10 Gorgeous Small Couches for When You’re Short on Space

According to experts, we spend about a third of our life sleeping. A lot of thought should go into purchasing a bed, but what about the sofa? It’s where we lounge during our waking hours, and it’s for afternoon naps or Saturday movie nights. Not to mention this large piece of furniture is a focal point of your living room. It has to be comfortable, yet stylish. And as someone who has lived in apartments all of her adult life—it needs to fit in your space. So what are the best couches for small spaces? I’ve done a deep dive, so you don’t have to. 

Featured image from our interview with Brandy Joy Smith by Michelle Nash.

The Best Couches for Small Spaces

I’ve rounded up a variety of sofas that fit into every category you may be prioritizing. Are you ready to splurge? Save? Need a sleeper sofa? I’ve got you covered. The most important factor across the board with these couches is that they are all available in a smaller size, so you won’t have to worry about them being too large for your space. All of these sofas sit between about 60” and 80”, which means they comfortably seat two people—three if you’re in a pinch. Ready to dive in? Read on for all the deets!

Our top picks

1. Best Overall: Lido Sofa, Albany Park, $1244 
2. Best Budget: Oliver Sofa, West Elm, $699
3. Best Splurge: Gather Deep Leather Apartment Sofa, Crate and Barrel, $3,999
4. Best Sleeper: The MCM Sofa Bed, Benchmade Modern, $6,410
5. Best Slipcover: PB Comfort Roll Slipcover Sofa, Pottery Barn

1. Best Overall: Lido Sofa, Albany Park

Why We Love It: I love this little sofa. I have one in my home office and when I’m not working from my desk, I’m curled up on this couch. It’s the perfect size for a small space, it’s cozy and the stain-resistant basketweave is super easy to clean. Delivery and assemby was also a breeze! In short, I’m obsessed. 

Pros:

• Soft and comfortable
• Easy to clean
• Ideal size for a small living room or home office

Keep in mind: 

• This sofa requires two people to assemble

Specs: 

• Dimensions: 75″W x 32″H x 37.5″D
• Upholstery materials: Boucle, velvet, vegan leather, and stain-resistant basket weave
• Number of seats: 3  

2. Best Budget: Oliver Sofa, West Elm

Why We Love It: The best couches for small spaces should be high quality, stylish, and comfortable—but adding budget-friendly is like a cherry on top of a sundae. West Elm delivers all four of these with the Oliver sofa. At 72” across, this is one of the best couches for small spaces, especially studio apartments. 

Pros:

• Under $1K
• Deep seated with optimal support
• Ideal for studios and small apartments

Keep in mind: 

• This is a firm couch. Skip it if you prefer a softer, plush feel!
• Only three fabric and color options are available

Specs: 

• Dimensions: 72″ W x 32″ D x 30″ H
• Upholstery materials: Chenille, twill and yarn dyed linen weave
• Number of seats: 2

3. Best Splurge: Gather Deep Leather Apartment Sofa, Crate and Barrel

Why We Love It: If you’re going to splurge, you might as well go for a deep-seated, ultra-plush leather sofa. This one from Crate and Barrel ticks all the boxes—it’s sized for small space living, made from high-quality leather, and comes with extra plush cushions. The deep seat is perfect for putting your feet up and curling up with a good book, too.

Pros:

• Compact and luxurious
• Cozy deep seating

Cons:

• One of the more expensive options

Keep in mind: 

• Slightly modern look might not be everyone’s style

Specs: 

• Dimensions: 77″W x 26″H x 43″D
• Upholstery materials: Leather
• Number of seats: 2

4. Best Sleeper: The MCM Sofa Bed, Benchmade Modern

Why We Love It: The best couches for small spaces should absolutely include sofa bed options. You can still have guests even if you live in a tiny apartment! This cozy sofa bed from Benchmade Modern is highly customizable with lots of upholstery options, which is a huge plus. It’s small but mighty, as it pulls out into a queen-sized bed.

Pros:

• Wide range of fabrics
• Down alternative cushions available
• Cozy pull out bed

Keep in mind: 

• These sofas are hand-built and take four weeks to deliver

Specs: 

• Dimensions: 72″W x 40″D x 37″H
• Upholstery materials: Velvet, leather, performance weave
• Number of seats: 2

5. Best Slipcover: PB Comfort Roll Slipcover Sofa, Pottery Barn

Why We Love It: If you want a small-space sofa that still feels plush and oversized, the PB comfort roll slipcover sofa is the couch for you. The generous proportions come in a compact package, so you can still enjoy a classic roll arm, a soft seat and the classic charm of a slipcover sofa, even in an apartment. This one looks a bit like the sofas in Nancy Meyer’s film Father of the Bride, don’t you think?

Pros:

• Deep seat and plush cushions. This sofa is made for comfort!
• Tons of fabric and color options
• Small space sizes range from 63” – 82”

Keep in mind: 

• Most fabric options deliver in 5+ weeks

Specs: 

• Dimensions: 76″ W x 38.5″ D x 37″ H
• Upholstery materials: Basketweave, boucle, everyday suede, linen, velvet, twill, chenille, plain weave, and pattern
• Number of seats: 2

6. Best Modular: Modular Performance 2-Seater Sectional, Anabei

Why We Love It: Finding a comfortable and compact modular sofa that works well for apartment living can be a bit of a challenge. Modular sofas are generally on the larger side, but this sectional by Anabei is one of the best couches for small spaces, for sure. This sofa includes machine washable covers, making clean up easier than ever. Since each piece is modular, you can easily switch up your layout whenever you want to make a change.

Pros:

• Machine washable, spill-resistant, and pet-friendly
• Each piece is modular, so you can rearrange your layout easily
• Covers are removable and interchangeable

Keep in mind: 

• The arms on this sofa are very thin
• Estimated time to ship is early September

Specs: 

• Dimensions: 68.5” W x 68.5” D x 36” H
• Upholstery materials: Plush weave, blended weave, heirloom velvet, luxury velvet, knit boucle, 

Number of seats: 2

7. Most Comfortable: Sloan Sofa, Interior Define

Why We Love It: Interior Define’s Sloan sofa has so many options for comfort, it had to take the cake for the comfiest small-space sofa. You can upgrade the cushions for an extra soft seat, and you can opt for a deeper seat as well. On top of that, it’s available in both 75” and 79”—both fantastic options for small-space living. 

Pros:

• Truly customizable! Standard and deep seating is available, as well as different cushion fills. 
• Tons of fabric options
• Available in both 75” and 79”

Keep in mind: 

• There’s a $249 delivery fee

Specs: 

• Dimensions: 75″W x 35″H x 36″D
• Upholstery materials: Chenille, classic weave, brushed knit, heavy knit, pebble knit, velvet, tweed, boucle, and more
• Number of seats: 2

8. Best Leather: Sven Charm Sofa, Article

Why We Love It: A compact, comfortable, and affordable leather sofa had to make our best couches for small spaces list. The Sven sofa from Article is available in five different leather colorways and includes a tufted bench seat and two matching leather bolsters. Foam-padded, fiber- and feather-filled cushions make this a comfy seat, and the size is perfect for apartment living.

Pros:

• Includes two bolsters
• Not too firm, not too plush. Just right!
• Five colorways

Keep in mind: 

• Leather varies in color and shade—your sofa won’t look exactly like the photos.

Specs: 

• Dimensions: 72″ W x 38″ D x 34″ H
• Upholstery materials: Leather
• Number of seats: 2

9. Best Boucle Sofa: Gwyneth 68″ Boucle Loveseat By Goop

Why We Love It: Simply put, this loveseat is gorgeous. Boucle is having a moment, and this CB2 and Goop collab proves that sleek design can come in small packages. Available in both white and black boucle, this loveseat will look gorgeous in a living room or home office.

Pros:

• Chunky woven boucle is especially cozy
• Chic silhouette

Keep in mind: 

• Only available in one size and two colorways

Specs: 

• Dimensions: 68″W x 29″H x 36″D
• Upholstery materials: Boucle
• Number of seats: 2

10. Best Aesthetic Sofa: Josie Sofa, Pottery Barn

Why We Love It:  The Josie sofa from Pottery Barn has an understated beauty that makes it especially lovely. The slender roll arms are not only pretty to look at, but the streamlined shapes makes it great for small space living. Scale is important, and the details of this sofa won’t overwhelm a tiny living room or office. There are three size options available, ranging from 58” to 82”, and all of them are ideal for apartments and studios. 

Pros:

• Pretty details like slender arm rolls 
• Won’t overwhelm a small space
• All three sizes available are great for small space living

Keep in mind: 

• Not as plush as other sofa options
• Legs aren’t customizable and only available in Espresso

Specs: 

• Dimensions: 73″ W x 37″ D x 33.5″ H
• Upholstery materials: Basketweave, boucle, linen, velvet, chenille
• Number of seats: 2