This post is a review of the Article Sven Sofa. Buying a leather sofa is a commitment and I hope you find this post helpful in making your decision as to whether or not to purchase the Article Sven Sofa. I will be answering the big questions I had before I purchased this sofa and sharing my honest opinion about whether the sofa is worth the cost and hype.
This post contains affiliate links. This means If you purchase a product from some of my links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you.
If you’re reading this, then you have laid eyes on the Article Sven Sofa and have likely fallen in love! I’m right there with you! I saw this caramel colored leather sofa for the first time in early 2020. It flooded Instagram and YouTube. Influencers were raving about this sofa. To be perfectly honest, I had only bought 1 sofa before this one. I always took hand-me-downs and free bees for two reasons: 1) I didn’t have the money for a brand new sofa and 2) Once I had the money, I never liked anything. I would roam furniture stores and find nothing.
To me, sofas are like noses…difficult to find a good looking one. I had ended up settling on a sofa that was just okay. And then I wouldn’t even allow us to sit on the sofa because I didn’t want it ruined. (Yes, I realize it’s crazy to purchase something and not use it.)
All this to say that when I saw the Article Sven Charme Tan Sofa (to be exact) I actually LOVED it! For me, this was a big deal! The damper was it was an online store. I couldn’t see it, sit on it, nothing. For me a sofa is a big investment. So I began to read every blog post and watch every YouTube video I could find reviewing this sofa.
I had an issue with the fact that most of these blogs and videos were in partnership with Article. If not that, then the sofa was a gift from Article. So how could I know for sure the quality of this sofa??? A year and a half later, I found myself still belly aching about this sofa. So we finally bit the bullet and purchased it as an early anniversary gift to ourselves. (We have the stimulus checks to thank for this decision, LOL!)
This post is reviewing the Article Sven Sofa.
Article Sven Sofa Review
This is my very first blog post. So you can be sure that this is an honest and true review. My blog will be launching with this post. I have no affiliation with Article whatsoever at this time. This will allow you to have confidence in my review as I answer some of the big questions I had before buying this sofa.
Is the Article Sven Sofa Comfortable?
Okay, it’s no secret this sofa is esthetically pleasing. But I can honestly say, it is super comfortable as well. Even if it weren’t comfortable, I would be just as happy to sit in my chair across from it and stare at the sofa constantly because it is just so easy on the eyes! My husband has to deal with me saying mid-sentence, “Ugh, I love this sofa!”
I have to say, it sits a bit firmer than I thought it would be out of the box. In other people’s photos, it looks slouchier than it is. (Keep reading for the explanation of this. Also, find my 1-year review at the end of the post). Just putting this out there… I’m sitting on the sofa right now. The back cushions offer enough support and are just soft enough in my opinion. The seat cushion is nice as well. Firm enough to soften with age without getting too soft to where it’ll have no shape. I also like that it is one long seat cushion as opposed to two or three. This allows for even sitting and napping without sliding into the cracks.
I was unsure of whether or not I would keep the round side pillows this sofa comes with on the sofa or not. When I first sat on the sofa I quickly realized they’re more than just for looks. They’re nice to lean on to fill the gap between your side and the edge of the sofa. My husband has used it as lumbar support while sitting on the sofa as well. So they help to really personalize the sofa’s comfort in my opinion.
Article Sven Sofa Cushion Hack
As I have only had the sofa for about two months, naturally my cushions are still full without any issues. However, reading numerous reviews of the sofa I learned that a few years in with heavy use (seemed like homes with pets and families) people had issues with the back cushions sagging and losing their shape. These cushions have a zipper allowing the cushions to be restuffed if needed.
One blogger used a standard sized sleeping pillow and added it to the back of each cushion. Click here to see her amazing before and afters! So if I do run into this issue, I’m fine to add pillows that I need to replace anyhow to the back! No big deal.
Is the Leather Good Quality?
All leather is not created equal. This was honestly a big concern for me. Let’s face it, there is nothing worse than fake or cheap leather. You might as well forget the whole idea if it seems cheap. Many people describe the leather of the Article Sven Sofa as “buttery”. I would agree. It is soft and feels of good quality. I’m not an expert, but I know I don’t like cheap and this surely doesn’t feel cheap.
Article’s website says that the sofa is 100% aniline leather that will develop a patina over time. They claim that the sofa will develop a “well-loved, slouchy vintage” look. I wasn’t really sure what that meant. Patina is essentially the aging of the leather that gives it character. It comes from regular wear and tear, scratches, oils from your skin and other surfaces, and sunlight.
Vintage, relaxed and character are all things I like in fashion, so I am totally okay with my sofa gaining those characteristics over time. So the firmer look that it comes with will turn into a slouchier look. Fine by me! Also the leather itself will darken a few shades with time. I will say, when we unboxed it, it was lighter in color than we both figured it would be. We still like the color, but I welcome the darkening.
Is the IKEA Stockholm Leather Sofa a Dupe?
Something to note, shortly after we received this sofa we went to IKEA. I noticed their caramel color tan leather sofa and knew I had to go and check it out to see how it compared to ours. Right away it had a cheap look to it. As I sat, it felt not even close to the quality of the leather of the Article Sven Sofa. The framing of the sofa just felt flimsier and not nearly as chunky as our sturdy sofa. My husband and I quickly realized we had made the right decision to spend the money and get a good quality leather sofa. I then flipped the price tag over. The leather sofa at IKEA was actually more expensive than the Article Sven Sofa!
This was the Stockholm leather sofa (83 inches long) pricing at $2199.99USD. It was 11 inches longer than ours as we got the 72 inch Article Sven Sofa. But even the 88 inch Article Sven Sofa still costs less! We couldn’t believe it. The quality felt so much more luxurious from Article. We must have purchased the Article Sven Sofa at just the right time, because since we purchased it the pricing has gone up $200 on both the 72 inch and the 88 inch sofa. Even with the price increase, both sizes of the Article Sven Sofa come in costing less than the IKEA Stockholm sofa. To be fair, it is a closer dupe to the Article Timber Charme Tan Sofa style wise. As of writing this post, the IKEA sofa costs more than all three Article sofas.
Also you need to be careful at IKEA as not all leather looking sofas are genuine leather. Be sure to check. We are huge IKEA fans, but when it comes to leather seating, my dears, Article is the way to go!
How Do You Care For the Article Sven Sofa?
The instructions the sofa comes with say you should regularly dust it with a soft dry cloth to remove dirt. Mircofiber would be a good choice. Avoiding direct heat and sunlight is a must. You can wipe spills with a damp cloth, but avoid scrubbing. Avoid chemical cleaners and polishes. For heavy soiling they advise consulting a leather specialist. Fluffing the cushions will help maintain their shape.
Some reviewers complain about the cushions not being reversible. I, on the other hand, feel that if they were reversible the leather would slide on the fabric areas on the frame making both the back and seat cushions move around too much. As is, there is no sliding even if you slouch into the sofa or move around.
Maintenance of the Article Sven Sofa
I have yet to treat my leather sofa, so I reached out to Article personally to ask how they recommend I care for the leather. This is what they recommend for treating the leather of the Article Sven Sofa:
To keep the leather looking as good as the day you got it, use Otter Wax Leather Oil. The 16 oz. size bottle is recommended for sofas, which I linked below. This oil features safflower oil and vitamin E, which help maintain the leather’s luster and soft feel while preventing it from drying. They have tested this on several of their products with great results. They feel that it does not affect the color of the sofa, as some leather oils do. However, keep in mind if the sofa has gotten dry it will appear lighter, so when you apply the oil, you may feel that it darkens a bit. They recommend using it every 3-6 months to revitalize and ensure the Sven will stay supple and hydrated. Many bloggers have felt 6 months is that sweet spot.
Here is the directions Article recommends for using the leather oil:
1. Test a spot: Apply a small amount of oil to a small, unseen patch of leather.
2. Apply using Otter Wax’s Flannel Buffing Cloth or a clean, dry, soft, lint-free towel – Only a very small amount is necessary! Apply oil to the cloth – never apply the oil directly to the leather!
3. Allow the leather to fully absorb the oil.
4. Buff the leather with a flannel cloth once it has absorbed. 5. If another application is needed, be sure the first application has been fully absorbed.
6. Reapply as often as necessary.
Tip: The leather will start to look dried out or lighter in color when it is time to oil the sofa.
Otter Wax Flannel Buffing Cloth is really the only cloth recommended by Article to apply any product to your sofa. It is very affordable and I’ll link it here. It’s 100% cotton flannel, so it won’t abrade the leather of your furniture, which can occur with other, rougher cloths. Be sure to wash the buffing cloth and hang it to dry before the first use and after each subsequent use. Article does not recommend using leather buffing brushes as these can damage the leather and leave noticeable markings, particularly on their Charme leathers. The cloth is linked here.
Is the Article Sven Sofa Worth it?
YES! We absolutely love our sofa. I can now see why influencers praise this sofa as well as other Article furniture. It is beautiful, comfortable, durable, and great quality. It is the first sofa I have had that I actually allow us to sit on as I welcome the aging process of the leather. I have been praising my sofa to co-workers, friends and family members. I cannot speak for everyone, but we would definitely recommend this sofa. It is a quality sofa that seems as though it will last us for years. And I have to say, the light smell of leather as I sit on the sofa doesn’t bother me, LOL!
The Article Sven Sofa after 1 year
So I have had the Article Sven Sofa now for about 15 months. I am still completely obsessed with this sofa. I can safely say it still looks as good as it did the day I bought it. Now, keep in mind, I do not have children or pets. It has held its shape and I’m sure with a ton of use it’ll slouch with age, but mine still looks great! Besides, I welcome the slouchiness if it does happen. I have spilled tea on it a few times, well, we’ll say splashes of tea have hit the sofa. I just took a damp cloth to it as the company recommends and it dried as though nothing happened. We have not treated the leather yet, I’m a bit nervous to do so since it still looks great.
Literally, every single person who has seen my sofa in the flesh (can I say that about a sofa…it is leather, LOL) has LOVED it. I find it not only worth the money, but a steal for the price. My Article Hira Pouf Ottoman has also held up beautifully after 1 year. I recommend Article to everyone and I am still not sponsored nor am I an affiliate for Article. Although, I would be in a heartbeat!
Other Helpful Information About Article
Know that the assembly of this sofa is literally just screwing the legs on. DO NOT pay for assembly!
As of writing this post, anything over $999 is free shipping. Otherwise it’s a flat rate of $49. If for some reason you are unhappy with your purchase you can exchange the item for free within the first 30 days. Also you can order swatches to ease your anxiety before deciding on a color of leather or fabric. This is so helpful before spending a large chunk of money. I’m assuming it would also give you a clue as to the quality of the leather. So really, you have nothing to lose taking a chance on Article!
After using Article, the idea of aimlessly roaming through furniture stores filled with tacky matching furniture sets that don’t even suit my fancy just seems totally barbaric to me. (IKEA doesn’t count, we all know aimlessly wandering there is a total field trip!) I hope you found this review helpful. Thanks for reading!
This post was a review of the Article Sven Sofa.
