Reviewer: Lauren Arzbaecher, commerce producer

The details: As a newish purveyor of earth-friendly furnishings, Sabai has been creating made-to-order furniture from nontoxic, sustainable materials since 2019. Their environmentally conscious ethos further extends to a repair program offering replacement parts—from slipcovers to armrests—and buyback programs so that pieces can evolve with you rather than end up languishing on the curb. Plus, you don’t sacrifice style for sustainability. With an array of eye-catching colorways, fabrics, and modern silhouettes, their offerings can anchor living rooms across many aesthetics, from midcentury modern to eclectic styles.

Ordering Process | Delivery + Assembly | After Installation | Sectional Grades

Price: How much does it cost? Are there payment plans available?

The five-seat sectional sofa is priced at $3,095 for both the recycled velvet and upcycled poly upholstery options. If you have more room to work with, Sabai offers six- and seven-seater versions for $3,295 and $3,695, respectively. Three to 24 month payment plans are available through Klarna with varying interest rates. Sabai is also currently running an Earth Month sale, with savings of $125 off $500 or more, $300 off $1,500 or more, and $600 off $3,000 or more.

What are the upholstery or customization options? Did you choose any?

All of Sabai’s fabrics meet specific environmental certifications—Global Recycled Standard, Oeko-Tex, GreenGuard Gold, the list goes on—but that prerequisite far from stifles your design options. The essential silhouette is available in nine rich colors of the recycled velvet and five swatches of the upcycled poly. You’re able to customize down to the small details as well, from leg color to loveseat vs individual seat cushions, neither at any extra cost.

Possibly influenced by the earth tone resurgence in this year’s color trends, I’ve been brown-pilled in my decor lately—my duvet cover, throw pillows, and clothing can all attest! There’s something comforting about browns, particularly deeper tones, that really grounds a space in a larger item, so I was immediately drawn to the chocolate color of Sabai’s recycled velvet upholstery.

What is the lead time for customization, manufacturing, and delivery?

Given everything is made to order, the lead time at Sabai is fairly quick. The majority of their offerings are shipped within two to five weeks for just about everything they offer (a few pieces fall in the three to eight week range).

What was the delivery process like?

My couch arrived on the speedy side, just over two weeks after ordering. Sabai ships through FedEx ground, so I was able to follow the progress with a tracking number like any ordinary package. The modular design of the Essential line allows pieces to be flat packed together for delivery. That said, the couch is big enough that it still came in ten separate cardboard boxes. I have the luxury of an elevator building, so getting the larger boxes up to my apartment was simple enough, but you do need a fair amount of space to get everything unpacked.

What was the assembly process like? How long did it take and how many people?

Now, I kind of sadistically enjoy the puzzle of a vague instruction manual, but the steps for putting together Sabai’s sectional are straightforward. Pieces either slide together or require a few bolts to screw them in place. The only tool required is an Allen wrench, which Sabai supplies a ratcheted version of with delivery.

The assembly took my roommate and I about an hour and a half from unboxing to sitting on our new couch. Nothing was super heavy, so you’d likely be able to assemble the couch alone, though getting edges lined up on the longer pieces was definitely easier with a buddy. We found the ratchet wrench a bit finicky: depending what angle you had it at, the gear wouldn’t always lock, meaning it would sometimes just spin around the bolt rather than actually tightening it. Since it was the only tool you needed, we got the hang of it eventually, but I think using a regular Allen wrench of the same size would be equally useful.

What are the dimensions? How does it fit in your space? Would it be better suited for a different type of home?

Our living room had a whole corner to devote to a sitting area, but the current sofa just wasn’t utilizing the space well. It was a tight squeeze to fit all three roommates onto it if we wanted to have a movie night. In short: the space was screaming for a sectional couch. However, sectionals typically = huge. As much as there was a lot of depth to work with, the width of the couch still had to be fairly narrow or it would block the entry to a bedroom.

At 88 inches square (and 32 inches high) the Sabai couch is quite literally the perfect compact size for my apartment. It doesn’t cut off the doorways to the bedroom or balcony and leaves enough room for a side table and lamp. And boy does it feel roomy! Movie nights aren’t uncomfortable anymore: both my roommates and I can fit on the couch without feeling like we’re on top of each other. Plus with the L-shape, you get a makeshift chaise if you sit in the corner. When hosting a group of friends, we were easily able to fit five people on the couch without squashing together.

Sit test: Is it comfortable? Does it feel well made? Does the couch have a tendency to sag?

Given the Essential’s low profile (seat height of 16"), I was slightly worried it wouldn’t be comfortable to lounge on without my back feeling unsupported because I’m on the taller side. If I’m sitting for long periods on the couch, I do notice my upper back feeling a bit stiff. However, the deep seat depth compensates somewhat for the low profile—I’ve spent many a weekend curled up on the couch reading a book with no issue. When I crave more support for my upper back or neck, the individual back cushions for each seat (that read more like pillows) are easily moveable to prop anything up that needs it.

True to their mission to make lasting furniture to prevent waste, this sectional feels very high-quality. The upholstery feels durable and tightly sewn into the seams, so that the fabric won’t bubble or pull away from the cushions easily. For the first week or so, the seat cushions did feel a bit firm, though they’ve softened as time has gone by. In comparison to my last couch, they don’t feel saggy or like I'm sinking in when I sit. The back cushions have a slightly higher tendency to get a bit misshapen, but are easy to fluff up.

Lay test: Is it comfortable? Does it feel well made? Does the couch have a tendency to sag?

On lazy days, two of my roommates have laid down on both ends of the L shape at the same time comfortably. Even for me at 5'10" there’s plenty of room to sprawl out without my head or toes hitting an edge. It feels like a nice semi-firm mattress: cozy but not collapsing your spine or buckling under the weight. The back pillows are moveable and small enough to pull down to further support your head if you’re laying down, which I’ve taken advantage of for lounging.

Is the sectional suitable for particular decor styles and, if so, which?

The Essential line has an approachable silhouette complete with boxy arms, a low-profile, and clean lines. Its basic but impactful design is well suited for most decor styles and the upholstery options really set the tone for the look you’re going for. Against the curved shape of my coffee table, the brown recycled velvet feels like a statement piece.

If you want to curate a maximalist vibe like this playful Brooklyn apartment, spring for the amber or mustard in the recycled velvet. The pale colorways—oat or farro—of the upcycled poly offer a more timeless feel like the sofas in Lana Condor’s peaceful living room.

Is it durable/practical in a modern home? Is the couch kid- and/or dog-friendly?

When I come home after a long day, all I want to do is flop onto the couch and stare at my phone, and the Essential sectional is a sturdy, comfy surface for doing so. Even if I drop my whole body weight onto it, it doesn’t feel like it’s going to collapse on me. Plus, unlike other retailers, Sabai designs their pieces to be easily updated with replacement parts if things do start to deteriorate over time. While I don’t have kids or pets to vouch for how resistant to messes and dander it is, many reviewers on the Sabai site say it’s been well-loved by families and friends (furry or otherwise).

What are the care and cleaning instructions? Do you think stains could be easily removed?

Sabai claims the recycled velvet is inherently scratch- and stain-resistant. We haven’t faced any big spills to contend with, but it’s recommended to spot clean with gentle household cleaners as needed. If you get a slipcovered option, the cushion covers are machine-washable on a cold delicate cycle.

I’ve found that the velvet does attract other fibers fairly easily. When my area rug sheds onto my socks and I curl up on the sofa, I’ll often find the bits of wool stuck to the seat. And like all velvet, it has a grain and will bear traces of recent guests (e.g. my phone, which often leaves an imprint in the fabric of the armrest). It’s not such an egregious issue that there are always visible handprints or buttprints on it, but every few days I’ll brush the seats with my hand to reorient the grain so it’s facing one direction only.

Do the photos do this product justice? Was there anything you were surprised to see IRL?

I was lucky enough to go to the Sabai showroom to see the fabric IRL before I received the couch, so there was no real big surprise in how it looked when I got the couch to my home. In comparison to the photos online, I would say the chocolate color is a bit warmer than pictured, but I actually prefer it to the cool-toned brown. The shape and style of the couch is exactly as advertised. If there was one thing I was slightly surprised about, it would be the level of color shift from one side of the velvet grain to the other—because my couch is placed directly in front of a window, the sunlight against the fabric can make the difference in color more apparent.

Comfort: B+
Value: A
Delivery and assembly: A-
Style: A
Overall couch rating: A