An honest, real-life review of owning a Pottery Barn York Sofa. Includes our specific order details, our thoughts upon arrival, the best fabric option, a three-month review, a one-year review, & a three-year update. Tons of helpful information if you’re considering ordering a Pottery Barn couch!
This post was originally published March 2018, but since then I have added a one-year review and today I’m back with an update after three years with our Pottery Barn York Sofa review! If you’ve read this post in the past, I’d encourage you to scroll down toward the end of the post to read our updated information now that we’ve lived with the sofas daily for three years.
This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Please know this Pottery Barn York Sofa review is in no way sponsored, and we fully paid for the couches with our own money! Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
The Search for the Perfect Sofas
Since the day I hit the ‘Place Order’ button on our Pottery Barn York Sofas September of 2017, I receive emails and messages weekly asking about them. And likely for good reason! I had a hard time finding many Pottery Barn sofa reviews at the time, let alone one for the York Sofa. If you’re considering a Pottery Barn sectional, be sure to also check out my Pottery Barn Sectional Review!
It took me several months to finally decide to go through with the couch purchase and I did a lot of research prior to that. In fact, you may remember I had a whole post dedicated to white and neutral sofas when I started searching last spring. However, at the time, I couldn’t find many reviews, specifically on the Pottery Barn York sofa that I had my heart set on. I read review after review on sites like Houzz about the quality of various Pottery Barn couches (and the fabrics, specifically), so I knew what not to order. After taking a big chance, I ordered two of the York sofas last September during their buy more, save more sale. Today I’ll be sharing our thoughts after owning the couches for some time.
Now that we’ve owned our sofas for so long, I thought I would publish my first Pottery Barn York Sofa review. My plan down the road is to continue to update this post at various milestones (six months, a year, etc.) so it can be a constant source of info. You’ll find these updates near the end of the post in chronological order.
Because of the layout of our living room, we’ve always had two sofas. We prefer to lay down when we are watching TV because of the angles, so keep in mind several of our decisions were based upon how we use the space.
Our Pottery Barn York Sofa Specifications & Environment:
- Before I get into the general pros and cons with the sofas, I want to share the exact specifications of the sofas we ordered. We currently have the Pottery Barn York Slope Arm Slip-Covered Deep Seat Sofas. We went with the 95″ Grand Sofa with the bench cushion and three back cushions. The fabric we selected is the Performance Everydaylinen™ by Crypton® Home in the Oatmeal color.
- We do not have kids but we do have four cats. We underestimated how much the cats would love the pillow backs (after having tight back sofas previously). I’ll share more details later in the post on how this has impacted wear.
- We want our home to be livable, so nothing is considered precious. Occasionally, we eat on our sofas, drink on our sofas, etc. We want our guests (and us) to feel comfortable.
Pottery Barn York Sofa Pros:
- Gorgeous design. After looking through hundreds of sofas, there weren’t any that I loved as much from a design standpoint. I now get more comments and questions on the sofas than anything I have owned in the past. It definitely has that “look” that everyone loves so much! I also love how many options you have on this sofa. From the fabric, to the arm style, to the depth to the length (and more!) there is a lot of flexibility in customizing a look that is right for your home. You can see all the various shapes, sizes and styles here (including chairs and sectionals!).
- Wears well. The Performance Everydaylinen™ by Crypton® Home fabric is amazing. I actually took two samples home from the store before placing my order to test colors. I was going back and forth between the Oatmeal color and the Stone (which was on display at the store). I was worried the Oatmeal would be too light but in all honesty, I think I would have felt the Stone was too dark for our home if I went that route. Before I returned the samples, I actually poured red wine on the Oatmeal sample. It beaded up and wiped right off without any work! So, I got a little crazy and poured more on and really pushed it into the fabric. It still came out with water. After three months, we don’t have any spots, pilling, or any other signs of wear. We also frequently wear dark denim, and have not had an issues with it bleeding onto or wearing into the fabric.
- Flexibility. The version I ordered is a slipcover and I’m not sure I would have ordered it at this price if it wasn’t. But, it isn’t the old-school ill-fitting versions of the past. It fits well and the best part is, the Performance Everydaylinen™ by Crypton® Home is dry cleanable. Several other fabric options they offered are actually machine washable, as well. There is so much flexibility because you can re-use the frame and totally change your look with new slipcovers (Pottery Barn sells them separately as an option). I was also told you can order any of the cushions separately down the road if need be. I’m assuming they’re not cheap, but if one gets ruined, at least it doesn’t mean I have to buy a new sofa.
- Comfort level – and it passes the ‘husband test’. My husband was actually against me ordering new sofas because he loved our prior Bernhardts so much. However, I agreed to get him to a local store to test one. I could tell, aside from the price, he begrudgingly loved it. Prior to writing this post I asked him his thoughts. He said it is a lot more comfy and spacious than our last sofas. He said it’s really nice to take a nap on (a critical factor for him). Although he still claims we didn’t “need” them, he does love them.
- Minimal leakage. That’s a weird one, huh? But after more than three months, I can count on one had the number of feathers that have come out of either sofa. With our prior Bernhardt sofas, it felt like it was a daily occurrence!
Shown below, the Performance Everydaylinen™ by Crypton® Home fabric in Stone (left) and Oatmeal (right). This is from my iPhone but shows a comparison of the two against or current sofa at the time.
Pottery Barn York Sofa Cons:
- Lead time. I am not a patient person so the wait nearly killed me. Especially when I was told they would take 5-7 weeks at time of order and it was closer to 11 once they were delivered. I ordered them on September 4th, with an expected arrival date of 10/9-11/2. They were finally delivered on 11/25.
- The cost. The sofas are not cheap. However, the quality is apparent and each one is custom made to your specifications. I personally believe that Pottery Barn has frequent enough sales (from 15-30% off) that you should never pay full price for this sofa. If it’s not on sale when you want to buy it, chances are within a few weeks it will be on sale. Because we ordered two during the buy more, get more sale, ours were 30% off. When you’re spending that much money, the discount adds up in a hurry! 2022 Update: Now that it has been nearly two years since the last Buy More, Save More sale, read some insider’s views on when you can expect the next Pottery Barn sale to help in your decision on whether or not to wait to order.
- We opted to go with the deep version since we are both on the taller side (I’m 5’8″ and my husband is 6’2″). Additionally, we mostly are laying down when we use our sofas so we preferred the extra depth. However, without the lumbar pillows in position, it makes it a bit tougher to sit up comfortably on the couch. So, if you opt for the deeper version, just know going in that you will likely always need the included lumbar pillows to sit comfortably. Not a major con, just something to be aware of.
Condition of Sofas at Delivery:
I ended up ordering my sofas online because I was wavering back and forth the night before the sale ended. I ended up moving forward and they arrived exactly as I ordered them. Below, you can see some iPhone images as our sofas were being delivered. The delivery guys were great and very careful. You can see the slipcovers were a wrinkled mess upon arrival though and honestly didn’t fit great (especially on one of the sofas). Clearly we were in the middle of painting and decorating for Christmas 😉
I never ended up ironing or steaming mine and most of the wrinkles have naturally fallen out over time. I’ve had good intentions of getting rid of all of them, but just haven’t gotten around to it. The slipcover on the frame was a bit loose on the one the way it was delivered. See the photo above (specifically the left arm). I worked on it for about ten minutes (tucking in the fabric tighter) and it now looks tight and as good as the other sofa.
Month 3 Wear Report & Maintenance:
For the most part, the sofas look like new. Typically every week, I rotate and fluff the cushions. You can see how they look here without any update (with a week of laying on them and the cats smashing the upper cushions). I took these with my iPhone on a Monday without making any adjustments (other than moving throws) just so you can see real life. Nothing horrible, it just looks sloppy. With the the bench cushion, it’s a little more noticeable in areas.
After less than five minutes of fluffing and rotating, it basically looks like new again. I basically lay the cushions flat, press on them in a circular motion with my hands, and then shake upside down and they’re good. The rotation probably isn’t necessary in most homes, but I’m trying to rotate which cushion the cats sleep on. This is the beauty of the down cushions. They can be re-shaped back to normal, unlike cheap poly-filled cushions.
And again once the lumbar pillows are added back on.
And a final shot with my “real” camera to show you how it looks with other throw pillows. My husband makes me store “his” lumbar pillows in the basket on the side of the couch. Basically three less pillows for him to throw on the floor when he’s ready to lay on it to watch TV 😉 In the picture below, I actually left just the middle lumbar pillow for balance. You can see I really do need to steam the skirt on that one, as that’s where most of the wrinkles remain.
I would argue the cats are harder on the sofas than most people. They’re testing it in ways most probably never thought possible 😉 There are days two of them (at nearly 15 pounds each) will be on one cushion for eight hours straight. But, they clearly think it’s the best seat in the house because they never move! Since we know they won’t leave the cushions alone, I usually have blankets on the backs of the sofas now to at least contain some of the fur.
Pottery Barn Sofa Review After One Year
Not much has changed with our sofas since my three-month review. However, we’ve experienced more spills and should-be-stains, but I can’t say enough about the fabric we selected. We have been shocked by the durability and stain resistance of the Performance Everydaylinen™ by Crypton® Home fabric. We’ve spilled wine, food, chocolate (that melted overnight), cat sickness one week, and more. We’ve been able to clean it all with a wet paper towel (just water!) and a little effort. The stains have yet to stick and everything that’s come the fabric’s way in the past year has been removed. I can’t say enough good things about this fabric!
We still love the comfort factor of our sofas, as well. We’ve found that they have gotten comfier with time and the fabric has worn so well. The cats have continued to smash the cushions as much as possible, but with a little fluffing they go right back to their normal shape. We haven’t had any issues with the fabric pilling either. The sofas essentially still look as good as the day we got them. In fact, we love the sofas so much, we ordered a Pottery Barn sectional! Even Kurtis is on board (shockingly) because he loves our sofas so much! Here’s a more current look at the sofas to show how they’ve worn – and this wasn’t with much straightening at all.
And, as much as I love them, I still of the believe you should always buy Pottery Barn sofas on sale. They do sales frequently enough, that you should wait until you can get, at minimum, 20% off!
Pottery Barn York Sofa Review After Three Years & FAQs
Today, I’m back to update this post with our three year Pottery Barn York Sofa review. I still get questions so frequently about our sofas so we’ll get right to it. We still love them! Zero regrets! Before I jump into the FAQs, below is an image from our recent summer home tour that shows the current look of our sofas.
LIVING ROOM SOURCES: Striped Rug | Linen Sofas | Spindle Chairs | Embroidered Blue Pillow | Striped Lumbar Pillow | Solid Linen Pillow | Striped Throws | Raffia Coffee Table | Similar Wood Chain | Similar Vase | Faux Greenery Stems | Woven Stools | Oversized Palm Art | Gallery Wall Frames (similar here) | Dough Bowl | Lamps | Frame TV
Q: Your fabric looks lighter than the Oatmeal color. Are you sure that’s what you have?
A: This is 100% a resounding yes. We for sure have the Oatmeal color. But, keep in mind our living room has five giant windows (facing east, south and west), a nearby kitchen window that takes up an entire wall and we get a lot of natural light in our house. Many of the photos above were also taken in the winter when there was snow on the ground, and our house gets even brighter! If you look in the shadows of the photo directly above, you can see how they look when there isn’t direct light hitting them. It’s also possible our fabric has lightened over the past three years. I also didn’t know if dye lots had changed over the years either.
So, I ordered some recent samples to show you all. In the images below I have the Performance Everydaylinen™ by Crypton® Home fabric in Ivory, Oatmeal, and Stone. They are laying on our actual sofa, while I have the shades drawn in the living room, to reduce all of our exterior natural light as much as possible. The white background of the card can also be deceiving, making you think all three samples are darker than they are. You can see ours may have possibly lightened a bit over time (or they’ve changed it slightly), but for the most part is the same. If I were to open all the window coverings, it looks much more like the ivory sample to the eye, but with a little variation in the coloring (which I like). I’m guessing the Oatmeal likely hides any dirt/grime/stains much better than the Ivory for this reason. But if you’re wanting a sofa that looks nearly white, I’d go with Ivory.
For what it’s worth, our best friends have a square arm York sofa in the Stone and it actually looks much lighter in person too. I’ll try and grab a photo soon to share with you. But just know, the fabric will look lighter on the sofa than on the tiny swatch and will vary significantly depending on the natural light your room receives! So much can also changing with monitor color and brightness, so I’d strongly encourage you to order free samples to see how they look in your own space before ever making a final decision!
Q: How has clean-up been with this fabric?
A: I think the challenge with this fabric is that it’s linen and people automatically assume high-maintenance. I can assure you, that because of the Crypton®, it is ridiculously durable. We have had zero issues with pilling. Additionally, we’ve cleaned everything from melted dark chocolate, blood, red wine and even cat throw-up off with simply water and a paper towel. The fabric basically repels everything if you act quickly. Only recently did I run into an issue where I was laying on a blue throw pillow with wet hair. The dye from the pillow has bled onto the sofa. I haven’t tried to remove it yet, for fear of setting it. But Crypton recommended their cleaner so I think I’m going to order it and see how it goes. They have a lot of great clean up tips on their site!
Q: Have you found the fabric on the bench cushion to stretch over time?
A: The bench fabric has definitely loosened over time, as has all of the fabric really. But keep in mind, we usually lay on ours for a few hours each per day if we’re watching TV. I took a photo yesterday morning of the sofa early in the morning with all the shades drawn except one, to help show the color when the room is darker and what the sofa looks like after weeks of use with no “fluffing” (top). The color reads slightly warm here because the sun was coming up and still getting through the drawn shades a little bit. The bottom is a refresh that look less than 60 seconds. If I spend more time on the pillows, they basically look like new, but it does take about five minutes. Overall, super low maintenance, and nothing looks “slouchy”. This is also about as dark as our sofas ever look, since all but one of the window shades were drawn and it was early morning. Also, after three years, I still haven’t managed to steam the skirt 😉
Q: Do you usually use the included lumbar pillows?
A: The only time we use the included lumbar pillows is when we have company over and we actually plan to sit on the sofa. Because we ordered the deep seat, even being tall, it’s hard to sit comfortably on the sofa without the lumbars. However, about 90% of the time, ours are in a basket on each side of the couch because we remove them whenever we lay on them. Which is essentially every single night! You can see one of the baskets peeking out below.
LIVING ROOM SOURCES: Linen Slope Arm York Sofas | Spindle Chairs (similar here) | Coffee Table | Patterned Throw Pillows | Linen Throw Pillows | Chunky Throw Blanket | Similar Wood Chain | Basket | Topiaries | Scribble Art | Faux Cypress Tree & striped poufs – no longer available
Q: Have you experience any pilling with your fabric?
A: Zero. Seriously, none. However, I do know that is the most common complaint with a lot of other Pottery Barn fabrics. Unfortunately, since we’ve only ever personally experienced this performance linen, I can’t speak to which other fabric options are good. But I would encourage you to read through all the comments to this post to see others’ experiences!
Q: Has the fill on the cushions held up?
A: Ours have held up incredibly well! They don’t look 100% new any longer, but that’s because we lay on ours almost daily. In addition to that, our cats still love to sleep on the various upper cushions. Over time I’m guessing it’s also stretched the fabric a bit too (our cats are not small). But, they’re still easy to fluff back up! And honestly, I probably wouldn’t notice a difference if I didn’t have the nearly-new lumbars to compare them to (since ours never get use) or our sectional upstairs that gets a lot less use.
Closing Thoughts on Our Pottery Barn York Sofas
Overall, we are extremely happy with our Pottery Barn York Sofa selection! We have had zero issues (other than dealing with the cats that are obsessed with them). Because we use the sofas while laying down, the bench cushion was definitely the way to go and is so comfortable! We would argue it’s even more comfortable than our bed.
If you are considering multiple fabric options, do your research! I found lots of complaints on various fabrics (although I think most were older on a fabric no longer offered). The Performance Everydaylinen™ by Crypton® Home has so far lived up to its hype and seems like the perfect fabric for us. We get the look of linen without the maintenance!
If you buy them on sale, I think they are worth the investment! We couldn’t be happier with them!
LIVING ROOM SOURCES: Linen Slope Arm York Sofas | Spindle Chairs | Coffee Table | Striped Throw Pillows | Linen Throw Pillows | Striped Throw Blankets | Wooden Dough Bowl | Lamps | Similar Black Cabinet | Similar Wood Chain | Similar White Vase | Faux Olive Stems
I hope you found this review helpful! Again, I’ll plan to update this review at various milestones to make sure we are still loving the sofas. If you have any questions at all on anything I didn’t cover, please feel free to leave a comment and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible! Side note: I encourage you to check out the comments at the bottom of this post for feedback from others that have experience (or other questions) with these sofas!
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Awesome review! Real life, I love it! Besides wine spills, etc. do you think the Crypton fabric holds up to dirty hands or shoes? (thinking of my little grandchildren) 🙂
Thank you! I’m guessing yes, but it may be worth getting a sample from a local store or ordering a sample online and testing it. I was really impressed with the durability. We wear dark denim on ours frequently and have never had issues with it rubbing off (like it can on so many other surfaces)! I hope that helps!
Hi regarding your everyday linen I believe it’s dry clean only. Have you had to get it cleaned?
Thanks Janet @ ljc911@gmail.com
Yes, it is dry clean only. But I’ve never had to get it cleaned. Everything we’ve spilled on it has come out with water and a white towel!
I would like to know where did you buy your rug . I just purchased two sofas like yours and I love your reviews.
Thanks
Evelise
Hi Evelise – We actually have carpet in our living room (the beige woven pattern you may be seeing). But I just added links to the other rugs we sometimes use over the carpet if that helps!
I tested the Everyday Linen in Ivory, treated with Crypton. I put butter and dirt on it. I first tied blotting, then blotted with warm water, then used upholstery cleaner diluted 50%. Nothing came out and the fabric looked terrible. The cotton and linen cotton content caused the fabric to stretch out. I would not be able to live with how this fabric looked. I tried all the ivory fabrics and this one performed the worst. Of the light colored fabrics, Basetweave Alabaster White performed the best. “Performance” essentially means synthetic materials that are more resistant to stains. The 100% polyester will be their most stain resisted fabrics and a tighter weave will hold up better. I discussed my findings with a PB Design Consultant and she said she advises all clients to avoid fabric options with cotton or linen (any amount, not just 100% fabrics) because they have had issues. Just think about how much your cotton t-shirts and linen clothes stretch out. No good on upholstered furniture! I’ve learned that light colored fabric with some type of color variation hide stains much better than those that are a solid light color. I now get medium/dark sofas and use light rugs, pillows, throws, and draperies. Hope that helps!
Hi there! Where is your coffee table from?
Thanks
I got mine at Nebraska Furniture Mart, but you can also get it here: https://rstyle.me/n/cub4wq75re.
Hi, I recently purchased the square arm deep York chair. I read up on reviews and realized I ordered the wrong fabric the natural brushed canvas. I have a schnauzer that loves to scratch sofas and chairs. I tried to change the fabric after ordering and was told it’s custom, can not change. Unfortunate that was my fault. I was so worried about color. I really wanted the ivory but was afraid. I’ve since decided I should go with what I wanted. I am thinking of ordering replacement slipcovers. They are almost as expensive as buying another chair. I was wondering if you or any reviewers have purchased replacement covers and how do the fit. Any issues?
I just bought new covers for this sofa and they are gorgeous…original sofas came with the Performance Linen in oatmeal. I ordered Performance Velvet in slate for a winter look. They fit perfectly!
Love that idea! Thanks for the feedback.
We purchased one as well about the same time as you! Thankfully it came in 4 weeks early and got it in time for Christmas which was nice. We LOVE it. Its the most comfortable sofa we ever had. My husband and I went and tried the (much more affordable) crate and barrel lounge sofa – but there was no comparison. Worth the money for sure.
We do have kids (1 and 4 years old) and we went with the upholstered version (the slip covered doesn’t really fit our style) and I still feel like its pretty kid friendly. We can take off and was the pillow covers if needed. We could also order a slipcover if we wanted to change it up down the road.
I totally agree that the bench cushion is so much more comfortable than multi cushion. We had 4 adults sitting comfortably on it with room to space!
So glad you did this review – I was so frustrated trying to find review of this sofa before we bought it…..but so glad we took the plunge!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience as I’m sure this will be helpful to other readers as well! I think the biggest issue with our delayed delivery is the size of our market. My understanding is that they were ready two weeks prior but the delivery company was waiting for more items to fill their truck to make the trip from Kansas City to Omaha. And I know what you mean on lack of reviews!! That was one of my biggest frustrations prior to ordering because I couldn’t find any information on this particular sofa! So glad to hear you’re loving yours as well!
Am I correct that if you order the upholstered York sofa you can later buy the slipcovers and they fit over the original upholstery?
Your sofas are lovely as is your entire home! I did want to mention to your readers that I have a Pottery Barn sofa, different style, with a performance fabric slipcover. Unfortunately I can’t recall the name but within a year the fabric was pilling terribly and the sofa was in a room we rarely use. I wrote Pottery Barn and there response was that it was to be expected as normal wear and tear. I was very disappointed in my 3000 dollar sofa but more disappointed in Pottery Barns response. I hope you have a different fabric and better luck.
Thank you! And I appreciate you sharing your experience. I’m wondering if you have the Performance Tweed? That is the one where I found review after review with issues. But I could never find any problems with the Performance Linen. I’m hoping it holds up over time! That’s disappointing on their service level – I would expect more from them as well! When I read all those reviews, I did see a common theme that those that went to a store got a better resolution than calling the main number. It may be worth a try!
Yes, it was the Performance Tweed I think. Guess I should have done a little more research first. Lesson learned. I ordered on line and yes I just called the main number and the customer service was terrible. The frame is fine so I should order a new slipcover. It has been about 4 years and the sofa is sitting in the basement.
Tricia, was it the sunbrella tweed? We are ordering the York sectional this weekend and were hoping to get it in this fabric, but now I’m nervous!
I’m not sure what Tricia had, but my understanding is they no longer carry the tweed that had all the issues (it was from 3-5 years ago). I think the Sunbrella versions are much more durable based on my discussion with their sales associates because I almost picked one of them too!
Honestly, there probably weren’t all the reviews at the time because you probably ordered when all those other people did. Thankfully I think they discontinued that fabric (or improved upon it). I’m glad to hear the frame has held up well though. I’m not sure on the cost of new slipcovers (probably not cheap) but at least its an option versus buying a whole new sofa 🙂
Sarah, Thanks so much! We went in and spoke with someone in the design studio. She said that the manufacturer re-worked the performance tweed, but she still wouldn’t recommend it. She directed us towards the crypton linen or the Sunbrella. We LOVE the look of the linen, but…toddlers 😳. I’ve committed myself to the idea that this might be our basement sofa in a few years…because honestly with pets or kids, nothing lasts forever!
What are the dimensions of your room (if you don’t mind me asking)? I’m struggling with whether or not to get the deep seated sectional for fear it will eat up the room! But I love the look of the double pillows and the arm on the deep just looks so much more grand!
Just wanted to say I agree that Pottery Barn customer service is the worst! I ordered the sofa through a sales consultant because she said she got credit for it. Then she messed up my non-refundable order! Had to fight with her and customer service to fix my order since it wasn’t my mistake! Then because of that mix up I didn’t get any key rewards for my purchase and they won’t reply to any of my e-mails regarding the issue. Also spent over an hour on hold trying to talk to a person and then they just disconnected me! Needless to say they aren’t a big brand and must not care about customer services since everyone buys their products anyway. Sad.
I had problems with pulling as well, but after about 2-3 months of back and forth negotiating with them, they were going to give me a new replacement or almost $2k back on my pottery barn card. I build the entire room around the particular fabric and didn’t like any others given the rest of the furniture in the room, so opted for the money back. I thought I’d have almost a $2k store credit to work through, but after 2 months, then credit card company sent me a check!!! Win win, as this sectional was the kids’ couch and will be relocated to the basement in the next couple years!
Hello:
I am wondering if anyone has experience with the 100% cotton white twill fabric on this York slope arm sofa?
ive had my heart set on a white white sofa but this twill does not come in performance fabric and am concerned about staining, spills etc
thanks
Thank you, thank you!! Such a great review including so many different considerations when buying a sofa especially when it needs to pass the hubby nap test! I’ve loved the bench cushion design for a while but I still have a traditional cushion chaise longe sectional with the suede microfiber that is super easy to throw in the wash. Wondered if having 1 big cushion is harder/inconvenient to clean for 1 spot. Also is the bench cushion made of down like the seat backs or a combo of down and fill?
I’m laughing at the cats because my current sectional/sofa has been deformed by my two french bulldogs (20lbs and 33lbs) so I’m getting rid of it and not putting a new sofa in front of the windows where they like to perch. Dang animals <3
Love this post, Sarah! I love your sofas so much and it’s so helpful to read a thorough review before buying such an investment piece. I’m aways off from getting my dream sofa (Considering my slipcover has chocolate and marker smeared on it right now – KIDS) but I’m saving all this info for later. I also found the reader comment with kids super helpful too.
I have a Pottery Barn couch now for 5 yrs with a slip cover. The down side is that every sofa we sit on doesn’t measure up the comfort this one gives us. We have a canvas slipcover for grandkids and big kids eating dinner on. I bought it on sale and have never regretted the money well spent.
I love the kitties! And they are giving the sofa a terrific endorsement–they know how to find comfort! Our 45-pound dog has ruined the back cushions on our loveseat, lying on them in front of our big window–but that’s his place now, and I wouldn’t change it.
I’m wondering if you have ever tried washing your slipcover? I’ve heard of people washing the morning on gentle cycle? I really love the look of the linen but need it to be washable with 2 toddlers. I also heard from the sales associate that the 100% polyester fabrics often have pilling problems.
Hi! I have a quick question…not regarding the couch’s, however those white spindle chairs!!!! Where did you find them? I am in love with them! Thanks!
Thank you! I got them from Wayfair. Here is the direct link: https://rstyle.me/n/ctvpmt75re.
Sarah,
How have the spindle chairs held up? I think I would like to replicate your look. I’ve always been afraid to order furniture online without sitting on and touching it.
Thanks for your helpful posts.
Hi Alli – we’ve been very happy with them so far! They honestly don’t get sat in that frequently, but one of my cats sleeps on one of the back cushions non-stop and surprisingly it hasn’t gotten too misshapen. I hope that helps!
Are the spindle chairs reasonably comfy?
Honestly, I felt like they were too firm when I first got them. They are rarely sat in, but over time they have definitely gotten much more comfy! I think it just took some time and people using them to break them in 🙂
I love your living room rug. Where is it from.
Thank you! It’s actually carpet that is inset into our hardwood so unfortunately I don’t have any info on it. Sorry!
We actually have the exact same York sofa in the same color and fabric in our living room. I would really like to purchase new chairs and was looking at some spindle chairs and then saw your post. Can you tell me what wood color and fabric color you went with for those? I currently have off-white chairs in that room with the couch and they are just way too yellow with the sofa. They’re really bothering me.
I went with the ivory spindles and the Bevin Natural fabric. We’ve been really happy with both selections. I hope that helps!
This is exactly the sofa and fabric I’m researching and was so happy to find your great review! I’m undecided about the cushion fill. Are you happy with the 100% down and are they holding up for you?
Yes, we’re very happy with the down fill! With our cats constantly laying on the cushions, we’ve had horrible experience with polyfill in the past. This fluffs back up fairly easily with very little work. I hope that helps!
The bad experiences with poly fill in the past, were those Pottery Barn pieces? I ask because I have dreamed of a PB couch for many years and we are now ready to make that purchase but sadly because our home is very small to have appropriate spacing around it the only couch they offer that we can make work both by measurements and esthetics is the Jake Sofa which sadly they only offer in poly fill or contract grade poly fill which we were gonna go with the regular poly fill because it isn’t as firm as the contract grade. Our couch would still be just over 3K so I really don’t want to order something so expensive that we end up hating. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Great review btw. Thanks so much for sharing.
How long have you had your sofa? I am looking at this exact style and fabric but standard depth. Our current PB sofa looks so junkie. The back cushions have smooshed down 5 inches below the frame. Just looks a saggy mess. I have a 2 and 5 yo and they will climb all over it. My husband wants a tightback sofa but those just aren’t my style but I don’t want to invest in new sofas every 3 years. Just wondering how old your sofa is now and what you think.
We’ve had ours about eight months now, and there really aren’t any new details to report. It’s been holding up just as well as when I posted this, which is great! 🙂
Would you share what sofa you ended up buying? I love the style of the York slipcover but PB has terrible reviews and customer service so I’m scared to buy 😬
Hello. Thanks for the review. It’s much needed as I’m looking/researching the best sofa to invest in. My question is. Are the sofas more white? They photograph white to me. Which I’m looking for white.
They aren’t white but are definitely very light. They do offer a white version though if that is more what you are looking for. This is a light oatmeal color and very neutral. I hope that helps!
I *just* got my York slope arm sofa (bench cushion, Performance Basketweave, Light Gray) delivered and couldn’t be happier. Waited for the Buy More/Save More sale to pull the trigger. Thanks so much for the thorough review – couch shopping is kind of terrible, so your posts were a life-saver. Hoping it holds up to 3 kids and 2 dogs! And can’t wait to see the new fireplace – that is the next project on my list (though a ways out).
I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks so much for the feedback!
Love your post and review of pottery barn! Karen, I am about to pull the trigger on a sofa with the same Premium Performance Basketweave, Light Gray. How is it holding up so far?
Which gray color did you get Lauren?
Can you post a pic of the light gray color?!
We only have the Oatmeal version. Sorry!
Karen, now that you’ve had your York with the performance basketweave for a few years, how’s the fabric holding up? Has it pilled much?
This is so timely for me, thank you!! Hoping to order my York sofa soon. I am going with the shallower depth and a sectional in the Stone color so fingers crossed 🤞🏻
To the woman who has the pilling problem-they sell a tool at PB for around $20 that you can use to “shave” your fabric sofa to remove the pills. Works nicely on my loveseat 😃
Do you flip over the big bench cushion?
Yes, we do! I don’t do it as often as I do with the other cushions. Maybe once a month or so?
Hi! Thanks so much for this amazing info you have generously shared. I was wondering if the bench cushion can be flipped in all directions or if it has a seam in back. Basically, I am concerned that it might look saggy after being sat on but that it can only be flipped left to right and not front to back, if that makes sense.
Hi Sarah,
We recently purchase two York love seats Basketweave in the oatmeal color. My question to you is how did you decide which arm to choose. I did not want the roll arm because I didn’t want formal. The sales person that helped us ordered square. I didn’t;t realize it came in a sloped arm. Now I prefer the sloped arm that you have. I am hoping to change it. Will the square arm be too high? Does it make a difference. Thanks.
Jeanne
I went back and forth on the square and slope arm too (I also knew I didn’t want the roll arm). I actually like the look of both (our store had a square arm in stock). Ultimately I just decided I liked the slope arm slightly better. They actually look very similar from the front, you just notice the difference more in the side profile. I thought the square arm would be too high, as well, so I had my husband come to the store and lay on the couch and he was okay with the height of the arm (it was still comfy to lay on). I hope that helps!
Sarah,
Your blog is very helpful. I am replying now, as I just found your site.again. We love our York Pottery Barn loveseats with the square arms. I don’t think square or sloped arm would make a difference in a small Cape Cod living room.
Do you have any thoughts on reading lamps?
We also have a family room sectional where reading light is an issue, unless you are sitting next to the end tables.
HI, This review is great! I’m also trying to decide between the slope arm vs square. I’m getting the standard depth and grand length with bench seat because I have a long skinny living room. My hang up is fabric options. In your picture of swatches it really looks like Sunbrella performance club tweed pebble. Are you sure you got Performance everyday linen oatmeal ? I can’t really tell from the pictures. After reading this I got a swatch of the Everyday linen in oatmeal and it looks very earthy – natural and woven with a slight shiney red hue.
My second choice fabric is the warm white denim. On line has little to no fabric options but I think the stores can look up or have the ability to order more options.
I’m glad you found it helpful! And yes, I’m 100% sure mine are the Performance Everyday Linen by Crypton in the Oatmeal color. The swatch to me is really hard to gauge and when seen in a larger scale, I feel like they change a bit. It has held up really well!
What is the cushions made of ? Memory foam or down?or is there a choice?
They cushions are down-wrapped. I don’t believe there is a choice on this one.
We are trying to choose a replacement fabric for our tweed fabric that looked horrible just a month after we purchased. I love the fabric you have, but wondering if you have had any pilling or other wear that you aren’t happy with? Also, is the fabric soft feeling?
We have had zero issues with pilling. I wouldn’t necessarily say the fabric is soft, but it also doesn’t feel rough on your skin like some linen can. It’s definitely comfortable to lay and sit on. I hope that helps!
I just bought the York deep sofa in Chenille Indigo. Hmmm- delivered maybe 6 weeks ago?So far I love it. The 2 dogs also love it. They squish the back cushions down as your kitties do. I did not get the bench seat. I maybe regret that? Whenever I sit the seat cushion does get a bit squishy…It pops up right away when you fix them up. It is extremely comfy- I have fallen asleep on it many times. So far I love it. I also bought the York chair in the Oatmeal herringbone slope are…not deep but regular…I bought 2 of those. Really happy with them although have not used them much as they are in the living room.
Hello! i was reading the comments and came across yours. Did you buy the chin elle indigo sunbrella fabric? i’m debating on that as my current couch from pottery barn is pilling terribly and they are giving me a different couch.. How is yours holding up?
Do your cats scratch furniture? Wondering how the fabric holds up to cat claws. Thanks.
Our cats are de-clawed so we haven’t had any issues with that 🙂
Darn! That was my question. We’re considering getting two York sofas but have a dog, a declawed cat, and a new and very active kitten who is not declawed and won’t be. Wondering if the fabric would pass the kitten test!
Is it difficult to get the cat hair off? We have two large dogs that shed a ton and so we’ve always had leather couches, but I really like the look of the PB linen sofas and want to give them a try. But I don’t want to spend an hour every day vacuuming hair off of them.
It’s fairly easy. It doesn’t work into the fabric like it does on other furniture. We either use a lint roller or our hand vaccuum and it comes off easily!
Thank you! We just bought the same couches but in ivory! And your wine test on the samples was genius!! We did on the ivory everyday linen & pilled up like you said! Such a great idea to test samples!🙌
I’ll post pics when we get them! And we have 2yr old twins….here’s hoping for stain resistant & no fear!😎
Hi Monica! I am curious how your ivory everyday linen sofas are holding up with kiddos? I am considering the same fabric and color and also have two children…which makes the choice a little scary. Would appreciate any feedback you have on your experience with the ivory and kids! Thanks so much!
Yes I would love to hear how the Linen color is holding up too Monica!
Has anyone found pillow covers that fit the York’s lumbar pillows? I’m loving the sofa, but would like to use the existing lumbar pillows and just change the covers out, but I don’t see any from Pottery Barn that fit the dimensions. Their lumbar pillow covers are all too small.
This review is long overdue, but I had to finally stop by to give you a big thank you for this couch review, Sarah! I found your blog earlier this year when I was trying to research this exact couch. (And subsequently became a fan of your blog and read it frequently). Your review was so helpful since we live in Montana and don’t have access to any PB stores except when we travel. After ordering some sample fabrics from PB online, we purchased this sofa in the upholstered, slope arm version in Oatmeal Crypton fabric during the Buy More, Save More event. We have a 2 going on 3 year old daughter, small dog, and active family. Our couch looks as new as the day we got it. The Crypton fabric has lived up to the hype and dirt, food, juice, washable markers, etc. have wiped right off. The single cushion is deep enough to snuggle or sleep on, and the length is so comfortable for our whole family to fit on. I fluff the back cushions regularly, but only flip all of the cushions over or around about once a month or less. They’ve held up beautifully so far. Thank you so much for your thorough review and I hope my comment can help anyone else thinking about ordering this couch.
Thank you so much for the feedback, Cat! I’m so glad you found it helpful and are enjoying the sofa as well!
I am looking to buy a PB sofa. My top choices for fabrics are the performance tweet and the everyday linen but after reading many reviews I think I will skip the tweel. I was wondering if you ever tried pen marks on your ED linen? I tried it in the sample and can’t get it off. This is the only thing holding me back. I was hoping everything would come right off this fabric. Is there ways to get a pen mark off?
We haven’t ever had pen on ours so, unfortunately, I can’t help on that one. But everything else that has gotten on ours (wine, coffee, dirt, red icing from cake, etc.) has come out with just water!
Hi,
I’ve done a lot of reading while trying to determine what kind of sofa should replace a not very old but unfortunately a very poor buy – a Quatrine which has never held its shape despite probably being “well made.” So frustrating! Anyway, I was considering the PB Jake, similar to the York but am now going to check out the York as I didn’t realize it also came in the bench seat option. I really appreciate your posts and am enjoying getting familiar with your blog – thank you!
I’m glad you found it helpful Hilary! Good luck on your search!
Little Utz – do you prefer the york deep seat over the york regular depth since you have both? We have not been able to sit in a regular depth york as they don’t have them in any of their stores.
Thank you for this review! We are looking at buying the exact same sofa as a discounted floor model right now! We have 2 cats though and I am terribly nervous about them scratching the sofa to shreds! Do your cats scratch on your couches? I am worried they might like the fabric and scratch up the sides or back of the couch!.
Glad you found it helpful! Our cats are declawed since they don’t go outside, so the only issue we really have with them is that they are always laying on the cushions 🙂
Is the linen material tightly wove. Curious if you think you’d have an issue if your cats weren’t declawed
Yes, it’s fairly tightly woven. And I’m guessing if they have claws they could snag it on the arms if they were doing their scratching stretches but I’m not 100% sure!
Your review and all of the comments have been extremely helpful. I have gone back and forth over the PB fabric options and just this morning settles on the Crypton Everyday Linen in the stone color which I think is still light enough for my liking. I feel so comforted in reading about your experience with this fabric. Thank you so much .
So happy to hear you found it helpful! I hope you enjoy your new sofa!
This post has been amazing for me! I was so close to purchasing a the PB Comfort sofa until I got scared off by all of the horrible fabric reviews. The Crypton Everydaylinen sounds like it could be the answer!
Now I just need really need help to decide on color. I very much want the white couch look and so was going to go with the Crypton ivory but yours look beautifully white in the oatmeal. Did you consider the ivory at all? I am worried about a stark white look but want the coastal vibe and the light clean look that a white couch provides. We did order the Alexandria marble top coffee table and end table and in the store the marble top started to look yellow when I put a white fabric sample next to them. Just could use advice on how white to go for the white couch look. We have 3 kids and a dog.
So glad you found it helpful! I only considered the Oatmeal and the Stone. I ultimately decided the Stone was too dark for the look I wanted. The oatmeal still looks really light but has a nice natural tone. I never looked at the ivory because I was worried it would be too light for us. Although ours is really light, it’s definitely not white, so if you’re wanting that look you may not want the Oatmeal 🙂
I’m about to order, but no sure about the fabric☹️ I have 3 girls under 9
I would research, but I feel like Performance fabrics are your best bet! From what I’ve heard, they hold up super well. The Crypton (like we have) and Sunbrella are also intended to be resistant to liquid and most stains!
Hey Sarah, great review! Quick question – do the lumbar pillows also have down filling? Or are they poly blend? I have back issues, and it would be good to know what they are made of!
Thanks!
I just double-checked ours and the pillows are down as well and filled very full and firm!
Hi,
i am loving this sofa and have been saving to purchase one. I am hoping they have a 30% sale this coming Memorial Day weekend because I plan to purchase it. My only concern is how well they hold up with wear and tear. i want it for a family room where teens will be sitting 7 napping on it almost every day. Thank you!
Ours has held up well after a year and four months. We use them daily (and lay on them) but don’t have kids so I’m not sure on that aspect. We’ve been happy with how they are wearing though!
We are getting our York Saturday and I’m so excited I found your blog just googling for pictures of it. LOL
I am wondering though, have you read and reviews the fabric “Basketweave Slub , Ash”… i was so married to this color (and price) I passed on Performance… we have 2 kids and 2 dogs. BUT we bought slipcover and so I was confident it’d be cleanable. We have had a PB Comfort Grand in grade a “Twill, Cream” 10 years ago and washing it at home and putting it back, it’s been PERFECTION. Made us PB fans for life. SO, fingers crossed the Basketweave Ash is like the Twill Cream slipcover experience… but wondered what you might know about basketweave(if anything).
Can you provide an update on the Basketweave Slub?
I’d love to hear how the basketweave slub in Ash looks too!
Hi! I loooove your living room and appreciate your real-life review! What was the color and fabric you chose for your gorgeous accent chairs? TY! 🙂
Thank you! I chose the Bevin Natural fabric for the chairs 🙂
I too am very grateful for this review. I just bought a lovesac sactional and it is just awful. Back cushions are different size to seat cushions, seat cushions are too large and have to be squeezed together. Fortunately I purchased it from Costco and it will be going back. I want to find a replacement first so will go check out Pottery Barn.
Folks do not by lovesac – I would be sick if I had purchased it direct from them as I am sure they would not let me return it.
Very grateful for this post. I am starting over looking for another sectional. I purchased one 2 months ago from Costco. Its by Lovesac and let’s just say I am so happy that I am able to return it. Two things are wrong with it. When you use it deep side out the pillows at the back don’t line up . You have three seat cushions but only two back cushions with a gap in the middle. I had to pay extra for a “shorter back” but they didn’t mention that heh, sorry, but you are going to need to buy extra short cushions too. Message to Lovesac – if you sell a sactional to a customer who is going to use it deep side out please make sure the proper fitting cushions are part of it. Am I supposed to throw these cushions out and purchase ones that fit ? It is just ridiculous. Friends that have seen this set up cannot believe it comes this way. Again, using it deep side out the seat cushions are too tight. Each one is about 1 inch too wide.
Thank you so much for this awesome post! Just yesterday I ordered the PB Ultra sofa in the Sunbrella Performance Slub Tweed White. We are two adults and two dogs. Although likely not a smart decision, I wanted white from a design perspective. I’m now panicked when reading about the slub tweed. Have you had any reader experience with this sofa or fabric as of their newest version of the fabric?
Lisa Moses, How did the Sunbrella Performance Slub Tweed White turn out?
Curious how your Sunbrella performance Slub Tweed is going? Considering it for a slipcovered PB comfort sofa. Thanks.
Hi Lisa, I’m curious how you like the Performance Slub Tweed White as that is the color/fabric we are considering. Thank you!
Loved your review on the York. I’m a designer at Pottery Barn and the Everydaylinen is in fact the best fabric as far as durability and the York being one of our top sellers as well.
Hi Shannon. How does the Sunbrella Performance Slub Tweed 2hite hold up? Does it pill?
Thanks
I too had issues with delivery of 2 recliners from pottery barn. Only one was delivered and no one knew where the other one was. After many phone calls and frustrations they located it at the warehouse 200 Plus miles away. Another scheduled delivery more than 2 weeks later. I do love the recliners tho but they have to fe amp their delivery issues. The delivery guys were great through this whole mess.
Hi Sarah,
Thank you so much for your review! Your house is gorgeous. I just brought home the Performance Everydaylinen swatches in ivory, oatmeal, and stone. The swatch information did not state “by Crypton” specifically. Anyway, we poured red wine on the swatches and it beaded up; however, when we blotted it up with a soft wet cloth with soap, the red stain did NOT come up! I still see faint red stains on all three colors.
I don’t know why my swatches failed the red wine test. I’m wondering if my Performance Everydaylinen swatches are not made with Crypton, since it does not specifically say it on the card. Do you know if your swatch card specifically stated Crypton?
Hi Ginny – so glad you found it helpful! Unfortunately I don’t recall if my sample actually said it was by Crypton or not. I know PB has their own “Performance” line with various fabrics that are not Crypton, so you may just want to confirm with your local store if the sample they carry is truly the Crypton version. I hope that helps!
Hi, Ginny! I have spent some time on this post and found it to be so very helpful! I’ve been trying to make a decision, as well. Thank you, Sarah! Last night, while reading, my husband and I performed a little red wine test on the fabric swatches I’ve been pondering. The Everyday Linen samples do no state Crypton, but the trademark symbol is there and that is what I ordered in ivory and oatmeal. as well as the performance Alabaster. All are beautiful! I dripped red wine on each. The wine beaded up and ran off or blotted up easily. On the oatmeal sample, the one we are leaning towards, we also pressed and rubbed the wine into the fabric and let it sit for a minute or two. Purple stain! I tried blotting with a dry cloth and a damp cloth, but the stain remained. I resorted to my Zep upholstery cleaner, but forgot that I ran out recently. So, I turned to Oxi-Clean laundry stain remover. I sprayed a bit on and worked with a damp cloth, pretty much scrubbing it a bit, then ran it under cool water and blotted it dry. Alas, the stain is completely gone, and this morning (now dry) the fabric looks and feels as good as new. We are impressed! Hoping for a Black Friday sale!!
I was in a PB store 75 from my house about a month a ago and they had the York Grand slope arm with the Performance Linen ivory slipcover on floor model clearance. I really loved it and it was a great deal but I have a traditional sofa and loveseat setup in my space and didn’t want to have to order the loveseat and didn’t want to wait for the sale so I passed on it. On my way home I decided to stop by the outlet just outside if my town and they had the loveseats with sunbrella performance chenille in salt for $600! There was another piece with the linen slipcover there and I decided they looked ok together, plus I don’t like matchy matchy. I tried to call the store with the floor model and buy it over the phone but was told I couldn’t because they were having fraud issues so drove 40 miles back you purchase the sofa. Anyway, I came across this post because I have to go back to pick up the sofa tomorrow and started freaking out because I just saw that the Performance Linen is dry clean only. I’m sure it being the floor model it will need to be cleaned. My fears have calmed a little from your review of the fabric but I Was just wondering if anyone out there has tried to machine wash the performance linen crypton cover. I did cross my fingers and machine wash the sunbrella cover on hand wash cycle and hung to dry and it came out perfect! The recommendation for the Sunbrella was spot clean only.
Hi there! Do you know where the York Sofa is made? City/state from the tag on the frame, under the Cushions. Such a beautiful room, love your home and your blog!! 🥰
Hi, Just wondering how long you have owned the sofa for now? Are you still happy with the sofa and the wear?
Thank you!
We’ve had it almost two and a half years now and still love it! No issues at all and every spill has come out with water and a paper towel. We love them so much we actually bought a sectional in the same style and fabric last year 🙂
Greetings,
So appreciative of these comments! I am considering ordering this in leather. I am tall too and considered the deeper bench cushion, so that is a go. What about height from the floor? Me and friends are on the older side, and I am wondering if the sofa is too low to the ground? Finally, does anyone have experience with the PB leather offerings? RH is just too expensive
Thanks!
Julie
hanks for the review! I read this article when I was purchasing my Pottery Barn couch and it was helpful! I wanted to give an update on our purchase in case it would be helpful for others. I had been eyeing this couch for YEARS and finally bought it last year. We got the York, square arm, bench cushion, left arm seat, with right arm chaise in basketweave slub ash. It’s so so cozy and I love it so much! It arrive two weeks ahead of schedule which was a nice surprise! But…we are two adults and two big dogs and it’s already wearing more than I’d like. It’s been 5 months and the bench cushion is pilling which is a bummer. But gosh we use this couch so so much and my husband sleeps on it practically every night in front of the tv. Our dogs are always on it, too. So I kind of understand why it’s already showing a little wear. I’m thinking I should start roasting the bench seat cushion so it wears more evenly. Question…how do you order replacement cushions or covers for the cushion? Can you do that? I’m afraid we might have to do that in 5 years for the bench cushion. Otherwise it’s all good and overall I’m a very happy customer! When my dog jumps up with muddy paws or my husband gets chocolate on the couch…it comes off with a quick wipe of a wet cloth!
We are trying to select a fabric for 2 Grand York sofas, we thought the Perf Heathered Twill would stand up to our cats claws, but now reading they have issues with pilling, don’t know what to get. Does anyone have a solid recommendation?
Hi,
Looking at purchasing 2 of the PB Cameron Roll Arm Chair with the Chenille Basketweave in Charcoal as I will be using it daily and taking naps. Does anyone have a comment about this fabric? The other fabric is the Brushed Crossweave fabric or the Textured Twill both in Charcoal. Appreciate any comments.
Hi Connie. I’m wondering if you ever got the chenille basket weave charcoal. I’m thinking of getting it.
Hi Sarah, thank you so much for this informative post! I have been eyeing the exact same couch, color, fabric and all to order, and your review just confirmed it for me. Especially since I have 2 cats, a dog and a 15 year old. Next month can’t get here fast enough when its delivered, thanks again!
Do your cats ever claw on the fabric?
Hi Chelsea – our cats are actually declawed since they’re inside cats so the only issue we have is them always wanting to sleep on the back cushions. But they are easy to fluff back up!
Thank you for this blog. Can you please tell me if the stone color is like a cream or khaki color?
Thank you
Honestly it’s a bit in between the two. On the swatch it looks more khaki but on a sofa, it definitely lightens up. It’s just a good gray/green/beige neutral. I’d recommend ordering a sample if you haven’t seen it before!
For the longest time I thought I wanted the Carlisle Sofa from PB. Now I’m thinking about the York because of how deep the seating is. As you have said this is a big purchase and I’m nervous to say the least. I guess the biggest issue is choosing the best style. I also the the style of an English arm and spindle legs with wheels on them. Any suggestions from a design stand point? Any input would be helpful. Thank you !!
Honestly I love both looks! It really just depends on the style you want in your room. Since we don’t have a formal living room, I wanted something that was casual. We had English rolled arms on our last sofas, and it was just a bit too formal for us. But I love both looks!
Does anyone have information about Sunbrella or Microfiber on the SoMa Fremont sectional? We have 2 cats that love to scratch my old, old sofa and I’m afraid to buy a new one……but I like nice things and need a new sectional! Those silly cats love to scratch things…. 🙁 Help please!
Hi Cari-did you possibly find what option is best for cats with claws? I am getting ready to purchase the York grands sofa and cannot determine which fabric is best for my cats. Any info would be superfluous helpful! Thanks so much!
Thanks for the review! Very helpful!
what are the dimensions of your room?
Hi Sarah. Your review was very helpful, thank you for posting it. We are looking at a York sectional, my fabric choices are Sunbrella performance slub tweed, pebble (acrylic) OR Performance slub tweed pebble (polyester) Do you have any thoughts on which might be better? The names are very similar, and enough to confuse….. of course I do not want pilling. Really looking forward to the comfort tho ;). Thank you for any input
Glad you found it helpful, Sally! Unfortunately I don’t have personal experience with any of those so I’m not sure which would be the best option. Maybe someone else with personal experience will be able to chime in for you!
I am considering the York sofa regular depth with bench cushion…I need to be able to wash because of my two Labs…anyone have any experience with the white twill fabric?
We have the white twill on the bed in our guest bedroom, but haven’t had it super long. I can see a few scuffs on it, but it obviously doesn’t get daily use so I can’t speak to everyday traffic. I can take mine off to wash it either, but I figured that was safe on a bed! Hopefully someone else has experience with it on a sofa!
I purchased this sofa a few months ago and I love it! I read your previous posts about the sofa and they were so helpful in making the decision to get this sofa. I have a little chihuahua that loves to sleep on the cushions and he flattens them a bit but they are easy enough to fluff back up. Thanks for your reviews!
So happy to hear that! Thanks for sharing, Anne!
We are about to purchase the new PB Shasta sofa. The Performance Everydaylinen in oatmeal matches my drapery fabric beautifully. The room has 3 skylights and a wall of windows that are 16 feet high. How do you think the linen will hold up to the sun? Fading? It is by far my first choice of fabric, but I know i should try to find a Sunbrella. They just don’t match as well. Thank you!
Hi there, I’m curious if you can share where your window coverings are from? Thank you!
Hi Julia- I actually ordered them locally thru a designer, but we’re in the process of replacing them, because we don’t love them. They look good, but aren’t great functionally.
Thank you so much for your review. I found it very helpful! Would you mind giving info about the media cabinet behind the couch?
So glad you found it helpful! And unfortunately that cabinet is about 10 years old from Nebraska Furniture Mart and is no longer available. This one has a very similar look though! https://rstyle.me/+dc1XMAlPEz4uya8CCr7CVA
I just got 2 of these sofas today- love them. Got these in deep seat Sunbrella sub tweed white 3 cushion not the bench seat as I like the ability to swap out the cushions and flip them if one gets accidentally trashed (4 kids 2 dogs). I didn’t realize how sacked my old sofa cushions were until I sat on these. So much support. Thanks for all of the reviews it definitely helped me to make the decision to purchase these. I ordered them during Labor Day sale and got them exactly 6 weeks later- shocking! Love the Blog!
Just wondering about the feather situation… you said you had a few feathers after the first few months. Are you still getting feathers? And if so, how many? I had down filled pillows on my current sofa for a while and had to trash them… The feathers were constantly stabbing through the fabric and poking us and we had feathers all over the living room! So just curious about this. Thanks in advance! 🙂
Hi there! We’ve had zero issues with feathers coming out since. I know exactly what you mean on throw pillows, and this doesn’t happen with the sofas at all 🙂
I just dropped red wine on several samples. The one that stained was Performance Everydaylinen Ivory. It’s not Crypton. Grade D. One of the best clean ups was Sunbrella Performance Sahara Weave Ivory. I will have to go and look again for the Crypton ones.
If you go back up into the blog the sample of the fabric Sarah got does not say Crypton either. Not sure if this is helpful to you. Just an FYI
THX
Thanks so much for your review; you have such great taste! Regarding the picture frames above your black cabinet, are they light colored wood or a brushed gold color and what size did you go with? Happy New Year!
Thank you! They are a wood tone (the color is ‘gray’ but it’s more of a gray-washed warm wood color). My exact style is no longer available, but this is the same collection. Mine are the 8×10 photo size: https://rstyle.me/+jiJ8kpslY9LRET6xYxJ6Bw. These are a more similar shape, but a slightly smaller more cost-effective version: https://rstyle.me/+8-AHueTMlHzMMkFg0POzPQ. I hope that helps!
Are your cats able to scratch the fabric and rip it? Do they have their claws? I usually order microfiber fabric bc cats don’t scratch it. But I would prefer the linen performance fabric if cats can’t rip it up. Thanks in advance. Yours is lovely.
Ours don’t have claws, so it isn’t an issue. However, I did have someone reach out to me on Instagram that has a cat with claws and the same fabric we have. She says it has held up well so far, but she does have concern long-term how it will do. But she didn’t have signs of any snags or rips yet.
Hello, Thank you so much for this review, it has helped me tremendously. I am looking to purchase the York Deep Sofa and love seat this week and I am trying to figure out which fabric to buy. I am between Performance Everyday Linen in Ivory, Performance Twill in warm white or Brushed Canvas in Natural.
Best,
Melissa
Where did you get the rug?!? Is beautiful and the only thing not linked 😞
Hi there! It’s actually just carpet inset into our hardwood floors. We’re the second owners of the home so unfortunately I don’t have any info on it (it’s about 14 years old)!
Thank you for writing this article! It is very helpful. How easy is it to remove and clean the cat hair? We have two labs and on our current couches, their hair sticks into the weaving of the fibers. We cannot get rid of the hair on the couch. Looking for a performance fabric where pet hairs will not stick in the weaving of the furniture fabric and can be cleaned off easily.
Thank you!!
It’s shockingly easy. I either just use my Dyson pet attachment or use this roller I got on Amazon. I know what you mean about fur getting stuck, and this fabric doesn’t have that issue!
We have had our Crypton Everyday Premium Performance Linen York Sectional in Ivory for a little over a year now and I could not agree more with the content of this post. Our dog threw up poop (yes it was disgusting) all over our couch and even in the cracks between cushions, and after wiping away my tears, I started cleaning. It.all.came.out. Not even a residual spot anywhere! I will never buy a couch without performance fabric ever again. Thanks for sharing your thoughts at 3 years – looking forward to it!
So happy to hear that you’re loving yours as well! And I can definitely echo your sentiments about only buying performance fabrics going forward!
I am finding your review so helpful! I wonder if your cats ever use your sofas as a scratching post?
Thank you!
What an amazing, thorough review. Thank you for sharing your personal experience and for helping out so many people like me who are pouring over the decision about what couch(es) to purchase. Much appreciated! Do you mind sharing an approximate size of your living room? We are debating between buying two of the larger size Yorks, or the two of the 80 inch. Your living room looks so lovely! Thank you!
This post is remarkably thorough and honest. Thank you so much! I purchased that same material / color for my headboard. I’m happy to hear that the crypton is the real deal, and now considering getting it for another sofa. Thank you!!
Hi! Thanks so much for the detailed post. We just ordered our couch in the Performance Everyday linen Stone color. I read in your post that a friend of yours purchased a couch in that color and it looks lighter in person. Would you be able to add a picture of that to the review? Im honestly afraid that the color we chose will be too dark :/
Sorry! I need to update the post because I misspoke! I realized afterwards, that hers is Pebble in a different fabric. So it’s like an almost in-between of the two. But our store had the Stone on the floor when I was first looking and it was really beautiful!
Thank you so much for this detailed and honest review! These are pieces that have to withstand a lot of wear and tear in my home as well. Why did you choose the slipcovered option rather than upholstered? Was it out of concern that the fabric may wear out long before the furniture frames do?
Thank you so much for this excellent review – and great comments, too! We’re about to purchase two slipcovered York Slope Arm Sofas and I’m thinking of the Performance Twill in Warm White, mainly because they are machine washable. Does anyone have experience with this fabric – including machine washing? I’ll be ordering small sofas, 70.5 inches long, for a small space. I’m thinking two seat cushions. Not sure one bench cushion makes sense in this size?
I don’t have experience with the fabric, but personally I find a bench seat looks nicer on smaller sofas than multiple cushions. Two cushions can look “squashed” easily on small pieces. Something about the proportions doesn’t quite work as well in my personal opinion!
Thank you so very much for this review. I have found it extremely helpful. I currently have the PB slipcovered sectional in white twill in my living room. The fabric washes beautifully and I have even added a tiny bit of bleach. Keeping the white free of pet stains has been a challenge, but keeping blankets on helps. Based on your review I think I will order the York sofa for our family room in the oatmeal linen (crypton) next time there is a sale.
I love. the room, does the oatmeal pull yellow at all? It doesn’t seem too in the photos. I was looking for an oatmeal that leans more neutral, would you say thats what your fabric looks like in person?
Ours don’t pull yellow at all. If anything, it is more of a warm tone (more pinkish than yellow) – but definitely not pink if that makes sense.
Yes I think I understand. The darker color photo you have would you say that is more of the true color. That is what I am looking for, in person does the oatmeal look more like a natural shade?
In our house, it definitely looks a lot lighter because of all the natural light we get. I would argue in most homes it’s going to look more like the darker color. Have you ordered a few of their samples? They’re free and super helpful. If not, I would definitely recommend that before committing to a color site unseen!
I’m leaning towards the white twill because it is machine washable and we have a small dog. I want to be able to wash it and add bleach if I need to. Appreciate the review of the twill, seems like it is the only one that is machine washable when I hover the fabric samples online. Really want the York but is seems they only sell it in the deep seat now, I prefer regular depth. 🙁 Thanks for the reviews.
Thanks so much for your detailed review and all the real life photos, that’s so helpful! You answered literally every question I had about these sofas, I feel much more confident about ordering them
Thank you for the review! We are considering the York slope arm sofa but, like you, we tend to sit on them sideways and stretch out with our feet up to watch tv, work on our laptop, read, etc. My concern is the arms are too low to provide any back support and be comfortable. Have you not found this to be a problem?
So, we mostly lay on ours. If you’re looking for back support from the arms, you likely won’t find it with this one. Although honestly, the arms aren’t too much lower than other sofas we’ve had in the past. It may work if you put the included lumbar pillow there though. Those pillows are SUPER firm. I hope that helps!
Could you please share color of your walls.i bought the sofa reading your incredible review.thankyoi.
I really nowcwany the wall paint as in The pic
Glad you found it helpful! Our walls are Benjamin Moore Simply White 🙂
Okay, I’m gonna ask “THE PET QUESTION.” Like you, we have 4 feline furbabies, 9-14 yrs old. Our old guy, Stamford, has at times not made it to the litterbox to pee. (we have leather furniture, currently) I’ve said for years, I was gonna get The Pottery Barn York sofa when all the furbabies crossover the Rainbow Bridge. However I believe they’re gonna outlive us, as they all live like Kings and Queens. Soooooo, what’s the verdict on animal urine. We have sunbrella fabric (verbena (teal) on our sunporch and patio furniture and I can use clorox straight outta the bottle and a garden hose to clean these. Should we wait or pull the trigger? We’re in our early 60’s and I really don’t want my casket to be the most comfortable thing I finally end up ownng!
Hi! We have cats and are considering this sofa. Do your cats scratch this particular fabric and it does not pile?
I was speaking with an in store design consultant and was told they no longer run the sales on the larger items like the york sofa. Is this true or was she in sales mode?
Since the pandemic, they have not done the Buy More Save More Sale. From what I’ve heard, they are having record sales still and continued delays in manufacturing, so they do not plan to do future sales at this point. I’m guessing there will be a day they might return, but I’m not sure that will be in the foreseeable future based upon what I’ve heard. I hope that helps!
Sarah, would you still recommend purchasing the York sofa if not able to get it on sale. We are considering purchasing a 95” and a 81”. Just trying to decide if it’s worth the investment.
Two years ago, I would have said no, simply because they offered sales so frequently. However, knowing they haven’t done a sale for nearly two years and seeing how much prices are skyrocketing (particularly at their competitors), I would say yes, it’s worth the investment. Ours still look incredible, and we have said multiple times, if we ever move I’d want to sell the house as furnished as possible (we hate moving), but we’d have to keep the sofas along with a few other items! I’m trying to collect info from PB now, but from what I’m hearing, a sale likely isn’t going to happen any time soon.
Hi, Kelly. I just paid $3,840.71 including shipping and tax. I considered getting the 81″ or even getting the non-Deep version…until I sat on the Deep 95″ Everyday Linen version at the store. And I just had to have it. It’s crazy how much the price has gone up, but I didn’t want to wait for it to go up again.
Does pottery barn have Presidents’ Day sales on sofas?
I believe in 2020 they did, but they really haven’t done a sale since. I’m trying to collect input and hope to share more info soon. But from what I’m hearing, their sales are record highs right now and they still have a backlog with the pandemic, so there likely isn’t going to be a sale for the foreseeable future.
Quick Question: Is your sofa down filled? I am wondering if the down filled sofa looses shape easily?
Yes, our is down! I believe the bench cushion is down wrapped foam, but we haven’t had any issues with it! We do try and rotate it once every six months or so. We have to fluff the back cushions much more regularly thanks to our cats 🙂
The cushions/pillows are down-wrapped, not down-filled. So that’s why they hold up really well. I was concerned/confused about that, at first, as well. I’m so glad I didn’t go with one of the memory foam sofas.
I just ordered this exact sofa except in Ivory thanks to your blog post & another website’s blog post. I placed my order April 15 and the expected delivery is July 4 to July 20. I decided not to wait for a sale based on your other post about the cost going up & orders being backlogged. All in all, my total was $3,840.71 including shipping and tax. Pretty wild how much the price has gone up, but I didn’t want to wait and see it go up any more than that. I want to thank you for including some photos of your sofa that are NOT in bright light. This really helped me see that the Oatmeal would have been darker than I wanted. It’s a good thing, too, because the Oatmeal version was available to deliver in just 3 weeks but I’m so glad I looked at your blog again and saw that it’s darker without the bright light. I am so excited to receive my dream sofa!
Awesome review and info. We have six kids and things can get “messy”. I’ve been struggling with my decision to get a sofa with crypton since it’s not machine washable. Your 3 year review gives me more confidence to take the plunge! I may want to upholster my whole house in this stuff if it works. Thank you!
I just wanted to join in the huge chorus of thankful comments for this very thorough review of the York Sofa. It’s really kind of stinky of PB to not have reviews on their site. However, your review, along with everyone’s comments, have gone a long way in filling that void! 🙂
Thank you so much for your thorough review! It’s super helpful. Just wondering if you’ve heard any more about possible sales coming back this year.
So glad you found it helpful! And unfortunately, I haven’t heard anything about sales. I have noticed they’ll occassionally do sales on specific fabrics, but it’s typically not the fabric types I’d recommend. If you’re able to wait, Black Friday would be my best guess as to when they may do one, but last I heard, there won’t be any sitewide sales this year.
We are about to purchase the Carmel square arm sofa from pottery barn. I think we will go with the Crypton performance linen in Oatmeal too. I wanted a white couch but husband said no way (we have kids and a dog)…would you say it’s generally/relatively light in color? Would you ever go with upholstered vs the slip cover?
If you’re home gets natural light, I think you’ll find this to be a good compromise. It’s lighter in color but has more variation in the weave (than say the ivory version) so it will hide spots better. The Crypton is incredible and we’ve been super happy with it. The only disadvantage is that it has to be dry cleaned, unlike some of the others that can be thrown in the washing machine. I prefer the look (and flexibility) of the slipcover, so if I reordered, I’d probably stick with that. I hope that helps!
Have you heard anything good or bad about the Twill fabrics?
I personally haven’t, but maybe some others can chime in if they’ve used them!
Thank you for all the updates, this post is a dream come true
Hello all! If you have a store front nearby i’d suggest checking it out. Every now and again they will sell certain pieces as they make room to stage other pieces. We were lucky enough to scope the floor sample up for 1200 before tax. She is a beauty 95 in, deep bench seat in performance Basketweave sand color.
Hi! Planning on buying the Big Sur U-Chaise Sectional. I really like the Heathered Chenille fabric in Stone but am concerned that it’s not a Performance Fabric. Second choice would probably be the Sunbrella Performance Chenille in Cloud. Anyone have any thoughts/recommendations on those fabrics?
Thanks!
ML, did you end up ordering the Heathered Chenille? We are considering the same fabric (also in stone) for a family sectional. I’m a little nervous about durability and wondering if you’ve had any issues with pilling. Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide!
How does that fabric hold up to cat scratching?
Thanks.
Hi! We received the exact same sofa and slipcover. It is super scratchy and not soft. Did you experience this with your linen slipcover?
I wouldn’t say ours is scratchy, but I also wouldn’t consider it super soft. It does soften over time, but we expected it to have a little more texture due to the nature of linen. But definitely not super scratchy!
Ended up on this thread because my couch just came and the exact same fabric is so itchy. What did you do with yours?
Love your sofas, they look beautiful! Has this fabric faded at all? Considering the same fabric for ours but I noticed its not “fade resistant” according to the Pottery Barn fabric guide although it is Perfomance fabric and Greenguard Gold which is important to me. Thanks!
Hi! Super great review. Not sure how often you still check this post. We also have two cats, my one little girl cat has a tendency to scratch at my furniture. Do any of your cats ever scratch at the couch? Did it hold up fine to it? Thank you!
Thank you! And our cats are elderly (14 and 16) and haven’t had claws since we got them, so it hasn’t been an issue for us.
Thanks for this review. Did you find the fabric itchy when it first arrived?
Hi Sarah -thank you for the review and updates. I just received my new York sofa in Performance Everyday Linen – t is a beautiful sofa and color however the fabric is scratchy. Did your fabric have a scratchy feel to it initially and soften in time. I have only read good things about the everyday linen so I am wondering if it was a bade batch of the fabric? Thanks for any thoughts you have on this.
Can you tell me the height of your coffee table? I have a 16 inch high coffee table and wonder how you think that would work with the york. Thank you!
Hi, unfortunately we haven’t owned that coffee table for several years, so I’m not sure. Sorry!
We have York chairs that have held up beautifully. We purchased a York sofa in 2019. Get poked constantly. Just took the covers off for the first time and realized why. There are tons of feathers inside that have come out of pillow. The seams are serged on outside of pillow as opposed to inside like our older chairs. I am curious if yours are made that way or if the change came in 2019. I hate to have to have covers made for cushions to go inside of slipcover. Not to mention all the work and clean up to get all the feathers off of inside of covers.
Love your new Florida home! Everything you do is beautiful.
Hi Rebecca! We have experienced that with ours! I will say when I took the cover off to wash it, a lot of feathers came out at that point, but we haven’t had any issues at all with the feathers poking us. That would drive me crazy!
We bought a PB Pearce sectional sofa 5 years ago. We usually keep sofas 10 years or so so the $4000 price tag didn’t bother us. After about 2.5 years, the chaise section of the sofa had a cushion that had a permanent cushion “hole” where we sit. There’s a down overlay to the cushion and it breaks down so fast. Because of the shape of the cushion it can not be flipped. The dip in the cushion seat is so bad we have to scootch to one side in order to get up. We are not “big” people. I am 5’6” 125lbs and my husband is 6’3” 185lbs. We could NOT believe our cushions are already breaking down. We’ve been married 32 years and raised 4 kids and none of our previous couches ever had cushion completely fail like they have on this couch. We bought this couch when we downsized, so this has been our empty nester couch, hence the least couch used since we’ve been married, and the only one that has completely failed as far as quality goes.
Since then, we are at 5 years, the couch is embarrassingly broken down. We have to tell guests which cushions to sit on when they come over. We’ve flipped and moved around cushions so much and they now ALL have dips in the middle of each seat. HORRIBLE. We have to buy a brand new couch because it’s broken down NOT because our style has changed. DO NOT BUY A PB COUCH.
I have had these sofas for 2 years as well. When deciding on purchasing them, your post was extremely helpful!
I also have the same color as you, but instead of cats 2 dogs. I can definitely say it is standing up to them thinking the sofas are their’s.
As far as the feathers – I have a very different experience from you. The back pillows are always poking us and the feathers are all over constantly. I hate these being down – I wish the offered a synthetic option or did better at how to contain the down.
Cleaning – I was our slipcovers fairly often – every 6 months or so – in our washer and they come out great. Can also confirm stains and dirt are easy to vacuum or folex out.
I also just started to wash the down inserts themselves. With our dogs also sitting on them, I just feel like they are dirty or have mites that need to go.
I would purchase these again if they had a non-down option available.
This is a great recent update! Appreciate all the insight!
This might or might not reach you but I am currently considering the PB York Sofa. I do have a cat and she loves to scratch my furniture even though she has a cat tree and a real tree right outside that she uses. Was this a problem for you? If so how did you handle it?
Do your cats scratch on the sofa? 3 cats, and they do scratch on my furniture. Thinking of getting this slipcovered sofa so that we can replace the slipcover rather than the whole sofa.
Hi! We haven’t had issues but ours don’t seem to mess with the furniture (they’re elderly so that may be part of it). It wouldn’t hurt to order some of the free samples though and snag test them to find a good fit!
I’m an interior designer obsessing over my sofa choice from Pottery Barn. Eye roll. I’m currently employed there so I will get a discount, whoo hoo. I was “planning” on getting the Buchanan sofa & Chair and a half combo. In Stone Suede. But am considering the York square arm upholstered versions of the same because:
-I’m curious about the bench seat (I’d get the 80″ wide one)
-I’m interested in the contract foam seat (I like a firm – very firm – seat).
My question is …do you wish you have gotten multiple seat cushions?
I don’t really like the look of the puddling in the middle of the bench seat in your slipcover option. But maybe that’s slipcover related?