I Sat on All Soho Home’s Sofas — These 6 Are the Best
I’m slightly in awe of people who buy large furniture online without seeing it in person first. My years working in the interiors industry have taught me that a sofa isn’t just about how it looks, or whether it fits your space (although those things obviously matter); it’s also about comfort. What’s it like to sit on? What does the fabric feel like to touch? These are questions you really need answered before committing.
Soho Home has a reputation for curating statement pieces, and Soho Home’s sofas are no exception. The designs tend to be inspired by its different ‘houses,’ all of which are unique, but the look is generally contemporary mixed with timeless design. It’s the Soho Home ‘Membership Club’ aesthetic.
There are some fabulous large-scale sofas — the kind you might imagine in an architect-designed dream home — alongside more practically sized designs, and a few suited to compact spaces, too. That sense of individual character is heightened by the fact that different designs come from different makers. Most are crafted here in the UK, though some are made abroad.
I’ll hold my hand up: some of the most comfortable and best sofas I’ve ever lounged on have been at various Soho House establishments — long, socially fuelled days and evenings sprawled across the furniture at Dean Street Townhouse, Shoreditch House, or Soho Farmhouse.
I had a lovely afternoon sitting on every sofa at Soho Home’s stunning showroom.
(Image credit: Future/Rory Robertson)
It’s a great business model. People see them in the Soho Houses, then buy a similar version from Soho Home. The slight issue is that Soho Home only really has two stores where you can see these sofas in person, and they’re both in central London — Sloane Square and Westbourne Grove. So when Livingetc asked me to review the range, I saw the chance to finally log all that lounging as research, and headed straight into the store for a proper game of musical chairs.
I’ve aimed to cover a genuine cross-section of sizes, shapes, styles, and materials, and called each one as I found it — comfort is personal, after all. These ratings are entirely my own — call it hands-on, seat-of-the-pants research. The good news? There are some real standouts. So which are the best Soho Home sofas? The ones worthy of the investment? Here’s what I think.
Rory has been involved with Livingetc for over a decade, as well as an editor for both editorial and commercial interiors brands. He’s versed in trialing sofas out and reviewing them on style, comfort, and quality cues — a magpie not just for the pieces that look chic, but for those all-important design details. In essence, he’s pretty picky. But it’s a character trait that he fully owns, and when he applies it to his editorial work, the reader benefits. He’s resolute in bringing a fair and unbiased review so that people can make an informed choice.
Edison Corner Modular Sofa
Soho Home’s Edison Sofa screams ‘lounge on me!’
(Image credit: Future/Rory Robertson)
Wrapped in Chocolate Velvet upholstery, the Edison Modular sofa I spotted on the store floor immediately stood out. Not just because of its huge scale, but also for its alluringly cool mid-century, rounded design aesthetic. I even like it in brown; it feels aptly early 1970s and the color suits the shape, right?
That said, it wasn’t until I sat down on it that I realized just how much I liked this Soho Home sofa. Those round, bolster-shaped seat cushions that form the front, seat, and back supports are very comfortable. Admittedly, the Edison sofa has a slightly lower seating position that some people might find a bit of a struggle to get in and out of, but it’s a real vibe once you’re on it.
There are different variations available (the joy of modular), including a four-seater and L-shape. You can essentially create your own layout by purchasing the different individual sections. And while it’s only available in the Velvet, there are 11 shades to choose from in this sofa material. Also, this velvet has a 40,000 rub count (confirmed by the Martindale rub count test) and a non-directional pile, which means you can rub or brush it either way without it changing tone.
I particularly enjoy the tufting on the seats and the backrest, and the extremely comfortable feather-filled cushions. The combination makes this a particularly dreamy option, and one which you could definitely sleep on for sure.
Soho Home
Edison Modular Three Seater Sofa in Velvet
Price: From £5,390 for a three-seater
Firmness: Soft
My Score: 5/5
Ashford Sofa
Soho Home’s Ashford sofa is inspired by the seating styles seen at Soho Home’s Brooklyn Dumbo House.
(Image credit: Future/Rory Robertson)
Refined is probably the best word to describe Soho Home’s Ashford sofa. It carries some serious ‘classic’ appeal with its elegant square shape, low-level slimline arms, and triple-foot detail. Of the various sofas I tried, I think it’s probably got the widest style appeal. Whether sitting against a more traditional or contemporary architectural backdrop, the Ashford would look good anywhere. It’s also a very reasonable scale, so it would probably fit, too!
Billed as a three-seater, and with a beech and engineered hardwood frame, I’d say it’s really a comfortable two-seater. I tried to imagine how roomy it would feel with three people sitting on it, and, even though I’m pretty slim, I decided it might just lose its appealing ‘sit back and sprawl’ appeal.
The sofa I sat on in the store was upholstered in Linen Bisque. It looks divine in this fabric, don’t get me wrong, but even though Soho Home suggests the linen has a ‘durable 20,000 rub count’ and that it’s ‘ideal for busier homes’, I couldn’t help but question it.
If that’s you, instead of a beautiful but vulnerable pale shade, it might be wise to look at the slightly darker shades of the house Linen, house Velvet fabric, or the charming ‘Ikat Stripe’ fabric options. If you’re imagining this in even a reasonably high-traffic living space — or more if it’s for a family home or one with pets — then you might thank yourself later. Thankfully, there are lots of alternative options to choose from.
Additionally, the Ashford seat cushion depth is wonderful, but not as soft as you might expect. If you throw yourself down on it (like I did), anticipate the landing to be a little firmer than those plump cushions might lead you to believe.
Soho Home
Ashford Three Seater Sofa in Velvet
Price: From £4,195 for a three-seater in Velvet
Firmness: Medium
My Score: 3/5
Belmont Sofa
That curved shape, the exposed oak frame makes for a dynamic piece.
(Image credit: Future/Rory Robertson)
There’s a reason why I found the Belmont sofa sitting pretty in Soho Home’s grand foyer — it’s a show-stopping design. In fact, it’s more akin to a piece of crafted sculpture. It feels substantial, much like true investment furniture should.
Made with a combination of foam, feather, down, and fiber, and with a beautiful oak frame, the Belmont is available in either Linen or Velvet upholstery and in the brand’s spectrum of colors. The design details of the Belmont add little moments of discovery, from the linen panels which are inset into the back of the frame to the tufted backrest cushions and the ribbed solid oak arms. These are the elements that give this particular design its unique sense of crafted character. It’s also simply just a wonderful shape.
I sat on the linen-upholstered style on show in the Sloane Square store, and it rated on the firmer side. Whilst the velvet upholstery option might offer a 40,000 rub count and suggests it could withstand a ‘busier home’, I’m not sure it’s necessarily a child or pet-friendly sofa.
Also, the wooden frame looks lovely but it does make it a little bit vulnerable to knocks and chips (the one I tried in-store already had a couple of nicks on the frame), so it’s maybe best considered as a beautiful option fit for a slightly more formal or ‘best’ living room scene — and ideally one where you can position it so people can appreciate the detail on the back of it.
Soho Home
Belmont Three Seater Sofa in Velvet
Price: From £7,995 for a three-seater in Velvet
Firmness: Soft to Medium
My Score: 4/5
Theodore Sofa
Soho Home’s Theodore sofa was perhaps the most unexpected of all the designs.
(Image credit: Future/Rory Robertson)
What a pleasant surprise. The Theodore sofa is a petite two-seater and a great option for anyone who might be tight for space. At first glance, I judged the little Theodore wrong. The elegant wooden frame looks lovely — resplendent as it is in tapered birchwood with brass-effect finishing details — but it does not give me any comfort cues. However, once I sat down, I realized that it’s actually very comfortable. The secret might be in those feather-wrapped cushion pads alone — they’re beautifully pillowy!
The Theodore takes its style inspiration from the seating designs found at 40 Greek Street, and whilst I’m not normally a fan of a spindly wooden frame on seats (and I doubt you’d be lying down on this one), I think it’s worthy of serious consideration.
This Soho Home sofa would be a great option for anyone looking for a practical or occasional petite pew. Also, there are single armchair, footstool, and daybed versions in the Theodore range, too, so you can mix and match a few pieces if that’s your preference.
Soho Home
Theodore Two-Seater Sofa in Velvet
Price: From £3,190 for a two-seater in Velvet
Firmness: Soft to Medium (bear in mind there’s no cushioning on the arms)
My Score: 4/5
Vivienne Modular Sofa
Soho Home’s Vivienne sofa is where modular design really shines.
(Image credit: Future/Rory Robertson)
If you don’t necessarily have the space for one of the larger lounge-y Soho Home sofas, then the Vivienne is a practical-sized option to consider instead. It offers the same modularity and similar comfort, but at a slightly more practical scale.
Inspired by the 8th floor of the brand’s White City House location, the Vivienne sofa features rounded corners, cylindrical legs, and an eye-catching pleat-stitched wraparound back. Significantly, it’s got that ‘low lounge’ seating position so it feels very comfortable to sit down on, and, as a result, I imagine it rates highly on the ‘napping’ scale, too.
Available in Bouclé, Linen, or Velvet fabrics, there’s also a series of different furniture pieces available in the Vivienne Collection — including an armchair, ottoman, and bench — so, much like the Theodore, you can even pair a couple of pieces together for a coherent living room look.
Soho Home
Vivienne Modular Three-Seater Sofa in Bouclé
Price: From £3,395 for a three seater in Bouclé
Firmness: Soft to Medium
My Score: 4/5
I Also Tried…
Soho Home
Aline Serpentine Modular Four-Seater Sofa in Velvet
Price: From £3,790 for a three-seater in Boucle
Firmness: Medium to Hard
My Score: 2/5
The Aline is inspired by Soho Home’s Stockholm house. The brand describes the curve as designed to ‘bring people together… for long afternoon conversations’, and I think it would appeal to those who have a penchant for Scandinavian minimalism and the flowing, graceful lines of the Art Deco period.
It’s available as both a three-seater and four-seater variant, as well as individual modular sections so you can essentially ‘build your own’. It also comes in twelve different colors of the brand’s Velvet upholstery on an engineered hardwood frame. The version I tried was upholstered in Rust Velvet; it suited the color and fabric well.
It looks visually beautiful; however, I think it’s fair to say it’s the firmest of the sofas I tested in the store. It’s a foam-and-fiber fill, and there are no separate or loose feather-filled cushion pads. Whilst this is part of its smart visual appeal, it certainly dictates a more formal upright seating position. I’m fine with this for a shorter period of time, but I can’t imagine this being a very comfortable option to sprawl out on for hours. In this sense, it’s best to consider the Aline for a more formal setting rather than an everyday family sofa.
FAQs
Are Soho Home Sofas Good Quality?
The short answer is yes, they are. Considering everything (comfort, quality, price, warranty), I would suggest Soho Home sofas offer acceptable value for money. The different upholstery materials on offer have varying rub counts, so make sure you study these details and consider this when specifying your preferred upholstery fabric.
Will Soho Home Remove My Old Sofa?
No, it will not. However, they do work closely with the British Heart Foundation, and as a result, Soho Home has details of the collection service that the British Heart Foundation offers. Pay attention to the details, though, which include the requirements that your old sofa be in good condition, clean, and that there be no missing parts. They advise that individually upholstered items must come with a fire label, and that each item in a sofa set should have its own fire label.
I think this list offers a fair and diverse cross-section of the current Soho Home sofas; whether you’re looking for a nifty little two-seater (Theodore) or something sized up and altogether more sprawling (Edison Modular Corner), there should be something to suit most requirements and style tastes.
The in-store experience is also lovely. Whilst I was there, I was approached by two different members of the team to ask if I needed any help. It didn’t feel pushy in any way. In fact, the second time I was approached, the lady asked if I’d like to sit down so she could explain more about each of the different sofa styles. If my experience is anything to go by, then this admired brand demonstrates good customer service.
If Soho Home isn’t quite in your budget, you may be surprised by the quality and style of John Lewis’ best sofas — which Livingetc has also reviewed.
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