Best Sofas for Apartments That Feel Stylish and Comfortable

Your apartment sofa doesn't have to be a compromise if you're intentional. If you just cross your fingers and hope for the best, you can easily end up with a couch that's too deep, bulky, or that takes up too much space and in an apartment, that can make your whole space feel like it's working against you.

I moved into a new apartment at the beginning of the year and like most people I became obsessed with getting the furniture right. Before deciding on a sofa, I spent weeks crawling the internet to find all the best sofas for apartments, while reading through hundreds of reviews and testing every one that I possibly could.

Best Overall: Room & Board Metro Loveseat

Any time someone asks me for a couch recommendation, I always point them to the Room & Board Metro and like clockwork they’re always back to thank me later. It performs well and nothing about it feels like you’re settling for less, from the solid construction to the high quality cushions and the clean design. 

It has a good range of color options to choose from and it leaves enough room around it for the rest of your apartment to actually function. You also have the option to choose Room & Board’s full service delivery which includes assembly, placement and packaging removal which is useful if all you want to do is get straight to enjoying your couch.

Best Budget: IKEA Kivik Sofa

IKEA’s Kivik is another sofa that always gets a mention from me. It doesn’t try to be a premium sofa, it tries to be reliable and for the price it mainly does a good job. It's a suitable choice for apartments and has a supportive seat and good enough proportions to work in different layouts without completely taking over the room.

One of the best things about the Kivik are its replaceable slipcovers that are also removable and machine washable, which means that spills, wear and just changing styles doesn’t mean you have to invest in a new sofa.

It’s worth noting that as long as this sofa has been around, there have been mixed opinions on the comfortability of the seat, with some people finding it just right and others considering it to be a little too firm, so if this could potentially be an issue for you then try it in store if you can. 

Best for Small Apartments or Studios: IKEA Klippan Loveseat

The Klippan has been around for a long time, which tells you something. It’s not a trend driven sofa but instead a simple compact two-seater that does what it needs to and fits when other sofas don’t. It's easy to assemble and the replaceable covers can also be washed.

When I spoke to customers and our readers that own the Klippan, reviews were mixed. Some of them hadn't had any issues after years of use, and others were unsatisfied with how the back support lost its structure faster than they expected.

When I tried it out in IKEA, the frame felt solid which most owners also confirmed is the case, but it has a firm seat that is better for sitting down rather than for lounging.

Best Sleeper: Joybird Briar Sleeper Sofa

Sleeper sofas have a reputation for getting it wrong and most of them solve one problem only to create another, whether that's an uncomfortable bed or sofa that doesn't look great, or a setup process that's more of an unnecessary hassle than it should be.

The Briar doesn't come with that set of issues. It's one of Joybird's bestsellers and has a single bench cushion that easily folds out into a queen mattress that is more comfortable than other sleepers with multiple cushions that I've tried. As an everyday sofa it also does what it needs to do, and I like that the mid-century design makes it look like any other stylish sofa without it being obvious that it's a sleeper too.

The frame feels solid, the seat is firm but comfortable and there are two options to choose from when it comes to the mattress. Though the standard mattress is good for occasional use, if you have frequent guests that usually stay a few nights, then upgrading to the TEMPUR-Response Memory Foam Mattress is a good idea and owners that have chosen to do so describe it as a step up from what most sleeper sofas offer.