About.com Rating

I had tried out a sofa from Simplicity Sofas a few years back, and recently got a chance to try out a sectional and a sleeper.

Simplicity doesn't sell through other dealers or retailers, so you order your furniture directly through their website. The details about the ordering process from Simplicity can be found here in my earlier review. The patented furniture is built in High Point, North Carolina.

Both the sleeper and the sectional are smaller scaled and can be used to furnish older homes, RVs, boats, attics, basements, indeed anywhere you need to take the furniture.

Megan Sectional

Megan is just one of the styles that is available, and you may want to check out more arm styles for something that suits your needs better. While many configurations are possible, I ordered the smaller 5 seat one that measures 83" x 83". The seat units are about 30.5" deep and come with standard 27" deep seat cushions. This includes one wedge, two armless units, one right arm chair, and one left arm chair.

While the L-shaped sectional is a perfect fit for smaller spaces, its smaller scale does not overwhelm the space while offering full functionality. The seats are not very deep, and while they are great for women, or for those with a smaller built, it is not a good fit for the very tall or big person.

Setting Up: The sectional  took very little time to assemble once the pieces were out of the carton. I appreciated that they are packed in such a way that you can easily find the frame, cushions and hardware for each unit easily without having to hunt for them.

This expedites the process of setting up. No tools are needed, and fastening the hardware into place does not take very long at all.

The sectional units come with a mechanism at the bottom that can be locked into place so that the pieces don't move around, or you can leave it unlocked if you want to move them around and have more flexibility.

Christy Sleeper

There are a number of choices for the sleepers, in style, type and size. I opted for a queen-sized sleeper with a sleek transitional look with a three-over-three configuration.

It is amazingly compact for a queen-sized sleeper measuring only 78" wide. Compare that to 82" to 85" and above queen sleepers that you will usually find.

The depth coming in at 34" is also less than the standard depth (36" or more) for a queen-sized sleeper with the bed closed. But more importantly, this sleeper can be taken through tight staircases, hallways, indeed any opening over 15" in width. The sleeper utilizes a Leggett & Platt tri-fold mechanism with a custom AirDream hybrid air/foam mattress which is specially designed to enable the 34" depth.

It is a comfortable sit, and the tri-fold mechanism is easy to operate. The sleeper comes with a pump for filling the mattress to the desired level of firmness. I had someone test it for four nights in a row, and was advised that it was a comfortable surface to sleep upon.

You will need to deflate the mattress completely before folding back the bed to avoid damage to it and the frame.

Setting Up: Setting up the sleeper was as easy as putting the sectional together. The back and the bottom part come attached, and that is the heaviest part of the sleeper. You will need help taking it into your home. Putting in the arms and screwing on the legs takes very little time. 

Frame: The oak frame, springs and cushions are backed by lifetime warranties.

Fabric Selection: You can choose from any of the over 200 fabrics that they carry or bring your own. The fabrics include"pet friendly" or "child friendly" selections. You can choose a welt for a more tailored look. If you choose to go the COM route, call them to find out how much you need. Slip covers are also available for all their sofas. You can also order fitted slipcovers for your sofa, with separate covers for seats and cushions.

Delivery: The furniture arrives in cartons UPS. You are advised beforehand when to expect the furniture, how many cartons will be delivered, and how much they will weigh. That is helpful in determining if you need a pair of extra hands.

Special Notes: You will receive e-mails from Simplicity each step of the way, and any question is promptly answered. They also check with you after you have received your furniture. What I especially liked was that the name of Greg Parlier, the gentleman who upholstered my sofa was included in the e-mail informing me of the progress on my piece. That made it more personal for me.

Be advised that while the furniture can fit through narrow openings, it can still be heavy, as it should be because it is real furniture. It is better to have some help on hand, or go for inside delivery or white glove delivery options for additional cost. You can find the details here. The other thing that you should prepare for is arrangements for recycling vast amounts of cardboard from the cartons.