We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at Macy’s

Before the rise of direct-to-consumer (DTC) furniture brands, department stores were some of the most common places to buy furniture for the home. While there are now tons of different retailers to shop for a couch, including online-only big-box stores, department stores shouldn’t be slept on.

In particular, Macy’s offers tons of well-made pieces at affordable price points, including customizable sectionals, small space-friendly sofas, and stylish couches that are perfect for the modern home.

To give you some insight into the sofa offerings at Macy’s, we visited the retailer’s flagship location in New York City. As part of our Personal Shopper series, we lounged on, touched, and thoroughly examined six of Macy’s most popular sofas. Read on for our thoughts and feelings on the five we recommend below.

Macy’s has been a furniture mainstay since the ’60s, and now sells everything from seating and tables to dining sets and accent pieces. Because Macy’s has been in business for such a long time, it’s trusted for its reliability and quality.

It also carries a very large range of furniture, including designs exclusive to Macy’s that can be customized to your preferences. As far as shopping goes, you can order online or visit one of the hundreds of physical locations nationwide, with the most furniture displayed at dedicated Furniture Galleries.

Macy’s also offers a good range of financing options, especially if you have a Macy’s Star Rewards card or Macy’s American Express card. Plus, you can take advantage of frequent sales and coupons, as well as a large clearance section. Shipping is also convenient, since the product you want is likely to be in stock at a location near you. 

We judged every Macy’s sofa based on the following criteria:

• Overall sit: What posture does the sofa best support? How deep or shallow are the seats? Are the cushions soft or firm on the back and arms?
• Seat firmness: How soft or firm are the seat cushions? How do they contribute to overall posture and comfort?
• Customizability: Does it come in different varieties? How many colors, finishes, materials, or sizes is it available in? How granular can you get when customizing the sofa?
• Multifunctionality: Does it have storage capacity? What else can the sofa do or help with?
• Sturdiness: Is the frame made from durable, high-quality materials? Does the sofa wobble or creak when you’re on it?
• Appearance: What style does it best suit? Does it lean more traditional (i.e., deep hues, busy details, flanged edges) or more contemporary (i.e., clean lines, low profiles, mid-century modern design elements)?

Each sofa in this article was tested by Apartment Therapy editors Zee Krstic and Cullen Ormond. Zee is Apartment Therapy’s senior home editor and covers design inspiration, decorating, DIY style, and home shopping. He was previously the content strategy manager for Country Living, ELLE Decor, House Beautiful, and VERANDA, and has held editorial positions at Good Housekeeping and Martha Stewart. 

Cullen is Apartment Therapy’s House Tours editor, and has been with Apartment Therapy since 2023. She was previously an editor at Vox Media, and graduated with a master’s degree in journalism from New York University.

Zee’s thoughts: The Radley is a super practical choice for families or households with pets, since the fabric feels exceptionally durable and resistant to stains and spills. I accidentally got a bit of water from my water bottle on it and the droplets rolled right off, so I think it would continue to look good with heavy use. Plus, I saw this couch in a sectional configuration that was roomy enough for the whole family to be comfortable. 

Speaking of comfort, the semi-firm cushions offer good support with minimal sink, and I didn’t have to use support to get up because the frame felt very sturdy. I even bounced down on it and didn’t feel the frame move at all (which is impressive considering I’m 6’4”!).

Therefore, I have high hopes for this couch’s durability, and I don’t think you’ll run into issues with the cushions losing their shape or the frame getting rickety. Just keep in mind that it’s not the plushest couch we tested, so some people may find it too firm. The seat depth is one of the deepest of the couches we tested though, and my feet were firmly on the ground when I sat down.

I would describe the Radley as transitional in design, and I think it’s versatile enough to work with lots of decor schemes. It’s available in the most color options out of all the Macy’s sofas we tested, and I appreciate that it can be customized into a variety of configurations and sizes. Overall, it’s a no-fuss option that seems like a reliable choice for busy households.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available in leather and as a sectional, loveseat, sleeper sofa, and armchair
• Dimensions: 86x39x30 inches
• Upholstery: Polyester
• Colors: 13
• Frame: Hardwood and pine

Cullen’s thoughts: The Jollene has a distinct mid-century look (especially in the sectional model we saw) thanks to the clean lines and tapered wood legs. While I didn’t love the bold midnight blue upholstery, I did like the fabric, which felt soft and durable — and I appreciated that it’s also available in a more neutral slate gray color and in leather.

The cushions felt bouncy and resilient, so I think they would hold their shape well with time, but they didn’t offer a whole lot of support. I felt almost like I was folding into the couch, which may appeal to some people, though I prefer a little more firmness.

The armrests are slim and not particularly plush, but the sofa does come with arm pillows to make them more comfy. The overall frame seems sturdy and well-built, though — there was no bouncing when I aggressively plopped down! 

The seat has a nice depth, but a lot of it is taken up by the back cushions, making it seem less deep than it actually is. Still, I’m 5’3” and my feet didn’t touch the floor when I sat all the way back, so I think it’s more than adequate. This sofa is the most affordable option we saw, and it’s a stylish option for people who want a retro-inspired sofa that has a sink-in feel. 

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available in leather and as a sectional, loveseat, and armchair
• Dimensions: 78x38x33 inches
• Upholstery: Polyester and nylon
• Colors: 2
• Frame: Solid wood and laminate

Cullen’s thoughts: This cute sofa feels perfectly sized for a city apartment — it’s compact enough for smaller spaces yet deep and comfy enough to lounge and hang out on. The cushions strike a good balance between firm and plush, offering a bit of bounce without feeling too soft. I sank in a little bit, but I didn’t mind, and appreciated that I could lean back to really relax.

I also liked the armrests, which were comfy enough to lean on and wide enough to rest a book or plate. The polyester fabric had a textured feel that made it even more cozy, although I do wish it came in more colors. It’s currently only available in two neutrals: gray and wheat. We saw the wheat hue in the store, and noticed that it looked whiter in person than it appeared online (although not a true ivory).

Like the other sofas, the Rosecrans felt pretty sturdy. It has a visible wood base and legs, and didn’t jiggle when we sat down on it. There aren’t a lot of customizations available with this sofa, and it’s only available in two sizes (plus as a chaise and armchair). Still, it’s definitely comfortable and easy to lounge on, and would work very well in a more laidback space like a family room or basement. 

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available as an apartment sofa, chaise, and armchair
• Dimensions: 92x37x34 inches
• Upholstery: Polyester
• Colors: 2
• Frame: Wood

Zee’s thoughts: The Hazelynn is my favorite of the bunch! It’s a great size for a smaller space, even in the sectional version I saw at the store. It has a clean, simple design, with upholstery that feels soft and fine to the touch. Although it has a lovely feel, it lacks texture and personality, and I don’t think it’s durable enough for busy households with kids and pets. I think it would work better in a low-traffic area.

Another reason why I think this couch is better for low-traffic areas is the seat depth, which didn’t feel deep enough for long-term lounging. It’s better for sitting and socializing, although the wedge arms do provide nice support for leaning back. The cushions felt fairly firm as well, offering excellent support but not a lot of give for sinking in. They mostly maintained their shape well when I stood up after 10 minutes of sitting, with just a little bit of flattening and wrinkling.

Otherwise, the construction is solid, with sturdy stitching and a stable frame that didn’t move at all when I sat down. Overall, the Hazelynn is a practical and space-efficient sofa that would work well in a low-traffic area like a living room or home office. Although the frame seems durable, I worry about the long-term durability of the velvet fabric — although there’s no denying that it feels super soft to the touch. 

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available as a sectional and leather accent chair
• Dimensions: 86x39x28 inches
• Upholstery: Polyester
• Colors: 2
• Frame: Plywood and LVL wood

Cullen’s thoughts: The Leidie sofa immediately stood out to me thanks to the sloped armrests and curved shape. It looks way more expensive than it is, with a design that would fit right in at a luxury brand like RH. I love the combination of cozy English cottage and sophisticated luxury, which is super popular right now but won’t ever go out of style.

The upholstery is soft and comfortable, although take note that the “ginger” color reads more as a mustard yellow in person. It’s warm and distinctive, fitting the overall aesthetic very well. In terms of comfort, the cushions are plush and supportive, striking a happy medium between firm and sink-in soft. As someone who’s 5’3”, I felt supported and could lean back easily without feeling like the couch was swallowing me.

My legs were almost touching the ground, and it was easy enough to stand back up. The armrests aren’t exactly comfortable, but that’s OK with me — they’re meant to make a design statement, and I absolutely love the look.

One thing I noted was that it wasn’t the sturdiest option I tested. It felt fine with one person sitting on it, but as soon as a second person sat down there was some movement. That’s not totally unexpected, though, and I don’t think I would hold that against it. I love how stylish and inviting it is, and definitely recommend it for a vintage-meets-high-end touch.

Specifications: 

• Dimensions: 81x39x31 inches
• Upholstery: Polyester
• Colors: 1
• Frame: Hardwood, engineered wood, and pine