Living Spaces Big Sur 99'' Sofa Review

The Big Sur is a strong choice if you want a full-leather sofa that feels relaxed from the first sit without losing its supportive base. It is especially comfortable for reclining, curling up, and sharing the seat during long movie nights. It is not a versatile fit for every room, though: the 99-by-43-inch frame needs open circulation space, and shorter users may want a lumbar pillow for upright sitting.

• Who it suits

  • People who prefer a deep, relaxed sitting position

  • Families who treat the sofa as their main gathering spot

  • Taller users who want enough room to stretch out

• Who should skip it

  • Anyone working with a narrow room, tight doorway, or difficult stair turn

  • Warm sleepers or loungers who dislike the heat retention of leather

  • Households that need removable, machine-washable covers

Following our sofa testing process, we timed setup and positioning, measured the assembled frame and seat, and used the sofa through regular TV, gaming, reading, and laptop sessions. The score covers cooling, comfort, short-term durability, layout practicality, cleaning, and value. We also tracked cushion compression and recovery, surface warmth after an hour, stability through repeated sit-to-stand cycles, and the clearance needed to move the sofa through an entry path.

The Big Sur feels large before anyone sits down. Our tape showed roughly 99.1 inches across and 43 inches deep, almost exactly matching the listing, and its 167-pound weight made two people useful for positioning it. Attaching the legs took about 15 minutes once the sofa was in the room. The harder part was navigating the deep frame through the entry path.

On the seat, the top layer gives quickly and the support underneath arrives before you sink too far. Marcus, at 6 feet 1 inch and about 230 pounds, compressed the center cushion by roughly 1.7 inches; five minutes after he stood, it had returned to within 0.2 inch of its starting height. The 24-inch seat depth worked well for his reclined posture, while Jenna preferred a small lumbar pillow when sitting upright. After an hour, the occupied leather surface was about 7°F warmer than at the start, which explains the sofa’s lower cooling score. Fifty sit-to-stand cycles produced no frame noise or looseness, although that is only short-term evidence. The attached seats stayed aligned, while the loose back cushions needed a quick reshaping after Jenna and Ethan shifted between upright and sprawled positions during a movie.

• What we liked

  • The soft top layer settles into a lounge-friendly position without losing support underneath.

  • The attached seat cushions stay aligned when several people shift positions.

  • The saddle-brown leather and wide arms give the sofa a substantial, casual look.

• Who it is best for

  • Tall users and anyone who likes to recline, curl up, or sit with a leg tucked under

  • Families who want one large, shared seat for movies and everyday lounging

  • Casual, industrial, or rustic rooms with enough space around a 43-inch-deep frame

• Where it falls short

  • The oversized frame is difficult to place in tight layouts and harder to deliver through narrow turns.

  • The leather surface becomes noticeably warmer during long, uninterrupted sits.

  • The fixed cover cannot be removed for washing, and the loose backs need occasional reshaping.

• Price when checked: $2,095

• Overall size: 99" W x 43" D x 37" H; 167 lb

• Seat: 24" deep x 20" high; three seating positions rated to 250 lb each

• Upholstery: 100% leather; non-removable cover

• Frame and suspension: kiln-dried solid hardwood and plywood with 10.5-gauge sinuous steel coils

• Cushions: attached foam-core seats wrapped in a blown feather blend; loose foam backs with Dacron wrap

• Assembly: removable wood legs; listed setup time of about 15 minutes

• Entry clearance: 33-inch minimum doorway clearance when unboxed; confirm turns and stair landings separately

• Care: use a mild soap-and-water solution, wipe away residue with a clean damp cloth, and dry promptly

Overall score: 4.1/5

Start with posture. The Big Sur’s 24-inch seat depth suits reclining, curling up, and sitting with one leg tucked under. If you usually sit upright with both feet flat, use a deep-seat versus standard-seat comparison to check whether your back reaches the cushion comfortably; shorter users may need a firm lumbar pillow. The 20-inch seat height is relatively easy to stand from, but the soft top layer still creates a relaxed rather than formal sit.

Then measure the full route, not just the wall where the sofa will go. The frame is 99 inches wide and 43 inches deep, and Living Spaces lists a 33-inch minimum unboxed doorway clearance. Door width alone is not enough—include hall turns, stair landings, elevator depth, and the space needed to rotate the sofa.

Finally, decide whether full leather is worth the upkeep. It wipes down more easily than many fabrics, but the cover does not come off, so spills need prompt attention. If you run warm or want machine-washable upholstery, this sofa’s strongest qualities will not outweigh its care and cooling tradeoffs.

The Big Sur asks for space and regular care. Its 43-inch depth can narrow walkways or overwhelm a compact room, and the fixed cover makes fast spill cleanup important. The leather also holds more body heat than breathable fabric during long sessions. The loose back cushions are comfortable, but they look best when reshaped after heavy use. None of these issues is minor if you want a tidy, upright, low-maintenance sofa; they are the price of its relaxed feel.

Room & Board Metro Leather Sofa: The standard-depth 88-inch Metro has a 38-inch frame depth, a 22-inch seat depth, and a 17-inch seat height. It supports a more upright posture and saves five inches of room depth, while its loose blend-down cushions retain a similarly relaxed character. Current leather configurations cost more than the Big Sur, so choose the Metro for its smaller footprint, customization, and North Carolina construction—not as a lower-priced substitute.

IKEA MORABO: MORABO is the practical budget and space alternative. At 81 1/8 inches wide and 36 1/4 inches deep, it is much easier to place, and its high-resilience foam feels firmer and tidier. It is not a full-leather equivalent: GRANN top-grain leather covers the contact surfaces, while BOMSTAD coated fabric covers the rest. Choose it when price, a compact frame, and a 10-year limited warranty matter more than the Big Sur’s soft, oversized lounge feel.

Big Sur: The Big Sur remains the best of these three for buyers who want the widest, deepest-looking frame and full-leather upholstery at a midrange price. It gives up the Metro’s customization and MORABO’s compact efficiency in exchange for a softer, more expansive shared seat.

• Measure doorways, stair turns, elevator depth, and rotation space before scheduling delivery.

• Leave room around the 43-inch-deep frame so the sofa does not crowd the main walkway.

• Add a firm lumbar pillow if the 24-inch seat depth pulls you away from the back cushion.

• Use a breathable throw during long sessions if leather tends to feel warm against your skin.

• Reshape the loose back cushions and rotate preferred seating positions so wear develops more evenly.

• For routine leather care, start with a lightly damp cloth; use a mild soap solution only when needed and dry the leather promptly.

• Keep the sofa away from strong direct sunlight to reduce drying and uneven fading.

• Add felt or nonslip pads under the legs if the sofa shifts on a hard floor.