Boneless Couches Are Taking Over Living Rooms—Here’s Why They’re Trending

These cushiony sofas are ultra convenient, extremely comfy, and great for renters.

Credit: Wayfair

Boneless couches are popping up (literally) in homes and social media feeds alike, gaining popularity for their comfort and casual aesthetic. These low-profile, cushion-heavy couches are starring in TikTok videos and living rooms thanks to their compact packaging, which lets the pieces take shape before your eyes. Both their catchy name and entertaining unboxing are due to the foam-filled construction, offering a new level of convenience for furnishing your home. Read on to learn more about this trendy sofa type and who it's best suited for.

Meet Our Expert

• Anthony Barzilay Freund is the editorial director at 1stDibs, a luxury online marketplace specializing in unique furniture, jewelry, art, home decor, and more.

• Kelsey Fischer is the head designer at Havenly, an online interior design service.

What Is a ‘Boneless’ Couch?

Despite the playfulness, “boneless couch” is an apt description for this sofa, which lacks an internal frame. Traditional sofas have rigid arms, legs, and internal suspension that help create their shape, while these models rely entirely on dense foam and modular upholstery to form their shape. As a result, they’re inherently low to the ground with a more minimalist and modern style—no height, structure, tapering, or tailoring of more traditional sofa styles. They’re cushiony and inviting, making them better for casual lounging than for formal sitting rooms, which is probably why you find many styles with chaise options.

Some boneless couches feature stackable layers that allow multiple configurations, such as removing a layer to place it in front of the couch, extending it into a sleeper sofa, or creating an extra-comfy pit. While they typically are frameless inside and out, you might find some foam couches that offer an exterior brace for a bit of extra style and support. And although overall aesthetics have leaned toward squared and blocky, there are curved, boneless sofas that capture the current curved-furniture trends.

The Style's History

While boneless couches might feel like a very of-the-moment trend, this structureless seating actually has impressive design roots. “The origin of this design trend can be traced to one pivotal innovation that was introduced by the Italian company Cassina & Businelli (also known as C&B) in 1966, which was a new way to work with injection polyurethane molded foam,” says Anthony Barzilay Freund, editorial director at 1stDibs.

According to Freund, the molded foam was a critical development that allowed C&B to efficiently mass-produce its modern designs. “These modular sofas all featured expertly stitched upholstery that allows the foam pieces to maintain their shape even after long-term use,” says Freund. “What’s more, they gave designers the ability to create seating in never-before-seen forms that were free from the traditional sofa frame.” That freedom led to some of the most iconic sofas of the late 1960s and ’70s: Freund points to legendary examples like the Soriana, B&B Italia’s Camaleonda, and Ligne Roset’s Togo.

Why They're Popular

There’s a strong mix of appealing characteristics creating buzz around boneless couches. Part of the appeal could be the historical legacy and modern aesthetic, which aligns well with current design trends. “Even as we are seeing a return of traditional sofas with flirty, feminine skirts, the ‘boneless’ sofas continue to hold sway, because they exude a sense of hippy-chic casual comfort that feels fun and inviting,” says Freund. The 1stDibs’ Designer Trends Survey for 2026 showed that organic modernism remains a top decorating style (it ranks third after maximalism and eclecticism). “These slouchy, haute-boho sofas—often covered in leathers and velvets steeped in a 1970s palette—perfectly anchor any organic modern space,” says Freund.

Unlike their forebears, however, today’s boneless couches are not high design but rather attainable furniture. Kelsey Fischer, head designer at Havenly, points to the post-pandemic shopping landscape as a major driver. “[The boneless couch] surfaces during the rise of popularity in things like TikTok Shop and Temu post-pandemic, where you could get big furniture pieces for super inexpensive and with a quick lead time,” says Fischer. The affordable price tag is an undeniable factor in the boneless couch’s popularity. And of course, all-cushion couches offer a sink-in softness that many of today’s shoppers crave.

A majority of the boneless couch’s viral appeal comes from its accessibility. These couches are shipped in compact, vacuum-sealed packaging (much like mattresses-in-a-box, which are now a standard product option). This makes boneless couches significantly cheaper to ship than traditional sofas and easier to bring into a home. Doorway clearance, tight corners, stairs, and elevators can limit the use of larger, structured furniture; the modular configuration enhances mobility and adaptability.

Who Should Consider a Boneless Couch?

Fischer says that boneless couches are a great fit for renters, people with shorter-term living arrangements, and those just starting out with a lot of furnishing to do, as they offer a lot for a small budget. “It is a low-cost, non-committal, cozy option that isn’t meant to last too long and comes in pretty much any color or configuration imaginable,” says Fisher. “They are an affordable way to finish rooms that need to serve multiple functions, from gaming and movie nights, to a home office or a comfy reading spot. It’s also great for kids' areas,” she adds. “I see it sort of like a better version of the millennial inflatables, since it literally does inflate upon arrival. Weird but cool,” says Fischer.

Ultimately, the jury’s still out on whether the trend will have staying power. “I personally don’t love the boneless couch from a sustainability perspective, but I can see its appeal,” says Fischer. Unlike traditional sofas, where elements like frames and cushions can be repaired, fixing foam isn’t a simple task. While some designers are skeptical, some homeowners are singing their praises.

“I do not think you will see these last long in a family space as your primary seating or with heavy use, they just literally don’t have the structure to endure the wear and tear,” says Fischer. “But I think the necessary modularity that comes with renting or moving every couple of years makes these a handy choice that gives you the effect of a real sofa and living room setup without the price tag,” says Fischer. “The amount of time they end up being in your home is another matter.”

Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens | By Kristina McGuirk | Published on January 25, 2026

Kristina McGuirk

Kristina McGuirk is a writer for Better Homes & Gardens who specializes in home improvement, appliances, and home decor. She has researched a variety of products from vacuums to bathroom vanities, including tested water filters.

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