There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.
On Trial: Allform, a sofa-in-a-box brand that specializes in the mid-century modern aesthetic
Tester: Erica Murphy, an NYC resident looking for the perfect couch to fit with her living room vibe
The Brief: Picture this: You’re moving into an apartment in New York City. It’s a walk-up. The stairway is super narrow. You have a normal, unyielding couch. You’re literally in the middle of the “Pivot” scene from Friends. I've experienced this scenario too many times during my five-plus moves in the city — I promised myself that the next time I moved, I would absolutely not go through it again. That next time came just a few weeks ago, and I stuck to my guns.
Enter Allform, a new, couch-in-a-box brand from bedding company Helix. The brand offers modular couches designed with real life in mind. They also use sustainable sourcing for their wood and recycled materials for some products and packaging, and all products are manufactured in the USA.
When the brand was first introduced to me, I was intrigued by the “in-a-box” marketing. I knew that bed-in-a-box brands were blowing up all over the place, but wasn't sure about couches. Were they comfortable? Was there assembly required? Did they look cheap? I did some research and came to the conclusion that Allform was definitely for me. From the look of the couch to the simple ordering process to the coziness, I'll never go back to a normal couch again.
Design & Ordering Process
Allform couches come in one style: mid-century modern. But what they lack in style variation, they make up for completely in sizing. From armchairs to loveseats, and from three-seat couches all the way up to five-seat sectionals, you can customize the couch to any size that you want for your home (they even have an eight-seat option!).
All varieties come in two different fabrics — a performance fabric and leather — and you can choose from a wide range of colors, too. There are basic shades like gray and navy, or you can go bold with yellow or red. The last thing you can customize is the hardwood leg finish — you can choose from natural, walnut, or espresso.
Once I thought about all of the choices for a bit, I settled on a gray, three-seat sectional with walnut legs. The colors for the fabric and the legs look exactly like they do in photos — there were no surprises between what I ordered and what I received. Within a week of ordering, the couch showed up at my apartment.
Delivery & Assembly
I didn't know what to expect from the couch delivery, and frankly, I was a little overwhelmed by the size and number of boxes that showed up. For a three-seat sectional, there were four large boxes. The Allform couch is designed to be modular, meaning that it comes in pieces that you connect together. Each seat came in its own box with respective cushions, and the sectional cushion came in a separate box as well. If you're moving into a place with not a lot of space, I highly recommend getting the couch set up first before you move in all of your other stuff. Having some floor space to assemble was essential.
The assembly instructions were clear and comprised eight steps. All tools were included to assemble the couch, but it was definitely a two-person job. I'd even recommend having another screwdriver on hand, so multiple people can assemble at once. The most difficult part of the process was connecting the seat pieces together. They connect via a locking mechanism, and it was a little finicky. It took several tries, but once I figured out that one person had to hold while the other pushed, locking the pieces together was successful.
Once the whole couch was put together, I was slightly fearful that it would all crumble once I sat on it, but I've been living with it for weeks now and that hasn't happened yet!
Look & Comfort
Even before ordering it, I loved the look of the Allform couch. It's modern, sleek, sturdy — and in person, the couch lived up to all those initial impressions. The material is really durable, too. The brand claims that all fabrics are "heavy duty scratch, pill, and stain resistant." Within about 2 hours of assembling the couch, I spilled water on it, but the water just beaded up and fell right off.
When I first sat on the couch, the seat cushions felt a little stiff. However, the back cushions offered the perfect amount of fluff and support. Allform uses a blend of foam and fiber for their cushions, in order to maintain the right comfort balance and avoid sagging. I'd rather have a couch that takes a bit to break in over one that you sink into within seconds.
Wrap-Up
Along with a 100-day trial period, Allform also offers a lifetime warranty on their frames. Their couch is an investment, but it's a worthy investment that will last you for a while. I love my Allform couch, and I'm so happy I ditched the "normal" couch for good.
Read more:
The Sofa-in-a-Box Brands You Need on Your Radar
These Sofa Covers Will Keep Your Couch Looking Brand New
Overnight Guests Will Never Know These Sofas Are Convertible
Follow BestProducts.com on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!
