As a cat parent, shopping for a cat-proof couch can be stressful. The Pottery Barn York sofa puts my mind at ease.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
Pottery Barn York Sofa Review: Its Washable Slipcovers Make It a Dream Couch for Cat Parents Like Me
Updated Sep. 24, 2024
When it comes to my two furry friends, so many of my decisions are filtered around what’s best for them, such as my daily schedule, grocery store list and furniture purchasing. Hey, it’s their world, and I just live in it. But unlike making sure I get the right flavor pâté in the pet aisle, finding a couch that’s cat-proof took a lot of extra time and consideration. I’ve now officially found a purr-fectly constructed model that not only matches my aesthetic and comfort needs, but also keeps it from becoming my cats’ scratching post: the Pottery Barn York sofa.
I can confidently state that from my two months of testing, the Pottery Barn York sofa is a cat-proof option. I have two kitties: One tiny 9-pound Siamese runt-of-the-litter named Coco and, on the complete opposite end, a 20-pound gentle giant Maine Coon named Oliver. While the two are complete opposites in terms of size and personality, they’re both guilty of ruining previous furniture of mine with their claws in a matter of weeks. This couch’s strong performance fabric has stood up to even my Maine Coon’s large claws so far, is easy to clean and remove cat hair from. It also has the security of purchasing replaceable slipcovers in case a cat accident goes beyond the point of repair.
What is the Pottery Barn York sofa?
The Pottery Barn York sofa, from the brand’s York collection, brings a modern, European feel to my space while still being versatile enough to fit in with my slightly glam aesthetic. Its key design features—like its sloped arms, my selection of two seats and two back cushions and my selection of the white cream fabric—elevated my space instantly upon arrival. I was a bit worried before the movers uncovered it in my living room—a big online purchase can feel daunting—but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s also a fantastic investment for cat owners like me, as the slipcovers are both washable and replaceable.
OLIVIA HANSON FOR RD.COM
I Tried It
Pottery Barn York Slope Arm Slipcovered Sofa
With over 140 fabric and color combinations to choose from, you're sure to find the right look for your living room.
Pottery Barn York sofa features
The Pottery Barn York sofa is available in five sizes ranging from 60 to 108 inches long. You can choose between bench, two-cushion and three-cushion styles and two cushion fill options. There are also hundreds of fabrics and colors for a truly personalized feel. But the shining feature is that it has removable, washable and replaceable slipcovers for easy cleaning and to keep your couch looking like new.
The couch has sloped arms, which give it a sophisticated look and are easy to rest your arms on. In juxtaposition with many other couches, most of the borders of the couch (aside from the arms) are straight lines, which just adds to its modernity. I selected the two back cushions and two seat cushions, which, in my opinion, give it an elevated feel while also being cozy. The cushions are thick and comfortable enough to sink into and sleep on, yet still supportive. Its slipcover also goes straight to the floor, which I also think makes it look extra expensive. Plus, the slipcovers are removable, so it’s easy to clean underneath the cat-proof couch. This is particularly important—not only because I have cats, but because I chose a white fabric.
How I tested it
I tested the Pottery Barn York sofa using the following four measures: ordering, delivery, human comfort and feline testing.
Ordering
I put a lot of pressure on myself to make the right selections when it came to this couch. After all, it’s a big investment. But on the same end, I knew I loved the look of the couch, and I had a fun time designing and picturing how it would feel in my space. I chose two back cushions instead of three because I thought it gave a more modern appeal to the couch. I chose the two seat cushions for the same reason. It’s worth noting that I didn’t choose the bench cushion style, either, because I knew that option could result in a middle indent since people tend to sit there the most. I selected the down-blend fill to help keep the Pottery Barn York sofa on the cheaper end, but there is a high-performance contract-grade fill option, too.
With over 140 fabric and color combination options, that was the section I spent the most time on. However, I was able to narrow down my fabric choices by knowing I wanted to choose a basketweave slub, as it works better for pets. Against the advice of pet furniture color recommendations, I chose ivory for a color because, well, I’m a neutral lover. Plus, since the fabric was expected to be easy to clean, I felt better about making that selection.
Delivery
One of my fatal flaws is that I’m not the most patient person in the world. So, when I finally did make the order, knowing it would take at least eight weeks to actually get to me was a little agonizing. However, knowing that in the end I was going to get a couch that would improve the look of my space, be cat-friendly and be comfortable, it was well worth the wait.
Aside from a delivery address hiccup on my end, everything came right on schedule. With the white-glove service that comes with purchasing the couch, I didn’t have to worry about setting it up. Pottery Barn connected my couch with a delivery service, and they reached out to set up a delivery date and time. I also connected my phone number, so I got updates and reminders via text message, which gave me the security of knowing that everything was still on track. The day of, they called me when they were about an hour out so I could be prepared. Once they arrived, the process was seamless. The couch was fully covered and protected, and getting it into my apartment was seamless—even through an elevator and my small door! All the delivery men had to do was unpack the couch and it was ready for use—no assembly required.
Human comfort
Testing the comfort of this couch was certainly something I was looking forward to. Since it arrived, I’ve gotten through several seasons of Love Island USA and Emily in Paris and spent many afternoons working from home while sinking into it. It’s also gotten to see a few Sunday afternoon naps and girls’ nights, too. The down-blend fill is comfortable enough to both sit and sleep on it for hours. That comfort doesn’t take away from its support, though. It feels high quality and like it’ll stand the test of time. The same goes for the fabric. It’s soft enough against the skin while also being incredibly durable. If I had one gripe, it’s that it’s not comfortable to rest your head against the armrest. You’ll probably need a pillow like I did for naps.
Feline testing
The point of this review was to test its cat-proofing abilities, so I didn’t use any couch covers or protectors like I normally would so I could see how it stood up to cat hair and scratching. I essentially let my two cats sleep, sit, play and do whatever they wanted on it for about two months. To be honest, my Maine Coon, Oliver, isn’t as much attracted to sitting on it, which is a major benefit for me (because less pet hair cleaning). However, he does like to scratch it on the side of each arm. Although this sofa is cat-friendly, it’s not bulletproof. So, sadly, when I look closely, I can see the effects. But he’s a big and playful cat, and that just comes along with it. I try to stop him as much as I can, but cats will be cats (and I can replace the slipcover eventually). My Siamese cat, on the other hand, Coco, loves to lie on it throughout the day for naps, and hair does eventually show from her time spent there. It’s easy to clean, though, in a minute or two with my cat hair lint roller.
Pros
- Removable, washable and replaceable slipcovers
- Large selection cat-friendly fabrics
- Over 100 color options
- Customizable length selection
- Three seat cushion options
- Two back cushion options
- Two couch fill options
- Elevated and elegant European feel
- Loose, removable cushions
- Durable rubber wooden legs
- No-sag steel build for long-lasting use
- White-glove service included
Cons
- Some options have longer delivery times
Why you should trust us
I’m a commerce writer in the home, fashion and beauty spaces, so I’ve covered a wide range of products. When testing a product, especially furniture, I take my time to assess it from start to finish, aka ordering to lounging. For this story, I spent two months testing the Pottery Barn York sofa—and my cats did, too. I aimed to share my honest experience to help make your own buying decision easier.
FAQ
Why is the Pottery Barn York sofa good for cat owners?
The main reason that the Pottery Barn York sofa is a safe bet for cat owners is its removable, washable and replaceable slipcovers. No matter what we do, cats are going to be cats. Pet owners don’t want to have to remove them or the couch, so Pottery Barn made sure this couch’s slipcovers are removable so we don’t have to do either. Plus, it comes in over 100 fabric and color options, so you can make sure to get one that’s more cat-friendly and longer-lasting.
Where is the Pottery Barn York sofa made?
According to Pottery Barn, the brand’s main hub for furniture-making is in a shop on Sutter Street in Hickory, North Carolina. Years ago, they selected this specific area because it has a deep-rooted history of quality furniture craftsmanship, with many experts that have generations of experience. However, Pottery Barn is also owned by parent company, Williams Sonoma, and like many other large corporations in the U.S., have several factories across the states.
It should be noted that other sources have claimed that some of their furniture or upholstery is out-sourced from places like China and India, assuming for things they don’t have the ability to make in the U.S. With several parts to the couch, it’s a good assumption that most of it is made in the U.S., and may sometimes have specific pieces shipped from other parts of the world.
How long does the Pottery Barn York sofa take to deliver?
How long it takes to get your Pottery Barn York sofa depends on your customization selections. If you pick the version that’s ready-made, it will take one to four weeks, according to the brand, to ship to your home. However, if you get a special order option, it will take eight to 10 weeks. I got the special order option, which aside from an address hiccup on my part, took about eight weeks to deliver.
How do you clean the Pottery Barn York sofa?
For everyday cat hair removal, I use the ChomChom Roller, which is a reusable lint roller. However, when I want to do a deep clean, I remove the seat and back cushion covers and throw them in the wash. I follow the brand’s instructions for slipcover washing machine use, which are to wash on a gentle cycle with cold water and mild liquid detergent. I personally use Tide pods to wash and they seem to do the job just fine. For drying, I tumble dry the covers on low heat. I also make sure that I’m home while doing this because it’s important to remove them from the dryer as soon as they’re done to prevent any wrinkling. I promptly put them back on the couch and the cushions when the drying is complete.
What other reviewers had to say
Pottery Barn, unfortunately, doesn’t allow shoppers to leave reviews, so to compare notes with other buyers, I had to rely on home bloggers. Interestingly enough, most of the reviews I read on the Pottery Barn York sofa had similar pros and cons lists, most of which I wholeheartedly agree with.
The Life on Virginia Street did an extensive review on their purchase. The blogger has a few cats and still, at the end of three years, had “zero regrets” about their purchase. Remington Avenue also did a review with a six-month update where they were “still loving these sofas.” We all agree on the sofa’s beautiful design, high comfort, performance fabric option, easy-to-clean abilities and option to purchase a single replaceable slipcover. Some reviewers didn’t like the long delivery wait time and the price.
Product comparison: Pottery Barn vs. Burrow sofas
Pottery Barn and Burrow both produce couches that pet owners are interested in. When deciding between the Pottery Barn York sofa and the Burrow Nomad sofa sectional, here’s what you should consider.
The Pottery Barn option features removable, washable and replaceable slipcovers in fabric options, like basketweave slub, which I chose, which are durable against cats. Burrow couches use a tightly woven, non-toxic synthetic fabric that the brand claims stands up to cat scratches and stains. While Pottery Barn has hundreds of fabric and color combinations, the Burrow is available in three fabric colors, six leg colors, three arm styles and six configurations.
Both the York and the Nomad offer customizable options. So, it really comes down to the type of fabric and configuration you’re going for. Each one claims to be pet-friendly, so it’s a matter of personal taste.
Final verdict
If I haven’t made it abundantly evident by now, I do love the Pottery Barn York sofa. It’s aesthetically pleasing and comfortable, and it gives me the security of knowing I can keep it looking as good as new—even with two cats. It’s a big investment upfront, as many couches are, but there’s a reason for it. Its quality construction makes me confident that it’ll last for years to come. It’s also well worth the weeks of waiting for it to arrive if you have the time. In the long run, I feel like it’ll end up saving me money since I won’t need to purchase a new couch or slipcovers from cat wear and tear. I would recommend it to any of my cat-owner friends.
Where to buy the Pottery Barn York sofa
OLIVIA HANSON FOR RD.COM
I Tried It
Pottery Barn York Slope Arm Slipcovered Sofa
This couch hits the trifecta: It's comfortable, it's aesthetically pleasing and it stands up to cats.
Pottery Barn’s York collection starts at $929 for a couch. The one I tested came out to a little over $2,600, including shipping, processing and tax. And the price could go up depending on the size, fabric and fill options you choose. The only place to shop the Pottery Barn York sofa is directly on the brand’s website.
Originally Published: September 18, 2024
