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Reviewer: Rachel Wallace, senior entertainment editor
Model tested: Joybird Sebastian Sofa (in Royale Apple)
The details: I looked all over the internet for couches, and ultimately was drawn to Joybird’s Sebastian model because of its rounded silhouette and the brand’s expansive variety of color and fabric options. The brand is owned by La-Z-Boy but definitely caters to a younger, more stylish demographic. All sofas are made-to-order and highly customizable, with this one being a nice middle-of-the-road option that’s smaller than a sectional but larger than a love seat. The low-slung design feels elegant and modern, but it might not be ideal for someone who wants room for extra storage underneath.
Ordering Process
How much does it cost, and does it feel worth the cost? Are there payment plans available?
My 92.5"W model retails for $3,754 full price, though it sometimes goes on sale for way less (like now). This sofa is definitely an investment, and I do think there are cheaper options out there that are still great, but if you are looking for a comfortable statement piece in a bold color, I’d definitely check this one out. The Sebastian line comes in 13 additional sizes and iterations, ranging in price from $619 for an ottoman to $4,119 for a sectional. (Or you can build your own shape.) Joybird offers payment plans through Affirm; the 12-month and 18-month plans have 0.00% APR.
What are the upholstery or customization options? Did you choose any?
Before ordering my sofa, I requested a set of swatches from the site, which arrived at my house within days, free of charge. These little squares gave me a taste of Joybird’s many available fabric types and colors, and I was able to test them out in my space at home, placing them next to my other decor items. There are performance fabrics available, as well as a chenille (Joybird’s Harper fabric variety) that was nice and soft, but I really couldn’t resist the buttery velvets.
I chose one called Royale Apple, a beautiful chartreuse color. I liked that it was bold but could still be made to look earthy with the right palette around it. Harper Cinnamon—a beautiful deep brown with a hint of red—was another option I strongly considered and still sometimes think about. Soon after I ordered my sofa, Joybird added multiple fabrics in the 2025 Pantone color of the year, Mocha Mousse, and a few months later, expanded the Pantone collection to include two complimentary shades, Tapestry (a jewel-toned blue) and Heather Rose (a dusty pink). Although Joybird is mostly an online retailer, the brand has showrooms in 14 cities throughout the US. Visiting one of these locations is a great way to see the products in person before you buy.
What is the lead time for customization, manufacturing, and delivery?
All Joybird sofas are made-to-order. On the website, it says to allow four weeks for shipment (delivery may be a bit later), but I got mine faster than that.
What kind of couch or seating arrangement did you have before, and what drew you to your new couch?
I had an Ikea sofa for about six years before this. I bought it with roommates, and it was a pale blue-gray color, which we selected because it matched our apartment at the time. I never really loved the color, and when I moved last year, I wanted to try something new. I also had room for something a bit bigger, and this Joybird model was the perfect size for my new space. My Ikea sofa was still in pretty good condition, and I was able to list it on Facebook Marketplace and find someone to give it a new home.
Delivery and Assembly
What was the delivery process like?
The delivery process was incredibly easy. Someone called me on the phone to set up a delivery time, and they arrived when they said they would and brought the sofa right in. One note about Joybird’s in-home delivery: For apartment dwellers who live up more than two flights of stairs, there is an extra charge.
What was the assembly process like? How long did it take and how many people?
The sofa didn’t require any assembly. The delivery people brought it right into my house in one piece. It has one large cushion for the seat part, which goes on top of the base, and then five smaller pillow-like cushions for the back and sides.
After delivery
What are the dimensions? How does it fit in your space? Would it be better suited for a certain type of home?
The sofa is 92.5"W x 41"D x 32.5"H. It fits perfectly along one wall of my living room, with a bit of room to spare on each side. I have lived in NYC apartments where I had to opt for a smaller sofa that really felt more like a love seat. When I moved into this new apartment, I was so excited to be able to have a real sofa that can fit three people truly comfortably, but I still don’t have room for a massive sectional like you might find in a suburban home. To me this is the perfect midsize sofa—big enough to be comfy but small enough for a small home or larger apartment.
Sit test: Is it comfortable? Does it feel well-made? Does the couch have a tendency to sag?
Somehow this sofa is the perfect blend of cushy and sturdy. I’ve been sitting on it for months now and haven’t noticed any sagging. It has a low profile, but it still feels easy to stand up from. The back cushions are unique in that they can be moved around easily to create different configurations, which I absolutely love. You can have one between you and the arm rest or have two behind your back for more support. Or, a favorite position of mine is to use one as a laptop desk.
Lay test: Is it comfortable? Does it feel well-made? Does the couch have a tendency to sag?
This is by far the most supreme nap sofa I have ever experienced. It is so easy to remove the back cushions, and when you do, it turns the sofa into a sort of velvet daybed with plenty of room to stretch out.
Is the sofa suitable for particular decor styles? If so, which?
So many sofas on the market have that classic midcentury-modern silhouette, and while that is tried-and-true for a reason, it wasn’t the look I wanted. This sofa is very rounded on all sides, which gives it a really modern look. It is definitely a statement piece, but I think it can work with a variety of styles.
Is it durable and practical in a modern home?
To me, comfort is practicality. If I don’t enjoy sitting on the sofa, or if I find myself fidgeting and struggling to get comfortable, then it is not serving its purpose. This sofa is practical because it is a place where I want to be! It has plenty of room for three people to sit comfortably, and after months of use, it seems to be durable and is not sagging or damaged. One potentially impractical element of this sofa is that there is only about one inch of space between the floor and the bottom of the sofa. I like the way this looks, but you are definitely sacrificing storage space by not being able to put anything under the sofa.
Is the couch kid- and dog-friendly?
We have a small Chihuahua named Dewey who has an affinity for soft textures, and he seems to love laying on this sofa. However, in an effort to avoid any stains, we often redirect him to lay atop a designated blanket or pillow when he’s on the sofa with us. Stains definitely show on the velvet, but so far any marks that have appeared have been easy to clean with water. I was also pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to remove pet hair from the velvet. In my experience with other fabrics, sometimes dog hair will get sort of embedded in the weave and become extremely hard to remove, but a lint roller seems to get the job done easily with this sofa. Dewey doesn’t shed that much, but this seems promising even for dog owners of larger breeds. This isn’t a performance fabric though, and I’m not sure it could withstand large spills: I wouldn’t exactly call it kid-friendly.
What are the care and cleaning instructions? Do you think stains could be easily removed?
The Royale Apple fabric is marked with Joybird’s cleaning code S/W, which means it can be cleaned with water alone or a dry solvent cleaner. Joybird also suggests vacuuming your sofa before cleaning further. So far I have just used a lint roller and dabbed water on stains, which seems to get the job done.
Do the photos do this product justice? Was there anything you were surprised to see IRL?
It is hard to tell from the photos how different the green color can look in different lights. I love that it feels alive. The photos also don’t show just how many ways you can change up the cushions, especially if you get creative. One slight drawback that you wouldn’t know just from looking at these photos is that after an afternoon of intense couch-rotting, the cushions can be left looking pretty sloppy. You definitely have to give this sofa a zhuzh every day.
Would the couch be easy to move into another room? Would it be easy to move to another apartment or home by yourself?
I am able to slide the sofa around in order to vacuum, and it is easy enough, but I definitely would not be able to lift it by myself. Because it doesn’t come apart, I think I would need to hire professional movers in order to get this to a new home or apartment.
Overall Grades
- Comfort: A
- Value: B
- Delivery and assembly: A
- Style: A
- Overall couch rating: A
