Where is the best place to buy a couch? Livingetc's favorite stores to sofa shop online

Where is the best place to buy a couch? Buying a new couch or armchair is an important big ticket purchase, and there are many crucial elements to take into account to make sure you get it right. The focal point of your living room and a place for unwinding, your sofa is a staple piece of furniture. 

‘When you find a sofa you love, it creates a showstopper and the rest of the design follows,’ says interior designer, Natalia Miyar, ‘but don’t forget comfort, proportions, material and texture.’  From the pattern and color, to the size and comfort levels, there are endless styles to pick from. But there really is a store for every type of sofa, and to help you out, we've done the research and put together some Livingetc-approved shops to inspire you. Read on for our favorite retailers who will help you find the perfect piece for your living room.

What are the best places to buy a couch?

1. OKA

(Image credit: OKA)

OKA started out with a mission to bring the designs of the Far East to the customer in the west. The OKA team looked to talented artisans to bring decor to design ideas, all the while prioritizing beauty, comfort, and style. The mantra of OKA is all about the mix - hand-picked ideas from across the world, timeless furniture design, rich textures, and patterns, and this can be said for their couch design. OKA is a phonetic take on ochre, a color that nods to the East, yet feels British at the same time, and is an homage to the brand's foundations. The brand's sofas encompass everything from classic style to modern, as well as current sofa trends, and OKA also offers a tailored service for handmade to order couches so you can find your perfect match. 

Best for: Traditional styles with a modern edge

Editor's pick: Coleridge two-seater sofa in navy

2. Serena & Lily

(Image credit: Serena & Lily)

The Serena & Lily look is all about the classic and breezy California coastal look. The couches are relaxed, modern, and belong in every American home. While you might not find a whole host of pattern here, it's great for the everyday couch that belongs in every home, one that is timeless and with great design, will stand the test of time. It's not just about the couch at Serensa & Lily, so if you're wanting to up your decor, it's also a great place to shop throws, cushions and coffee tables to complete the set-up.

Best for: Classic staples

Editor's pick: Miramar fringed sofa - mink velvet mohair

3. Interior Define

(Image credit: Interior Define)

Interior Define's customer experience is all about the user journey, and making sure your sofa is made to order, with personalized service and quality construction along the way. Pick from limitless styles and rest assured that your sofa is in good hands. The process is designed to make choosing a sofa simplified, and the result makes for elegance in the home.

Best for: Customizing your furniture

Editor's pick: The James Collection

4. Anthropologie

(Image credit: Anthropologie)

Starting life as a store in Pennsylvania, Anthropologie has certainly taken on the world of home design, with a strong aesthetic curated by an in-house team that deliver on stylish pieces for a Boho living room. Look out for collaborations with some of your favorite designers too, the likes of Matilda Goad and Mark D. Sikes are just two big names who have helped the brand establish its style. All Anthropologie sofas are designed in-house, and have a vintage, one-off feel to them, and you're likely to find just about every style, from couches to loveseats, daybeds to sectionals. 

Best for: the Boho home

Editor's pick: Leonelle sofa in light pink

5. Wayfair

(Image credit: Wayfair)

Wayfair has done a pretty good job on taking high-end couch designs and sofa trends, and replicating them on a budget, using a classic color palette, beautiful fabrics and timeless designs to disguise the fact that they are on the cheaper side. We at Livingetc are certainly not opposed to this, and with some careful research, you can pick a Wayfair couch that is going to look interior-designed rather than budget-friendly.

Best for: Sofa shopping on a budget

Editor's pick: Pera 84'' upholstered sofa in olive green

6. west elm

(Image credit: West Elm )

Based out of Brooklyn studios, west elm has an in-house design team who create exclusive collections that you won't find in other retailers. The brand also collaborates with artisan collectives around the world to help preserve handcraft traditions.

Best for: Artisan collaborations

Editor's pick: Bradford sofa

7. 2Modern

(Image credit: 2Modern)

2Modern does what its name suggests, curates modern and contemporary pieces that contribute to the overall aesthetic of the brand. Inspired by his global travels and designs from around the world, Greg Finney founded 2Modern in 2003 and pioneered the concept of furniture e-commerce. When it comes to couches, it's all about picking out the most eye-catching pieces that showcase exciting design. 

Best for: Modern and sleek

Editor's pick: N701 round corner sofa module

8. Jonathan Adler

(Image credit: Jonathan Adler)

We're a fan of Jonathan Adler's slightly eccentric style, that started from the designer's love of pottery, and has slowly amassed everything from lighting to rugs, the recent boutique in New York, Atelier Adler, and, happily for us, sofas. His designs have the sinkable quality you want from a couch, all the while being stylish and fun. His playful designs crosses over into the colors he picks too. Typical of the designer, there is everything from limey eau de nil to lavender. 

Best for: Modern American glamor 

Editor's pick: Parker curved sofa

9. Design Within Reach

(Image credit: DWR)

The concept behind much-loved company, Design Within Reach is simple. Simple and elegant design made accessible. By giving people access to the best in authentic modern design, the company made design within reach, and there is a real wealth of brands on the website.

Best for: Design classics made accessible

Editor's pick: Raleigh sofa

10. Maiden Home

(Image credit: Maiden Home)

There is definitely a very clear look when it comes to Maiden Home. It is all about delivering handcrafted luxury for modern interiors, all coming out of New York where the studio is based. There is a real strong color palette too. Think a broad spectrum of browns, as well as creams, warm greys, mushroom tones and earth hues. It's warming and calming all at once and each of its couches are a piece designed to never go out of style.

Best for: Scandi-inspired luxury

Editor's pick: The Varick

11. McGee and Co

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

McGee & Co. is a furniture and decor brand created by interior design house, Studio McGee. The brand offers pieces that have been created with a designer's eye, and make the home really look beautiful. Every product in the catalog has been designed by esteemed designer, Shea McGee, and have her stamp on it, giving you that interior designed feel. All products are thoughtfully designed using high-end materials and focus on craftsmanship.

Best for: Interior designed

Editor's pick: Alford Settee

12. Crate & Barrel 

(Image credit: Crate & Barrel)

It's not just sofas you can find at Crate & Barrel - realistically you could furnish your entire home with homeware from the brand, but their sofas really are a talking point. Founded by Gordon and Carole Segal in the 1960s, the brand has been going for a while, bringing simple, beautiful and practical furnishing to the US. The ethos is to help people love how they live in moments that matter and the brand hopes to inspire 'vignettes for every room in the home. 

Best for: Modern and timeless 

Editor's pick: Chiltern velvet tufted sofa

13. Restoration Hardware

(Image credit: Restoration Hardware)

Restoration Hardware is recognized as a high-end luxury brand that specializes in minimalist and elegant pieces of furniture. The brand's founder, Stephan Gordon, began RH's story when renovating his own home and finding that he was fascinated with high-quality antiques and bringing them back to life. Buyers can also sign up to a membership, adding to the exclusive club-feel of the brand. Sofas are unique and give that all-important wow-factor.

Best for: High-end elegance 

Editor's pick: Copenhagen right arm asymmetrical sofa