If you wanted to buy new furniture over a decade ago, it was customary to spend an afternoon at a furniture store or showroom lying on mattresses, opening and closing dresser drawers, and generally making yourself right at home on the sales floor. Now, more and more millennial shoppers are saving themselves that trip. Whether for time-constraint reasons or budget restrictions, millennial renters and homeowners tend to look for furniture that doesn't feel like an enormous investment or hassle to shop for.
Sofa-in-a-box products aren't an entirely new concept (hello, IKEA), but with the ubiquity of bed-in-a-box mattresses, applying the same easy-to-assemble concept to one's living room furniture feels like a natural progression.
These brands all have slightly different product offerings and shipping policies, but the sofa-in-a-box products themselves are all standouts. Get comfy and read on to learn why!
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Burrow
The Starting Price: $995 for fabric-upholstered loveseat
The Sum-Up: This USB-equipped sofa-in-a-box is perfect for those who are ready to commit to a grown-up couch
Burrow is one of the most prominent brands in the sofa-in-a-box space, and it's not hard to see why — their products look like anything but starter furniture. They offer three different upholstery material options for their flagship Nomad sofa (olefin fabric, performance velvet and leather, in a variety of size configurations), but the customer can choose the arm height, material color, and birchwood leg finish, along with whether to add on a reversible chaise or ottoman. Each sofa model is also equipped with a built-in USB charger for added convenience.
Burrow's seating is a true sofa-in-a-box, as the sofa arrives flat-packed in sections, and can be snapped together without tools. One reviewer even noted that assembly is "easier than IKEA." Shipping is included in the price, and if you don't love it, you can return it in 30 days for a full refund.
Allform
The Starting Price: From $1,145 for loveseat
The Sum-Up: Allform specializes in modular, durable, life-proof seats in a range of space-flattering shades
Another sofa-in-a-box brand for lovers of the clean-line look, Allform offers one flagship chair, sofa, and sectional silhouette that's meant to be a total design chameleon, blending into any space. The seats are available in fabric and leather, and in nine different colors total with three leg finishes.
Our director of SEO and content Erica Murphy had the chance to assemble and test out the Allform Sectional in her own space. “When all the boxes arrived for my Allform sofa, I was pretty overwhelmed, to be honest,” she said. “There were a lot of them, and I prayed that assembly would be easy. Thankfully, the instructions were super clear, and it came with all the necessary tools.” She also noted that it was easy to swap the sectional sides when needed.
Out of the box, the feel of the Allform Sectional was an adjustment, but the style was a total match. "The sofa does need some breaking in for the seat cushions, but the back cushions are super comfortable and supportive at the same time ... As far as the look of the sofa goes, I love it! I already had a bit of mid-century modern vibe going in my living room, and this sofa fits right in. My only concern is how it will hold up if I have to move it, but for now, it works in my apartment."
Allform's shipping is included in the total cost, and while they do not have white-glove delivery, they do offer a 100-day trial on their products.
Sabai
The Starting Price: $1,095 for the Essential Sofa model
The Sum-Up: This DTC, sofa-in-a-box company centers sustainability by making beautiful, easy-to-assemble seats from sustainably sourced or recycled materials
Launched in 2019, Sabai's furniture offerings may be limited, but the customization options more than make up for it. The brand's Essential Sofa is engineered for convenience and comfort, from its slim, tapered legs (available in two finishes) that make for easy under-couch cleaning, to its removable back pillows, to the choice between three seat cushions or a single bench cushion. The couch is available in seven different upholstery/color options that are water-repellent and scratch-proof, and reviewers love this sofa for its roomy size, stylish look, and firm but comfortable feel.
The Sabai Essential Sofa ships to your door in three boxes without any plastic packaging. The unit interlocks easily without needing any tools, and the sofa legs even come in reusable mesh produce bags. The company offers free shipping in the continental U.S., as well as a 30-day trial window.
Coddle
The Starting Price: $1,199 for the Toggle Convertible Couch in any fabric
The Sum-Up: Frequent overnight hosts and Netflix bingers will love these cushy couches and their convertible sleeper option
When it comes to futon-style couches, Coddle has one of very few convertible sofas-in-a-box models in its product category. The brand now has three couch models: the Toggle, the Code, and the Switch Sleeper Sofa. However, the Toggle is the brand's flagship sofa-in-a-box — it comes in just one size, but in eight different upholstery options, and it can fold into numerous configurations. Beneath its quilted cushions, the Coddle Sofa comprises four layers of memory foam that make for a firm but supportive seat or bed. It also comes with two charging ports on either side of the couch.
Our editor Danielle St. Pierre tested out Coddle's Toggle sofa and found the setup process to be incredibly quick and easy, taking 10 to 15 minutes to snap together. Though the couch doesn't have armrests, she does like that the ends of the couch can be angled to tilt up at a 60-degree angle to provide added neck support while lying down. "Overall I give this couch 8 out of 10 stars for comfort and would recommend it for anyone who’s looking for a multifunctional couch," she says.
Coddle's sofas arrive flat-packed, and they can be assembled by hand without tools. Coddle has temporarily suspended their white-glove delivery, now offering contactless drop-off delivery, as well as free shipping for products over $999.
Floyd
The Starting Price: $1,195 for the loveseat
The Sum-Up: This sofa-in-a-box is Instagram-level stylish, but made for real life
Direct-to-consumer brand Floyd may only offer one sofa-in-a-box (fittingly called "The Sofa"), but it comes in three streamlined silhouettes — a loveseat, sofa, and sectional — and in five stain-resistant fabrics. Users really like the sofa's comfy feel, durable build, and stylish look.
It arrives flat-packed in four to seven boxes (depending on the chosen style), and it's easy to assemble and also take apart for homes that have narrow corners and tight doorways. White-glove assembly isn't available for this product, and there is a 10% shipping fee, but it's covered by a 30-day trial period.
Campaign
The Starting Price: From $1,095 for the loveseat
The Sum-Up: These chic sofas are secretly super rugged
Campaign's sofa-in-a-box products all have a clean-line, mid-century-inspired look, but all are available in an impressive upholstery color range with a heathered texture that belies its rugged, resilient quality. Choose between light maple or dark oak legs to complete your couch customization.
This flat-packed sofa comes right out of the box with everything you need to put it together, though users to advise that assembly is a two-person job (there isn't white-glove delivery available at this time — they recommend using TaskRabbit). The sofa has a 30-day window for returns, and the shipping is included.
BenchMade Modern
The Starting Price: From $2,511 for certain styles
The Sum-Up: For folks who want a sofa made just for them (or their space!) this brand is the best for precise, custom sizing
For those who want to leave nothing to chance, BenchMade Modern offers a truly custom product. Once you've decided on a silhouette (Wirecutter named the Skinny Fat Sofa as one of their favorites), choose from more than 200 upholstery and leg-finish options, as well as the precise length and depth of the couch. And to prevent any unpleasant surprises on the day of delivery, you can request a free, life-size cutout of the couch that you're considering, so that you can ensure it'll fit perfectly in your space (and right through your doorway!).
As far as shipping, BenchMade's products don't arrive flat-packed in boxes as other products on this list do, but arrives off the delivery truck palletized and plastic-wrapped. You'll need to schedule a time to receive the couch — the brand will deliver it to your curbside for free. They also offer an impressive 100-day return policy.
IKEA
The Starting Price: From $249 for certain styles
The Sum-Up: IKEA is simply the best for budget seekers
As customary of IKEA's furniture, pretty much all of the megastore's couches come sofa-in-a-box style. While the materials may not be quite as resilient or luxe as the other brands on this list, the accessible cost makes this brand a mainstay. They also have a wider range of couch styles and configurations, if you're looking for something beyond the mid-mod aesthetic.
If you buy large IKEA furniture online, delivery starts at $49. In lieu of white-glove service, IKEA also has a partnership with the on-demand helpers at TaskRabbit to coordinate furniture assembly. If you do the job yourself, you'll need a small toolkit to screw the pieces together ... and possibly another set of hands to help. Plus, IKEA's products can be returned within 365 days of purchase, as long as you have the receipt.
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