I Tested the Internet's Favorite Cloud Couches—Here's My Favorite
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Despite the RH Cloud Sofa making its debut nearly 10 years ago, the "cloud couch" craze is still in full effect. The hashtags #cloudcouch and #cloudcouchdupe have accumulated close to one billion views on TikTok combined, and everyone from mass retailers like Costco to newer brands like Sundays, one of our 2023 Live Better Award winners, has their own take on the coveted sectional. The so called "dupes," all seem to check the cloudlike aesthetic boxes: modular configuration, deep seating, and fluffy pillows. But as sofa experts, we at House Beautiful had to ask ourselves: Can another brand do the cloud couch better than RH?
If you landed on this article, you've likely seen the recent rise in popularity around 7th Avenue's take on the trend. Launched in 2022, the furniture brand claims its modular sectional sofa has "a whole lot more features, at even better pricing," than RH's version, and I recently had the opportunity to experience it for myself.
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If finding an apartment is the greatest challenge of living in New York, finding a sofa that works in your space might be the second. I've owned everything from a Wayfair futon to an IKEA loveseat to a West Elm sectional, depending on the amount of room (and budget) I had available. Thankfully 7th Avenue offers sofas in a variety of sizes, so whether you need the 3-piece Modular Chaise Sectional like I did for my small space, or need a larger version for hosting movie nights in your basement, there is an option for you. My version measures 94" L x 69" D x 24" H and I opted for the "Natural White" color and "Medium Soft" back cushion firmness.
3-Seat Modular Chaise Sectional
7thavenue.co
$2950.00
Below, you'll find everything you need to know about 7th Avenue's modular sectional, including how it really compares to RH's cult-favorite.
Delivery and Setup
A huge pro for modular sofas if you live in a New York City apartment building is the ease in which they can fit into an elevator. My 3-piece sectional came disassembled in eight boxes, providing no inconvenience when transporting into my small living room. Regardless of where you live, the ability to deconstruct this sectional will make delivery and moving in the future a breeze.
Although I'm typically a build-it-myself kind of gal, 7th Avenue offered to cover the cost of the assembly, and since I suffer from a lack of upper body strength, it was a true luxury to sit back and relax while someone else put in the work. It took less than an hour for the sectional to be assembled, and my favorite part was when the assembler took out a steamer to remove all fabric wrinkles from sight. The only hiccup was that upon arrival, one of the throw pillowcases was missing, but the assembler notified 7th Avenue before leaving and they shipped me a new one that arrived the next day.
Note that you can also totally save the $299 for assembly and put the sectional together yourself. (Bonus: No tools are required.) However, I can attest that, like most modular sectionals, it's heavy. That's a blessing for lounging since there's no base movement, but a curse when you need to move it, which I did a month later to make space for a new rug. Even with help, it was a bit of a struggle to transport, but doable nonetheless.
Comfort and Performance Review
I've been living with this sectional for more than three months now, and thanks to my obsession with movies and TV, I have probably spent more time on it than any other reviewer you'll come across. For the purposes of this review, I'm going to break down comfort and performance based on different scenarios you might also use this sectional for. You're welcome.
Lounging Alone
You'll notice I used the word "lounging" and not "sitting," which is due to the nature of this type of deep sectional. It's not really possible to sit up straight on this sofa, but that is kind of the point of the "cloud couch" vibe. The base and back cushions are soft yet supportive, so you can sink in but still get up without assistance (very important when living alone). And despite months of regular use, I've noticed no cushion sinkage, even in my go-to spot, which is a must for creatures of habit that always sit on the same side of a couch. (My side's the right in case you were wondering.)
Lounging With Company
My absolute favorite feature of this sectional is the movable ottoman. I used to feel guilty when I had friends over to watch a movie and claimed the coveted chaise on my old sectional, but now I'm a fabulous host who shimmies her ottoman to the center of the sofa so we can both enjoy peak comfort. Because my small space required the 3-piece sectional, I cannot comfortably seat more than three people, however, if you have space for one of the larger configurations, this is the ultimate slumber party sectional.
Napping and/or Sleeping
Speaking of slumber, I have a tendency to fall asleep while watching *insert latest popular show.* This is where my only comfortability complaint comes in. Even though the base cushions offer support, it's not enough for me to sleep on for more than a quick nap without waking up a bit achey. With that being said, I suffer from back/hip pain and shouldn't be sleeping anywhere other than my Saatva Rx anyways. For the purposes of science, I recently had a friend crash on the sectional for a few nights, and there were no complaints, so I can't definitively say whether you should or shouldn't sleep on this sectional. I will however remind you that there are many better places to sleep. At House Beautiful we call them mattresses.
Cleaning and Caring for Your Sectional
Because I have a dog—aka the poster child for not owning a white sofa—the ability to clean my sectional is a must. I was nervous about how difficult it might be to remove dog hair from the fabric, but thankfully my Dyson vacuum or a lint roller gets the job done. The only issue I've seen is the same one that will come with any white furniture in that it shows everything. My specific pain point is that tiny fabric pills are more noticeable on the lighter shade. My fabric shaver has helped to remove them, but it's definitely something to keep in mind if you're feeling brave enough to purchase the sectional in one of the two white shades.
Regardless of the fabric color you choose, the biggest plus about 7th Avenue is that it is so easy to clean. Over the years, I've mastered the art of not spilling wine on the couch, but if you're not as graceful as I, take solace in the sectional's water and stain repellant fabric. If you do need to spot clean the fabric, the brand recommends using a wet paper towel. If you encounter more serious stains or just want to give your sectional a deeper clean, the covers are also removable and machine washable. Even after three months of living with a white sofa, the fabric was stain-free, but I decided to try machine washing the covers for this review.
In addition to being able to unzip and remove all of the pillow and cushion covers, the covers for the back, base, and arms are all removable and washable as well. The brand recommends machine washing the cover alone in a cold/delicate setting. I opted to just clean the pillow and cushion covers, which were a breeze to remove, and they all comfortably fit in my washing machine. 7th Avenue recommends air drying or tumble drying the covers without heat, so be prepared for your sectional to be out of commission for a few hours after washing.
Pros and Cons
3-Seat Modular Chaise Sectional
7thavenue.co
$2950.00
RH Cloud Sofa Comparison
To really put 7th Avenue's modular sectional to the the test, I visited RH's NYC Gallery to experience The Cloud. Launched in 2015, RH's Cloud Sofa is the original inspiration for the "cloud couch" obsession that several competitors have tried to capitalize on, including 7th Avenue. On its website, RH's version is listed as one of the comparable products, but I would argue that it shouldn't be.
Style is the main similarity between 7th Avenue and RH's modular sectionals, but almost everything else differs by a pretty extreme variant. Let's get the big one out of the way first: RH's Cloud Sofa is significantly more expensive than 7th Avenue's modular sectional, regardless of what size or fabric you purchase it in. 7th Avenue currently lists the comparison prices for the 4-piece sectionals in each brand's "Classic" size as $3,580 vs. $10,580, but if you visit RH's site, you will see the sectional at a price of $11,840 for non-members. Objectively, 7th Avenue gets the point for better price.
When we move on to comfort, it gets harder to compare the two. RH is undeniably the softest couch I've ever sat on, or rather, lounged on. As the name suggests, it feels like you're floating on a cloud. I recognize that comfort is subjective and do think many people would prefer the more supportive feeling of 7th Avenue's down alternative filling to RH's down feather and foam filling, so I'm going to call this one a draw.
In terms of fabric offerings, 7th Avenue has one fabric in nine colorways in comparison to RH's 10 stocked fabrics and 84 special order fabrics. RH does not tout water resistant fabric like 7th Avenue does, but it is the better option if you want more color variety. When it comes to cleaning the fabric, both brands have removable covers, and like 7th Avenue, RH's Perennials® Performance fabric can be machine washed in cold water and air dried.
Last, but certainly not least, let's talk about the warranty. 7th Avenue offers a Limited Lifetime Warranty, which covers construction (i.e., the frame, wood, springs, and hardware) but not wear and tear on cushions and fabrics. RH offers a Lifetime Warranty that covers all elements of the Cloud Sofa, which definitely helps soften the lofty price tag.
Why I Love 7th Avenue's Modular Chaise Sectional
To call 7th Avenue's sectional better than RH's Cloud is, in my opinion, a bit of a stretch, but if you're looking for a comfortable yet supportive sectional that achieves the "cloud couch" aesthetic at a drastically more affordable price point, I'd definitely recommend 7th Avenue. Plus, the endless configurations and replaceable covers mean it can grow with your home, budget, and lifestyle over the years. I have loved lounging on my sectional alone, with friends, and, most importantly, with my pup. As a pet parent, I never thought I'd be able to have a white sofa before trying 7th Avenue, but the easy-to-clean fabric is a game changer. So if you've been pining away on TikTok but haven't been ready to commit, consider this review your sign in the sky to embrace the cloud couch trend.
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