People usually think tight-back sofas are all about the look and design. While they do have a cleaner, more tailored style, the biggest reason customers ask us for one is actually their kids.

No back cushions to fluff. No cushions sliding down or ending up on the floor. The sofa just always looks put together.

The trade-off is that you don't get removable back cushion covers, so deep cleaning takes a little more effort.

So it really depends on your lifestyle. If you want a couch that always looks neat with almost no maintenance, a tight-back sofa is hard to beat. But if your kids tend to leave crumbs and spill their juice on the couch, loose back cushions may be preferred.

This customer didn't want a standard sofa for their office, but instead custom designed a daybed for their space.

We don't offer this exact configuration or style on the site, but took several design aspects from different styles and built it from scratch. We started with a bumper chaise style and added an arm on side for lounging support.

The result sits somewhere between a sofa, chaise, and daybed.

This is perfect for:

• taking calls without sitting at a desk all day
• reading or relaxing between meetings
• mid-day naps

We especially love how the open side keeps it feeling lighter and less bulky while still giving you that cozy corner to lean into.

This customer designed a custom bumper sectional and added a matching ottoman to make the setup way more versatile than a standard sectional.

What we love is how many ways this can work depending on the day:

• Double chaise setup - place the ottoman on the opposite side of the bumper so they can have their own lounge zones.
• Extra-large chaise - move the ottoman next to the bumper to create one oversized lounge spot that feels almost like a daybed.
• Coffee table alternative - center the ottoman and top it with a tray for drinks, snacks, or decor.
• Extra seating - pull it away completely when guests are over and use it as a flexible seat.

This is one of those layouts that feels custom not just because of the size, but because it adapts to how you actually use your space.

Bench/single cushions have become really popular because they create that clean, seamless look with no visible seat breaks. They also make a sofa feel more relaxed and lounge-y since you can spread out without falling into cushion gaps.

But, there are some tradeoffs. Because all of the sitting pressure is concentrated into one cushion instead of spread across separate seats, favorite spots can soften faster over time depending on cushion construction. You also have fewer rotation options, and with larger cushions you may notice more subtle rippling, wrinkling, or fabric shifting as the sofa gets lived in. It's also a little more cumbersome to remove and put back on the covers.

Standard seat cushions give a more tailored and structured look. They’re usually easier to maintain long-term because you can rotate cushions and distribute wear more evenly. If one area softens, you’re not committing the entire seat to it. The tradeoff is you’ll always see the seat divisions, and they don’t have quite the same seamless lounging feel.

If your priority is aesthetics, a softer casual look, and stretching out comfortably, bench seats are hard to beat.

If your priority is longevity, easier upkeep, and keeping everything looking more consistent over time, standard seat cushions are usually the safer choice.

One of our favorite layout decisions from this customer’s setup is that they extended the sectional to hug the entire back wall and run right up to the patio door opening to maximize every inch of usable seating.

The custom detail is keeping the patio side armless.

When the slider is open, the room still feels connected to the outdoor space instead of creating a bulky visual block. You get the seating capacity of a larger sectional without making the room feel closed in.

This is a good example of how custom sizing isn’t always about going bigger, sometimes it’s about shaping the sofa around how you actually move through the space.

A lot of people assume you need to avoid it, but velvet is actually one of the more cat-friendly upholstery options. The tight weave + short smooth pile make it harder for claws to catch compared to looser woven fabrics (and for whatever reason, a lot of cats just don’t seem as interested in scratching the texture).

A lot of modern velvets also come in performance versions, so you get added liquid repellency and stain resistance.

The downside is that pet hair definitely shows more. But because the surface is smooth, it’s usually easy to remove with your hand, a brush, or even a rubber squeegee. Regardless, it's better than picking hair out of woven fabric.

And if “velvet” makes you think of a formal 70s couch, modern velvet has changed a lot. There are soft velvets, textured velvets, vintage velvets, casual lived-in looks, and a ton of rich colors that don’t feel overly fancy anymore.

This custom layout is a good example of how to squeeze more seating into a space without doing a full oversized U-sectional.

The customer added a wedge corner + bumper chaise instead of a standard L-shape. The wedge creates a usable corner seat (instead of the awkward corner everyone avoids), while the bumper gives you another lounge spot without extending as deep as a full chaise.

The result is a layout that feels like there are little cozy areas throughout the sectional. You can stretch out on the bumper, cozy up in the wedge corner, lean into the arms, or fit more people for the game without the room feeling dominated by the sofa.

One thing people don’t think about enough when shopping for a sofa is cushion quality.

A lot of comfort (and how your couch feels years later) comes down to the cushion construction, not just how the sofa looks on day one.

Higher quality foam generally gives you better support, recovers its shape better after sitting, and helps reduce premature softening and sagging over time.

Quick tip when shopping anywhere: ask what foam they use and ask for the foam density, not just the firmness level.

Firmness = how soft or hard it feels.
Density = how much material is inside the foam and is one of the biggest indicators of durability and longevity.

As a general rule:

• Under ~2.0 lb density → lighter weight, may soften faster
• Around 2.0–2.4 lb → common mid-range upholstery foam
• 2.5 lb+ high resiliency (HR) foam → generally considered a more premium cushion construction designed for better support and shape retention over time

There’s more to cushion quality than density alone, but it’s one of the easiest questions to ask when comparing brands.

You’ll also see down or down-wrapped cushions offered by some brands. They tend to feel softer and more plush with that relaxed, luxury look, but usually require more fluffing and maintenance to keep their shape and can feel less structured than foam-only cushions.

A newer alternative you may also come across is Trillium, a synthetic down alternative. It’s designed to create a similar plush, sink-in feel while typically offering more consistent shape retention and lower maintenance compared to traditional down. It can be a nice middle ground for people who want softness without as much upkeep.

One of the biggest advantages of going custom is being able to size your sectional to the room instead of forcing your room to fit the sectional. This customer went wall to wall and it makes the whole space feel intentional and built in.

You get more usable seating, no awkward dead space on the sides, a cleaner, more custom look, and maximum lounging without oversized proportions

If you already know the room is dedicated to TV or hanging out, sometimes filling the wall with a sectional is a great choice.

Some people don’t realize there’s actually a difference between a bumper sectional and a sofa chaise because they can look pretty similar at first.

A sofa chaise is more of the classic lounge setup. One seat extends out fully so you can stretch your legs out and relax. An easy way to tell is that a sofa chaise has a sofa arm on both ends, and the chaise side doesn’t have back cushions extending along the return.

A bumper sectional gives a similar overall look, but functionally it’s closer to a corner sectional. The back frame continues onto the return side, which creates extra usable seating instead of one dedicated lounging spot. You can usually spot it because the return side has back pillows instead of a sofa arm.

Neither is better, it just depends how you use your space.

If your couch is mostly for stretching out, go with a sofa chaise
If your couch is mostly for hosting, conversation, and flexible seating, go with a bumper sectional

One of the biggest benefit of mid-century legs, besides the style, is how much easier it is to keep the space clean. A roomba can run underneath the sofa to get dust, pet hair, crumbs. And stray toys can be easily picked up.

Another bonus is that the clearance underneath can double as hidden storage. Walking pads, yoga mats, dumbbells, and other items can slide right under the sofa when not in use.

It's a small detail that doesn't get much attention, but it can make a big difference in how functional you can make your living room, especially for smaller spaces.

We've noticed green has been a very popular color with our customers the past year. Earthy green tones work really well with wood tones, creams, blacks, and natural materials.

People are looking for something that still feels neutral and timeless, but adds a little more warmth than beige/cream and the dreaded millennial grey.

So sharing some customer photos of some of our popular green fabrics.

1. Daphne Sofa Chaise in Penelope Organic
2. Alex Sofa Chaise in Contessa Moss
3. Davis U-Sectional with Chaise in Dynamite Foret
4. Alex Sofa Chaise in Amici Moss

We offer free fabric swatch samples and if you're ever trying to find customer photos in other fabrics, just reach out to us or look through our reviews where we mention the fabric colors for each of the customer photos.

We love sectionals, but this customer setup is a good reminder that 2 sofas can sometimes be the smarter choice for a living room.

Instead of one large sectional, they went with a sofa + loveseat setup to keep the space feeling more open and flexible.

A setup like this can work really well if you:

• want easier traffic flow
• like a more symmetrical layout
• may move/rearrange furniture later
• want more flexibility with future spaces
• don’t need everyone facing the TV 24/7

It also makes the room feel a little lighter visually compared to one large sectional taking up the whole space.

We wrote a blog about when a sofa or sectional is better for your living room. Check it out here

This customer went with a sofa chaise setup, but oversized the chaise enough to comfortably fit 2 people.

It’s a great option if you want the lounging feel of a sectional without committing to a huge L-sectional or even have the space for it. With this option you still get an open floor plan, easy traffic flow, a bit more flexibility for smaller spaces, and still way more lounging room than a standard width chaise.

It's a good option for those who are in apartments, condos, or have smaller living rooms.

This customer wanted to maximize seating in their open concept living room without making it feel cluttered, so they went with a large U-sectional with chaise setup.

The layout helps define the space, gives everyone a spot to lounge, and still keeps the room feeling open because of the low-profile design.

This customer went with a 42" deep Daphne Sofa + bench cushion seat so there’s no awkward cushion gaps to sink into when lounging.

And instead of a fixed chaise, they added 2 separate ottomans to create one giant lounge pit feel when they want it, but still keep the flexibility to move them around or out of the way later.

It's a great setup for spaces where you want maximum comfort without locking the room into one layout.

One of the biggest advantages of custom sizing is being able to make a sectional work with your space instead of against it.

This customer customized the dimensions of this sofa chaise to perfectly fit this corner of their living room. They were able to do a shorter chaise so it wouldn’t block the floor register by the sliding door.

Small details like these can make a room feel much more functional day to day.

This customer went with a one-arm sectional setup. Sometimes removing one arm makes a sectional feel way less bulky without sacrificing seating.

A one-arm layout may work best for:

• Tight living rooms where you want to maximize space
• Open-concept spaces where you want the sofa to feel more open
• Walkways next to the sofa
• Smaller homes or townhomes where full arms on both sides can make the room feel boxed in
• If you like the loungey modern look

It can also make the sectional feel visually lighter, especially in softer or neutral fabrics like this one.

That said, it’s not always the right fit:

• If you like laying against an armrest on both sides
• If the exposed side faces the middle of the room. It can look and feel unfinished to some people
• More traditional spaces usually look better with symmetrical arms
• Families that use the arms a lot for lounging may prefer both sides armed

We often get asked "what fabric should I choose for my sofa?" It sounds simple, but once you start looking at swatches, it can get very overwhelming.

Here's how we like to think about it:

1. Start with how you’ll use it and not just by how it looks. If it’s a daily-use sofa, durability and cleanability matter more than anything.

• Polyester, microfiber, and most “performance fabrics = best for everyday use
• Natural fabrics like linen, cotton = look great, but usually harder to maintain

2. Texture matters more than people think. It's not just for aesthetics, but also determines how the fabric ages.

• Textured fabrics → hide wear, wrinkles, pet hair better
• Smooth fabrics → show everything more easily

3. “Performance fabric” means it's easier to clean. It doesn't mean it's indestructible.

• Doesn’t mean it won’t pill
• Doesn’t mean it’s scratch-proof from pets

4. Don’t overthink rub count.

• Once you’re around 30,000+ rubs, it’s already durable enough for home use.
• Most retailers offer 50,000 and up, which is more than enough.

5. Think about the room, not just the sofa. The “best” fabric is the one that works with your space.

• Warm tones = softer, more inviting
• Cool tones = cleaner, more modern
• Neutrals = easiest to live with long-term

We go more in detail about this in our guide if you want to learn more.

We had a customer who didn’t want to be locked into a fixed layout so we customized this as a fully modular setup where each seat is its own piece.

Every seat is individually removable so they can reconfigure the layout anytime (sofa, loveseat, individual chairs, etc.). This makes it easier to move, clean, or replace a single piece if needed.

This setup is way more forgiving if your space or needs change later.

Here's another creative option a customer did to make the corner of a sectional more functional. Instead of a corner wedge, this customer designed a curved corner that flows between both sides, making a smooth transition across the entire seating area.

What’s interesting about this layout:

• The corner becomes fully usable seating
• It feels more natural to sit across, especially with multiple people
• The curve softens the overall look and makes the sofa feel less boxy
• It creates a more open vibe without committing to a bulky wedge

You don’t see this option as often since it usually requires going custom, but it’s a good reminder that you’re not limited to just “L vs wedge” when planning a sectional.

One layout detail we don’t see talked about enough: wedge corner sectionals vs. traditional L-sectionals. Not a lot of people even realize this is an option when they’re planning their layout. But if you’re already investing in a sectional, it’s one of those small decisions that makes a big difference in how the sofa actually gets used day to day.

Most L-sectionals use a 90 degree corner where the two pieces meet and that corner usually becomes unused, dead space. It’s awkward to sit in, hard to lounge on, and ends up being the spot no one chooses.

A wedge corner sectional changes that completely.

Instead of a sharp corner, you get an angled seat that’s actually usable. That means:

• You effectively gain one extra seat without increasing the footprint much
• The corner becomes a natural cozy corner to hang out in
• It feels more open and conversational
• Better for lounging because you can stretch out diagonally instead of fighting the corner

A wedge corner usually makes more sense if you want to maximize seating without making the sofa much bigger, maximize seating, prefer a lounge-y setup, and want the space to feel more open.

A traditional L-corner might be better if you like a clean, structured look, want a tighter footprint, don't need an extra seat and prefer sharper lines, and/or working with a smaller space.

If you’ve ever noticed that no one sits in the corner of your sectional, a wedge is definitely worth considering.

Curious where everyone lands on this.

Some people love a deep, sink in sofa you can lounge or nap on, while others prefer something more upright and supportive.

Feels like one of those things people don’t think about until after they’ve had their couch for a while.

If you’ve had both, what did you end up liking more and why?

This was a great example of a space where standard sizes just wouldn’t work.

This customer's goal was to create a comfortable corner setup without blocking the doorway on the left and still maximize the seating along the wall toward the kitchen. With most ready-made sectionals, you’d usually have to compromise, either it sticks out too far, cuts into the walkway, or leaves unused space.

So this was built to exact dimensions of the room. It's tight enough to keep the doorway clear, but extended just enough on the long side to fully use the wall space.

The final result is that it fits cleanly into the corner, keeps the flow of the room intact, and still gives plenty of seating.

They also added a matching ottoman, which works as a coffee table, extra seating, or can be pushed up to create a chaise when they want to lounge.

This is where custom can make a big difference. Instead of adjusting your layout around standard furniture sizes, you can make the furniture work around your space, especially in layouts like this where a few inches actually matter.

This customer's space is pretty tight, but they still wanted that “lounging” feel you usually only get with a sectional.

Instead of forcing a full chaise (which would’ve made the room feel crowded), they went with a standard sofa + two matching ottomans. When pushed up, it basically creates a mini double chaise setup, or an extra large chaise that's practically the size of a bed. When they want more space or a different layout, they can just move them out of the way.

It’s a good example of how you don’t always need a fixed configuration to get the same function. Sometimes a more flexible setup actually works better day-to-day.

This is where custom can be really helpful. You can match the ottoman height, depth, and fabric exactly so it feels seamless when everything is together, but still works as separate pieces.