An Honest Review of the Pottery Barn York Slope Arm Slipcovered Sofa

My honest review is don’t buy it! I love Pottery Barn, and I really wanted to love this couch, but unfortunately it’s really not something I would recommend to anyone. It’s not very comfortable, and after one wash, the slipcover no longer fits.

Let me back up a bit. Over a year ago I was in the market for a new sofa. Our old couch was a little too well worn from years of use, and we also have a large dog that is allowed on the furniture. I decided I was ready for a big girl sofa, because I’m an adult! So I was going to spend the money and invest in something really nice. The family room is a spot where we spend a lot of time, and I wanted the new couch to be comfortable and durable. I was set on getting a washable slipcover sofa to avoid having it covered in blankets (for the dog).

I debated between other sofas at Ikea and from Rowe, and ultimately decided on the Pottery Barn York Slope Arm Slipcovered Sofa. Washable slipcover sofas are shockingly not that easy to find. I had located a Pottery Barn store that had the exact couch in stock, so I was able to test it out before purchasing. It seemed comfy enough.

After chatting with a sales rep, she suggested a few fabric types that were washable, and I went with the Performance Slub Cotton, Metal Gray. I put in the order, and anxiously awaited the arrival of my new fancy couch.

11 weeks later it finally arrived. It looked nice enough, but was stiff as a board. I assumed that this would change over time with use. It’s been over a year now since we’ve had the couch, and this has not changed. The couch is pretty uncomfortable. We even upgraded to have the goose blend cushions. If I were the type of person that had a formal living room where you almost never hangout, this might be an acceptable piece of furniture, as it looks really nice, it’s just not comfortable to use. But for a family room, it’s just not ideal.

The main reason I purchased the York Slipcover Sofa is, you guessed it, the slipcover! I very specifically got a fabric that says it’s machine washable. But after one wash, the slipcover shrunk so badly that I cannot zip it back up, and the zipper actually broke from trying. I had it in the dryer on no heat to tumble dry. I’m sure there was some amount of human error there, but still, it shouldn’t have shrunk that much!

I have two Rowe slipcovered chairs that I had purchased after the couch, and I absolutely love them! They are super comfortable, and I’ve washed the covers normally a few times with zero issues. If I could go back in time, I would purchase a Rowe sofa. But for now, I am stuck with a stiff couch, with a gapping hole in the back. You live and you learn I suppose. Hopefully I can save someone from going through the same thing. If anyone has suggestions on a washable slipcover couch that they love, please do share! Someday I’ll be able to justify the cost again.