Three floors up, less than 500 square feet, and riddled with tight corners – from the day I signed the lease, I knew my pre-war New York apartment would be difficult to furnish. I managed to fit a queen-sized bedframe, and a slim armoire gave the space some semblance of a normal apartment. But as for a sofa – there was simply no way a standard pick would work. I needed something modular.
Since this would be my first time owning a sofa (all of my previous apartments came pre-furnished), I had research to do. Of course, I didn't want something so cheap that I'd have to throw it away in a year. Instead, I wanted the best sofa I could get. But with a slew of parameters for my open-plan living room, my search proved to be more challenging than I thought. After a few weeks of feeling like I'd never find the right sofa, I came across modular sofa experts, Cozey.
After narrowing down my options, I landed on the Gaia XL in Flax Haven – a two-seater modular sofa in a soft tan color. I took a leap of faith and ordered it online. Just under a week later, it arrived.
Like every Cozey sofa, the Gaia is completely customizable. I opted for the two-seater XL (just a few inches wider than the regular two-seater) with an ottoman. It features very plush seat, arm, and back cushions. Nearly a dozen fabric styles are offered, but my Gaia sofa is made with performance fabric that is durable and machine washable.
Size of the Gaia XL (not including the ottoman): 72.4" wide, 36.2" deep, 39" tall
I vividly remember sitting on the floor of my hardly furnished studio, staring at the five boxes that supposedly contained my new sofa. Was this the right decision, or was ordering a sofa online a huge mistake? Spoiler alert: it was, without a doubt, the right call. Ahead, read about my experience receiving, assembling, and living with Cozey's Gaia Sofa.
Setting It Up
A few things surprised me about my Gaia sofa's delivery. First: the speed. The sofa arrived at my apartment less than a week after I'd ordered it – faster than some of my online clothing purchases. Not only that, but I couldn't believe how compact it was. Only five boxes held everything, along with a sixth that held the adjustable side table I had also ordered.
Though I recruited help for set up (shoutout to my generous mother and sister), I could've easily assembled the Gaia sofa on my own. Set up is very straightforward, with instructions available online and inside the box.
Since I ordered the two-seater sofa with an ottoman, I received three square-shaped base pieces (two for the seats, one for the ottoman), two flat back pieces, two armrests, and several cushions and covers. I was very surprised at how easy it was to assemble the sofa structure – just a few simple steps and assembly was nearly done.
Oddly enough, the hardest part of the setup wasn't putting any of the structural pieces together. In fact, it was stuffing the cushions into their fabric covers. Because the cushions themselves are so big and the fabric covers are designed with zipper openings that are slightly too small, squeezing the cushion into the cover was a two-person job – one that caused both my mother and I to break a sweat and laugh at how ridiculous we probably looked trying to do this.
The only other challenge that my mother, sister, and I encountered while assembling the Gaia sofa was connecting the base seats. Two plastic connectors are supposed to hook onto the hidden feet of the sofa, connecting the left seat with the right seat in the middle. It seems simple in theory, but this was rather challenging for us – we'd hook the back connector, then the front one would pop off, and vice versa. I blamed this on the fact that the floor of my pre-war apartment is egregiously uneven – causing the feet to not line up properly – and decided to not use the connectors. Thankfully, the sofa didn't slide apart without these connecting pieces.
Much to my surprise, the entire process – unboxing, assembling, cushion-covering, and pushing into place – took just under an hour. And though I had help, I definitely could've done this alone.
Living With the Gaia Sofa
I've lived with the Gaia sofa for a few months now. It has quickly become a fixture in my studio apartment – a spot where I work, read, and watch TV. I've even had a friend sleep on it while staying overnight at my place (they glowingly said it was more comfortable than their mattress at home).
As with any furnishing, the Gaia sofa comes with pros and cons. Here's what I've experienced so far:
The Pros
- This sofa certainly lives up to the brand name. It's undeniably cozy. Some nights, I have to force myself to get up and go to bed when it's time to sleep. This sofa just pulls you in. It makes you feel enveloped in softness, and it can make your living room feel endlessly cozy .
- I thought it would be difficult to assemble, but it turned out to be so simple. I'd go so far as to say it's easier than most of the flat-pack furniture I've assembled in my life. Never once did I question if what I was doing was right. The directions were very clear, and assembly was very quick.
- The modularity of this sofa makes it so desirable. For apartment dwellers or those with small living rooms , I'd recommend the Gaia sofa time and time again. It's easy to set up, and when it comes time to move, I'm sure it'll be just as easy to disassemble, too. And since it's modular, you can always buy additional pieces to make the sofa bigger if you move into a larger space.
The Cons
- As much as I love the plushness of this sofa – the reason it's so cozy – I do wonder how it'll look in a year from now. Will the cushions look deflated after so much use? If they're so plump now, how will they hold up over time?
- One of the things I immediately noticed about the sofa is that the cushions don't stay in place. There's no way to attach the seat, back, and arm cushions to the frame of the sofa, so they're prone to falling or sliding around. This isn't a dealbreaker for me, but it's something to keep in mind.
- I know this sofa is meant for two people, but in my experience, it's wide enough for three. That said, the two very plush base cushions create a significant crevice in the middle of the sofa, making the middle seat very uncomfortable. If you have a small space but you like to host, this is something to keep in mind, as only two people can comfortably sit on the sofa despite its size.
Final Thoughts
Before the Cozey Gaia Sofa arrived at my apartment, I was so nervous that I'd made such a huge mistake. After all, ordering a sofa online without ever sitting on it is risky. However, I've been extremely pleased with my sofa so far. Its easy assembly and comfort have convinced me that I did, in fact, make the right decision.
Because I've only owned the sofa for a few months, I'm still unsure about its longevity. However, I'm pleased that because of its modular design, I can bring this sofa with me from apartment to apartment and get more pieces if I ever need to.
Aside from the Gaia, Cozey makes lots of other modular sofas that are just as practical for renters, small space dwellers, or those who like the convenience of furniture with several adjustable components. Below, find a few more of the options I considered before ordering the Gaia.
One of the reasons why I like the Ciello sofa so much is that it looks like a traditional sofa. Even though it's modular, it features a standard shape that looks so familiar. Plus, its cushions are filled perfectly – not overly poofy, but not too flat. Like all Cozey sofas, the Ciello is completely customizable, too.
If you find yourself hosting overnight guests more often than not, the Neptune sofa might be the pick for you. Its design features a pull-out bed that'll take no time to assemble. Unlike the Gaia sofa, this model features short armrests – perfect for casual relaxation.
The Atmosphere sofa is much more modern than Cozey's other offerings, but it's equally as comfortable and just as conveniently designed. As a modular sofa, it comes with many different components, and this model can even be made with under-seat storage. It's such a chic design that taps into some of the hottest living room trends of the year.
After you've found the perfect Cozey sofa for your home, be sure to check out the brand's other offerings – including tables, beds, pillows, and washable rugs. Soon enough, your entire house will be furnished by Cozey.
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