Attività

There’s something interesting happening in the furniture world: a plentiful crop of online-only, direct-to-consumer retailers are popping up everywhere, offering incredibly good looking (and often much more competitively priced) merchandise with the caveat that you need to purchase sight unseen. With something as large of a commitment as a sofa, it might be easy to hesitate on taking the plunge, regardless of the upsides (quick shipping, generous return policies, modern styling, budget pricing). One of these companies (that you asked for enthusiastically in the comments of our introductory Sofa Squad post earlier this year) is Article.

Formerly Bryght, Article is an online-only, direct-to-consumer company that offers modern furniture for the living room, bedroom, dining room and beyond. They don’t have any showrooms, traditional sales associates or other middle men, so they can pass on the savings to the consumer. You’ll get a generous 30-day return policy, $49 flat rate shipping to your door and the ability to order swatches as needed.

Article’s been in the direct-to-consumer furniture business since 2013 with the goal of making high-quality pieces accessible to customers at affordable price points. In fact, it’d be easy to outfit your entire home in the brand’s stylishly-designed furniture and home decor options—from sofas to lounge chairs, full dining sets, bedroom furnishings, and more. The only catch? Unlike traditional retailers, the Canadian brand’s offerings are only available to shop online, meaning no showrooms or storefronts to assess options in-person before you buy.

What was the assembly process like? How long did it take and how many people?
The sectional sofa came disassembled in one large box (measuring 35 inches high, 50 inches wide, and 80 inches long). Inside, everything was neatly packed like a jigsaw puzzle—including a right arm-facing sectional chaise, a left arm-facing loveseat, two tufted leather seat cushions, three back cushions, and two round bolsters to accessorize each arm rest. I took each item into my home piece by piece (with help from a strong friend for the two large frame pieces), which was definitely the hardest part of the process because assembly was as simple as screwing on the solid wood legs (stored in handy zipper pockets underneath each frame piece), snapping the chaise and loveseat together, and putting the cushions in place.

Although the Article sofa comes with instructions (which can also easily be found on the website) everything was straight forward enough that I didn’t even glance at them during the whole process (which took under 30 minutes). If, like me, this is your first time ordering a piece of furniture online, don’t fret. Article offers a 30-day return policy from the date of your delivery, with a $49 return shipping fee ($19 for some smaller items) and a one-year warranty for item defects.

After installation
What are the dimensions? How does it fit in your space? Would it be better suited for a different type of home?
Sit test: Is it comfortable? Does it feel well made? Does the couch have a tendency to sag?
Though I chose the couch more for the look of it than the actual comfort, I’m pleasantly surprised with how lovely it is to sit in. It’s not particularly deep seated, and since leather—especially new leather—is a bit stiff, you definitely won’t get a sunken or sagging effect for a while. Unlike some leather couches, the tufted seats on the Sven ensure that you won’t slip around or have to adjust yourself to get comfy, and thanks to a generous fill of accommodating high density foam and polyester, the back cushions are firmly plush and have a tendency to retain their shape.

Lay test:  Is it comfortable? Does it feel well made? Does the couch have a tendency to sag?

I’m on the petite side (about 5'1), and find I have more than enough room to sprawl out on both the loveseat or chaise section of the sofa (my dad who’s 6'1 also finds it comfy). However, because everything from the material to the fill is on the firmer side, I don’t see myself taking any luxurious naps or using it as a makeshift bed anytime soon.