Benchmade Modern Review: My Honest Take on This Custom Sofa Brand
Hey there, furniture lovers! If you‘re anything like me, you know that a comfortable, stylish sofa is the heart of any living room. But finding one that checks all the boxes for size, style, and quality can be a serious challenge. That‘s why I was excited to discover Benchmade Modern, a company that‘s shaking up the luxury sofa scene with their totally customizable, handcrafted offerings.
I‘ve spent the last few months researching this brand and even visited their showroom to test out their pieces IRL. Now I‘m sharing my honest Benchmade Modern review to help you decide if one of their bespoke sofas is the one for your home. Let‘s dive in!
First Impressions
Walking into Benchmade Modern‘s sleek, light-filled showroom, I was immediately struck by the luxe, modern vibe. The space felt more like an art gallery than a furniture store, with each impeccably-tailored sofa and chair displayed like a sculpture.
I plopped down on one of their extra-deep "Couch Potato" sofas and was amazed by how it seemed to hug my body from every angle. No exaggeration, it was one of the most comfortable things I‘ve ever sat on! The velvety fabric and sinkably-soft cushions felt so high-end and indulgent.
Browsing their other bestsellers like the mid-century inspired "Skinny Fat" and "Catwalk" collections, I was impressed by the sheer number of customization options. They offer:
- 3 sofa lengths (80", 90", 100")
- 4 seat cushion fills (standard, down, memory foam, latex)
- 65+ upholstery colors in fabric, velvet, or leather
- 6 leg finishes
- Left or right chaise option
I love that Benchmade sofas aren‘t one-size-fits-all. You can really tailor the size and style to your exact space and preferences.
Quality & Construction
Of course, all the customization in the world doesn‘t matter if the quality isn‘t there. Luckily, Benchmade Modern delivers on that front too. Here are some nerdy details on how their sofas are made:
Frame: Each Benchmade sofa starts with a hand-constructed solid kiln-dried hardwood frame. The corner-blocked joints are glued, double-doweled, and screwed for lasting stability. Frames come with a lifetime warranty.
Suspension: Most styles use an 8-way hand tied spring suspension system, widely considered the gold standard for sofa construction. This means each spring is individually tied to the frame 8 times for superior support.
Cushions: Benchmade uses a high-resiliency polyurethane foam core wrapped in either gel memory foam, down, or latex. Cushions are reversible and the covers are removable for cleaning.
All of these high-quality components come together in Benchmade‘s Dallas, Texas workshop. Their team of artisans carefully handcraft each piece to order, ensuring no detail is overlooked.
Other nice quality touches I noticed: self-welting on the cushions for a tailored look, hidden zippers, and double-stitched seams. Even the legs are custom-milled from solid wood and hand-finished.
When you compare Benchmade‘s construction to other popular sofa brands, it really stands out. For example, Interior Define uses sinuous springs and West Elm uses a combination of sinuous and pocket springs. Only high-end brands like Restoration Hardware or Arhaus offer 8-way hand tied springs standard.
Customer Reviews
Of course, you don‘t just have to take my word for it. Benchmade Modern gets rave reviews from customers too. They have a 4.7 out of 5 star rating on their website and 92% of customers say they would recommend the brand to a friend.
Here are a few real customer testimonials that stood out to me:
"I was nervous to order a sofa online, but Benchmade made it so easy with the free swatches and detailed product dimensions. My Skinny Fat sofa arrived quickly and looks even better than I imagined. It‘s the perfect statement piece for my living room." – Jenna D.
"We ordered the Couch Potato sectional for our home theater and it‘s hands down the comfiest couch we‘ve ever owned. Everyone fights over it at movie night! It‘s held up beautifully to heavy use from kids and dogs. Worth every penny." – Mike R.
"I looked at so many sofas that were either too big, too small, or didn‘t come in the color I wanted. I love that with Benchmade I could customize the size and fabric to fit my space perfectly. The quality is outstanding. I‘ll never buy from another sofa brand again!" – Rachel S.
I also appreciated reading the less-than-perfect reviews to get a balanced perspective. The most common complaints were:
- Long lead times (6-9 weeks on average)
- Expensive shipping to states outside their standard delivery zone
- Firmness level of standard cushions (some found them too hard)
- Fabric/leather can wrinkle or stretch over time
However, many customers noted that Benchmade‘s customer service team was responsive in addressing any issues. The consensus seems to be that while Benchmade sofas are an investment, most people feel they are worth the price for the quality and customization.
Price & Value
Alright, let‘s talk numbers. There‘s no getting around the fact that Benchmade Modern sofas are pricey. Most styles start around $2,000 for a loveseat and go up to $7,000+ for a sectional.
Here‘s a price comparison of Benchmade‘s bestselling Skinny Fat Sofa versus similar models from other popular brands:
| Brand | Model | Price (80" Fabric) |
|---|---|---|
| Benchmade Modern | Skinny Fat | $2,950 |
| Interior Define | Maxwell | $2,200 |
| Restoration Hardware | Cloud | $4,095 |
| Room & Board | Orson | $3,399 |
As you can see, Benchmade falls somewhere in the middle of the high-end sofa price range. You‘ll pay more than budget-oriented or "fast furniture" brands, but less than designer labels like RH.
In my opinion, Benchmade sofas are 100% worth the investment if you‘re looking for a forever piece. The fact that you can customize the size and style to fit your space means you won‘t have to compromise or settle for something that‘s "close enough."
Plus, the lifetime warranty and high-quality, hand-crafted construction ensure your sofa will last for decades. Amortized over 20+ years, the cost per use is really quite reasonable.
That said, if your budget is tight or you just need a placeholder couch for a few years, there are certainly less expensive options out there. I‘d recommend checking out Article or IKEA for more affordable, mid-century inspired styles.
Ordering Tips
If you‘re ready to take the plunge on a Benchmade Modern sofa, here are a few tips I learned:
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Order free swatches before you buy. Benchmade offers unlimited free fabric and leather swatches so you can see colors and feel textures in real life.
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Check the measurements carefully. Benchmade lists detailed measurements for each model on their site, down to the seat height and depth. Measure, measure, measure to ensure you get the right size for your room.
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Customize thoughtfully. With so many options, it can be tempting to go wild with customization. But I‘d recommend sticking to classic, neutral fabrics and colors for big pieces like sofas. You can always add a pop with pillows!
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Consider an in-home trial. Benchmade offers a 100-day return policy, so if you don‘t love your sofa, you can send it back for a full refund (minus a 10% restocking fee). It‘s a great safety net for such a big purchase.
The Final Verdict
After all my research and first-hand experience, I can confidently say Benchmade Modern gets my fashionista seal of approval. Their luxurious, custom sofas are the perfect blend of style and substance.
What really sets Benchmade apart is the ability to create a bespoke piece tailored to your exact space and specs. No more settling for the standard sizes or colors at big box stores. Plus, the top-notch quality and handcrafted details justify the investment for a sofa you‘ll keep for decades.
Benchmade isn‘t for the budget-conscious or anyone who needs a couch ASAP. Custom furniture takes time and you‘ll certainly pay for the privilege.
But if you‘ve been dreaming of a one-of-a-kind statement sofa that‘s truly yours, Benchmade Modern is absolutely worth checking out. Their free swatches, generous return policy, and helpful customer service make ordering a breeze.
I hope this honest review helped shed some light on this buzzed-about DTC brand! Feel free to drop any other questions in the comments. And if you end up ordering your own Benchmade sofa, I‘d love to see pics!
Until next time,
[Your Name]
