From spectacular antique-style sofas, to sleeper sofas, leather sofas and couches, Ashley's collection of furniture adds versatility and style to every home.

Sofas: How to uncover value
People shopping in furniture store.

GO BEYOND LOOKS Choosing a good sofa involves looking at fabric details and construction, not just appearance. See Size up furniture like an expert for the steps to follow.

You don't have to spend thousands of dollars to get a well-made sofa, our tests show. We also found that you may want to look beyond the traditional furniture store to find good values in upholstered furniture.

The best sofas don't necessarily come from a traditional furniture store, the kind that used to be a mainstay of Main Streets nationwide.

Consider comfort. The industry experts we consulted strongly advise sitting on a sofa before you buy. You can't do that if you buy from a catalog. It's a good idea to bring all the adults in the household on the shopping trip, so that everyone can gauge comfort. Short people may not like seats that are deep front to back. Tall people may have to slump to get comfortable in a low-backed sofa. The height of armrests and the angle of the seatback are the kind of details that matter to everyone.

Examine construction. In our tests, we tore apart sofas to see what's inside, and we built a machine to strain the back of each sofa until the frame broke. You can't do that to a floor sample, of course. Even so, there's plenty you can do when you're in the store. Size up furniture like an expert shows what goes into a thorough examination.

Focus on fabric. You may find that some stores offer a limited number of choices for upholstery fabric, while others have a much wider array.

Your cart is Empty

Your wishlist is Empty

From spectacular antique-style sofas, to sleeper sofas, leather sofas and couches, Ashley's collection of furniture adds versatility and style to every home.