I tried ‘the easiest sofa ever’ – it made my renovation a breeze

When we decided to buy a do-er upper in Didsbury, Manchester, I knew we had a mammoth task on our hands. Every room needed gutting, every wall painting, every floor stripping. And so I’ve been on the lookout for things that promise ease and simplicity amid the madness. Enter the sofa-in-a-box from seating specialists Snug. “It can get through any door, into any room and up any stairs” the bumpf promised as I flicked through the website. I was sold. But would it truly deliver?

In short – yes. After choosing a style from Snug’s extensive selection – the Rebel 3 three-seater in shade Blue Steel to be precise – I sat back and waited for it to arrive. There are 18 colours to pick from, with velvet and polyester finishes. Sofa prices at Snug start from £899, however my particular sofa style costs from £1099. This made free delivery as standard a welcome bonus. When it turned up a couple of days later, it was in several boxes, as promised. There was one with its back, one with its base, one with its arms, one with its legs and one with its cushions. An easy peasy slotting job, no tools were required to pop it all together and, while some flat packs I’ve found require a degree in engineering to assemble, the Snug sofa was up and ready in minutes. Testing followed swiftly in the form of a cup of decaf tea and a book, curled up on its squishy cushions. There was an ever so slightly synthetic smell to the fabric to begin with, but this soon disappeared. Comfortable, stylist and oh so easy to assemble – could this be the easiest sofa ever? It’s a bold accolade, but fitting I think. I’m impressed.