We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
It’s often said that you should dress for the job you want, but that adage needs to be adjusted for people who work from home regularly. No one that I work with can see what I’m wearing below my shoulders, so I’ve ditched my work clothes in favor of comfier items. I’ve also set up a home office that helps me feel more focused, professional, and organized — even if I’m still in my PJs. However, there’s one piece that really ties everything together.
When the pandemic started and my usual work routine turned into a WFH routine, I transformed the guest bedroom into my home office by moving out the bed and adding a desk, an office chair, and a filing cabinet. In between those few pieces of furniture, though, were a bicycle, piles of books, dusty bedside tables, and boxes of random stuff we swore we’d deal with later (but still haven’t). In short, the room felt temporary, and cluttered yet empty at the same time. I wanted a real office — one that looked professional yet welcoming, had more than one seating option, and was ultimately motivating so I’d finally get my work done.
For that creative boss energy my home office was missing, I turned to fond memories of my dad’s office at the lighting company he and my grandfather founded. One of my favorite parts of that office was that it felt like a cool living room from the 1950s (think: Mad Men chic) with matching ceramic lamps, bookshelves, house plants, and a mod couch the size of a Cadillac that my dad would sit at when he was taking long calls. It was his home away from home.
The thing that my office lacked was that second seating area — one from which I could brainstorm, take Zoom calls, have my morning coffee while reading emails, and, let’s be honest, take short naps. After a Goldilocks-like hunt with lots of comparison shopping and multiple lists of pros and cons for each couch I looked at, I finally chose the West Elm Eddy Sofa.
What’s So Great About the West Elm Eddy Sofa?
True to the vintage decor and furniture that inspired me, West Elm’s Eddy Sofa is a fabric sofa with a streamlined silhouette and tailored, crisp edges that shout mid-century modern. The slightly formal look makes my sometimes-messy office look (and feel) pulled together. The light wood trestle legs give the piece an airy feel, as it’s not just sitting on the floor, and make it a cinch to vacuum under and retrieve pet toys, pencils, and lost files. I’ve also discovered that the low armrests are perfect for balancing my laptop (with the help of an end table that doubles as my filing cabinet), so beyond phone calls and video meetings, I’m actually sitting on my Eddy couch to write and edit, too. I’m sitting on it now, in fact!
The Eddy is super customizable, so it’s adaptable to lots of home office spaces. You can choose between four lengths from 60 to 94 inches, as well as several fabrics (like linen, bouclé, and velvet) in dozens of neutral colors. Depending on how you define neutral, there’s also a sage green and a few variations of navy. Because the Eddy is endlessly customizable, each piece is made to order and comes with white-glove delivery, which includes delivery and assembly in the room of your choice, as well as package removal so all you have to do is enjoy your new furniture.
I chose a practical Dove Gray Deco Poly Weave — it jives with the ’50s vintage silhouette of the sofa, hides small stains and pet hair, and complements the calming pink accents in my office. If I get tired of the pink theme in a few years, the pearl gray color will work with just about any other feature color I pick. And while this fabric isn’t as soft as a baby blanket, as other reviewers have mentioned, it’s durable enough to withstand frequent visits from my Whippet colleagues, Remy and Astor. It’s been three years of them jumping on and off the couch, and I still haven’t had any significant snags or fabric pilling.
Is the West Elm Eddy Sofa Comfortable?
Beyond its good looks, the Eddy is my ideal office couch because it’s comfortable — but not so comfortable that I slouch or fall asleep as soon as my butt hits the cushion. The polyfill cushions are still firm (regular flipping also helps here), so I feel supported as I multitask. In the three years since I bought it, I haven’t seen any sagging or divots where I usually sit, which is amazing considering how many words I’ve written on it!
As some reviewers have noted, it’s a little too firm and formal for a living room couch where you might lounge and nap for hours. But if that’s actually what you’re looking for, then this might be up your alley! However, for me, it’s perfectly comfortable as my “second desk,” especially with the addition of a big, squishy Orla Kiely velvet tea rose pillow I found on Etsy and an extra-soft throw blanket from Pottery Barn for the chilliest days.
Thanks to the Eddy sofa I bought three years ago, I’ve created a stylish, functional office that is so lovely, I don’t mind “going” to work. The way it’s holding up, it might just last me until retirement, so I’d say money well-spent.
