Y’all, I don’t know if I can adequately express to you how amazing it is to have a big, comfy couch in my living room after living for nearly three weeks without one. I mean, I realize this is definitely a first world problem, but holy cow I missed having a sofa!
If you haven’t been following this saga, let me catch you up. Corey and I just moved into a new home, and when we moved here we had to sell the sofa that was in our old house because our old IKEA sofa was far too large for the living room in the new house. We ordered a Crate & Barrel Lounge II sofa for the new house, and there was an error with the order (completely my fault), which meant that instead of getting it just a few days after moving in we had to wait two and a half weeks before the sofa would arrive.
Two and a half weeks doesn’t sound like a terribly long time until you’re living with a pallet on your living room floor and have to sit there every time you want to watch television. Let me tell you, my back has not enjoyed that situation.
Our couch finally arrived last week and I’m here to tell you it’s totally revolutionizing our lives! I was live-texting Corey as it was getting delivered and as soon as the delivery guys left, I plopped my butt on that sofa and didn’t move until I had to go get Jackson from school – and we put on a movie and snuggled up when I brought him home!
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I wanted to share a review of our new Crate & Barrel sofa because I looked all over for information about it when we were making our decision and couldn’t find much (I don’t know about you, but I always like to find reviews from bloggers rather than just reviews on the store’s website – I love to see photos of the products in someone’s home and read a more personal review than you usually find on a store’s site). At the end of the post, I’ll also share a couple of links to other bloggers who have written about this sofa (there are a couple I managed to find, including one big one who got the sofa around the same time we did).
Crate & Barrel Lounge II Sofa Review
First of all, let’s chat about why we ended up buying a sofa from Crate & Barrel. After all, it was just a few months ago that we were raving about our cheap-o IKEA sofa – what gives?
A few things, actually. We had every intention of purchasing a sofa from IKEA when it came time to move into this house, but when we began to look around we quickly realized that there weren’t any that were really calling to us. We had a KIVIK in our garage in the old house, and my original plan was to buy another one for this house, but the more we began planning the more we found wrong with it – we weren’t thrilled with most of the color options, and we didn’t like how low it sat – the ceilings in our living room are vaulted, so a sofa that was so squatty was really just going to look silly. There weren’t any other sofas at IKEA that we liked, so we started to expand our search a bit.
We were both adamantly against buying a sofa online. I know you can find some great, super affordable options, but we agreed that we have to be able to sit on a couch before we make a decision to buy it – my butt is too picky for just any old sofa. I need a big, comfy couch that’s good for the whole family to curl up on.
And finally, we were very particular about the size of our sofa. We were downgrading from a very large sectional and knew that it would be an adjustment for us to lose so much seating space. We really wanted to maximize the space we have and get a sofa that was as long as we could feasibly fit – it’s hard to find extra-long sofas (most are around 80-84 inches long), but our Crate & Barrel sofa is 93″, which is the largest sofa we could fit in the room without it completely taking over.
We visited a few different stores and walked around sitting in various sofas, and we just kept coming back to the Lounge II from Crate & Barrel. We loved the quality of the fabric (it’s a super thick weave that feels really luxurious compared to the fabric on our old sofa), and it was just so dang comfortable. It was a pretty significant investment (especially compared to buying at IKEA!), but after talking with a lot of people over on Instagram and in real life, we realized that a sofa is just one of those things that’s worth investing in – this sofa could last us 10-15 years or so if we take care of it, whereas the slipcovers IKEA sofa were starting to show some wear after just 6 years. Again, this isn’t to say anything negative about a good ol’ IKEA sofa – we still love them just as much as we did before and think they’re a great option. But, we’re trying to buy some longer-lasting pieces for our home and being thoughtful about investing in things that will stand the test of time – and we’re hoping this sofa is one of those pieces!
Now, let’s look at the difference between the regular Lounge II and the Lounge II Petite – because this is something that threw me off when I was ordering (and is the reason our sofa ended up being so late). Both sofas look almost identical, but one is significantly deeper than the other (the seat depth on the regular version is 29″, and the seat depth on the petite version is 24″). Corey and I were able to sit on both of the sofas when we were shopping in-store, and when we sat on the regular Lounge II we quickly discovered that neither of us could actually just sit on the sofa – we had to “lounge” in order to be comfortable. The sofa is so deep that if you sit with your back against the back rest there’s basically no way your feet will be anywhere near the ground unless you have legs that are 10-feet long (slight exaggeration, but not much). The petite version, however, is super comfortable and lounge-able, but shallow enough that you can actually sit in it regularly without feeling like a child.
The color that we chose for our sofa is called “Steel” – it’s a medium-tone gray and I think it’s the perfect neutral color to layer into just about any room. It’s significantly lighter than the dark blue of our old sofa, and I like that it doesn’t feel too heavy in the room. There are about a zillion different options with the fabrics and colors for this sofa, but many of them are special order and add quite a bit of time (and money) to your purchase. We really loved how beautiful some of the fancier fabrics looked, but the “Taft” fabric (which is what comes standard) is really nice, thick, and sturdy feeling. I’m hoping it’s as durable as it looks because goodness knows our dogs and Jackson will put it to the test.
We still have quite a few things to add or tweak in the living room. We’re currently shopping around for a new side table, and we’re hoping to add a recliner (or maybe two) in the room. We’re also planning to eventually replace the bookshelf next to the sofa with something custom-made that will provide some covered storage and fit the space a little better. But, despite all of the changes that still need to be made, I’m really pleased with how things are coming together. This living room feels so small compared to the old house, but I actually love the coziness and am really excited to come up with some creative solutions for space-saving storage in here.
Of course, my infatuation with the cozy factor may fade when we’re all tired of being so close together. Ask me again in a year or so.
Looking for some other opinions on this sofa? I promised a couple of links, and I was definitely inspired by this blogger and this blogger, who both purchased the couch and love it!
Eric says
Thank you for sharing your experience, especially on describing the distinction of the petite version. I went to the store to try out both versions. I am a 6’1″ dude and the regular version is definitely too deep for me. It forces you to lounge back and is almost impossible to sit straight up with your feet touching the floor. The petite is perfect and I’ll have mine in 6-8 weeks!
Amanda says
You’re going to love it! And I totally agree – the regular version is too big for anyone, unless you want to use it as a bed, haha.
Jacey says
Thank you so much for your review! I just purchased the regular Lounge 93″ sofa and now feel like I may have made a mistake!! I actually asked about the petite version and the salesperson told me it was not in stock. I am moving and just sold my old sofa so it was very important to me to have the sofa delivered on my move-in date (Nov. 15). I just called and spoke with another salesperson to see how long it would take if I switched to the petite version and she told me it is in stock! I just said I would think about it but think I should switch – I also got the taft cement color (in stock) but was also informed that the taft steel is also in stock – I do not have children or pets so no worry on the color – I wonder if the cement is too light though as I entertain a lot. Ugh! Help! I am so confused as to what to do now – I lived with a sofa I hated for 4 years because it was so expensive (5,0000.00) and I do not want to make another mistake!! I wish making a decision came easier for me but it does not!! I would appreciate your thoughts on both the size and color! Thanks so much!! You are so talented and have such a good eye!!
Amanda says
Hi Jacey! It totally depends on how you use your sofa, and how tall the people in your family are! We aren’t particularly tall, and found that the regular version was much too deep for us to just sit on. You HAVE to “lounge” on it. It’s no big deal for a movie night or if you’re watching tv, but if you have friends over and just want to chat, it could get weird. The regular version is about as deep as a twin bed. We find that the petite version is perfect – you can sit comfortably on it without putting your feet up, but it’s really easy to cozy up into!
I think if you prefer the cement color, stick with it! The fabric cleans really easily (and I’ve found that it’s washable too), so you should have no problem keeping it clean. I wrote a blog post about how I clean ours, if that helps.
Jacey says
Thank you so much Amanda! – I made the switch and ordered the petite version! I love it so much!! I kept the lighter color too. Thanks again. I am going to read your post on how you keep it clean now!
Amanda says
I’m so glad you love it!
Andrea says
Hi! Thanks so much for posting this review! I’m like you and need to see furniture in real homes, not just in the store or website. One issue I kept seeing in the reviews was that the feathers kept coming out of the Taft fabric. After having this sofa for a while now, how’s it holding up? Any feathers coming out of it, or is the fabric pilling?
Amanda says
Hi, Andrea! We do have the occasional feather pop out – but nothing that really bothers me. I just pick any stray feathers off the couch once a week when I vacuum it (there are usually only a couple). It’s not worse than any other feather pillow I’ve owned. Our sofa is holding up great! The fabric does have some minor pilling on the areas where we use it frequently, but I also feel like I should note that we have a Doberman who sleeps on the couch every night. So, it gets used HARD! The pilling isn’t noticeable unless you’re really looking for it, though. We’ve had it for a year and I can definitely still say I’d highly recommend it!
Donna says
Ask serious questions about the springs in this sofa before you purchase. We bought ours 8 years ago. Today my husband took off the dust catcher to see why the sofa was sagging and I cannot believe the ‘spring’ construction. We are not new to do-it-yourself. These are not eight-way hand tied springs or even sinuous springs. It looks like light weight hog-wire attached with cot springs. The springs are pulling out of the frame and the ‘hog-wire’ grid has snapped in several places. The newer versions might be better constructed. Ask to see a cut away drawing on the spring system. I wish I had.
Amanda says
Oh no! Thanks for sharing that – we haven’t had any issues yet, but we’ve only had it for a year. Hopefully they’ve fixed the issue!
Maria says
I just ordered the same sofa in the regular lounge size for our bonus (teen room)! Where did you find your rug? It looks beautiful with the sofa and looks like it would wear well and not look dirty, even if it was ; )!
Thank you!
Amanda says
You’ll love the sofa! We love the rug as well – you can find it on Amazon! Here’s an affiliate link.
Rene says
Hi. Our family has been thinking about buying this couch but have read some not so favorable reviews regarding how it holds up over time & complaints about feathers popping out all over. Wondered if you still love it as much now that some time has passed. Have the cushions deflated at all? Would love to hear your thoughts.
Amanda says
Hi Rene –
We’ve had it for close to a year and don’t have any complaints yet. There are definitely some feathers that come out, but you’re going to get that with any down-filled sofa. I’d say I find a few each week – it’s definitely not a major concern for us. We don’t have any issues with the cushions deflating – they fluff really nicely thanks to the feathers! I’d still highly recommend it.
Kari says
I am about to pull the trigger on this couch. Did you all end up getting the petite version or the regular? Do you find the couch “too blue”. I was looking for a gray couch and have fallen in love with this one but the color does seem to have a lot of blue in it. Two kids and dogs we need a dark color sofa. Thoughts on color now that you have had it awhile?
Amanda says
Hi Kari! We got the petite version and are very happy with it! It’s very cozy, and it’s a great size for our family.
I definitely wouldn’t call it too blue – there are blue undertones in it, but it’s solidly a medium-tone gray! We’ve got two dogs and a 4-year-old, and one of our dogs sleeps on it nightly – it’s still in fabulous condition. Hope that helps!
Libby says
How are you liking the Taft fabric after a few months? I’m considering buying a different style couch but using the Taft steel colored fabric. Thanks!
Amanda says
Hi Libby – we love it! Our dogs spend a ton of time on it (my Doberman sleeps on it nightly), and my kiddo uses it as a jungle gym and it looks pretty much brand new. We’ve also found that it’s machine-washable – we let it air dry, but it washes great!
Libby says
Thank you for the quick response! Your post was super helpful and I’m way more confident in my fabric choice now!
Dayna says
Hey ! We just purchased this couch and wanted to check in to see how it is holding up! 🙂 I’m scared of it sagging or getting worn looking too soon thank you!!!
Amanda says
Hi Dayna –
It’s been holding up great so far! The pillows on the back are down-filled so they’re easily fluffable when they start to look saggy, and we’ve even found that the covers are machine washable (we just let them air dry).
Kendra says
Your décor is lovely. Where did you find the square tufted leather ottoman? I’m searching for a similar piece?
Amanda says
Thanks, Kendra! You can find all of the sources for everything in this room right here.
Brad says
We love this couch but are worried about our two dogs ruining the fabric. How has it been holding up with your dog?
Amanda says
We’ve had it for just over 6 months now and so far it’s holding up great! My doberman sleeps on it all night every night (and often during the day) and there’s no visible wear. We also discovered that it can be washed in the washing machine (I haven’t tried drying it, but the covers washed beautifully!), so that’s a huge perk too.
Stephanie says
Hi! I love this couch and how you styled it. I’m actually hoping to buy one for my basement, but how did you get it delivered? I’m worried it’s not going to fit through my (standard-sized) doorways or hallways so I’d love to hear about that process for you!
Amanda says
Hi, Stephanie – We had no issues having it delivered and didn’t need to do anything special. Our doors are standard-sized as well, and our home is very small, but the delivery guys were able to bring it right in, no problems!
Kate says
Where isn’t your wall art from. Love it!!!
Amanda says
Thank you! I actually made it – it’s a REALLY easy project. Here’s the link!
Leah says
Hi! Thanks for this! My husband is 6’3 and I’m 5’7. Our store doesn’t have the petite. I love how comfy the lounge is but you’re right that the regular size is almost too deep. Do you think we would have room to lay side by side when watching movies on the petite?
Amanda says
Hi, Leah! We’re able to comfortably lay side by side to watch television with no issues – that’s our go-to position for movie night! 🙂
Leah says
Amanda, you’re going to laugh! I am STILL researching and came across you post again. I scrolled down through comments and said. OMG…there is a girl names Leah looking at this couch and she is the same size as me and her husband the same size as mine. Lol! Duh! That’s my comment. I went ahead and purchased today! Excited!
Renee says
Hello!
My husband and I have been eyeing this couch for two years! Always somehow find an excuse to NOT get it – but now we’re moving and want to take advantage of the 15% discount! We went to see it last night and agree the petite version is more appropriate for us. With that being said, our cat has front and back claws. She does not scratch our furniture but she does get rambunctious and sometimes runs to the top of the couches/chairs and then springs off. The saleswoman highly recommended either the suede fabric that’s graded-in OR using one of C&B’s other fabrics that would be an upcharge. She said the woven (taft?) fabric is not ideal for pet owners. But of course, that’s the look I like most!
I see you have a dog, can you attest to the durability of the taft upholstery?
Thanks!
Amanda says
Hi, Renee! We’ve only had our sofa for about two months, but the fabric is holding up just fine with our two dogs. We have a Doberman who sleeps on the couch literally every night (and is on it a lot during the day, too). I can’t see how this wouldn’t be a pet-friendly fabric – it’s a super thick weave and seems really durable to me! We’re definitely pleased with it!
Ashley says
Hi! Curious to know if Renee purchased the sofa! We are looking at this couch and have a cat that will occasionally claw at the furniture :/ If so, how’s it holding up?
Amanda says
Hi Ashley – I would say that this particular fabric (the “Taft” fabric) will likely pill if you have a cat that claws. My doberman spends a lot of time on our sofa and it’s definitely starting to pill after more than a year of use. It looks fine and we still love it, but if any pilling would bother you I’d go with a different fabric.
Tiffany says
We just ordered the same couch and can’t wait to get it! Where is the leather ottoman from? I am looking for one just like it.
Amanda says
Hi Tiffany! We got our ottoman from Wayfair. It doesn’t look like it’s for sale there anymore, but here’s the exact same one on Hayneedle!
Becky says
I thought you were going to link to other bloggers or am I missing those links? I didn’t see them. I have this couch at the top of my list and am just waiting to travel to sit on it at the store to be sure. Thanks!
Amanda says
Whoops! So sorry about that, and thanks for pointing it out! I’ve updated the post, you can see the links at the end of the post.
Jessica says
The sofa looks great in your space! My husband and I are struggling to find a great sofa that makes us both happy. Our Crate and Barrel in Houston doesn’t have a Petite version of the Lounge to try and he hates how far back you have to lean in order to sit in the non-petite version. Is it a drastic difference? Does the shape of the pillow still force you to lean back?
Amanda says
Thanks, Jessica! There is definitely a drastic difference between the two. The petite version is 5″ shallower, and I find that I can comfortably sit up on the couch (without “lounging”), and I’m only 5’4″. My feet do not touch the floor if I’m sitting all the way back on the sofa, but I have no problem sitting up straight if I want to.
Kim~madeinaday says
Looks great! I love your ottoman. We are thinking of getting new couches. Now that the kids and pets are older. I can get something decent! Nice review. Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Hope to see ya next week!
Kim
Amanda says
Thanks, Kim!
Natalie says
I am considering getting this couch is the taft material and was wondering how yours has held up since you first got it. Thanks!
Amanda says
Hi Natalie! We’ve only had it for a few weeks, but we are loving it so far!