Built to Last

Some home essentials are made for the long haul. We tested four standout picks to see which ones you'll be happy using for years.

- By Katie Bandurski, senior shopping editor

The Last Couch You'll Ever Need

When my husband and I bought our first home, we were ready to leave behind our budget furniture and invest in pieces we could love for a lifetime. At the top of my wish list was a LoveSac Sactional.

I was drawn to the couch's customizable design—the fabric, fill, layout and accessories can all be tailored to your space. Using the online build tool, I chose a six-seat setup, seashell polylinen covers and standard foam cushions. The flat-pack design made each piece easy to fit through doorways, and though assembly took around six hours, the steps were simple. Once assembled, the sturdy connectors keep everything firmly in place.

The quality is top notch, with hardwood seat frames, sinuous steel springs and Italian webbing. The washable cushion covers aced my stain test too, with no traces of coffee or tomato sauce left behind.

Most important, the couch is supremely comfortable and adapts as life changes, whether you're rearranging a room or adding a seat. It's one of the pricier modular sofas out there (the complete configuration I tested cost just under $7,000), but after using our Sactional daily for over a year, I genuinely can't imagine ever needing another couch.

LoveSac Sactionals, price varies; lovesac.com

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