Our sofa is a hand-me-down Crate & Barrel, and you can’t really say no to one of those when you don’t have a proper sofa. It doesn’t sit against a wall, just alongside one that’s about 14 feet long, with our vinyl records displayed on it. Behind it are an IKEA Kallax and an IKEA dresser with our books on top, plus a long, huge pothos on the Kallax, its leaves trailing down beside the records.

It’s still really comfortable to sit on. You sink into it, and I really like that feeling, especially after a long day.

Sadly, three years in, after a newborn phase of lulling our daughter to sleep on it, some of the springs in the seat are giving out. My wife did call me out for bouncing her on the sofa instead of the yoga ball that seemed designed for exactly that. I shrugged and said my brain was fried from lack of sleep.

We haven’t started looking for a replacement yet. When I do shop for a sofa, I check that the brand is trustworthy, read owner reviews and look for all-natural or mostly natural fibers. I’ll keep it a long time, so it has to fit the space and the vibe.

Two things put Cozey on my list, its washable covers and its first permanent US store. That store is coming to the Flatiron district in New York, close enough that it’ll be local for us. I’m excited to check it out once it opens.

Out of Cozey’s lineup, the Ciello XL is my pick, for that deep seat. It isn’t natural fiber, which is what I usually look for. But with a baby in the house, I’d take covers I can throw in the wash.

Which Cozey sofa should you buy?

The choice comes down to how deep, how high and how firm you like your seat. Both Ciellos are on the soft side, while the Atmosphere is firmer and sits just over 4 inches lower. A deeper seat gives you more room to sprawl, and a lower one puts you closer to the floor, so it takes a little more effort to get up from.

The deep seat for loungingCiello XL

Best for: anyone whose sofa is for naps and movie nights, in a living room with floor to spare.

Want room to stretch out? This is the Ciello to get, with a seat 5 inches deeper than the regular one’s. That’s enough to tuck your feet up beside you or lie back with a pillow behind you.

The XL 3 seater is just over 9.5 feet long, so check it against your wall before you fall for it. Ours runs about 14 feet, and it could go where our sofa is now once we start looking for a replacement. A seat deep enough for a proper nap is worth making room for!

Specs114.25 W x 40.25 D x 37 H in

Size, 3 seater with two arms

114.25 W x 40.25 D x 37 H in

Seat depth

26.5 in

Seat height

21 in

Width of each seat

35 in

Fabric

100% polyester, 18 colors

The regular seat at a lower priceCiello

Best for: a small apartment or condo, or a first real sofa on a tighter budget.

Working with a tight wall? The regular Ciello comes in just over 8 inches shorter than the XL, so it’s easier to fit between a doorway and a corner. Its seat is shallower too, which is great if you like to sit back against the cushions with your feet still on the floor.

Cozey makes the Ciello as a 2 seater, too, for a wall where even this one’s a squeeze. In a studio, a sofa that size could be all you need.

Specs106 W x 37.5 D in

Size, 3 seater with two arms

106 W x 37.5 D in

Seat depth

21.5 in

Seat height

21 in

Width of each seat

31 in

Fabric

100% polyester, 18 colors

Firmer and lower, with a storage optionAtmosphere

Best for: anyone who likes a firm seat, or a small apartment that could use storage in the sofa.

If your sofa is where you eat, chat or work on a laptop more than where you nap, the Atmosphere might be the one for you. It looks like it’d be stiff, but owners say it isn’t. You sit on the cushion rather than sinking into it, and the seat’s a little deeper than the regular Ciello’s, so there’s still room to lean back at the end of the night.

Then there’s the storage seat, which could hold the throws, the toys and the spare pillows. When the closets are already full, that’s a great perk.

Specs110.8 W x 40.6 D x 28.3 H in

Size, 3 seater with two arms

110.8 W x 40.6 D x 28.3 H in

Seat depth

22.4 in

Seat height

16.9 in

Fabric

100% polyester, 20 colors

Can you wash Cozey covers, and do they pill?

Yes, the covers come off and go in the washer on a cold, gentle cycle, then air dry. The exception is the bouclé Atmosphere, which is spot clean or dry clean only. Small messes like muddy paw prints should wipe right off, and for a stain that won’t come out of a Ciello, Cozey recommends professional cleaning.

Every Ciello and Atmosphere cover is 100% polyester, so if natural fibers are on your list, there’s no cotton, linen or wool to pick from. Read through the owner reviews for either sofa, and pilling is the complaint that comes up most.

The fabric can pill or snag within weeks to a few months, and the seat can look worn sooner than you’d hope. On the Atmosphere it’s mostly in homes with pets, but the Ciello can do it in homes without pets too. If an Atmosphere cover does pill, Cozey sells a fresh one for a single seat, so it doesn’t have to mean a new sofa.

Do Cozey sofas sag, and how long do they last?

Some do, and when a Cozey sags, owners say it’s the cushions flattening, sometimes within weeks or months. If you like a brand with a track record, Cozey’s is short. It’s only been around since 2020, and nobody can show you a ten-year-old one yet.

Its warranty covers defective parts for five years, so don’t lean on it for cushions that just soften. Cozey’s care advice is to fluff and rotate the cushions regularly to help them hold their shape. That’s not much to ask of a sofa you plan to keep.

Where can you sit on a Cozey before you buy?

In a Cozey store in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver or Calgary, or at its pop-ups in Los Angeles and Chicago, with New York coming soon. If one’s near you, it’s worth the trip, since no listing can show you how a seat feels.

Can’t get to one? Free swatches let you feel the fabric at home, and the 30-day trial starts the day your sofa arrives. Together, they’re a fair safety net when all you’ve seen are photos.

How do delivery, returns and the warranty work?

Delivery is free, you carry the boxes in and build the sofa yourself, and you’ve got 30 days to send it back.

Putting it together should be simple, and it goes easier with a second person. In a walk-up, you’ll want that help on the stairs, too.

A free return needs the original boxes, and in a small apartment that’s a lot of cardboard to live with for a month.

With a baby or a dog at home, CozeyProtection+ could be worth adding, and you can cancel it during the trial if you change your mind.

Questions people ask

I sold contract-grade furniture from 2016. More about who runs it.