I’ve Had A Quince Sofa for 6 Months. Here Are My Thoughts. (original) (raw)

I’ve Been Using Quince’s $1,500 Sofa for 6 Months. Here Are My Thoughts.

By ,editor of the Strategist print section, including “The Look Book.” He was previously a writer at the Strategist covering fitness and outdoor gear.

When I moved into my current Brooklyn apartment three years ago, my roommate and I bought a couch from Facebook Marketplace for $200. It was a yellow Wayfair futon that offered the illusion of comfort. Beneath its plump-looking cushions were random dips that swallowed you up, pieces of the frame that poked you when you leaned back, and unforeseen stains that were impossible to remove. It was the worst thing I bought in recent memory.

I spent the past three years vying for a replacement but too hesitant to actually act, like I was locked in an unhappy marriage. Whenever I’d visit a friend’s apartment, I’d sit on their sofa, noting its firmness, cushion height, and comfort. “Are you happy with this couch?” I’d ask them, with a note of desperation that only a person broken by a saggy cushion can voice. My roommate and I couldn’t justify the hassle and price tag of buying a new one; we were trapped in couch purgatory.

So I was equal parts excited and skeptical when I had the opportunity to try a new couch for the Strategist’s Couch Week earlier this year. Writer Erin Schwartz tasked me with testing Quince’s Sierra curved-arm sofa (from 1,450)aspartofastoryonthebestsofasfor[under1,450) as part of a story on the best sofas for [under 1,450)aspartofastoryonthebestsofasforunder1,500. I was eager to finally have a reason to throw out my old futon but wary of falling into the same trap of trusting a couch’s online photos, only to have the real thing not match my expectations — a couch catfish, per se. I would not get couchfished again.

These were my criteria: cushions on the firmer side (I don’t like the feeling of sinking into the cushions after a few episodes on Netflix); a medium-to-high-back cushion to support my back; a solid frame that doesn’t move or creak (or poke); and a depth that allows for sprawling out in different positions.

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The couch arrived via truck with free white-glove service. Two delivery people dropped it off in my living room. It came assembled (the frame and the two cushions), and it took less than five minutes to remove the plastic wrapping and set the cushions on the frame.

Adjusting the cushion and putting it in the corner gives me lots of space to sprawl out my legs.Photo: Jeremy Rellosa

My first impression of the couch was that it was more supportive than it looked in photos — a good thing, at least for my criteria. I worried that the large, puffy seat cushion (there is one main cushion for the eight-foot version I tested; it also comes in seven- and nine-foot lengths) in the photos would be too soft, but in reality, it felt buoyant. Maybe this is more indicative of my mattress situation, but I often sleep better and more deeply on this couch than I do on my own bed. Its cushion is firm but forgiving — it’s not memory-foam-like, but it’s also not fluffy to the point of sinking into it. The product details say it’s “filled with a foam and recycled fiber blend that mimics the sink-in comfort of down without the need for daily cushion fluffing.” Its supportiveness without being stiff is my favorite quality.

The back cushions have heft, and I like that I can move them to the corners of the couch to reposition my legs if I want to sprawl sideways. Its 40-inch depth gives me enough space to put my legs up, and it’s not so shallow that I’m itching for an ottoman. And its overall height of 30.5 inches hit that ideal in-between height I was looking for: not too low that it would leave my upper back unsupported, but not too high that it felt like a recliner.

The cushions have a nice heft and weight.Photo: Jeremy Rellosa

I was impressed with its look and quality, too. The cushions are rectangular but slightly rounded, which give it a modern feel without giving off the vibe of my childhood sofa from the ’90s. (These couches from Quince are made to order in Los Angeles; the current delivery window is 10 to 12 weeks.) The frame felt stable and hasn’t shown any signs of movement or creakiness after daily use from me and my roommate. I got the couch in Fog, a light gray, and its upholstery — a hefty basket-weave fabric (73 percent polyester, 27 percent cotton performance fabric) — suffered one spill (a can of red Spindrift Grapeade), but I quickly dabbed it with water, and there is no trace of the accident whatsoever. That durability (and the fact that its covers are removable and machine washable) gives me confidence to actually use the couch every day, rather than treat it delicately. For those reasons, I can imagine this would be a great option for families with kids and pets. It’s also available in five other neutral shades, as well as a performance velvet (from $1,450 as well), which comes in ten different colors.

One of the best compliments I can give this couch is that my first impressions of it from the day it arrived are the same takeaways six months later. It’s just as inviting as it was on the first day, and its cushion hasn’t lost its support. Like I mentioned in our roundup of the best couches under 1,500,IthinkthisQuincecouchisagreatdealforpeoplewholikeafirmercushion,andIthinkit’sabsolutelyworth1,500, I think this Quince couch is a great deal for people who like a firmer cushion, and I think it’s absolutely worth 1,500,IthinkthisQuincecouchisagreatdealforpeoplewholikeafirmercushion,andIthinkit’sabsolutelyworth1,450, especially with the free white-glove shipping.

The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

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