4 min readIn a world of mass-produced furniture that’s often overpriced and poorly made, it’s hard to know which pieces are worth the money. A couch, for instance, should last years—it doesn't need to be, or shouldn’t need to be, replaced every five years. A good couch should last at least a decade; sure, it might need some extra fluff or a change in upholstery before then, but the bones shouldn’t break that quickly.
In a recent episode of our social video series The Next Issue, Director of Special Projects Carisha Swanson asked designer Arianne Bellizaire to share the single item she would splurge on for the home if she could only choose one, and she said a high-quality couch. “A sofa worth the splurge fits your life today and is built for years of living,” Bellizaire tells House Beautiful.
But what makes a sofa splurge-worthy, and which ones would the experts pick out? We asked Bellizaire and three other designers, all with different styles, to share their picks that meet their criteria on craftsmanship and comfort—find them below.
Lee Industries Sofa Loveseat
When Bellizaire selects a couch for a client, there are three things she always considers: construction, depth and back pitch, and cushion performance. What couch checks all these boxes? None other than the Lee Industries 6683-03 Sofa.
To meet Bellizaire’s standards, the frame has to be well-built, preferably with American craftsmanship and an “eight-way hand-tied suspension,” she adds, so it can withstand years of everyday living. These “good bones” also allow for easy reupholstering down the line.
Though comfort is personal, Bellizaire tends to gravitate towards a deeper seat and a gently reclined back to make lounging with a book or sitting up to watch TV more comfortable. If the client wants something more formal, however, a couch with a narrower seat and an upright back to encourage sitting up straight would probably be better suited.
Finally, the cushion performance must be high-quality. They have to provide a comfortable place to sit while maintaining their shape over time.
The Lee Industries 6683-03 Sofa is a classic-shaped couch with an oak base and can fit any type of home with the right upholstery. The only catch is it’s not available to buy directly on the website, but they have a “Dealer Locator” that can match you with a nearby retailer that carries Lee Industries pieces.
Tufty-Time by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia
For good form, a modular design, and extreme comfort, designer Jennifer Kranitz of Set Setting Studio would splurge on the Tufty-Time by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia.
“It has this low-slung, relaxed silhouette that instantly gives the room a cool vibe without trying too hard,” she explains, adding that the modularity of the piece makes it even more compelling from a purely design standpoint. The couch can work almost as a spatial planning tool, and can be arranged in layouts beyond the conventional sectional shape and respond to the circulation, scale, and architecture of the room.
It wouldn’t be the one couch she would splurge on, however, if it wasn’t incredibly comfortable to lounge on while the cushions still maintain their shape. “The seat and back are tight with no loose cushions, so there’s nothing to constantly fluff or reshape; it just always looks tidy, which I love for a sofa that’s meant to be lived on every day.”
As the cherry on top, B&B Italia offers replacement covers should anything spill on the couch or if it needs a cosmetic refresh after a few years of living on it. It’s an investment, for sure, but one that’s worth it for the things it offers.
Mario Bellini for Cassina Le Mura Sofa
Take advantage of old craftsmanship and splurge on a vintage piece rather than new—that’s what Austin Carrier and Alex Mutter-Rottmayer of Haus of Hommeboys would do. More specifically, they would choose a 1970s Mario Bellini for Cassina Le Mura sofa, currently on display in their showroom. It’s in its original, super soft mohair upholstery, with subtle pinstripes—a truly rare find.
“It is a stunning one-of-a-kind piece in near-mint condition,” explains Carrier, though there is, of course, some patina found in some of the details, which is to be expected on a piece of furniture from 50 years ago. Those signs of age just make a sofa like this all the more special and unique, as it truly can’t be replicated like a mass-produced piece. And since the three seats can be separated, the couch can be used as a three-seater sofa or arranged individually. “This piece is so comfortable, collectible, eternally chic, and well worth the money,” Mutter-Rottmayer adds.
Camelback Sofa from Nickey Kehoe
As new traditionalism gets a renewed spotlight shown on it, designer Meghan Jay would choose to splurge on the Camelback Sofa from Nickey Kehoe. “I love how graceful and sculptural it feels,” she says.
The beautiful silhouette brings an air of sophistication to any room without feeling commanding, and plays nicely with other pieces, even ones that might not be traditional themselves. Each is made-to-order, making the sofa fully customizable in fabric and finish, as well as any trim. It’s an heirloom piece.
“There’s something timeless about it—it could live alongside antiques, contemporary pieces, or something a little quirkier and still feel completely at home,” Jay adds. It’s these aspects—the versatility and excellent craftsmanship—that make a sofa worth investing in for the designer.
