If you have a contemporary or midcentury modern aesthetic in your home, the West Elm Harmony Sofa would likely pique your interest. West Elm is known for its high-quality furniture, much of which is distinctly midcentury, and this particular sofa comes in a variety of styles to suit just about any space. However, West Elm furniture tends to be quite pricey, and the Harmony Sofa is no expectation. To see if this couch is truly worth the splurge, we put it to the test over the course of a month, seeing how it held up against regular use in a multi-pet household.
Setup: Unbeatable white-glove delivery
One of the perks of ordering from West Elm is that their furniture includes “White Glove Service.” This means the delivery people will bring the piece into your home, unpack, and set it up exactly where you want it, and even take away any packing materials. However, I was curious as to how this was going to work with the Harmony Sofa for two reasons. First, my delivery date was scheduled during COVID-19 restrictions, so I wasn’t sure if they would still bring the furniture inside. And second, I wanted the sofa upstairs in our loft, which is only accessible via a small, windy staircase. Ultimately, neither of these factors proved to be a problem. On the morning of the delivery, I received a tracking code via text, and I was able to monitor the truck’s real-time progress as it made its way to my apartment. When the delivery people arrived, they were incredibly professional and polite, and they made sure to wear face masks and gloves at all times. They even managed to navigate the sofa upstairs to the spot I wanted, and they carried away all the packing materials, leaving my apartment just as clean as when they arrived. As someone who frequently buys furniture from stores like IKEA, where you’re forced to spend hours on assembly and are left with piles of packaging, this was a delightful change of pace.
Design: Elegant with lots of pillows
The design of the Harmony Sofa is simple and elegant, and it would easily fit into just about any decor style—midcentury modern to bohemian. It sports a low profile supported by two sled-style wooden legs, and the armrests and back of the sofa are quite blocky in silhouette. There are two back and two seat cushions, all of which are removable and reversible, and I could immediately tell upon sitting on the sofa that it was sturdy and well-built, supported by a hardwood frame. As someone who loves throw pillows, I was incredibly pleased that the Harmony Sofa comes with four additional loose pillows that can be arranged in different ways. Two are typical square throw pillows and two are rectangular lumbar-style pillows, which I ended up using as cushioning against the arms (which are a bit uncomfortable to lean on). All of the pillows are the same fabric as the couch itself, so I added another throw pillow for a pop of contrast.
Upholstery: Order fabric swatches, if possible
When you order upholstered furniture from West Elm, you’re able to choose from more than 100 upholstery fabrics and color combinations, including woven, velvet, and twill materials. However, if you choose a specialty fabric, the furniture will be made to order, so it will be more expensive and can take 9-plus weeks for delivery. One thing that was a bit disappointing was the color I selected. I ordered the Distressed Velvet material in Light Taupe, which didn’t look the way it did online. On the West Elm website, the fabric appears to be a light, creamy beige, but in reality, it’s much darker and almost gray in tone. It is almost the exact same bland color as my apartment’s carpets, so I ended up buying a lighter throw rug to break up the monochrome look of the room. To avoid this disappointment, I highly recommend ordering fabric swatches, which the company will send to you for free before you splurge on this sofa. Beyond the less-than-accurate color, I do like the distressed velvet upholstery. It’s not something I’d usually choose for my decor, but it’s not in-your-face and is quite soft to the touch. Plus, I was surprised to find that it does a good job resisting the menacing claws of my pesky cat. My feline friend decided to try the sofa out as a scratching post within hours of its arrival. After a month, the cat only managed to pull out one loop of the fabric and, thankfully, has decided it’s not a good place to sharpen his claws.
Comfort: Incredibly plush and cozy
On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 5 being firm), West Elm rates this sofa as a 1, so you know it’s going to be extremely cushy. My boyfriend and I both love plush sofas that you can curl up on, and the Harmony Sofa was a perfectly cozy option for us. This couch is not suited for those who prefer a firm, supportive seating area. What makes up this plush surface? The seat cushions of the sofa are constructed of fiber-wrapped, high-resilience polyurethane foam, and they’re definitely more supportive than the back cushions, which are filled with polyester fiber, duck feather, and duck down. The down pillows are delightfully squishy, and even after more than a month of use, they don’t show any signs of losing their form—something I’ve been burned by with past sofa purchases. Because the sofa is so comfortable, it’s become our family’s go-to spot for reading and lounging. I also frequently work on the sofa, using one of the throw pillows to prop up my laptop. Our cat has also decided it’s his new favorite nap spot. Unfortunately, the cat leaves also behind a visible layer of fur in his preferred sleeping location. It’s OK, pet hair removal is easy enough with the help of my ChomChom.
Size: Comfortable for two people
I tested the 82-inch Harmony Sofa, but the couch is also available in 76- and 92-inch lengths. You can also choose between standard depth seats, which are 41 inches, or extra-deep 47-inch seats. The 82-inch model is roomy enough for two people to sit comfortably or one person to lay down. You could also fit three people on the sofa if everyone sat up straight, but I think it would be a bit cramped. Occasionally, our dog would try to sit with us on the sofa. She usually got annoyed and left because there wasn’t enough room for her to comfortably spread out. Overall, the moderate size of this sofa was ideal for our space, and I think it’s a great option for small- to medium-size spaces. However, it’s definitely not big enough to accommodate a family with a couple of children.
Price: Steep for the compact size
In addition to its sleek aesthetic, West Elm furniture is also known for its high price. The 82-inch Harmony Sofa in the Light Taupe upholstery (a standard, in-stock finish) retails for $1,799. If you love the look and size of the Harmony Sofa, it’s definitely a quality piece of furniture that will last for years, but you could also find a larger sofa—or even a sectional—for a similar price if you shop around at other furniture stores.
West Elm Harmony Sofa vs. Leighton 3-pc. Sectional Sofa
The other sofa I own is the Leighton Sectional Sofa from Raymour and Flanigan. This sectional has a similar low profile, plush feel, and deep seat as the Harmony Sofa. It comes with White Glove Delivery, as well. With the Leighton Sofa, you can get a three-piece sectional that can accommodate several people (or pets) for around the same price as the smaller Harmony Sofa. It’s very comfortable, but the seat cushions of the Leighton have significantly deflated after just two years of use. It’s easy to fall in love with the aesthetic of the West Elm Harmony Sofa, and if you ultimately decide it’s worth the heftier price tag, we think you’ll be pleased with the comfort and craftsmanship. Definitely take advantage of the free fabric samples before you buy to ensure the color and fabric is exactly what you want.
