Ashley Refined Sofa Review

The Refined remains a strong lounge sofa if you can find a clean used example at a sensible price. Its feather-fiber top feels soft immediately, while the platform foundation keeps the seat from feeling loose underneath. The 26-inch seat depth works especially well for curling up or sitting with your legs on the cushion. It is a poor match for anyone who wants firm lumbar support, an easy feet-flat posture, or a sofa that can still be ordered new with a full choice of retailer services.

Who It’s For

• Used-furniture shoppers who can inspect the cushions, frame, and upholstery in person
• People who sprawl, curl up, or change positions during a movie
• Households with enough room for a 90-inch-wide, 42-inch-deep sofa

Who It’s Not For

• Anyone who needs firm lumbar support for long, upright sitting
• Petite sitters who want both feet on the floor without adding a back pillow
• Buyers who want a current model with predictable new-retail availability

The sofa followed our standard testing framework across ordinary living-room routines: short laptop sessions, gaming, conversation, stretched-out lounging, and long TV blocks. That mix made it easier to separate a comfortable first sit from comfort that lasted after an hour or more.

We considered assembly, cooling, comfort, durability, room fit, cleaning, and value. The checks included sitting at the center and front edge, standing up repeatedly, changing posture, watching cushion recovery, tracking heat during longer sessions, and cleaning everyday lint. Testers with different heights and weights also compared how naturally the 26-inch seat depth and 20-inch seat height supported their preferred posture.

The Refined felt soft on the first sit, but the cushion did not collapse into the frame. Ashley’s published 26-inch seat depth matched the way the sofa encouraged a legs-up position, while the 20-inch seat height kept the front edge from feeling unusually low. After standing, the cushions rose gradually rather than snapping back, and routine fluffing restored a more even surface.

That depth changed how each person used the sofa. Marcus Reed (6'1", 230 lbs) had room to settle back and found the edge adequately stable, although he noticed more warmth during long gaming sessions. Mia Chen (5'4", 125 lbs) could sit feet-flat only by moving forward, so she preferred curling up or placing a pillow behind her. Jamal Davis (6'3", 210 lbs) liked the 79 inches of space between the arms for stretching out, but the published 15-inch back above the cushion stopped below his head.

What we liked

• The feather-fiber layer felt soft without hiding the steadier support underneath
• The deep, wide seat made legs-up lounging easy for one or two people
• Reversible seat and back cushions make it practical to spread wear across both sides

Who it is best for

• Movie watchers who change positions rather than sitting upright in one spot
• Taller users who value seat depth and interior width more than a high back
• Secondhand buyers who can inspect cushion loft, stains, seams, and frame noise before paying

Where it falls short

• Petite users who want a natural feet-flat posture without an extra pillow
• Warm-bodied loungers who notice heat buildup during long sessions
• People who depend on the sofa back for head, neck, or firm lumbar support

• Availability: Ashley lists the Refined Sofa as no longer available; used inventory varies.
• Model: 1670338, stationary sofa in Sand.
• Dimensions: 90 in. W x 42 in. D x 36 in. H.
• Weight: 158 lbs.
• Seat depth: 26 in.
• Seat height: 20 in.
• Arm height: 24 in.
• Distance between arms: 79 in.
• Back height above cushion: 15 in.
• Leg height: 1.25 in.
• Minimum doorway width: 32 in.
• Frame: corner-blocked frame.
• Cushions: reversible seat and back cushions.
• Seat construction: foam core with a feather-fiber blend wrap.
• Included pillows: arm bolsters with feather-fiber blend fill.
• Upholstery: polyester.
• Legs: non-skid legs.
• Foundation: platform system. Ashley says it resisted sagging three times better than a spring system after 20,000 internal test cycles; this is a manufacturer claim rather than an independent result.
• Assembly: sold as fully assembled; delivery and placement requirements depended on the retailer.

Start with posture. If you normally sit cross-legged, curl up, or bring both feet onto the cushion, the 26-inch depth is a real advantage. If you read or work with both feet on the floor, the same depth pushes you away from the back cushion. A small lumbar pillow shortens the seat, but it does not turn the Refined into a firm, upright sofa.

Then measure the room and delivery route. The frame is 90 inches wide, 42 inches deep, and 158 pounds, and the published minimum doorway width is 32 inches. For a used purchase, also compare both sides of every reversible cushion, check whether the feather-fiber wrap still has even loft, press along the front edge, listen for frame noise, and inspect the sand-colored upholstery in daylight.

The largest limitation is availability: Ashley no longer sells model 1670338, so condition and seller terms matter more than the old list price. The design also commits fully to lounging. Its 26-inch seat can leave shorter legs unsupported, the 15-inch back above the cushion does not reach the head, and the soft fill offers less lumbar structure than an upright sitter may want. The 42-inch depth also consumes more floor space than the 90-inch width alone suggests.

Why the Refined still stands out

• Its feather-fiber cushioning feels softer than most sofas built around pocket springs or plain foam
• The 26-inch seat provides generous lounge depth without moving to a sectional
• Reversible cushions and a stable platform base are useful on a well-kept used example

Crate & Barrel Lounge Deep 93 is the closest match for an even larger, softer family-room sofa. At 46 inches deep and 93 inches wide, it needs more space than the Refined and costs substantially more new. Choose it when maximum lounge depth and current retail support matter more than budget.

Room & Board Metro is easier to use for mixed sitting styles. Its standard 22-inch seat depth and 17-inch seat height support a more natural upright posture, while the blend-down cushions still feel relaxed. It is the better choice for a living room that also handles reading, conversation, or occasional laptop work.

IKEA KIVIK is the practical budget option. Its 23 5/8-inch seat is shallower, and the pocket-spring-and-foam construction feels firmer than the Refined’s feather-fiber wrap. Removable machine-washable covers make KIVIK easier to maintain, though it does not reproduce the same pillowy first sit.

• Keep a small lumbar pillow nearby and compare the setup with guidance for sofas for back pain when you want a shorter, more upright seat.
• Flip and rotate the reversible cushions on a schedule so the same areas do not carry all the wear.
• Fluff the feather-fiber wrap after long lounging sessions instead of waiting for visible low spots.
• Vacuum with a soft upholstery tool and keep a lint roller nearby for quick touch-ups; homes with animals may also want to compare pet-friendly sofa fabrics.
• Blot spills promptly and test any cleaner on a hidden area before treating the visible fabric.
• Use the included bolster under an elbow for side-leaning or behind a shoulder for a more supported recline.
• Leave enough room around the 42-inch-deep frame to keep the main walking path clear.
• If buying used, inspect cushion recovery, seams, stains, odors, and frame noise before arranging transport.