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Even in the most laid-back living space, chesterfield sofas add an air of stateliness and sophistication.
They’re characterized by their button-tufted upholstery, which gives them an overstuffed look, as well as their curved or “rolled” arms, which are equal in height to the back of the sofa. Traditionally, these seats are made of leather and are studded with nailheads along their lower frame, but can now be found in a wide range of materials, with the nailheads becoming more of a stylistic flourish.
The origins of the chesterfield sofa are surprisingly hazy, though it has roots in 18th-century design. Legend has it that the British diplomat Philip Stanhope, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield, commissioned the deep-set, button-tufted seat so that he could sit up straight while also not wrinkling his clothes. Despite its royalty-adjacent beginnings, the chesterfield style has endured over time, and when situated amongst the gallery walls and sleek silhouettes of a contemporary space, its posh presence looks as fresh and intriguing as ever.
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We’ve updated this piece multiple times since it was initially published in 2016, taking into consideration updated user reviews of the sofas’ performances over time, as well as the changing landscape of online furniture retail. We’ve logged about 10 hours of research on this topic and made sure to provide options here of varying price points and shipping timelines with a multitude of size, color, and upholstery options where available.
The Best Chesterfield Sofas
Read on to learn more about these posh picks.
Best Color Options
This model from Anthropologie is the epitome of an updated silhouette. It’s a made-to-order piece, in which every component — from the couch width to the material type and color, to the leg and nailhead finish — can be customized.
Select on the site from a rainbow of options in velvet, slub velvet, wool, leather, and Belgian linen to create your perfect centerpiece seat. The sofa is available in either a 7- or 8-foot-long silhouette, and it features generous button tufting along the back, arms, and front. Users adore its luxe look and sturdy build. The sofa’s delivery fee is $149, and it comes with white-glove delivery and assembly service.
Best Chesterfield Chair
Complete your reading nook with this chesterfield armchair from Amazon’s Stone & Beam brand — its low arms are perfect for propping up your elbows with a book or a beverage. The dapper upholstery is resilient and gets better with regular use, and users comment that the seat is actually quite cushy — a departure from other rigidly tailored models.
The legs are the only pieces that users have to be concerned with assembling, and though this model is available in love seat, sofa, and even ottoman forms, we’re partial to the chair version for small-space dwellers. It’s also eligible for free shipping.
The Crowd Favorite
This poly-linen blend chesterfield sofa features all-over button tufting, bun-style feet, and three supportive seat cushions. Its heathered upholstery is available in gray, beige, charcoal, and burgundy. Notably, over 64% of its current 1,394 reviewers give it a 5-star rating, citing its luxe look, comfortable feel, and easy assembly as major plusses.
It is a lower-profile couch, so it may feel too shallow for those who are very tall — make sure you measure it before you buy! This sofa comes in several different styles on Wayfair’s site, such as an armchair, loveseat, and a sectional size, and is also eligible for free shipping.
Best Linen Upholstery
This roomy, four-seater chesterfield sofa is an unexpected decor chameleon, thanks to its exceptional construction and crisp tailoring. It showcases a piped design on its rolled arms (in place of nailheads), as well as bun-style couch feet. Its crosshatched linen upholstery comes in two shades of gray and is also impressively durable. A wooden frame supports the entire piece.
It’s also very easy to assemble, only needing the legs screwed on. The shipping from Home Depot is $55, which only covers delivery to your front step or driveway.
Best Velvet Upholstery
This may be one of the more understated chesterfields out there — it eschews nailheads and sculpted couch feet, but it’s certainly not lacking in coziness. Users love its plush seat cushions, saying they’re very comfortable to lounge on, and also like that they’re conveniently detachable and reversible. The tufted arms and back are noted as being a little firmer, but still not too hard.
This chesterfield sofa comes in 15 colors, ranging from traditional beige and blue to bolder aqua and red hues. Keep in mind that it is a made-to-order item, so you may have to wait up to 8 weeks for your sofa delivery. Macy’s in-home delivery and assembly costs $99, so try to buy during one of the store’s frequent furniture sales to take advantage of extra savings.
Best Leather Upholstery
Adding just the right amount of edge to your space, this firm, tuxedo-style sofa from West Elm is a modern take on the traditional chesterfield. It features straight metal legs, and it also has button tufting on the inner arms, back, and seat, leaving the exterior smooth. We particularly love that this made-to-order sofa comes in six genuine, top-grain leather colors, and one vegan leather color. White-glove shipping and in-home assembly are included in the shipping cost, which ranges from $249 to $399.
Best for Families
This “fancy” sofa for the family home doesn’t feel totally untouchable. It’s clad in heathered polyester, complete with rolled arms and shaped rubberwood legs, but unlike other picks, this one rings in at less than $800 — a total bargain for a new couch. Though it’s available in only one color and size, users love its stylistic versatility, its deep-set seat, and its easy assembly. Just note that the sofa’s shipping costs an additional $75.
Best Material and Design Options
This Pottery Barn chaise sectional, with its low-profile back and button tufting, makes a luxurious home base for all living room-centric activities. Choose from a left or right-oriented chaise design with numerous color and material combinations available. The upholstery materials range from twill, velvet, Sunbrella, organic cotton, linen, and even denim — but we especially love that many are available as performance-grade materials, which are easier to clean and more practical for bustling households. (Fabric swatches are available for free!)
Though it arrives quite firm, the foam in the sofa cushions will soften up over time, and their innerspring construction will ensure that they won’t sag. And this particular chesterfield sofa is also available as a sleeper sofa, chair, and L-shaped sectional from Pottery Barn’s site, but the construction and upholstery choices remain consistent across all models. The sofa’s shipping fee is upwards of $100 (exact costs are determined by ZIP code), and Pottery Barn does offer white-glove delivery and in-home assembly.
Best Chesterfield Sectional
Kick back and stay awhile on this roomy chesterfield sectional sofa from Interior Define. Featuring a button-tufted back and seat, fluted details, and shaped legs, this artfully tailored seat is a total statement piece. This sectional is a standout because buyers can actually choose between a standard 63-inch or extra-long 73-inch chaise, along with customizing the sofa size, the leg silhouette, and the upholstery material. This made-to-order piece also takes up to 12 weeks for delivery and has a $129 shipping and assembly fee.
Best Chesterfield Sleeper
At just over 5 feet long, this chesterfield sofa from Joybird comfortably seats three people and looks great doing it. It comes in a seriously impressive 52 different colors and fabrics, all featuring the classic button-tufting on the back and rolled arms. The seat cushions are also removable, and a full-sized bed is folded up inside, waiting at the ready to be put to use for overnight guests.
We like that this sleeper sofa doesn’t look like cheap, clunky, 2-in-1 furniture, but instead is as elegant as it is intelligently designed. Curbside delivery for this sofa is $49, while white-glove delivery starts at $99.
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