The Best Modular Sofas I’ve Tested and Would Actually Recommend

I’ve moved apartments three times in four years and each time I’ve dreaded the thought of moving my sofa. Having to get creative with manoeuvring it through doorways, up staircases and around landings, is a process that just never seems to get any easier.

I knew that it was something I couldn’t go through again, so when the time came to get a new sofa, I prioritized looking at modular sofas because of how well they can adapt to your life, whether you’re a renter like me that moves around often or someone planning around future kids.

I spent months testing different modular sofas and talking to owners that had lived with theirs for over two years. These are the my top picks for the best modular sofas worth buying.

What Makes a Modular Sofa Worth Buying

There's a few things worth knowing before deciding on a modular sofa. They're all made differently and here's what separates the ones worth investing in from the ones that you should avoid:

Sturdy connection system

Modular sofas use different connection systems from clips, to latches and brackets, with the purpose of connecting the individual seats together and keeping them securely in place. The quality of connection systems vary but the best ones feel firm and secure enough that the sofa doesn’t slide apart or feel wobbly when you put it together and our picks were selected with this in mind.

Cushion Fill

Regardless of the type of sofa that you’re buying, the quality of your cushions will always matter. The best modular sofas use high-density foam, sometimes with a fiber or down wrap for extra comfort, because of how well it holds its shape and withstands heavy use. If you choose pure down or feather fill cushions, they’ll feel comfortable at first but will end up sinking and collapsing.

Frame construction 

Kiln-dried hardwood or reinforced plywood are the best quality materials you can choose for your frame, especially if you need your modular to survive moves and heavy use. Lower quality materials like particle board aren’t durable enough and are easily damaged, which is even more likely to happen after reassembling your sofa a few times.

True modularity

This might sound obvious but it’s worth mentioning. There are some sofas that call themselves modular when they are really just sectionals – modular sofas allow you to order additional seats, a chaise, or an ottoman whether months or years later and have it connect seamlessly to your sofa.

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Best Overall: Albany Park Kova Sectional 

I recommend Albany Park’s Kova to most people because of how well it gets the fundamentals right. The Kova is the go to sofa for people with kids and pets because it uses performance fabrics that are stain resistant, which is important in households where spills are likely to happen. On top of that, the covers are both removable and washable.

It’s available in several configurations from a two-seater up to a full pit sectional with the option to order additional pieces at any time. It also uses metal claw-style connectors that don’t require tools to put together and can be assembled quickly, taking from 20-30 minutes to fully build solo.

The cushions are soft and cloud-like with a hypoallergenic fill that stays in shape even after heavy use. One of our readers mentioned that even after a lot of constant use, the cushions “still fluff up to perfection”.

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Best for Renters: Burrow Nomad Sofa

The Nomad is the sofa I'd recommend to anyone who moves often and needs furniture that can easily move with them. When it comes to delivery, it arrives in individual boxes that makes it easy to get through any tight spaces or up flights of stairs. which also becomes convenient if you are renting or have plans to move because of how easily you can pack away the pieces of your sofa into boxes.

The sofa uses a latch connection system that locks sections into place in a way that feels secure and it doesn’t even feel modular after it’s been assembled because of how well it stays together with no wobbling or creaking. The design easily expands and you can add a chaise or extra sections at any time too.

The Nomad's seat cushions are made up of foam and fiber and are also firm, which is perfect if you plan to work from your sofa or sit up for long periods, but isn't for anyone that wants something they can sink into. It also uses stain-resistant performance fabrics that are easy to wipe clean.

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Best Style: Cozey Ciello

Cozey’s Ciello Sofa has a clean silhouette that is guaranteed to look good in most spaces. The cushions are structured but comfortable and are made from high-density foam. Though it can take a little while to break in, over time, the Ciello becomes ‘Cozey’ to sit on (I couldn't help myself). 

The sofa pieces can be clipped together with no tools necessary and whenever you want to make any changes to the configuration, you can do so within a few minutes. You also have the option to order additional seats at any time and they connect together seamlessly.

The covers use performance fabrics that are removable and washable and for those that want to refresh the look of their living room over time, Cozey sells replacement covers in different colors, so your sofa can change with your style.

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Best Long-Term Investment: Lovesac Sactionals

Lovesacs Sactionals are more expensive and take time to set up, but in return the construction quality is the best on this list and the frames come with a lifetime warranty. I spoke to a few different owners that have all had their Sactional’s for over eight years so far and the reviews were all positive with consistent praise regarding durability.

You have to connect the individual seats and sides with their proprietary hardware, but this doesn’t require any tools and it can still be rearranged into several different configurations. The covers are both waterproof and washable and there are several fabric options to choose from, so you can change the look of your sofa without you having to replace the frames. Just note that taking the covers on and off is a process.

In comparison to some of the other modular sofas on this list, putting this together is not a quick solo job, and because it comes in so many individual boxes it can feel overwhelming. The best thing to do is to start by assembling one part of the couch at a time e.g. if you start with the cushions, do all the cushions first. Once you find a rhythm everything feels easier.

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Best for Comfort: 7th Avenue Modular Sectional

7th Avenue’s Modular Sectional is the perfect option for anyone who wants a cloud sofa that holds up. The cushions are made from a foam and fiber blend that creates a plush sink-in feel and the sofa is built on a kiln-dried solid wood frame with steel-reinforced legs and a high-gauge sinuous spring seat suspension system that prevents the sagging that usually comes with deep-comfort sofas over time.

Although it can be assembled without tools, several people mention that it's difficult to put together because of how unclear the instructions are, but there's also an option to pay an extra fee for assembly to be included in your order.