The 11 Very Best Couches

Upholstery: Leather, fabric, and velvet | Fill: High-density foam with polyester fill | Size: 72 and 88 inches

The Sven smoked the competition and came in first as the most-recommended sofa among the experts we spoke to. (It also appears three times in this photo essay of stylish folks and their beloved couches.) “It’s got that iconic mid-century look that many clients are seeking,” says Alexandra Kalita, founder of Common Bond Design. It also appealed the most to ergonomics expert Gokhale, who noted that the firmness “gives you the chance to tip your pelvis forward a little if you want to sit upright,” and “when you sit back, there’s room to have your sacrum supported.” It’s an ideal does-it-all sofa: comfortable enough for lounging but upright and proportioned well for working and writing. This is the best price for leather among the bunch, though it’s also available in fabric and velvet for slightly less money.

Interior designer Sophia Venturo calls out its “high-quality construction, which means a sturdy frame, durable upholstery, and comfy cushions that hold their shape,” adding that its mid-century-modern lines are “surprisingly versatile.” Designer Baylee Floyd agrees, saying the Sven “is a good staple piece for just about any living room.” Floyd says “the sleek design of this sofa is hard to come by at this price,” especially if you go with the 2.5-seater in fabric upholstery, which brings the price down to $1,099. Courtney McLeod, the founder and principal designer of New York City–based Right Meets Left Interior Design, says its 72-inch length makes it great for an apartment and that she likes its “lovely details,” including its “biscuit-tufted seat and matching bolster pillows.” (It also comes as a sectional version that starts at $1,999.) Former Strategist senior editor Margaret Rhodes sat on one in the showroom of the men’s-suiting store Indochino and found in the lived-in model that the foam seats had a nice give and the leather had a buttery feel. She also found that the squared-off 27-inches-high armrests were quite useful for balancing a laptop easily or writing in a notebook.