Quince makes furniture now, and its $1,450 Sierra Sofa is a near-perfect dupe of an RH couch that's three times the price

Quince's sofas are beautiful, made in the US, include free white glove delivery, and start at just $1,400. The value can't be beat, and it's so comfy.

When it comes to my shopping habits, the phrase "champagne taste on a Bud Light budget" immediately comes to mind. I'll readily admit that my tastes lean more expensive than my budget can handle, which is how I landed on Quince. Founded in 2018, the direct-to-consumer brand is known for offering "luxury at fair prices." Quince has built a reputation for affordable dupes of high-end clothing, bedding, and, more recently, furniture.

If you've ever browsed the best places to buy furniture, you'll instantly recognize the inspiration behind Quince's assortment. Think cult favorite buys from brands like West Elm, Crate & Barrel, or Pottery Barn, but with much more wallet-friendly price tags. I'd already tested Quince's bedding (and you can find out even more must-haves from their home collection in our Quince home review), so when it came time to buy furniture for a new house, I was curious: could the brand's selection of furniture be as good as its clothing and home essentials?

Quince offers a variety of furniture options, including sofas, beds, dining and coffee tables, chairs, ottomans, console tables, and nightstands. For my first Quince furniture selection, I tested out the Quince Sierra Performance Velvet Curved Arm Sofa in my new home. Over several weeks, I evaluated its design, comfort, support, fabric feel, durability, and delivery process — basically, whether it could stand up to long lounging sessions, kid messes, and even an occasional nap.

Design and customizations

The Sierra Sofa comes in three lengths (7', 8', and 9') and three fabric choices: a performance velvet, a performance basketweave fabric, or leather(for nearly $1,000 more.) It's also offered as a sectional.

Other dimensions remain the same for each, aside from the difference in length. The couch is designed for lounging, with deep 24" seats that can easily accommodate sitting cross-legged or lying down.

The performance velvet upholstery is offered in 11 color options, and the basketweave is offered in six. Free swatches are available if you want to see the color in advance. While the majority of shades are made-to-order, I opted for the one color that was in stock, Sable. Sitting somewhere between brown and gray, Sable is a great neutral that can fit in just about any space. In my case, it landed in my kids' playroom, where we were desperately in need of a seating option that was comfortable and could withstand the trials and mess of childhood.

Quince's sofas are made in Los Angeles, which is a major plus in today's climate. Due to a high 25% tariff recently imposed on furniture made overseas, the Quince Sierra Sofa could potentially avoid price hikes that will soon be imposed on a lot of competitors, but the complete effects remain to be seen.

The bench seat cushions are filled with a foam and recycled fiber blend. The combo is intended to mimic the comfort of down without the need for fluffing, a claim I found it achieved well.

The sofa's frame is constructed of solid wood and ultra-durable kiln-dried engineered wood, all certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. The frame joinery is glued, corner blocked, and fastened, all qualities of a high-quality and stable design.

Ordering and delivery

Quince sofa upside down in plastic during delivery

Two movers unpacked and setup my sofa within 10 minutes.

Shipping time for the Sierra Sofa can vary, with in-stock models available to ship in about two to three weeks, while made-to-order options take six to eight weeks. When browsing on the site, the page clearly marks which shade options are currently stocked, versus which will require longer made-to-order shipping and delivery.

Since Quince is a direct-to-consumer, online only business, you won't have the option to test the sofa or any of the brand's furniture in a showroom.

While delivery can take a while, the actual process of delivery is a major highlight. Quince offers free white glove delivery for their furniture, allowing you to have readily assembled pieces delivered to the room of your choice without a delivery fee.

When my Sierra Sofa was ready for delivery, I was contacted by e-mail and given several date options to choose from. On the day I selected, I was given a timeframe during which two movers showed up with my fully assembled sofa, with a phone call to confirm the movers were on their way. The sofa arrived wrapped in plastic to keep the fabric clean, and, from arrival to set up, the movers had my piece ready and in the room of my choice within about 10 minutes. The fact that delivery is free and can be done to any floor of the house is a huge benefit offered by Quince when compared to competitors, in my opinion.

As with any online-only order, it can feel like a major risk taking on such a big purchase sight unseen. Quince does offer returns for furniture, though they must be initiated within seven days of delivery, a departure from its typical yearlong return window on apparel and home products. Returns are subject to a 15% restocking fee, so you'll want to be sure before you commit. The brand also offers very little in terms of a warranty. The frames of the sofas come with a lifetime guarantee (specified as "reasonable, non-commercial, household use"), but almost all other defects are not covered by any type of extended warranty. That's worth noting compared to brands like Interior Define or Joybird, which offer a more generous warranty with their furniture.

Comfort and real-life usage

Quince sofa

The cushions strike a nice balance between soft and supportive.

The quality that immediately drew me to the Sierra Sofa was how comfortable it looked. The sofa has deep seats, making it an ideal spot for lounging in the playroom while watching both kids. The cushions strike a nice balance between soft and supportive: they're not overly firm, but not so plush that you sink down uncomfortably. Having one long seat cushion as opposed to two is also ideal for a playroom setting, where crumbs and toys can easily get lost in between two seat cushions (something I say confidently from past experience).

The supportive and cozy back cushions are made with recycled polyfiber. Notably, they rise higher than the back of the couch itself. The height difference lends itself well to the general aesthetics of the sofa but also reduces some of the back support, as it doesn't allow you to lie comfortably all the way back.

The armrests are wide and gently curved, which makes them surprisingly comfortable for propping a pillow or leaning against during a nap. They also provide enough room for putting down a baby bottle or a cup (if you're feeling daring).

With the 7-foot couch, I can honestly say it's become a favorite napping spot for both my toddler and me. On mornings when my three-year-old wakes me up before the crack of dawn, I've sometimes had to stop myself from sinking in and getting a bit of shut-eye on the Sierra Sofa, because it's all too easy to fall asleep on it. While I don't know that the couch would be my first choice for spending a full night of sleep, for shorter naps and relaxation, the cushions and depth of the couch certainly fit the bill for a nice nap spot.

Along with a bit of sleep, I've also spent a few marathon sessions on the Sierra Sofa working from home. It's provided an ideal spot for comfortably working on my computer for a few hours at a time. The wide armrests provide a great spot to prop up my laptop, while the seat cushion has held up as a comfortable spot to sit for longer periods of time.

Durability and quality

When you have two young kids, no furniture is completely safe from stains, scuffs, and overuse. One of my biggest concerns with the Sierra Sofa was the fabric. I was immediately concerned about how the plush finish would hold up to an unruly toddler and a newborn whose sole purpose in life is to create a mess.

Turns out, I had nothing to worry about — the performance velvet lives up to its name. After several weeks of real-world use (during which time I've had spills, crayon markings, and a toddler who enjoys launching herself onto furniture), I've found the fabric incredibly durable. There's been no noticeable pilling, and stains have been easily wiped away with a damp cloth. While the performance velvet has worked out well so far, I'm also relieved that the cushions all come with covers that can be removed for easy cleaning.

Thanks to the high-resiliency foam core, the cushions have also maintained their shape after heavy use. Additionally, the frame is built well, making for a structure that's comfortable to sit or lie on and keeps its shape after plenty of use.

The couch does have solid wood feet, which help keep it stable, but they also sometimes tend to slide on a wooden floor. It's a minor thing, and in some ways, it's ideal, so that it's easier to move around. Nevertheless, if you plan on using the Sierra Sofa away from a wall, you'll want to find some grip pads to put on the bottom of the feet to keep it from moving around.

Cons to consider

a look at the sofa arms and cushions going above the back

The back of the frame is a few inches lower than the back cushions, which sacrifices some support, when leaning back.

After several weeks of use, there's a lot to love about the Sierra Sofa, from the price tag to the durability. However, there are also some key downsides you'll want to consider. Perhaps the biggest is the fact that you're going to need to order the sofa sight unseen. While that's the case with a lot of furniture brands today, it's still a scary prospect to drop a large chunk of money on something you haven't used in person. While Quince does offer returns, they need to be requested within seven days of delivery, and are subject to a 15% restocking fee.

As for the design of the couch, my family and I have also all been slightly bothered by the low back of the couch, with the back of the frame a few inches lower than the back cushions. While this may not even be something that registers for all-adult households who can sit peacefully, it's something I've noticed when my toddler leans back, and inevitably almost throws herself back over the sofa.

What are your alternatives?

the article riley sleeper sofa with a dog sitting on it and throw pillows added on top of it

The Article Riley sofa has a similar boxy look. It has individual cushions instead of a benchseat. It's comparably priced (around $1,700) but that doesn't include free white glove delivery and it's not made in the US. The Riley is also available as a sofa bed, however.

Quince's sofa selection is still relatively curated, offering a few silhouettes in various lengths and some sectionals. Most notably, they recently introduced a queen-sized sleeper sofa, that costs under $2,000.

There is no lack of options when it comes to finding a couch with a similar modern, lounge-worthy design. In fact, visually, the Sierra is a great dupe of the RH Modena and also chooses to compare its design to the likes of Williams Sonoma brands or Maiden Home, all of which make their upholstery in the US.

Benchmade Modern is another DTC company that builds its furniture in the United States (Dallas and Los Angeles specifically), but its most affordable sofa starts at $3,000. We got a look at the customization process in our Benchmade Modern review, and though pricey, it's worth it for the beautiful quality.

If you like the look and price point of Quince but want more options, check out Article, which offers similar clean-lined sofas and some beautiful mid-century inspired options, but with a broader fabric and size selection. We recently tested the Riley Sofa Bed, which follows a similar boxy construction.

Interior Define is another brand that offers an incredibly similar design to the Lee Collection, thanks to its thick track arms, but with far more customizations than Quince. With Interior Design, you can not only choose the fabric but also customize the legs, depth, size, and even cushion fill. While Quince offers a few neutral fabric options, Interior Design may be worth considering if you want to make sure your furniture perfectly fits your space.

When it comes to budget-friendly furniture, it's hard to beat Ikea. However, you'll need to sacrifice build quality and white-glove service with this option, meaning the seating may not last as long as other options (something I can say from experience, having purchased several Ikea couches in the past). None of these companies manufactures its sofas in the United States, however.

The bottom line

Quince sofa with gingham pillows on top next to a carpet sofa

Considering the stylish yet comfortable design, durable performance fabrics, and unbeatable price, the Quince Sofa checks off everything I was looking for in a well-made sofa.

If you're looking for a stylish couch at a more digestible price tag and made in the United States, Quince's Sierra Sofa is pretty hard to beat. The seating looks far more expensive than it is, feels sturdy, and is comfortable for everything from short sitting sessions to full-on lounging.

To me, the Quince furniture line is a step up (well, several steps) for budget shoppers who have outgrown Ikea for their needs, but still don't want to break the bank on the purchase of quality furniture. If you're a shopper who wants quality materials and an aesthetically pleasing design without having to blow a month's rent on a piece of furniture, Quince delivers. That being said, if you want tons of customization, modularity, or the reassurance of trying a sofa in-store first, you may want to consider competitors. While the neutral color works well for us, there aren't as many eye-catching jewel tones and colorful selections as you'll get from somewhere like Interior Define or Joybird.

For my home, the Sierra Sofa fit the bill of what we needed— a comfortable seating option for lounging in a high-traffic area. We wanted a kid-friendly couch that didn't scream "kids live here." The Sierra Sofa ended up being the ideal choice for that, giving us a family-friendly couch for the present and that will transform into a more mature option once the kids are older.

More Quince furniture to explore

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