The Novogratz Vintage Mix Sofa Futon is an attractive firm grey sofa that folds down into a guest bed, but the key word to keep in mind is “firm.”
The sofa comes in a very large box and I would suggest having two people to unbox and move the couch into position.
When you unbox the couch though don’t panic if you don’t at first see all the pieces—there is a hidden zippered compartment underneath the couch that contains the couch sides, hardware, and assembly instructions. That was the funny part—the first step in the instructions was to unzip the hidden compartment and remove everything, including the instructions.
The couch requires minimal assembly — essentially you need to attach the legs and the sides of the couch.
The couch has pre-drilled holes, so assembly is just a matter of lining up the legs or sides and tightening the bolts. The sides are different (there is a “left” and a “right”), so if the holes don’t line up for you, try the other side!
The assembly itself was fairly easy—the hardware includes an Allen key used to turn the bolts, but in tight spaces the key can be difficult to turn by hand, so we found using an additional wrench [not provided] to be very helpful.
One nice addition was a fifth leg in the middle of the couch underneath, which provides for additional stability and support.
Once assembled, we found the couch to be very attractive. The legs were painted gold, which was a bit odd considering the linen fabric was grey, but the gold color actually works because the legs are often in shadow, so the couch looks sharp. The main feature to keep in mind is that the couch is very firm—this is not one of those big, puffy couches that you sink into when watching television. So that’s why we found this couch to work better in our formal room.
The seat area of the couch is 73" wide and 23" deep. The couch quickly folds down flat for a roomy bed, with dimensions: 44" by 73". We suggest that you place it against a wall when turned into a bed, to avoid having guests exit from the “wrong side” and tip the couch. The back of the couch is the same color and fabric as the rest, but there is a exposed shelf used for support when turned into a bed. Our older cat located this shelf, and loves sleeping on it.
So overall, Novogratz Vintage Mix Sofa Futon is nicer than we were expecting, though we were not expecting it to be so firm. The couch may not be the first choice when watching a movie, but after using it for a while, we got used to the firmness, and now quite like it. We love the way it looks in our formal living room. We also liked that the two bolsters that come with it are removable, and that the bottom cushion is all one piece that doesn’t move around on you when napping.
Oh, and it’s cat approved.
Pricing and Availability on Amazon: Novogratz Vintage Mix Sofa Futon (aff)