Best couches under $500

Top pick: the Darcy Sofa. It's the one that behaves like a real living-room couch rather than a dorm-room compromise — a full 87-inch frame with a 22-inch seat depth, so adults can actually sit back in it, and the strongest owner ratings of the group. If you want a couch that survives daily use, start here.

Who the others suit:

• IKEA EKTORP — the classic choice if you want washable, replaceable slipcovers and a proven frame; expect to assemble and to accept a firmer sit.
• IKEA KLIPPAN — for small rooms and tight budgets; compact and light, but the least cushioned of the two IKEAs.
• Lifestyle Solutions Lorelei — mid-century looks on a slim footprint; fine for a secondary room, not the main sofa.
• Welax Compressed Modular — arrives boxed and squeezes through narrow doors; good for renters and stairs, with a metal frame.
• Aukfa 95" Cloud / OMNIBERG modular sectionals — the most seating for the money if you're furnishing a big room and want a soft, low, loungy feel; build quality is the trade-off.
• Modular sectional with storage ottoman — pick it when hidden storage matters more than long-term durability.
• Anpport sleeper loveseat — only if a guest bed is the priority; it's a loveseat, not a main couch.

Skip the Ashton sectional here — it's well over the limit.