Whether you’re redecorating your current home or preparing to move into your new one, you’re going to eventually need to go furniture shopping. Shopping for new furniture can be an overwhelming experience, and often it sits on our to-do list for weeks! If you’re anything like me, you scour the internet looking for information on the best sofas from your favorite retailers before you enter the store.
While eCommerce shopping experiences have evolved over the years, all retailer sites only give you highly edited stock photos, and custom curated copywriting to describe their products in their best light. But at the end of the day, we still don’t really know what these pieces are like in person. That’s where I come in to make your life a little bit easier.
If you’re looking for a sofa for your living room, Bassett Furniture has a ton of options for you to choose from. As one of the largest furniture retailers in the United States, with more than 100 retail locations throughout the country and Puerto Rico, Bassett prides itself on high-quality products, customized to your style and expectations. I took a journey over to the Bassett Furniture in Austin and checked out all the sofas they had in their showroom.
I photographed how they’re styled, and provided you with salient information about the quality and style of what these sofas are really like in person.
Related: Bassett Dining Table Reviews | Bassett Bed Frame Reviews | Bassett Patio Collection Reviews | Bassett Arm Chair Reviews | Best Sofas and Sofa Brands | List of 101 sofa brands | Top Sofa Styles and Designs
Methodology
Before diving into the reviews for Bassett Furnitures sofa selection, let’s go over a few thoughts on reviews in general and my perspective, priorities, and style preferences. One thing that’s important to note before diving into these reviews is that Bassett Furniture is highly customizable. As such, they only have a sample of what’s available in-store.
In this regard, I kept my review to what was on the showroom floor but also provided you with information about customization options and additional products that match the collection. This is to help you make decisions on which model should end up on your shortlist before you head off to the showroom! As with all qualitative reviews, it all comes down to another person’s opinion.
In this case, it’s mine. To be as transparent as possible and offer you an unbiased view as I can, I created a scenario for sofa shopping. This allowed me to detail out what precisely I’m looking for in a sofa, and how each would fit that lifestyle.
Use this information when deciding whether or not you should take my review with a grain of salt. For sofa shopping at Bassett, I’m reviewing sofas in search of one for my parent’s new home in New Hampshire. They recently retired and bought a lake house, where they hope to have the whole family over for holidays and celebrations.
They have an open-concept living area that they’re decorating. They prefer a large sectional sofa so that everyone can sit around and watch the New England Patriots dominate their opponents! The style they’d like to keep is definitely more of a lake-house vibe, so we’re looking for something comfortable and cozy in both look and feel.
Another super important aspect of searching for my parent’s future section is that they have 11 grandchildren under the age of 10! Therefore, durability and easy clean are both super high priority for this purchase! Now that we have that out of the way let’s get onto the Bassett Sofa reviews!
Bassett Sofa Reviews
Davenport
Details:
- Dimensions:
- Height: 38”
- Length: 88”
- Depth: 39.5”
- Available fabrics: 45
- Available finishes: 10
- Optional nailhead trim
- Additional details: Removable memory foam back cushions; welted seams
- Additional products available:
- U-shaped sectional (additional variations customized)
- Chaise sectional
- Storage ottoman
- Chair and a half
Overall Impression: The Davenport is a really comfortable looking sectional, and I love how it mixes both traditional and contemporary styling for a true transitionally styled piece of furniture! The loose back cushions are slightly overstuffed, but the welted detailing makes them look inviting – like you want to sit back and stay awhile! As far as comfort is concerned, the bottom cushions are firm memory foam that allows you to sink into it softly, which is suitable for folks who have back issues like my parents.
It’s also pretty deep-seated, making it great for lounging and napping. I know nappability is a significant factor in picking out a couch for me, and while my parents are the biggest nappers, dad does like to lie on the sofa to watch the football game! This is definitely an excellent couch for that.
The gently rolled arms give Davenport just the right touch of class to make this an excellent sofa for literally any home – whether you’re looking for a rustic, cozy feel or an upper-class coastal vibe. Plus, with tons of options for sectional configurations or regular sofas, you definitely will be able to create a Davenport that works for any sized space!
Alexander
Details:
- Dimensions:
- Height: 39”
- Length: 85”
- Depth: 37”
- Available fabrics: 1
- Available finishes:
- Additional information: Semi-attached back cushions
- Available matching products:
- Armchair
- Ottoman
- Chair and a half
- Sleeper sofa
- Loveseat
- L-shaped Sectional
- U-shaped Sectional
Overall Impression: Now, this I like! The Alexander is classic with sock arms and tapered legs, that it really is a great, traditional piece of furniture. It’s the best of comfort and style, in my opinion, and really is a well-made sofa!
As far as comfort is concerned, coming home after a long day at work and sinking into the Alexander sounds like a dream come true! It’s got nicely deep-seated cushions, and the back cushions are more like bed pillows than couch cushions. Not only does this create a big help to the comfort factor, but it also gives it that relaxed, approachable look.
You want to sit on Alexander! It’s not intimidating, but kind of like an old friend: familiar and wiser than the last time you saw them!
Bryant
Details:
- Dimensions:
- Height: 36”
- Length: 89”
- Depth: 42”
- Available fabrics: 1 (online)
- Available matching products:
- Ottoman
- CHair and a half
- L-shaped sectional
- U-shaped sectional
Overall Impression: With a genuinely contemporary casual look, the Bryant is an amazingly comfortable sectional from Bassett. I absolutely love the arms on this sofa collection because they’re so unique, short, and circular! I think it creates a nice contrast with the overstuffed back pillows, which have a much softer shape.
The play between the soft and hard lines of the Bryant really works in a variety of places. I love how they paired the showroom model with a very rustic, leather-topped ottoman, and it works really well together! I probably would never have thought to put those to pieces together.
This is why it’s always fun to visit the showroom itself because you can see how pieces work together across a variety of different styles and spaces! As far as comfort is concerned, this is definitely a nappable sofa! The removable back pillows are great, but it’s deep enough that I can lay comfortably without feeling like I’m falling off the couch.
You sink right into this sofa, with a gentle, medium firmness that makes you feel like you can relax, but also have a conversation with someone without looking like you’re laying down.
Serafina
Details:
- Dimensions:
- Height: 34.5”
- Length: 85”
- Depth: 37”
- Available fabrics: 43 fabric; 10 leather
- Available colors: 204+
- Available finishes: 4
- Additional details: Removable back cushions
- Available matching products:
- Chaise sectional
- L-shaped sectional
- U-shaped sectional
- Ottoman
- Armchair
Overall Impression: Oh, Serafina, how I wanted to love you more. Alas, you’re a little too dainty for high-traffic! With thin modern track arms and tapered legs in four different finishes, the Serafina is a modern contemporary piece that can work in different areas because there are so many options for customization.
The sofa itself is comfortable enough, but unfortunately, the showroom model looks like it hasn’t had a good time in its tenure on the floor! The cushions were saggy and the back cushions weren’t holding a shape very well. While this may be intentional for a more relaxed look, it really makes it look dated and I question durability.
I’d probably have to ask a designer their opinion – if it’s supposed to look worn or if it’s just not meant for a lot of traffic. For style, go modern by choosing either the brown or grey legs in matching upholstery. Or go for a more urban, contemporary look by choosing brass or stainless steel, making this a truly unique and flexible piece for your room, no matter what style you’re looking for.
American Casual Wellington
Details:
- Dimensions:
- Height: 37.5”
- Length: 84.5”
- Depth: 37.5”
- Available upholstery: 40+ fabric, 10+ leather
- Available colors: 204+
- Additional details: Semi-attached back cushions; removable legs
- Available matching products:
- L-shaped sectional
- Ottoman
- Armchair
- Loveseat
Overall Impression: American Casual Wellington combines the casual charm of traditional American style with a wide variety of upholstery options to match it to the room of your dreams. The simple, thin sock arms are tightly rolled and give it the traditional flair while the boxiness of the cushions and shape of the frame add soft, natural lines that aren’t as harsh as modern furnishings, but classic in nature. While I’m not a fan of leather sofas, I was surprised by how quality the leather on this sofa is.
It looks and feels very natural, which you sometimes don’t find with leather sofas. It can look cheap and fake in some situations, depending on the dyeing process. In this case, though, I really do like the leather a lot and would really love to see this in a home office or den.
The color and shade are both very masculine, which leads me to believe that you can really use this sofa in a variety of different rooms – which is where the upholstery options come into play. As far as comfort is concerned, it looks like a comfortable sofa in the showroom, and fortunately, it holds the pressure test of my plopping! I sank right into the Wellington and probably could have taken a nap if left to my own devices.
It’s much deeper than it looks when you sit on it, and I could see myself hanging out here with a good book and being very comfortable! Between the classic detailing and shape, there’s really no way you can go wrong with the Wellington. Use the customization options for your room to make it work!
Melina
Details:
- Dimensions:
- Height: 32.5”
- Length: 91”
- Depth: 41”
- Available fabrics: 1 (leather only)
- Available colors: 3
- Additional information: Semi-attached back cushions; walnut leg finish
- Available matching products:
- Chaise sectional
- L-shaped sectional
- Chair and a half
- Ottoman
Overall Impression: Modern comfort – that’s precisely what the Melina looks like and brings to any space you put it in! The full track arms are sturdy, and actually create a new place to sit if you have folks over. I love the stitching detail on the cushions and the arms that give it a clean, sleek look.
What I don’t like is the upholstery. I don’t like leather, and this leather is one of the reasons I don’t like it. It looks fake, even though I’m positive it isn’t.
I don’t like how leather is shiny, either, and reflects the light, and I also feel like most leather is very masculine and belongs in a rustic style room. I actually don’t think that the leather works on this sofa at all. I expect leather sofas to have nicely rolled arms, detailed nailhead trim, tufting, and overstuffed seat cushions.
This has none of those. While it makes it a sleeker and more modern sofa, it’s not really something I like. I can, however, see this in an industrial or rustic space, where you’re playing with modern elements along with rustic, unfinished wood and raw edges, maybe some brick and wrought-iron details.
In a lake house cottage in New Hampshire, it wouldn’t fit.
Jackson
Details:
- Dimensions:
- Height: 38”
- Length: 85”
- Depth: 37”
- Available fabrics: 1
- Available colors: 2
- Optional nailhead detailing available
- Additional details: Semi-attached back cushions
- Available matching products:
- Ottoman
- Armchair
- Loveseat
- Recliner
Overall Impression: The Jackson 3-seat sofa on display in the Bassett Furniture in Austin, Texas, the traditional leather couch you remember. The detailed nailhead trim on the rolled arms elevates such a classic detail on this couch that I think it makes the whole thing! What’s interesting about this couch is the front rail of it is actually cushioned, giving it an additional interesting silhouette from the side.
It’s accented nicely by the rounded shape of the cushions, which creates a great overstuffed look. As far as leather is concerned though, I’m not liking this. I don’t know if it’s the color or not – or how it’s dyed – but in-person, the leather looks fake.
It’s very shiny, which I don’t like but know that it’s a characteristic of leather couches. I much prefer leather that has a worn look and thinks that this sofa would benefit from a change in upholstery. There aren’t too many options when it comes out this couch – at least online – but you can definitely chat with a designer if you’re interested and feel similarly about the leather options available and what you’re seeing in the showroom.
Hunter
Details:
- Dimensions:
- Height: 39”
- Length: 90.5”
- Depth: 41”
- Available fabrics: 42
- Optional nailhead detailing available
- Additional details: Loose back cushions; removable legs
- Available matching products:
- Chaise sectional
- L-shaped sectional
- U-shaped sectional
- Ottoman
- Armchair
- Sofa
Overall Impression: With short rolled arms and gorgeously turned legs, the Hunter is a two-seater oversized loveseat-sofa that combines traditional and modern for a truly transitional appeal! I love that there are two pillows on this sofa because, as a napper, more pillows aren’t always the best to ensure the sofa structure is maintained over time. The more space between pillows, the more pressure points you have on the sofa’s frame.
This is a great casual lounger for a space that is upscale but also wants to be comfortable. I think this is a very flexible piece of furniture, which can go with so many different designs because it does live in that transitional bubble! I think it would look great with a trestle detailed cocktail table to create almost a shabby chic kind of vibe.
Get it in blue, and you’ve got your coastal style! So versatile, so comfortable – you really can’t go wrong with the Hunter!
Bassett Furniture Sofa Round-Up Winner
Bassett Furniture really does deliver high-quality furniture, and when it comes to their sofa selection, there really isn’t anything you should stay away from! No matter your style, you can find something that works for you that’s going to last for years to come. For my parent’s home, and the winner of the sofa review round-up is the Alexander!
I loved its classic lines, the timelessness of the sock arms, and how it really is reminiscent of your quintessential sofa! I love that we can create and customize the exact configuration for my parent’s open space layout, and choose fabric and color that works for the palette. Which Bassett Furniture sofa is your favorite?
