SWYFT MODEL 03 MODULAR SOFA REVIEW
[My Swyft Model 03 sofa was sent to me as part of a previous brand collaboration, but this review is completely objective and not part of that partnership]
I started working with the lovely people at Swyft last year - as well as collaborating on a limited edition sofa range together, they also sent me over one of their then brand new Model 03 modular sofas for my new studio space.
Whenever I post a picture on Instagram of the sofa, I get so many messages asking whether it’s comfortable or not, and up until now, I’ve tried to message everyone back with quite a detailed review of what I think of it. After all, I’ve suffered my own fair share of ‘ordering sofas off the internet that I haven’t tried out only for them to end up being really uncomfortable in the long run’ to know it’s really frustrating to end up with a sofa you’re not happy with.
Though this sofa was sent to me as part of a PR partnership, I thought I’d just write up this review to save me typing it out 100 more times on Instagram. This is a honest review, but I just don’t have a whole lot negative to say about it. We actually had a re-shuffle around recently and moved it into our living room, as it’s just much better for comfy lounging than our old one.
One last thing to know for the purpose of this review - my other half is an easy 6’4”, so we’ve got you tall folks covered and we also have two dogs that are prone to messy paws, dribbling, all that good stuff.
COMFORTABILITY
This is the question I get asked most frequently about this sofa. As you can see, it’s quite a structured shape - this is what I (and a lot of you too) like about it I think, but that does raise questions about its comfortability.
Basically what you need to consider is what you’re buying. The majority of sofas are either feather or foam (or a mix between the two). Feather sofa cushions are super soft and you sink into them, but you also need to continuously plump them up for them not to look a complete mess; foam fillings are much more firm, but keep their shape well.
The Swyft Model 03 is a foam filled sofa, so a better fit for those who like their sofa on the firmer side. Our previous sofa was a feather fill, and it needed plumping up every time we sat on it, so I’m happy to be moving past that. However, I still really do think that this sofa is comfortable. I’ve had some bad foam filling sofas before that literally made your bum go numb sitting on, and this isn’t that. I also think it helps that the seat proportions feel generous so that you can slouch nicely on it. Given we’ve gone from feather to foam, between us we’ve fallen asleep far more times on this sofa already, which has got to be a good sign.
FABRIC
I’ve only personally tested Swyft’s Linen range, not its Velvets, but both are treated with FibreGuard coatings, meaning they’re easy to clean. I made this short video for Swyft for their Model 02 recently to show how it stands up against mud, and the fabric on the sofa in the video in the same as on my Model 03.
Basically, a beige sofa with two dogs would not be ideal really, but even though they do track in a fair bit of mud from the garden, eat treats on it, etc, the fabric cleans up nicely and is still looking great.
Swyft’s videos show them pouring red wine on it and it surviving, so that’s pretty extreme. I have spilt a full glass of blackcurrant squash and accidentally ground in some smashed avocado from a brunch one day, and both of those stains came up fine too. Specific I know, but always good to know.
MODULAR SYSTEM
So when we say modular, we’re talking about each piece of this sofa being an individual module, meaning you can mix and match to the size and shape you need. I have a bit of experience in modular sofas from previous interior design jobs, so I have something to compare the Swyft Model 03 system.
Basically, it’s simple enough to put together that it doesn’t need instructions or tools. The arms and backs are attached with a simple groove system, however, it does take a little time to get the knack of getting them in. When they’re in, they’re pretty secure, but because they’re not fixed with any screws, bolts, etc etc, if you try to move the sofa modules without taking them apart, there’s a chance they may come loose - obviously not an everyday occurrence, so no huge problem there.
The only other thing I note about Swyft’s Model 03 compared to other modular sofas I’ve tried in the past is that while the arms and backs join onto the seat modules, there isn’t a join between module to module - my guess is that this just wouldn’t work with the joining system it uses.
It doesn’t really affect the use, you just have to line up your modules yourself, but potentially, on a hard floor with no carpet or rug, there’s a chance the modules might shift a little bit, especially if you’ve got kids jumping around on them. I’ll refer back to my rug rules which say your rug should be under your front sofa legs at least anyway.
If you’ve got any other questions about the Swyft Model 03 sofa, leave them below and I’ll add them into this post!