Since I first moved to New York City nearly a decade ago, I’ve been through a lot of couches. From questionable, cash-only Facebook Marketplace pickups to what was dubbed “the cheapest couch IKEA has ever made,” I’ve seen pretty much everything Big Sofa has to offer to a young, fresh-outta-college guy with roommates. And, for years, those janky couches and their lumps, bumps, and “stains we don’t talk about” worked for me and my two roommates who were equally apathetic about the thing we sat on while we drank beer and watched “The Departed” for the fifteenth time. However, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked I moved in with my lovely girlfriend, who (rightfully) wanted a sofa that was new, comfortable, easy to assemble, complemented our (small) space, looked modern, and wouldn’t disintegrate after one lease renewal. What she wanted was a sofa that we’d have for years — one that we loved so much, we’d actually want to establish and enforce a “no eating on the couch” rule. What she wanted was the Owen Chaise Sectional from Castlery. 

The Owen is a gorgeous, sleek sectional that’s as nice to lounge on as it is to look at. It comes in two colors, Pearl Beige and Olive Gold, and features a walnut-stained base that matches practically any aesthetic. It has a deep seat, padded armrests, and adjustable legs to make sure you never have to shove a matchbook underneath your sofa to stop it from wobbling. And, because it’s elevated, there’s some room for under-couch storage. You can also choose which side you’d like the chaise to face, which is a huge bonus if you’re working with a small space. They also throw in two pillows, which I’ve found to be dangerously comfortable when working on the couch. 

The thing I love most about the Owen is that it feels big. Like, really big, especially compared to the tiny IKEA couches we’re used to. (In fact, my girlfriend and I often joke around and say, “how’s it going over there?” since we feel so far away on opposite ends of the sofa.) However, it’s actually pretty compact for a sectional, and it doesn’t take up our entire living room. And, I’m not the only one that feels this way. “My husband and I spent a lot of time looking for a sectional that’s not too large or small and this one is the perfect size for literally any home or apartment,” one reviewer writes. “It’s beautiful, the cushions velcro down to the base, and feels really durable. This sectional is incredibly comfortable and we can stretch out with no problem.” 

In terms of delivery, you can either have the sofa delivered to your front door or pay extra to have it brought into the room of your choosing, with the additional option of having the couch set up for you. I had the couch brought directly into my living room, where I put together the couch by myself. Setup was a breeze: You just take the couch out of the packaging, screw on the feet with the included Allen key, secure the chaise to the main sofa with the built-in alligator attachment, and pop on the cushions. It took my girlfriend and I about 20 minutes from start to finish, and the hardest part was lugging the cardboard down the two flights of stairs in my walk-up apartment. 

I really can’t recommend this piece enough: The look, feel, and size of the sectional are a massive upgrade from my past couches. So, if you’ve been struggling to find a sectional that checks off all of your boxes, do yourself a favor and snag the Owen Chaise Sectional from Castlery while it’s on sale. Trust me — it’s a lot better than the seventh page of Wayfair search results or getting lost in an IKEA showroom (again). 

Right now for the Fourth of July, you can save up to 30 percent on Castlery’s bestselling furniture, which means you can save big on a new sofa.