MadeRight CA’s Venice Sofa Review: American Sofa Made-to-Order and Built-to-Last

Getting Hands-On With MadeRight

Ordering from MadeRight

MadeRight offers its seating in two categories of upholstery: performance fabrics and leathers. All of the fabrics are meant to withstand the demands of everyday life, which is critical to my household’s heavy usage. I knew I’d want fabric and not leather because I find it the more comfortable option for lounging, and it’s more cat-scratch friendly (plus I’m a vegetarian). But I wasn’t sure what color fabric would best suit my living room decor and lifestyle.

I was a bit worried since all my previous furniture shopping was done in a showroom. Fortunately, MadeRight takes all the stress out of this part: I just navigated to the tab on the website labeled “free swatches” and entered my mailing address. I selected performance fabrics (though I could have also requested the leather samples just as easily), and within a couple of days — and no fee — the swatches arrived right to my door in the mail.

Each swatch is substantially sized, several inches around, so I could really get a chance to see the colors and touch the fabrics — nearly three dozen options in the performance fabrics alone (and a huge range of leathers, too).

I laid out several potential picks in my living room and, along with my husband, we narrowed it down to our favorite finalist: Joshua Sand, a versatile and subdued shade made from a mix of polyester, cotton, and linen with a soft finish and woven texture.

Choosing a Sofa

Each of MadeRight’s sofa options bears the name of a California region, apropos of the company’s headquarters and sustainable philosophy. I selected the “Venice” sofa, with plush cushioned seats and a pillowed back, just right for a piece of furniture my whole family uses daily— lounging, watching TV, and taking impromptu naps. The arms have center piping for a bit of mid-century modern style.

From the extensive dropdown menu, I selected the 96-inch size to suit my living room from a range of options between 72 and 108 inches. And among three different cushion packages, I chose the “California Cush,” which promised “the ideal balance of firmness and softness,” evoking the built-to-last seating of earlier generations’ well-loved furniture brands.

For additional customization, the website also lets the buyer select the color of the legs from among four styles: espresso, stained walnut, honey, or gray wash. I went with stained walnut.

This array of customization options was plenty for me to feel like I was building a sofa made just to my required specs. But I saw a note on the product page that said even more tweaks can be made to meet the customer’s needs if required, as all sofas are handcrafted to order:

“Need a different size or configuration? Drop us a note at [email protected], and let's talk about it! We're always happy to make additional customizations to our styles when possible.”

White Glove Delivery and Construction

MadeRight’s website billed a typical three-week timeframe for constructing their American-made sofas. Since their furniture manufacturing facility is located near Los Angeles, I got an email notification that my sofa was on the way just two weeks after placing the order. At the same time, I received a personal — not automated — text message from a third-party delivery driver who said he could deliver as early as the following day.

Angel arrived right at the top of the scheduled delivery window, along with a second helper. The delivery required no effort on my part aside from just being home to open the door. I just pointed to where I wanted my living room furniture rearranged, and the guys set my new sofa down in its designated spot after moving the existing furniture elsewhere in the room. There was no assembly, box, or packing materials left behind after they left — just a friendly, efficient white-glove delivery service.

Living with the MadeRight Venice Sofa

Our MadeRight Venice sofa is extremely comfortable in a way that feels — just as described — built to last. It’s firm enough to feel substantial but soft enough to melt into for movie nights or naps.

You can almost feel the craftsmanship when you sit on it: I can’t feel any springs or seams with a very solid back support.

Today, the furniture industry disappoints with its mass-produced furniture at affordable prices; we have a lot of pieces like that in this house — such as a pair of West Elm nightstands and a kitchen table from some no-name Amazon retailer — that I know are just stop-gap measures. They serve a purpose for now, but they’re already wearing out fast, and I never expected them to last anyway.

The MadeRight sofa is made of high-quality materials, and I can see one day, years down the road, opting to recover it to change the look, but I’m convinced the kiln-dried hardwood frame is going to be strong. Being a sustainability-conscious person, this MadeRight sofa gives me peace of mind that the product isn’t going to end up in the landfill. Or at least not for a very long time.

I love the custom-built California Cush cushion package. I appreciate that the throw pillows at the arms are substantial enough to support my head without hurting my neck, as was the case with my last sofa, which had flimsier bolster pillows that compressed too easily.

In the first week, of our new sofa in our house, my kids managed to spill Gatorade across two of the seat cushions. Fortunately, MadeRight fabrics are stain-resistant and can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth. When it was dry, there was no evidence of the incident left — at all.

Because our sofa sits up against the large stained-glass window that is the centerpiece of our living room, my cat loves to sprawl atop the back cushions and indulge in warm sunbeams. This created a sagging look on our past sofas until we gave the cushions a good fluff. But with the MadeRight sofa, the cushions are firm and substantial enough that my 11-pound cat doesn’t even make much of a lasting dent.

I wish the Venice sofa had slightly wider arms because I like to place a coaster and a drink on the arm — a dubious habit that should indicate just how much our lifestyle depends on a built-tough sofa that doesn’t show stains. But the arms are low enough that I can easily access a drink on the side table beside it.

The MadeRight California Venice Sofa’s Key Features

• Available in sizes between 72 and 108 inches long
• Available in a range of performance fabrics or leathers
• Regular prices start at $3,697
• Made in three weeks