The Best Blu Dot Sofas (Editor-Tested and Rated)
When you’re ready to buy a new couch, you might decide that you want something contemporary and unique but still versatile. Sound familiar? You should consider checking out Blu Dot sofas. The brand has a wide selection of sofas and sectionals, and if modern silhouettes are your style, you should definitely scope out its offerings. And if you’ve ever been curious about Blu Dot furniture reviews, you’re in for a treat — we tested and reviewed all the brand’s sofas for this edition of our Personal Shopper series.
If you’ve been following our Personal Shopper series, you know we’ve been visiting some of the most popular home retailers like Pottery Barn and West Elm, and viewing their furniture and accessories in-store. We’re not finished looking through their showrooms, but it’s nice to break away and see what other stores have in stock.
Our first order of business? We headed in-store to look at Blue Dot’s sofas. Of course, buying something as big and expensive as a couch sight unseen is a risk. Luckily, you have us to guide you through the models and break down which type of household each would suit best.
Blu Dot’s furniture is beautiful, but we also appreciate the brand’s dedication to thoughtful design. The company was founded by designers and every piece is hand-sketched in the team’s Minneapolis studio before production. Blu Dot also prioritizes sustainability by using high-quality materials and rigorously testing furniture to prevent damage and, in turn, waste.
If you invest in a piece from the brand, you’ll find that it evolves with your lifestyle, regardless of trends. As a result, when you shop Blu Dot, you can be rest assured that you’ll own and love your new piece for many years.
Fans of modern design will love Blu Dot’s wide selection. Although some sofas are on the higher end price-wise, they’re made with premium materials and designed to last a long time. We were also pleasantly surprised to find that many of them were plush and loungey; they’re far more than mere showpieces. If you keep reading, you’re bound to find something you love.
We judged all the Blu Dot sofas in-store based on the following five criteria. These considerations helped me determine who the sofa suits best, from the regular party host to the studio dweller.
Why You Should Trust Me as a Tester
These Blu Dot furniture reviews were brought to you by AT’s former Shopping Editor, Nikol Slatinska. She has tested and reviewed furniture for the Personal Shopper series to help readers find the best pieces for their homes, especially small spaces. From sofas and bed frames to dining tables and accent chairs, she’s covered it all — making her a furniture expert.
Nikol spent the day in the store to test all the Blu Dot sofas on the showroom floor, and judged them on their design, durability, and loungeability.
Every Blu Dot Sofa Tested by Editors
What impressed us: At 87 inches wide, the Puff Puff sofa could fit along your longest living room wall and perhaps even leave room for a side table. It’s on the firmer side and has an almost futon-like appearance. We like that it maintains a clean, modern look even with its rounded lines, which help to soften up the frame. The sofa’s tall legs also offer plenty of storage space underneath the body. If you want to make the Puff Puff feel a bit homier, you can play around with different accent pillows.
What impressed us: The Paramount sofa is simple enough in design to fit in with a variety of interior decor styles, meaning it won’t impede you if you decide to switch up your aesthetic. In looking at its plain rectangular frame and metal legs, we noticed the charming button tufting on the bench-style seat, which serves as a subtle but fun detail. Whereas the Paramount’s back cushions are soft and bouncy, the seat is a tad firmer, so you get just enough support without sacrificing that sink-in comfort.
If you have the space for it, you can’t go wrong with this model. It’s a crowd-pleaser that allows your decor to shine while providing cozy seating in the process.
What impressed us: Blu Dot’s Souvenir sofa is stunning from the front with its velvet upholstery, which has a slight shine, but in the back you get a brilliant built-in shelf that you can use to store all kinds of things. Show off your favorite decor pieces and souvenirs, or use the shelf to house practical items, like your book collection or dishware.
The sofa’s back cushion is yet another eye-catching detail. It’s essentially a long roll pillow, and although it doesn’t come up very high, it still provides plenty of lumbar support. If you’re after a true statement piece that effortlessly combines beauty and practicality, look no further.
What impressed us: Even though the Thataway sectional is another pretty firm model, there’s something about its low profile and roomy surface that invites you to plop down and stay for a while. We deemed it the best pick for socializing for obvious reasons.
Its open-angle design is not only different from any sectional style we’ve ever seen before, but it also allows you to chat with friends from a comfortable position instead of being awkwardly seated right next to them. The sofa’s geometric shape will also give your living room a structured look, while the heavy platform base allows it to serve as an anchor piece. We think this model will work wonders to open up your space and make it feel bigger, too.
What impressed us: This L-shaped number is impossible to ignore, and not only because of its oversized frame. We viewed it in a gold-toned velvet fabric that’s every bit as luxurious as it sounds. In fact, the sectional looks downright sumptuous with its overstuffed cushions, deep seats, and barely exposed legs.
The seats are also sink-in soft, whereas the back cushions are slightly firmer and a bit low. This makes the Sunday all the more suitable for movie nights and reclining back as you read or rest. Also of note is the chaise on the shorter side. It’s a prime spot for stretching out, although really this sofa doesn’t have any bad spots. Sundays are for doing nothing, which is why this sectional’s name is so fitting!
What impressed us: You might think a sectional would be difficult to own if you change your place of residence every one to two years, and that’s likely true of most models. That said, Blu Dot’s Bonnie & Clyde is comprised of two separate parts, so you’ll be able to tailor it to your space no matter the layout. The chaises will be easier to move than one angled piece — you could even place them in different rooms to make up for a lack of seating wherever you need it or space them out in your living area with a side table in between. The styling options are endless!
Additionally, the sectional’s metal legs serve as a unique detail on an otherwise simple piece of furniture, and they look especially nice when contrasted against the smooth yet distressed camel leather upholstery. Firm, supportive seats and backs round out this chic sectional.
What impressed us: Although the Esker sofa falls in the middle on the spectrum of soft to firm, we would still classify it as a prime lounging spot because of its deep seats and square arms, which are almost wide enough to double as side tables. And because they lie close to each seat, you can rest your head against them comfortably without experiencing an awkward neck angle.
The sofa also has a pretty low profile, which, coupled with the deep and wide cushions, almost makes this piece look like a bed. What’s more, the Esker is available in Kelso upholstery fabric, which can be cleaned with bleach and other disinfectants without losing its color or texture. On Blu Dot’s website, this couch is described as “the fancy sweatpants of sofas,” and we think this is a perfectly fitting label.
What impressed us: Like the Bonnie & Clyde sectional, the Cleon sectional is a fabulous choice if you want to be able to change the configuration of your living room seating on a whim. Whether you end up moving or you simply decide you’re tired of your current layout, the Cleon’s detachable seat modules make doing so a breeze.
Although the seats look pretty plush, we were surprised to find that they’re quite firm. Additionally, the profile is low, so that’s something to consider if you want something more utilitarian that you can get in and out of easily. The fabric upholstery on this sectional features zig-zag stitching at the seams, too, which is a subtle but elegant detail that catches the eye.
What impressed us: Leather might seem like a risky choice for families with kids, but the New Standard sectional comes in a full grain aniline leather that’s meant to naturally patina over time, so it’s crafted with durability and long-term use in mind. Plus, you’ll likely have an easier time wiping spills off of leather than trying to scrub stains out of fabric.
In any case, the New Standard offers enough space for your entire brood, so no one will ever have to fight over the last seat. We also couldn’t help but admire the sectional’s angular frame and contrasting steel legs, not to mention the unrivaled softness of its seat and back cushions. While the foam cushions are wrapped in feather down for comfort, a steel spring system underneath provides support and prevents sagging.