This past year, I embarked on a journey that I’ve never been on before: buying a new couch. When I moved into my first apartment, my Dad bought my first couch from Costco. The perfect neutral gray pull-out sofa that cost only $500 (including a pull-out mattress and decorative pillows). The 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner of couches, but unlike the shampoo and conditioner, it did its job really well.
We even moved it from Texas to California because where were we going to find a deal like that? Sadly, when we moved back to Texas last year, it was time to say goodbye. My husband, pup and I had been squeezing to fit on the original tiny sofa, and we finally had space for something bigger.
I had a vision ✨ I wanted a green, modular sectional with wood accents. That’s when I started pouring over sustainable modular sofa reviews, and discovered Inside Weather. Fast forward to today, and we’ve had our Modular Bondi 3-Seater Sofa for almost a year. Plenty of time to really test it, and finally share my Inside Weather couch review.
Inside Weather: Comfort with a Conscience
It’ll come as no surprise that I stumbled upon Inside Weather while editing the 11 Best Rated Modular Sofas For 2023. I really liked how the brand was focused not only on quality and affordability, but sustainability.
While I’m probably not the most eco-friendly person in the world, I do try to be conscious of my purchases, especially a big one like a couch. That said, I never thought I’d be searching for eco-friendly couches for living rooms, but here I am.
Inside Weather Sustainability Key Features
Inside Weather prides itself on using responsibly materials like ethically sourced wood for the couch frame and other furniture, certified nontoxic fabrics (OEKO-TEX® Certified) and eco-friendly memory foam in the cushions.
Customization
One of the reasons I chose Inside Weather was customization. I knew I wanted a sectional, but I couldn’t go too big with the layout of my living room. Plus I wanted modular so I could be flexible if we move.
Step 1
To design your custom couch, you start with a configuration to customize. You can choose between 6-seats to 2 seats with sectionals, plus an option to add a modular storage table. I chose the Modular Bondi 3-Seater Sofa myself. I knew I wanted something big to fill the space I had, and when it was delivered, it felt even bigger than I imagined it would. Be sure to measure your space! I measured multiple times, and put down tape to ensure it would fit.
Once you’ve chosen the amount of seats, you move further into configuration with options for a regular 3-Seater, 3-Seater + Ottoman (on the right or left!), 3-Seater + 2 Ottomans (on both sides) and 3-Seater + 3 Ottomans (one for each seat), and so on!
Step 2
Then it’s time to choose upholstery, and there’s so many options. It was the hardest part of the whole process for me. Upholstery types include: Classic Weave, Plush Velvet, Boucle, Brindled Weave, Pebble Weave, Micro Suede, Vegan Leather, Linen Weave, Micro Felt, Vegan Suede, Satin Weave and more!
Each has their own pros and cons. You can sort by what’s important to you like Performance Fabrics, Pet-Friendly, Snag-Resistant, Liquid Repellent and Machine Washable. The catch? You don’t have the same color options available in each fabric type, but you can order free swatches to see which color and fabric you like best.
For me, the best part is filtering through the options. For example, if you’re looking for best stain-resistant couches for families. You can choose Liquid Repellent, Performance Fabrics and Machine Washable filters with options like Classic Weave, Mod Chenille and Oxford Weave. I would also go for a darker fabric color. For cat pawrents like Kara, you can search the snag-resistant options like Plush Velvet, Micro Suede and Vegan Leather.
How To Choose Upholstery Type By Color
I knew I wanted an olive green-ish couch so that narrowed it down to the 11 green sofa options. From there, I narrowed it down even further because I didn’t want something too chartreuse or too emerald.
Then I was down to three colors: Fern in Classic Weave, Tuscan Green in Luxury Velvet and Evergreen in Plush Velvet. I knew I didn’t want velvet and BAM, decision made! I got the Fern in Classic Weave.
Step 4
Next choice to make is Frame Finish between: Latte, Espresso and Black. I knew I wanted a wood finish which narrowed it down to Latte and Espresso, and Latte matched better with our other furniture.
Step 5
The final choice is “Custom Comfort” between Classic Plush Blend and Deluxe Memory Foam Blend. We splurged on the memory foam because we felt it would keep its shape better and potentially serve as a place for guests to sleep on occasion.
What I Was Looking For & Other Brands I Considered
By now, you know I was looking for something sustainable, modular, green with at least one ottoman. These were the other brands I considered based on those criteria:
- Floyd: I really like the brand, but the sofas were a bit too modern for me. I also really love “The Bed Frame,” but ended up with a Thuma Bed Frame.
- Burrow: This was a real contender!! Kara got Burrow furniture for the Whimsy Homes cabin, and the moss green?! In the end, I preferred the wood finishes on the Inside Weather couch.
- Castlery: I really liked the sectional sofas from Castlery, but sadly the green couch options were lacking, so that was it for me.
- Article: The options at Article weren’t quite as customizable as I needed for my space.
- Joybird: Joybird’s modular couches didn’t have that wooden touch on the base that I was looking for.
- West Elm: Last, but not least, West Elm and it just came down to price. I couldn’t swing it!
- Maiden Home: The modular sofa didn’t have the wood features I was looking for, and the price is STEEP.
- Restoration Hardware: BEAUTIFUL stuff, but a little too fancy for my style and budget.
Weirdly enough as I researched budget-friendly modular sofa options, Inside Weather worked best for my budget. Especially since they often run sales. If you’re patient, you can get some decent savings without sacrificing quality.
Inside Weather Couch Review After 8 Months Of Use
Customizable Design
There’s a lot of flexibility when you’re creating your own custom couch, and Inside Weather offers every detail of customization which we’ve already been over. All-in-all I’ve found Inside Weather to be one the best value for money eco-friendly sofas.
It’s especially appealing if you’re looking to fill a specific space and want a specific color or fabric. Plus it was one of the only that offered removable, washable covers for modular sofas. My husband and I are clumsy so washable is key! Literally spilled my drink on it as I wrote that… so it gives us peace of mind to actually enjoy and relax on our couch.
Delivery and Warranty
If you’re looking for the easiest to assemble modular sofas, Inside Weather might not be it. Why? Your order comes with assembly white glove service!! We didn’t have to lift a finger. I actually missed the white glove delivery, but it was overall a good experience. The only complaint is they left a black handprint on our recently painted walls, but I got over it!
Because of the dirty hands, the delivery people weren’t allowed to mess with the cushions. (Not quite the “white glove experience” I guess.) So that was one thing we had to do. It was fairly easy though! Each cushion and its respective cover had letters or numbers to match to each other. Some were a tough squeeze, but we managed with two people.
As for warranty, that’s what really sold me. It was SO HARD to buy a what I call, “adult” couch that costs “adult” money, but the 365 Home Trial gave me a lot of peace. If I hated it within 365 days, and regretted everything, I had an out. The only catch was you have to pay an environmental fee based on the amount of time you have your couch, but that’s minimal compared to the refund you’d hopefully receive upon return. But at least you the return shipping is free.
Durability, Care and Maintenance
We’ve done minimal care at this point, and the couch is proving to be really durable. The cushions still feel as firm as they did when we got them, and we spend a lottttt of time on the sofa!
We’ve had minor spills that we easily cleaned with a wet towel and had to (of course) vacuum the dog hair. The one thing I’d call out for the Bondi Collection with the Classic Weave upholstery is, depending on your dog’s hair type, it might not be one of the best modular sofas for pets.
My pup, Cody, has long soft hair and we have no issues wiping or vacuuming it off the couch. However, we’ve had doggo visitors with short coarse hair that weaves into the Performance Weave. I had to use tweezers to get it out, and they are no longer welcome on the couch without a blanket.
The only Inside Weather maintenance needed is taking care and cleaning it on a regular basis. Even if you don’t get the machine washable covers, all of the covers are removable so you can spot clean as needed. I’m actually planning on buying a second set of covers in the future so I can have one in case I need to deep clean the other.
Inside Weather Bondi Couch Pros
- The depth of the seat gives you so much space. Even if we got a two seater sofa with an ottoman, it would have been much bigger than any couch we’ve had before. It’s been a real game changer. At 5’2, I can sit all the way at the back and only have a little bit of my legs hang over. You could probably squeeze many more people on it too!
- The wood frame is gorgeous. The Bondi sofa was different from any of the others I looked at because it wasn’t just wooden legs, but a continuous wooden frame. No way to shove anything under the couch and forget about it forever. The arms are made from beautiful baltic birch plywood.
- The fabric is durable without sacrificing comfort. I wanted a comfy couch. I love the look of leather and velvet couches, but not the feel. The Performance Fabric is not exactly soft to touch, but it’s so cozy.
- Memory foam cushions are firm (in a good way). One thing that we were looking for in particular was cushions that keep their shape, and these barely get an ident when you sit for hours!
- Not a pro of the sofa collection per se, but Inside Weather supports the National Forest Foundation, so you can feel good about your purchase.
- Good sales! I ordered mine during the Memorial Day sale in 2023, and it helped soften the blow of the investment. So pro tip, shop the sales!
Inside Weather Bondi Couch Cons
- While the cushions might keep their shape, they do move out of place a bit. The spot I mostly sit in particular scooches forward and the back cushion falls into the open space. It’s kind of annoying to fix, but not a deal breaker!
- There’s no pull out bed. My old couch, no matter how small, was pretty perfect when friends visited to have a full size bed. You can definitely sleep on the Inside Weather sofa, but not sure I’d put guests on it!
- It’s big and heavy which makes it a pain to clean behind and under. If you’re looking for a big couch, there’s no escaping that!
- Not able to see in person. Inside Weather has an online model, so you’re not able to test it out for yourself. Rather you put your trust in online reviews and photos like this to make your decision. However, you can “visit” their Virtual Showroom or order up to 10 free fabric swatches. I watched a video before ordering of someone who ordered swatches and really put them to the test for spills, dog hair and more!
- It was a bit of a long wait (for me at least). Understandably, custom furniture takes time to make. Our exact timeline was: ordered on June 26, notified they started our item on July 9, notified our item was almost done on July 17, shipped on August 15 and delivered on August 16. However, Inside Weather’s site claims it takes only a few days, so maybe that’s changed?
The Verdict: Yes, Buy It
If you’re here, you’re likely already in the late stages of your couch decision making process. I’ve been there. I searched all over for reviews before I hit purchase, and ultimately had to go forward without much.
That’s what inspired this post, and yes, the couch is totally worth it. If you’re looking for a high quality couch, Inside Weather is a great purchase. I get lots of people asking me about it on social media so it looks great, and it’s durable. Win, win!
The couch is ideal for anyone who is looking to invest in a quality couch – no matter the space you have. I would even include it now on a list of comfortable sofas for small spaces! My friend has a smaller apartment, and got the two seater in velvet. So cute!
However, it’s definitely not a couch you purchase for an office or guest room that are dual purpose or not used too often. It’s not one of the most comfortable sleeper sofas. I fall asleep on it, but I wouldn’t set it up for a guest necessarily.
Inside Weather FAQs
These are the questions we found people asking a lot on things like Reddit, so I thought I’d answer them to the best of my ability.
Is Inside Weather a good brand?
From my experience, yes! Since I wasn’t able to see it in person and too impatient for a fabric sample, I was a little concerned about what would show up. The quality is great, and I have no regrets about my purchase.
Where are Inside Weather couches made?
Inside Weather couches are designed and made in California with 90% of the incurring expenses in the USA.
How comfortable are Inside Weather couches?
This depends on the type of cushion you choose, but also on what you define as comfortable. It’s not a cloud couch, but I find it really comfortable.
Are Inside Weather couches worth the price?
Yes! It’s super high quality, customizable to your needs, sustainable and durable. All of which makes it worth the price.
Can I add additional pieces to my Inside Weather couch later?
Yes! It’s a modular sofa so you can add on as you like. You can get a two-seater with ottoman for a smaller apartment and upgrade with another seat if you get a larger space!
Is Inside Weather a good fit for small spaces?
Yes! Just be sure to measure your space (and double check your measurements!) before you customize your couch. I have a friend in a smaller apartment with a two seater and ottoman, and she loves it!!
Where can I buy an Inside Weather couch?
At time of publishing, an Inside Weather couch is only available for purchase on their website: insideweather.com.
Still have product questions?! I scoured the negative reviews, and happy to help guide your purchase to the best of my ability! Leave a comment below or DM me on Instagram (@taylormgrantham) and I’ll try to help. I’m not a couch expert by any means, but in my experience, the Inside Weather Bondi couch is a winner.
