to use. It’s equally pleasant to both sit and lie down on, we noted, and we reported that multiple guests expressed how comfortable it is, too. There aren’t a ton of customization options on this couch — Article only offers two plush velvet fabric colors, a yarrow gold and Pacific blue — but we found the ordering process to be straightforward. The couch was delivered on the day it was scheduled to arrive, and assembly took about 20 minutes and just involved screwing on the legs and disposing of the boxes. The velvet fabric itself was soft, durable, and clearly high-quality. We were impressed by the overall construction and appreciated that the cushion fill was dense and substantial. Throughout the six-month testing period, the cushions didn’t lose their firmness or become lumpy in any way, and there was no noticeable wear and tear or color fading. Although the velvet does attract some pet hair, we found it relatively easy to brush off. In testing, one to two people tended to use this couch at the same time, though we thought you could probably fit up to four if you had to. We liked the size of the couch and noted that it’s wider than a standard couch, making it easy to lie down or tuck your feet in while sitting. Overall, we found that this couch was a great value as we thought the price was reasonable for the quality. We also loved the design of the couch and felt that it was a great piece of furniture for your home. Product Details: Dimensions: 28 x 91 x 35 inches | Material: Velvet Better Homes & Gardens / Abigail Wetzler Best Budget West Elm Oliver Sofa West Elm View On West Elm $649 Why You Should Get It This couch delivers a polished look. Keep in Mind There are fewer customization options than many other West Elm sofas and you can’t reverse the cushions. Most of the midcentury modern couches on this list top $1,000, making the West Elm Oliver Sofa less expensive for those who still want this style. Although the fabric and leg finish options here are more limited, West Elm does offer the option of either a 72- or 82-inch width, as well as three upholstery fabrics (a dove color in twill, pewter yarn dyed linen weave, and dark olive chenille). The 72-inch width has two cushions, and the 82-inch has three and can seat another person. Regardless of which upholstery color you choose, the Oliver sofa is undeniably stylish. The legs, which are made from solid rubber wood in a light walnut finish, are ever so slightly splayed. The overall look is polished but still comfortable, in part thanks to the deeper seats, which offer plenty of room to curl up with a book, watch movies, or take a nap. The seat and back cushions are dense (they have high-resiliency polyurethane foam cores) and are semi-attached, which means you won’t be able to reverse them — but this also helps them maintain their shape. As Stephan notes, the sleek and narrow design of midcentury modern couches means that they’re often on the firmer side, which may feel less comfortable to some. The Oliver sofa is definitely firm — West Elm rates it a “5” on their firmness scale, with “1” being the softest and “5” being the firmest. So if you prefer a soft, plush sofa, this may not be the best midcentury modern couch for you. Product Details: Dimensions: 72 x 32 x 30 inches | Material: Twill, linen, or chenille Best Splurge Kardiel Woodrow Skandi Sofa Kardiel View On Kardiel.com Why You Should Get It While you will certainly pay more for this couch, the materials are high-quality and you benefit from a lifetime warranty. Keep in Mind The walnut wood sides and frame are gorgeous and eye-catching, but there isn’t the option to customize the wood color if that’s important to you. The Kardiel Woodrow Skandi Fabric Sofa is undeniably an investment. But with the steeper price tag comes a truly stunning midcentury modern sofa made from luxurious materials. The entire couch is stitched and crafted by hand, for one, and it’s incredibly stylish. There’s also button-free tufting, high-quality fabrics, and walnut wood sides and frames that give it a warm, distinctive appearance. The seats, though supportive, are deep and comfortable with medium firmness, and the two included bolster cushions are a nice touch. Also good: It comes with a lifetime warranty, which may help you justify the higher price tag. Though it doesn’t have the most customization options on this list, there are still plenty of upholstery finishes to choose from: there are five gorgeous leather shades, two velvet colors, a classic canvas, or a dark gray boucle. The non-leather upholstery colors make the price a little less expensive, too. Product Details: Dimensions: 86.75 x 32 x 34 inches | Material: Canvas, velvet, leather, or boucle Best Modular Burrow Block Nomad Sofa Burrow View On Burrow $1,279 Our Ratings Comfort 4/5 Durability 4/5 Quality 4/5 Value 5/5 Size 5/5 Why You Should Get It We thought it was stylish and versatile, and a great starter couch for a family since you can add to it over time. Keep in Mind It’s not the softest couch for lounging. Burrow’s Nomad Collection Block Nomad Sofa is a modular couch, which means it comes in multiple pieces to make it easy to move and adapt to your space. We used it at our home where multiple adults, friends, and their two kids frequently sat on it, and loved the look and feel. We noted that this couch was a classic midcentury style that we thought would go with many different types of decor. The back pillows are designed to be reversible if you want to switch up the look of the couch, which we thought was a nice touch. This is the ideal couch for an apartment, playroom, or guest room, we noted, because it's lightweight, comfortable, and has a nice look to it. You can add to the couch system with other pieces over time like a sectional or an ottoman, so we thought it made for a good starter sofa for a first home, apartment, or expanding family. The ordering process was intuitive and easy to navigate and assembly was simple. Each of the pieces arrived in its own box (five total) with everything wrapped neatly in plastic. Two people were able to set the couch up in under 30 minutes without any tools, thanks to the straightforward directions. We like that Burrow offers several customization options. With this style, there are five upholstery colors to choose from and six leg finishes (including both wood and metal). You also have the option to invest in a few upgrades, such as a moveable chase, ottoman, lumbar pillows, and a sleep kit at an additional cost. We didn’t opt for these and regretted not getting the ottoman, which we thought would have given the couch more of a lounge-like feel. The fabric felt high-quality and also appeared to be highly durable. During testing, a child spilled something on the couch and it came out quickly with a little soap and water. Burrow even notes that you can clean the fabric with water and bleach. We loved the size of the couch, which we thought was compact with no wasted space. The cushions are dense and well-made, and it held up perfectly for nearly three months, even with two little kids jumping on it. As for comfort, we did note that this pick is better for sitting rather than lying down. While it’s certainly comfortable enough to sit on, we noted that there’s very little ‘squish’ and you don’t sink into it. Product Details: Dimensions: 85 x 35 x 33 inches | Material: Velvet, leather or olefin fiber weave Better Homes & Gardens / Meg Lappe Better Homes & Gardens / Andrea Lavinthal Better Homes & Gardens / Andrea Lavinthal Best Customizable Room & Board Jasper Sofa Room & Board View On Roomandboard.com Why You Should Get It There are 200 fabric options to choose from, as well as multiple sizes. Keep in Mind While there are an infinite number of customization options, shipping times vary based on which fabric you choose. If customization options are what you’re after, this pick from Room & Board is the best midcentury modern couch for you. With the Room & Board Jasper Sofa, you have a truly impressive number of ways to customize the couch to your exact specifications. Most of the midcentury modern couches on this offer at least one or two fabric upholstery colors, but the Jasper sofa has more than 200 color options, including a range of materials such as velvet, plain weave, boucle, and microfiber. Since the list of colors can be overwhelming, we recommend sorting by general color or feature, such as performance or fade-resistant fabric. What’s more, you also can choose your leg style (such as round, square, or tapered) and finish (walnut, maple, ash wood, or metal if you prefer), as well as the size. The Jasper style is available in a 98-, 96-, 86-, 71-, or 60-inch width option, each with slightly different seat configurations. Though the customization options can be dazzling, this is also a comfortable place to lounge. The seats are also reasonably deep — the standard 86-inch version has cushions with a 36-inch depth, making this one of the roomiest couches on this list to lounge on. Product Details: Dimensions: from 60 x 25 x 36 inches | Material: 200+ options Best for Small Spaces AllModern Geo 2-Piece Sectional AllModern View On Allmodern.com $980 Our Ratings Comfort 3.8/5 Ease of Use 5/5 Durability 5/5 Quality 3/5 Value 3/5 Why You Should Get It It’s a stylish and slim option that offers several customization options. Keep in Mind The cushions are on the firmer side. With a length of 84 inches and reversible chaise L-sectional, the AllModern Geo 2-Piece Upholstered Sectional is an excellent choice for apartment dwellers or those in small spaces who would like the look and feel of a midcentury modern sectional but don’t have tons of room. In our experience, the delivery process couldn’t have gone smoother. The delivery service was communicative and friendly, and the couch was easy for two people to assemble in under 20 minutes. The ordering process was easy, too, and we found the site uncomplicated to use. There are 18 upholstery colors, including a mix of materials such as velvet and performance fabric. You also have the option to choose either a walnut or natural wood leg finish. We sat on this couch every day since it arrived, and it became our de facto reading lounge chair. The couch can seat two people while sitting, but we noted that it may feel a little cramped if they both have their legs outstretched but bent. We couldn’t feel the framing of the furniture at any given point as the seat cushions were too firm to feel anything underneath them. The fabric also feels durable and high-quality, and we were able to clean off stains easily. As with many of the best midcentury modern couches, the cushions on the Geo are on the firmer side. We felt that it was more of a ‘socializing’ couch and not a cozy movie night kind of couch. Still, we added, it’s very supportive and not uncomfortable. We didn’t experience any neck or back pain after sitting or lying down on the couch. Plus, the circular pillows on each end help with lounging and lumbar support. Product Details: Dimensions: 37 x 84 x 63 inches | Material: Leather Better Homes & Gardens / Kimberly Souza Best for Large Spaces Castlery Adams L-Shape Sofa Castlery View On Castlery.com Why You Should Get It It’s offered in three different fabrics and leg finishes. Keep in Mind The return window is only 14 days, which is shorter than other retailers. If you have the space for a large, statement-making midcentury modern couch, you can’t go wrong with the Castlery Adams L-Shape Sectional Sofa. With its large 102 x 102 inch “L” shape, this couch has a sleek silhouette and will be the true centerpiece of your living room. Castlery offers a few customization options, including your choice of three upholstery fabrics (dove gray, pearl beige, or indigo blue) and three metal leg finishes (black, brass, or silver). If you’re feeling indecisive, you can request all three fabric options as free samples to see how the color looks in your space. Whether you have a large family or entertain often, you’ll appreciate that this comfortable couch can fit at least five people, likely more. Worth noting: Castlery’s return window is shorter than many of the other retailers on this list, so if you decide that this couch isn’t for you, you’ll have to return it within 14 days. A warranty isn’t included, but you can opt to purchase a two-, three-, or five-year warranty for an extra fee. Product Details: Dimensions: 102.4 x 102.4 x 33.1 inches | Material: Polyester The Bottom Line Overall, we found the Article Abisko to be the best midcentury modern couch. Although customization options on this product are more limited, we were impressed by how stylish, durable, and comfortable the Abisko was. The fabric quality exceeded our expectations we also appreciated that the cushions didn’t lose their firmness or support during the six-month testing period. Our Testing Process To find the best midcentury modern couches, we put three of these picks to the test for up to six months in our home. To start, we evaluated the process of ordering the couch and noted what the delivery experience was like. Once the couch was set up in our home, we used it and evaluated each couch in five categories: ease of use, comfort, durability, quality, and value. We also took into consideration the size of each couch, any customization options that were offered, and if there was anything we would have changed about the style we picked. Better Homes & Gardens / Andrea Lavinthal What to Know About Midcentury Modern Couches Before Shopping Size As with any piece of furniture, it’s important to measure both your space and the couch to find the ideal fit for your space. “Midcentury modern furniture can be narrow due to its sleek silhouette,” says Stephan. While this makes the style particularly well-suited for smaller spaces such as apartments, the downside is that midcentury modern couches may not be as comfortable and fluffy for binge-watching Netflix, she notes. Material Midcentury modern furniture is often designed with a few specific materials. “Most midcentury modern furniture is made up of walnut or teak mixed with wool, leather, tweed, or linen upholstery due to their warm tones,” says Stephan. It’s also very common these days to find midcentury modern couches made from velvet. When choosing the best couch for your home, you’ll also want to consider your lifestyle, like if you entertain often or have any small children or pets at home. If so, think about if a couch is offered in a performance fabric that’s a bit more durable. Delivery and Assembly When it comes to a midcentury modern couch, or any couch for that matter, it’s important to consider the delivery and assembly options offered by a retailer. While many retailers offer a delivery and assembly service, it may come at an additional cost. If you opt for an option that requires you to assemble it, note how many boxes the couch will come in as well. Shipping and Returns Depending on the retailer, customization options, and other considerations, like separate shipping delays, it’s very possible that you may need to wait a few weeks or months to get your couch. Most retailers now note the delivery window on the product page, so take that into account when shopping. In general, we found that couches with fewer customization options tend to ship a little faster, though that’s not always the case. Always check the return policy and fine print, too: Most retailers offer free exchange or return within a 30-day window, but occasionally, you may not be able to return a couch that was on sale, for example. Your Questions, Answered What makes a couch midcentury modern? When it comes to midcentury modern design, several design details indicate it’s that interior style. “Midcentury modern is known for its sleek lines and minimalism,” says Stephan. On couches, a few distinct characteristics that define midcentury modern are tapered legs, organic shapes, retro patterns and colors such as mustard, green, and orange, she explains. What color is best for a midcentury modern couch? While the best color for a midcentury modern couch really depends on your style and space, the most defining colors for midcentury modern design are retro patterns with colors such as mustard yellow, pea green, and orange tones, according to Stephan. However, this style can also be defined by neutrals such as gray, white, or black. How much do midcentury modern couches cost? Midcentury modern couches tend to be similarly priced as other styles, and you can find quality options at every budget. Of the midcentury modern couches we researched and, prices range from $650 to nearly $4,000, with a median price of $1,799. Who We Are Kathleen Felton is a freelance writer originally from Connecticut, now living in Sydney, Australia, covering home and lifestyle for Better Homes & Gardens. To compile this list of the best midcentury modern couches, Kathleen researched several options and analyzed insights from our at-home testing. She also spoke to Jennifer Stephan, an interior designer based in New York with 10 years of experience in the fashion and interiors industry. What Is BHG Recommends? Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit