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Purchasing Furniture online can come with a variety of obstacles for the consumer. Without seeing your furniture in person, you really don’t know what you’re going to get until it arrives at your doorstep.

Furniture is one of those things that you need to try before you buy. It’s a considerable investment for a lot of people, and the time and stress of not choosing the right piece the first time can be overwhelming and frustrating.

That’s where I come in.

Restoration Hardware is a high-end furniture retailer with showrooms around the country. They specialize in catering to design-minded consumers who are looking for particular pieces for their homes.

All Restoration Hardware furniture is highly customizable from configuration to hundreds of upholstery options. In fact, many pieces, if not all, are made to order.

To bring you a detailed review of the living room collections set Restoration Hardware curates, I spent hours inside the Austin, Texas location. I tested out each sofa model that the showroom has on display.

I sat, laid, bounced, and maybe even took a nap or two to provide you with the details you need to narrow down your choices for living room collections to purchase from.

Methodology

Now, before I set up with actual reviews, let me give you a little background. Since preference and style are a personal choice, you may not agree with my opinions.

To provide you with an idea of how I approached this review, let me lay out what’s important to me, my family, and the type of home I want to create. First and foremost, I believe that the living room is the heart of the home, and it’s where we spend the most time.

I want to create a comfortable, laid-back vibe, where I feel cozy and can relax. We don’t have a formal living room in our home, and probably never will. Personally, that doesn’t jive with our lifestyle.

When choosing furniture for our living room, comfort is our number one priority. For example, our couch is the most used piece of furniture in our home. We lounge, watch TV, read, entertain guests, nap, and often have our young nephews for sleepovers.

Therefore, when making an investment in living room furniture, we also need to make sure, but whatever we purchase is durable and will last.

With my personal preference is in mind, let’s get to the reviews. You can use these as a baseline to formulate your own opinions and help you find the perfect living room set or your home.

RH Living Room Collection Reviews

Maxwell Collection

Details:

Upholstery Options: 162 Fabric & 43 Leather
Available color options: 30 Fabric Colors, 15 Leather
Available arm options: Left Arm or Right Arm Only, Modular Armless,
Products: Sofa, Chair, Chaise, Sleeper, Sectional with Chaise, Ottoman, Recliner, Daybed, U-Sofa, Customizable Sectional
Additional Details: 3 Depth Options, Length Options (5’, 6’, 7’, 8’, 9’, 10’), 2 Fill options

Overall Impression: This is the kind of couch you sink right into! I love that the bottom cushions run the entire length of the couch, so you don’t lose stuff between the cushions! Unfortunately, though, there’s a slight crinkling noise when you push on the cushions.

It’s annoying. But these have nice low arms and a deep seat. I could totally take a nice, long nap on this couch. You can’t sit all the way back without your feet touching the floor. Maybe not a problem for an NBA player, but your average lady would have an issue.

They’re super comfy, and I don’t mind the linen upholstery on these! I also like the overstuffed cushions, which make these couches seem inviting. The stitching is really nice as well!

Savoy Collection

Details:

Upholstery Options: 144 Fabric & 45 Leather
Available color options: 28 Fabric, 16 Leather
Products: Rug, Sofa, Chair, Lantern, Ottoman,
Additional Details: Length Options (6’, 7’, 8’, 9’)

Overall Impression: Velvet is kind of my thing because I think it looks luxurious and elevates a room immediately. I also really like the matching chairs here and the tufting. The back and arms are the same height, giving you a boxed in vibe, but it’s softened by the fabric and detail.

It’s low but much firmer than I expected it to be! None of the cushions are removable, which poses a problem for everyday usage and potential wear and tear. But I really like this for a formal living area or a childless family. Getting crumbs out of these buttons tufts would be really annoying!

Cloud Collection

Details:

Upholstery Options: 167 Fabrics
Available color options: 28 Fabric Colors
Available arm options: Fixed & Modular Customizable configurations
Products: Sofa, Chair, Chaise, Pit Sectional, Sectional with Chaise, Ottoman, U-Sofa, Customizable Sectional, Slipcover
Additional Details: 3 Depth Options, Length Options (5’, 6’, 7’, 8’, 9’, 10’), 2 Fill options

Overall Impression: I love the oversized cushions of this couch, both bottom, and back. The linen is naturally wrinkled, which gives it that nice worn look, too – not in a bad way, but in a well-loved way. The sloping arms are an interesting contrast to the comfortable cushions.

It’s surprisingly not as comfortable as you’d think, though. I thought it would be like the Maxwell, where I’d just fall into it, but it’s more of a catch and slowly release when you sit. It has a deeper seat, and you can remove the cushions, so I could sleep on this no problem!

I’m not a fan of the modular configuration since it can pose a problem where the pieces start edging away from each other, but these hold together well. Quality stitching on the cushions and structure is reasonably sturdy.

Belgian Collection

Details:

Upholstery Options: 189 Fabric
Available color options: 29 Fabric Colors
Available arm options: Left Arm or Right Arm Only, Modular Armless, Left & Right Arm Return, Slim
Available Base Options: 3 Metal, 2 wood
Products: Sofa, Chaise Lounge, Corner Chair, Ottoman, Sectional, U-Sofa, U-Chaise, concave sofa, Various Chair Designs
Additional Details: 3 Depth Options, Length Options (7’, 8’, 9’, 10’), 2 Fill options, Customizable Configuration, Tufted

Overall Impression: Interesting design, where the front of the arm is higher, and it slopes down toward the back or the couch. I like that the bottom cushion is all one piece. And there are 4 back pillows, two on each side.

The smaller pillows create awesome lumbar support and prevent you from falling backward because this couch is soft and squishy! I could definitely hang out here! It’s deep-seated and nappable, and I think it would work in any room.

The covers are removable so you can wash them too. I’m curious as to how well they’d hold up after multiple washes, though. Cushions are solid stitched and no stray threads that I could see, even on the floor model, so I think it’s a pretty solid sofa!

Cambridge Collection

Details:

Upholstery Options: 147 Fabric & 46 Leather
Available color options: 28 Fabric Colors, 17 Leather
Products: Sofa, Chair, Ottoman, Daybed
Additional Details:2 Depth Options, Length Options (7’, 8’, 9’, 10’), 2 Fill options

Overall Impression: These look fancy and similar to the Savoy collection except that the arms are rolled in a classic design move. The diamond tufting creates depth and texture, but my problem would be fishing the crumbs out of the buttonholes.

While the design is kind of upscale looking, the linen upholstery gives it a much more familiar and inviting look. The cushions aren’t removable, and it’s very firm when you sit.

I think it would be a good piece for a formal living room that was trying not to be formal – like in a farmhouse or cottage style. It would also be a good choice for an office or waiting room since it’s classy without being too classy stuffy.

Original Lancaster Collection

Details:

Upholstery Options: 135 Fabric & 37 Leather
Available color options: 27 Fabric Colors, 17 Leather
Available arm options: Left Arm or Right Arm Only, Left & Right Arm Return, Slim
Products: Sofa, Chair, Chaise Lounge, Corner Chair, Ottoman, Sectional, Sleeper, Recliner, Swivel Chair, Sofa with Chaise, U-Sofa
Additional Details: 3 Depth Options, Length Options (5’, 6’, 7’, 8’, 9’, 10’), 2 Fill options

Overall Impression: With the look of a well-worn leather couch, this is a perfect addition to an office, man cave or den. It’s very masculine looking, and the leather looks and feels good. I can scratch it a bit, but that’s ok – just keep your cat or dog off it!

It’s definitely a deep seat, and the overstuffed cushions look inviting. I’m usually not a fan of leather, but I don’t mind this one too much. The one thing I didn’t like was the leather itself is shiny and reflects light.

I’m not sure how I feel about that, but it could make a huge difference in a dark room! It’s a solid sofa, and I like the classic lines with the rolled arms. Sitting on it, it does crinkle a bit, and there’s a slight squeak, but I’m pretty sure that’s because it’s leather. It’s very comfortable, but not my favorite.

Italia Chesterfield Collection

Details:

Upholstery Options: 191 Fabric & 44 Leather
Available color options: 29 Fabric Colors, 16 Leather
Base Finish Options: 3 Metal & 2 Wood Choices
Available arm options: Left Arm or Right Arm Only, Left & Right Arm Return
Products: Sofa, Chaise, Chair, Bench, Ottoman, U-Chaise Sectional, Customizable Configuration
Additional Details: 3 Depth Options, Length Options (6’, 7’, 8’, 9’, 10’), 2 Fill options

Overall Impression: This is a fancy looking sofa! I feel like I’ve seen this in one of the episodes of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, or at least that’s the kind of sofa I’d expect to see in one of those types of homes.

It’s one of those couches that you don’t actually want to sit on because it looks like more of a decoration. Definitely a couch for a formal living room, and not something we’d purchase, in my opinion.

It’s pretty firm but comfortable to sit on, though. The cushions are built into the couch, so they’re not removable, but I feel like if something fell down the back of the cushions between the back one and the bottom one, you wouldn’t be able to get it.

Plus, with the button tufting, which I like the look of, but it’s not practical for our comfortable living room. Crumbs – crumbs everywhere!

Como Modular Collection

Details:

Upholstery Options: 131 Fabric & 52 Leather
Available color options: 27 Fabric Colors, 19 Leather
Available arm options: Left Arm or Right Arm Only, Modular Armless, Left & Right Arm Return, Slim
Products: Sofa, Chair, Chaise Lounge, Corner Chair, Ottoman, Sectional, U-Sofa, U-Chaise
Additional Details: 2 Depth Options, 2 Fill options, Customizable Configuration

Overall Impression: If you haven’t figured it out yet, I don’t like leather couches. They always seem slippery, and in New England, when it’s humid out, the sweat makes my legs stick to it. Probably wouldn’t be a problem if you have central air, but we don’t in our 1895 farmhouse.

Fortunately, Restoration Hardware has an incredible number of upholstery options for the Como Modular, so you’re not stuck with leather if you feel the same way I do.

The cushions were comfortable, and I sunk right in when I sat down. I liked that it was deep and that the back pillows come off for easy cleaning and to make it larger if we wanted to nap on it.

While I like the idea of modular sofas, because you can’t piece them together to fit virtually any space or need, I don’t really trust that the pieces would stay together. Granted, this is Restoration Hardware, and if nothing, they’re selling quality pieces.

The frame seemed durable and well made – I guess I’d just caution you when putting it together to really make sure that the pieces are locked together well!

RH Modern Living Room Collection Reviews

Modena Collection

Details:

Upholstery Options: 191 Fabric & 46 Leather
Available color options: 30 Fabric Colors, 16 Leather
Foot Finish Options: 2
Available arm options: Left Arm or Right Arm Only, Left & Right Arm Return, Taper, Slope, Shelter
Products: Sofa, Chaise, Chair, Bench, Ottoman, U-Chaise Sectional, Customizable Configuration, Corner Chair, Chesterfield
Additional Details:3 Depth Options, Length Options (6’, 7’, 8’, 9’, 10’), 2 Fill options, Tufted

Overall Impression: I like the look of this sectional and how it comes all the way down to the floor. It is a bit lower than I typically like on a sofa, but it really has a lounging feel to it, and I think if it was higher, it wouldn’t have that.

It’s definitely got a modular feel to it because of the hard lines of the frame, but the cushions are nicely rounded, and it softens those lines. Personally, I would opt for less modular configurations with a solid bottom cushion.

Not only will this prevent you from losing things in the sofa, but I sometimes find that the fabric around the frame becomes stretched out in the areas between individual cushions. The single bottom cushion prevents that from happening, evenly distributing the weight.

All in all, it’s a comfy couch, and I really sunk right into it when I laid down. It’s a bit modern looking for my liking and personal taste, but a solid option for a home that’s looking to embrace harder lines in a modern space.

Italia Metal Base Collection

Details:

Upholstery Options: 189 Fabric & 46 Leather
Available color options: 30 Fabric Colors, 16 Leather
Base Finish Options: 3
Available arm options: Track Arm, Left Arm or Right Arm Only, Left & Right Arm Return, Taper, Slope, Shelter
Products: Sofa, Chaise, Chair, Bench, Ottoman, U-Chaise Sectional, Customizable Configuration, Corner Chair, Chesterfield
Additional Details:3 Depth Options, Length Options (6’, 7’, 8’, 9’, 10’), 2 Fill options, Tufted

Overall Impression: If you haven’t realized it yet, I’m a big throw pillow fan, so the more pillows I can put on a couch, the more I want it. I just really like the cozy, luxurious feeling of being surrounded by a bed of pillows!

The Italia has dual back pillows, and I love that the smaller one provides perfect lumbar support! This is quite a deep couch, but both pillows keep you sitting up enough so that you don’t feel like you’re on a bed.

They provide pretty good support, too! I really liked that the bottom cushion was a single cushion, rather than multiple. Not only do you not lose stuff between the cushions, but it creates a seamless look that accents the base.

While I think that this is a great couch, I’m not a fan of the metal base. It’s a bit too sterile and wouldn’t really work in my space.

However, I can see this working perfectly with a big, white, fluffy wool rug! The chrome legs and base reflect the light really nicely, and I can picture this in an open space, with floor to ceiling windows – like a city condo or loft!

Livingroom Collection Round-Up Winner

After sitting on all these couches (it was a tough job, but someone had to do it!), I realized that pretty much all of the Restoration Hardware sofas run between moderate and extremely comfortable. I didn’t sit on one couch that wasn’t!

So, that’s a huge plus. But, for our home, the best one for us was the Belgian collection sofa. It was very comfortable, and I really liked the lumbar pillows that came with it. Plus, because it’s so deep, we could lounge on it all day and take naps – one of our favorite pastimes on a snowy Sunday afternoon!

We’d definitely opt for the longer, larger bottom pillows so as not to have to deal with losing things in the crevices under the cushions, too!

I think one of the best parts about the Restoration Hardware sofas is that you just have to choose a general style and level of comfort. The number of fabric, leather, and color options available allows you to really create a custom sofa to work with any room!

Our Detailed Review of Restoration Hardware Living Room Furniture Collections

Methodology