Modloft: Ultimate Brand Review And Rating

Modloft has an alluring line of couches and a sleek website, but are they more style than substance? In this in-depth Modloft review and brand breakdown, I take a look at Modloft and reveal their PotatoMeter rating.

Overall Potatometer Rating:

0 %

Modloft has a bit more style than substance. Their website will make you desperately want their couches, but digging a little deeper into their lead times, quality, and customer service might make you think again. The couches they do have are technically good, but the rest of the experience makes it difficult to recommend them over other options.

88%

Online Shopping Experience

80%

Shipping & Lead Time

89%

Customer Focus

85%

Durability & Quality

85%

Vibe Check

Our Own Rating System

The PotatoMeter is Couch.com’s very own rating system that grades furniture retailers on a variety of – what we consider to be – essential criteria. While we aim to be fair and objective in our assessment, subjectivity based on our expertise and personal biases is unavoidable.

88%

Online Shopping Experience

Modloft: Online Shopping Experience

Modloft’s founder, Ted Toledano, believes, “A potential customer’s first impression comes from the company’s site (mobile site, to be specific). It needs to deliver on a practical and emotional level.” Does Modloft’s website achieve this? In short, yes. Modloft has a beautiful website that’s sleek, minimalist, and exudes luxury. They do a great job of showcasing their products, though they could do a better job of providing practical and valuable information.

Modloft’s Ease of Navigation

The home page is elegant, glamorous, and couture. The full-width images are gorgeous and make you desperately want the couches they’re showcasing. It’s a really wonderfully-styled home page.
The menus are sleek and the 3 photo cards that appear in the dropdown menu are thoughtfully-chosen and look excellent.
The category pages are easy to navigate thanks to the slim number of couches offered. The details and information are nicely-formatted and stylishly spaced. It creates a very nice scrolling/shopping experience.
There are filters on category pages, but with so few couches they’re not terribly useful.
Product pages are elegant and present a good amount of practical buying information right at the top. 4 tabs below the image carousel provide any additional information you might need, including a tab for the product reviews. I like that the reviews are near the top instead of buried at the bottom.

Modloft’s Information Available “At-A-Glance”

On category pages you can see the couch name, star rating, price, sale price, available fabric options, and a sales tag over the image (if applicable). It all looks clean and sharp.
There’s a “Quick View” feature, but it actually provides even LESS information than what’s already presented on the category page, so it might as well not even exist.

Modloft’s Product Images

The product images are decent. The photos on a white backdrop are sharp and do a good job highlighting the qualities of the couch. The lifestyle photos are glamorous and alluring.
Some couches only have a few photos from a couple angles. Others have multiple lifestyle photos. Occasionally you’ll also get a close-up of a specific feature. They also all have a close-up of the fabric/leather. But it’s not very consistent across products. I’d love to see photos from every side of the couch, especially considering how few couches they offer.
On category pages, hovering over most couches results in seeing an alternate lifestyle image. Clicking the fabric circles results in a really sleek wipe effect that changes the couch color. I love this detail.

Modloft’s Quality of Product Information

Product information is very vague and non-specific. The best place to find information is to click the “Specifications” tab on a product page and then click the “Tear Sheet” link. Now you can finally see a quick list of the actual product details, though they’re still a bit vague.
The “Description” tab is OK, but it’s a lot of fancy words to not really say anything terribly useful. But there are a couple good details you can pull from most of them, like info about frame material and maybe the cushioning.
The dimensions diagram is nice, though people might miss it since it’s under the “Specifications” tab. The listed info is adequate, but they use certain acronyms a regular shopper might not know. For instance, putting “SW” for “Seating Width” or “AH” for “Arm Height.”
The “Product Care” tab is decent and properly explains how you should care for your leather or fabric. They even have tips for keeping your couch legs looking good.

Modloft’s Extra Bells & Whistles

The build-your-own modular system is robust and cool, but it was very resource intensive to run on my computer. It may run very slowly on your computer if you try it.
The “Reviews” section on product pages is quite robust and has practical features like letting customers tell you their height, which room of the house the couch is in, and whether people recommend the product.

80%

Shipping & Lead Time

Modloft: Shipping & Lead Times

Modloft’s couches are warehoused, often imported products, which can go in and out of stock depending on popularity. Their advertised lead times are generally OK, but a major complaint that repeatedly appears in customer reviews is that the advertised lead times are wildly inaccurate. So take these lead times with a grain of salt (just the way this Couch Potato likes it). I usually give companies the benefit of the doubt, but in this case the issue seemed to be so pervasive that I docked them several percentage points. That being said, here are their advertised lead times.

Modloft’s Made to Order Products:

Modloft does not offer made to order couches. They only have in-stock, warehoused products.

Modloft’s In Stock Items:

If a couch is in stock it takes about 3-5 days to leave the warehouse. However, even some “in-stock” couches say they will take 10-20 weeks to ship out. That’s a LONG time for couches that aren’t made to order

Modloft’s Shipping Time:

It takes roughly 3 weeks for shipping/delivery.

89%

Customer Focus

Modloft: Customer Focus

Our goal at Couch.com is to provide customers with the information they need to find the best couch for their home. We take customer satisfaction very seriously. So how does Modloft stack up to the competition when it comes to customer friendly resources and offerings?

Modloft’s Warranty:

Modloft offers a one year warranty against manufacturing defects. For the price I’d like this to be longer.
They’ve partnered with Extend to offer 2, 3, and 5 year extended warranty/accident protection.

Modloft’s Return Options:

Modloft has a 30 day trial period. If you’re not satisfied you’ll have to pay for return shipping charges and potentially up to a 20% restocking fee. Return shipping fees could run hundreds of dollars on their own. It’s an expensive “trial.”

Modloft’s Delivery Options & Costs:

All orders must pay for white glove delivery. It starts at $99, but the price is calculated based on order value and location. NOTE: Modloft does not deliver nationwide. If you’re outside a major metropolitan area there’s no guarantee they will deliver to you. Try checking out with a couch first before shopping.

Modloft’s Financing Options:

Modloft has partnered with Affirm to offer 3, 6, or 12 month financing plans starting at 0% APR.

Is Assembly Required?

No, every order ships with white glove delivery so you will not be responsible for any assembly, though it’s generally just installing legs.

Modloft’s Customization Options:

Most couches have at least one other color option to choose from. Couches are either leather or fabric. There won’t be a fabric option on a leather couch product or vice versa. The color choices are all modern, muted, and rarely colorful.
There are modular options that you can construct to suit your exact needs, but some of the pieces you can pick are twice as big as you’d expect to see on a regular modular. So it’s a bit less modular than most competitors.

Does Modloft Offer Free Fabric Swatches?

Yes, Modloft does have free swatches available. Each individual product has its own swatches, so you’ll need to navigate to the specific product page and order swatches from there.

85%

Durability & Quality

Modloft: Durability & Quality

Durability is a major factor when it comes to purchasing a couch, especially when you’re ordering online. So do Modloft couches hold up over time?

Modloft’s Quality of Materials:

Specific material information is hard to come by. The best way to find specific information is to click on the “Tear Sheet” link under “Specifications” on a product page.
Fabric upholstery is generally 100% Polyester. This is fine, but no other information or double rub count is provided.
Full-grain leather is used on several couches, which is the highest quality available. At this price point that’s phenomenal. The others use top-grain leather, which is a tier lower, but still good for the price.
Cushions are generally just listed as “foam” or “foam with down.” It makes it hard to assess the overall quality and durability. However, it’s good to know that many of the couches have down, which is a high quality option.

Modloft’s Cleanability:

Most leather upholstery should only be dusted and vacuumed – no solvents or cleaners should be used.
Based on the provided information, their fabric upholstery seems to be a W cleaning code, meaning you can use water based cleaners (no solvents).

Modloft’s Quality of Construction & Manufacturing Origin:

Modloft typically manufactures couches in the country where the materials originate. For example, some couches are made in Brazil where the wood is sourced. Other couches are made in the USA. Others do not list their origin.
Specific frame construction information isn’t always available, but when it is it’s usually solid, kiln-dried wood (alder, eucalyptus, etc). I’d like much more specific information. I’d also like to know the joint construction, which can tell you a lot about the overall quality. What I’ve managed to find is all fine, but not exceptional for the price.
Some couches mention a sinuous spring support system, but it’s not well-detailed so it’s hard to say if this is accurate for every couch. If it is, it’s a perfectly fine choice for the price. However, some couches list a Pirelli webbing support system, which is not as high quality as you’d hope for the price.

85%

Vibe Check

Modloft: Brand Vibe Check

Vibing with a brand is important. Brands can also promote certain lifestyles and sustainability goals. That’s why it’s my goal to help you find a company and brand that you vibe with so that you’re as comfortable with your new couch as you are on your new couch.

Modloft’s Key Differentiators & Unique Facts:

Modloft launched in 2005 and manufactures their products in the same countries where the wood is sourced, which is relatively unique, especially when it’s countries like Brazil.
They have an ADA Statement page, which is not something I’ve come across on any other company’s website. I appreciated the specific focus on accessibility.

Modloft’s Sustainability:

There is not any specific emphasis on sustainability or other eco-friendly goals.

Modloft’s Overall Brand Presentation:

Modloft has a very modern, chic, “too-cool-for-school” attitude about them, which can be off-putting for some people, but will attract others like flies to honey. If this is your vibe, then Modloft is really going to be your vibe. They know what they are and they do an excellent job of presenting their style to customers.

What are Modloft's top couches?

Modloft’s Signature Best Seller:

Essex Sofa ($3,999 but on sale for $3,199). This low-back, tight-seat stunner has very chic legs and a comfy, inviting look.

Modloft’s Couch That Intrigues Me The Most:

Dominick Sleeper Sofa ($3,499). It’s a chunky, exposed seam couch that folds down into a sleeper platform. I’m very curious to know how comfortable it is and whether the exposed seams are annoying to deal with.

Modloft’s Hidden Gem:

Murray Sofa ($4,199 but on sale for $3,779). Kind of a cool, low, hidden leg couch with curious toss pillows. Looks comfy and luxurious and like something you’d wanna climb all over.

How much do Modloft couches cost?

Modloft is certainly a pricier option, but that’s a result of using leather upholstery for many of their couches. Here’s what the founder of Modloft, Ted Toledano, has to say about the company’s price point, “If you’ve been furniture shopping, you’ve seen the dichotomy in the experience. There are low design, low priced options. There are high design, high priced options. We are filling the role in between, where consumers seek great design at reasonable prices.” With that in mind, their couches are generally in line with the upper-medium tier of similar companies.

Modloft’s Average Range:

A standard 3-seater couch will set you back roughly $3,000 – $3,500.

Most Expensive Modloft Couch:

Carlisle Sectional Sofa ($7,999 but on sale for $5,999). Their sectional couches can obviously get expensive the larger you go. This is a good representation of the upper limit of what a customer might actually spend.
For a standard 3-seater couch, the Carlisle Sofa is the most expensive option ($4,499).

Least Expensive Modloft Couch:

Basel Sofa ($3,899 but on sale for $1,950). This fabric upholstery couch sneaks in at the lowest price, but only because it’s listed at 50% off. Even so, there are only two other couches that have a lower “full price.”

Does Modloft have good reviews?

You’ve read what I think about Modloft, but what do other people have to say about their products and customer service? Take a look at some of the various aspects of Modloft reviews.

Overall Modloft Reviews:

Modloft currently has a 1 star rating on Better Business Bureau and a 2.7 star rating on TrustPilot. Anything below a 3 is worrisome, though a 2.7 isn’t the worst I’ve seen. Overall this definitely should be cause for concern.

Modloft’s Top Product Reviews:

Essex Sofa 5 Star Review: “The sofa is exactly as pictured and perhaps even better in person. Stylish, sleek and comfortable. The color is a warm taupe, closer to a dark beige than gray. It also holds four adults comfortably.” – Nanig M
Essex Sofa 3 Star Review: “This leather sofa offers good value for the price, but mine shipped with a missing center leg. I have attempted multiple times to get the missing leg from Modloft but without success. Now I’ve grown to hate it as it noticeably sags when loaded. It will not last.” – Wassim

Modloft’s Customer Service Reviews:

One of Modloft’s main shortcomings seems to be its customer service. Customer reviews and 3rd party, unaffiliated review sites routinely drag Modloft for their poor customer service. While this isn’t uncommon in this industry, it appears to be worse with Modloft than many other brands.

What kind of style is Modloft furniture?

Modloft, as its name suggests, has a focus on modern furnishings. But even that doesn’t fully express just how modern their couches are. I’d consider them ultra-contemporary compared to most other companies.

Modloft’s Range of Couch Options:

They have an overall sparse smattering of sofas to choose from. There are about seven standard 3-seater couches, two 2-piece sectionals, and a handful of modular options. Don’t expect a vast array of options or sizes or configurations.

Modloft’s Range of Couch Styles:

Modloft almost exclusively sells ultra-contemporary couches in muted, couture tones. Think gray and black leather on cold silver legs. It’s a specific and utterly cool style.

Does Modloft Have Other Products Besides Couches?

Yes, Modloft has chic, contemporary furniture for the whole home. Their bedroom collection is particularly alluring.

What are some alternatives to Modloft?

Modloft specializes in ultra contemporary, modern couches that are in-stock and (should) ship out quickly. If you are still curious about their competitors after reading this Modloft review, here are a couple other companies you should consider:

CB2 – see our CB2 review HERE
Lulu and Georgia – see our Lulu and Georgia review HERE
AllModern – see our AllModern review HERE

Alex Back, CEO of Couch.com

Alex Back is the founder and CEO of Couch.com. Previously, he was the co-founder and COO of the popular furniture brand, Apt2B, which was acquired by a large US retail furniture chain in 2018. He worked to integrate Apt2B, one of the very first online furniture retailers on the Shopify platform, into the operations of the 100 year old larger business entity and was deeply immersed in the business operations of both online and brick and mortar retail for 4 years before leaving in 2023 to start Couch.com. Working in various parts of the furniture industry since 2004, he has 20 years experience in retail sales, e-commerce, marketing, operations, logistics and wholesale manufacturing and distribution. He's worked extensively with partners such as Costco, Bed Bath and Beyond and Amazon and his work has been highlighted in many publications such as Forbes, CNN and HGTV, among others. Alex is delighted to bring his experience and authority on couches and the furniture industry to this platform, along with many of his industry colleagues who are helping him keep the Couch.com audience informed and engaged on a daily basis.