The Best Sofas with Movable Backrests for Open Interiors

We hear certain furniture questions a lot. One seating solution our customers are always searching for is a sofa with dual sides where the backs are entirely moveable. The versatility of adjustable backrests comes in handy, especially in open spaces. The good news is, we have options! Here are the most versatile double sided couch options with the best reviews from our customers.

The Playground Sofa by Eilersen

The appropriately named Playground Sofa has been our most popular piece since the very beginning, and with good reason. In addition to being remarkably comfortable, it is also in the Quick Ship Program in several fabric options with removable, dry-cleanable covers! We've covered durable sofa fabrics for kids, cats, and dogs previously but removable covers are always a bonus regardless of how durable the fabric is.

Do the backrests really stay in place?

The Curve Sofa by Italy's Art Nova

Arguably the most versatile in our collection is the aptly name Curve who's proportions are that of a pond pebble and combine to make stunning sectional sofa designs. The standout feature is the moveable backrest pads — independent, double-sided cushions that rest on top of the seat surface rather than being fixed to a frame, letting you slide them to either side of each module. That means the same sofa can face the TV one evening, turn inward for conversation the next, or split front-and-back to seat a room from both directions. The S-curved layout of a multi-piece sectional opens up a natural nook for a small round side table, and the lack of hard arms or rigid backs gives the whole arrangement a netflix-and-chill type ease.

The Axis Sofa by Calligaris

The Axis sectional by Calligaris is a study in relaxed, modular Italian design — a low, deep-seated lounge piece shown here in a warm cinnamon-brown chenille that catches the light with subtle texture. The silhouette is intentionally minimal: clean rectangular volumes with softly rounded edges, a single bench-style seat cushion per module, and barely-there sloped arms that lean inward just enough to feel inviting without breaking the horizontal calm.

What sets Axis apart is the moveable wedge-shaped backrest visible in this shot. Rather than fixing the back to the frame, Calligaris lets these triangular cushions sit freely on top of the seat platform, so you slide them wherever you want to lean — left, right, against a wall, or toward the center to convert a section into a chaise or a back-to-back conversation seat. It's the same reconfigurable thinking behind Eilersen's Playground, executed in a more architectural, urban-Italian vocabulary.

The proportions read as generous but disciplined: deep enough to curl into, flat-topped enough to dress with throws and accent pillows like the woven beige lumbar shown here. With Calligaris' broad fabric program and the flexibility of modular components, Axis works as a single oversized lounger, a long sofa along a window wall, or a full sectional that adapts to the room rather than dictating it.

The Bresso Sofa by Nicoline Italia

The Bresso is your best choice if you prefer leather, or a combination of leather and fabric. Nicoline Italia has some incredible leather options to choose from making it the go to choice for leather lovers. The Bresso is available in 6 different sizes plus an ottoman that can be combined to make a sectional sofa.

The Felix Sofa by DellaRobbia

The Felix isn't a true double sided seating option but remains the go to choice if your prefer the most sturdy seat back. Each seat back has steel supports that slot into a channel the runs along the back and side of the couch making them easily moveable and removable, yet as sturdy as a completely fixed sofa. DellaRobbia offers a stunning collection of upholstery options and manufactures these right here in California!

Ask questions on each product page or get in touch to request fabric samples, lead times, price quotes, or more info we may not have completely covered here.