Is the Burrow Sofa Any Good?
In short, Yes.
It’s sturdy, which can often be a challenge for modular construction. It has that minimalistic IKEA feel and looks good in our front room. It’s quality material and isn’t falling apart like our reclining couch.
Is the Burrow Nomad Couch Worth it?
Yes, compared to other couches I think it’s a sound investment. I like to have a couch around for a long time and it’s holding up really well so far. With a two year old who thinks everything is a trampoline, it’s got some good use!
…but ultimately it depends on what you value.
In this review I’ll cover the following areas so you can decide for yourself if the Nomad or any other Burrow furniture is right for you.
Is the Burrow Sofa Comfortable?
Comfort. An interesting thing. Very subjective. While some like to sink down into their couch, others prefer a firm cushion and good lumbar support. Personally, I like a little somewhere in between.
I wouldn’t really call the Burrow couch soft. It’s also not a rock, but it is more on the firm side. The sofa, when back cushions are I can feel a slight slant forward, a feature I’m not fond of. And I’m pretty sure we assembled it correctly.
While the slant is not bad enough for me to prop up the front legs to compensate, I do notice it and I’m a little more likely to choose a seat on our recliner or lay down on the Burrow when lounging in our front room.
A couple times I’ve fallen asleep on our Nomad and it’s been alright for a good power nap, but when naps turn into something longer, it’s no Purple Mattress. 🙂 That’s probably why Burrow offers a sleep kit with memory foam to give you a better rest. I also easily forget to remove the back cushions that of course gives me less room and feels a little like I’m going to roll off.
While it may not encourage unwanted house guests to leave as quickly as you’d like, it might possibly dissuade the couch surfer for taking advantage for too long.
There is also a harder area between cushions where the modals fit together. Sit directly on a cushion and it’s not a problem.
Overall, for seating, I’d rate the comfort a 7/10. For laying down or napping, I’d give it a 6/10.
Burrow Specs & Features
A Modular Couch System
This is a cool feature that allows you to configure just the right couch for your home or office’s needs. Each
USB Phone Charger
Includes a built-in USB charger & 72” power cord. Funny thing, I still haven’t found where ours is. We have about 10 other chords around the house, so I guess my need to find it has been pretty low.
It would be cool if they included wireless charging like the new Lov Sacs.
Burrow Dimensions
While it depends on your specific Burrow line & configuration, this is the setup we got and it’s a pretty standard one.
| General Dimensions | 85″ L x 35″ D x 33″ H |
| Seat Height | 17″ |
| Arm Height | 24″ |
| Seat Depth | 22″ |
| Leg Height | 7″ |
Burrow Couch Choices, Styles & Colors
Because Burrow utilizes a modular design they are able to offer a wide variety of sofas and loveseats, 84 at last count!
Basically, you just pick…
- 1) your favorite armrest style (called collections)
- 2) your desired configuration (number of sections/cushions wide) — which could include an extended chaise, detached ottoman and/or connected side table, and
- 3) the color (largely determined by the material) to & legs to match your space. Optionally,
- 4) top it off with any extras like a sleep kit, pillows or a throw and viola, the perfect custom setup for your individual taste.
Burrow Styles (Collections)
Burrow’s classic Nomad Collection comes with one of three arm shapes:
- Slope: Lower, more ergonomic armrests
- Arch: Narrower, more elegant armrests
- Block: Wider, more contemporary armrests (this is the only style to go with if you want the velvet option)
If you’re looking for less of a standard setup, i.e. no arm rests on one or both ends, then Burrow’s Range Collection is probably a good fit. This allows for a connected table and would also be more accessible in certain room configurations.
Burrow Colors & Materials & Legs
Your sofa material is largely going to determine your color choices.
If you opt for a Fabric upholstered Burrow in any of the three arm designs (Block, Slope or Arch), you can pick from the following color palette (see chart for easy reference):
- navy blue
- ivory
- brick red
- crushed gravel
- charcoal
Next, if the Leather cover is more your style (available for all Nomad arm shapes), you can have it one of three colors:
- chestnut
- slate
- Camel
Finally, the Velvet upholstering (only available in the Block Nomad) opens you up to a few different colors including:
- Jade
- Blush
- Dusk
Midnight & feather are the other two color options, reminiscent of the Fabric’s navy blue & crushed gravel.
While all configurations in the Range collection come Fabric covered as well, you have two less colors to choose from and two colors have very similar names to the above (not sure if that means they’re actually different or they just needed an easy way to tell a difference between the two collections):
- navy blue
- heather charcoal
- stone gray
Burrow Leg Options
Wood? Metal?
All three Nomad styles (Block, Slope & Arch) come w/ three wood leg color choices (ebony, walnut or oak) & three metal leg colors (black, chrome or brass).
All arrangements in the Range Collection can be paired with walnut or oak wood legs or black metal ones.
Burrow Color Swatches
Burrow Construction, Quality & Sustainability of Materials
Burrow Sofa Cover Material
All collections are available in Burrow’s tight olefin fiber weave fabric which is both scratch and stain resistant (see cleaning section).
While the Range collection is only available in fabric, all three other styles of the Nomad collection (Slope, Arch & Block) also have a leather option, with the Block also offering a velvet choice.
Fabric made from upcycled materials, which leaves a lower carbon footprint. Zero chemical additives or treatments are used, so it’s non toxic.
If you care about avoiding PFCs, no worries! The fabric is free of dangerous formaldehydes, you’ll be getting zero PFCs here.
Burrow Frames
The Burrow frame is precision milled Baltic Birch (sounds cooler when you add a location to the name!), a higher quality form of plywood (no filler layers), which prevents warping.
It has felt very sturdy the whole time we’ve had it (over a year now). Kids jumping on it like a trampoline hasn’t even changed that.
Wood for both the frame & legs is sourced from responsibly managed forests, giving confidence in a sustainably created couch.
Burrow Hardware
With strengthened steel pins & galvanized latches the modules latch together very firmly and once assembled, it’s hard to tell that it didn’t come in one piece.
Again, the hardware has withstood kids…so I know it’s strong.
Burrow Sofa Legs
Legs for Burrow sofas come in metal or wood and a variety of colors (see chart under color swatches above).
The wood is “responsibly-forested” and the steel is plated. Both look very clean and neat.
I was worried that they’d break because they just screw on, but they too have withstood the test of time.
All parts felt solid when we got them out of the box, but they really have performed much better than I expected. I’d give the quality a 10/10. While I did see elements of sustainability r, but all-in-all I’d rate the ease of assembly an 8/10. Easier even than Ikea furniture.
Burrow Couch Assembly Instructions
As the instructions put it, “Get ready to do very little.” And so, the assembly consists of the same 3 steps regardless of the arrangements, less if you’re putting together the armchair:
- Connect the sections
- Attach the arms
- Screw on the legs
Really, that’s it, but just in case the below video isn’t enough, you can download detailed instructions for each piece of furniture on their site.
If you need further help you can get a hold of Burrow customer service at 833-328-7769.
It took Amber & I no more than 15 minutes to put together once all the pieces were unboxed – and that long only because we had to swat the kids away multiple times from standing on it while we were doing so.
There were a couple parts that were harder to connect than I expected and I felt myself trying to force things together, but all-in-all I’d rate the ease of assembly an 8/10. Easier even than Ikea furniture.
How do you clean a burrow couch?
Depending on the type of material you get on your Burrow (fabric, velvet or leather), cleaning will obviously vary.
For each style it’s recommended to address spills and dirt stains as soon as possible and it’s not advised to remove cushions & put them in the washer/dryer.
Here are Burrow’s instructions for their Nomad line w/ fabric.
Nomad Collection: Blot stain with clean, warm water and bleach solution (ratio: 1 tablespoon of bleach to every 4 cups of water). Allow the solution to soak into the fabric. If possible, place a clean towel between the fabric and foam cushion to absorb any excess moisture. Thoroughly rinse fabric with warm water until clean. Let fabric air dry. We do not advise removing the cushions to wash them in the washer/dryer.
See Burrow for more detailed cleaning instructions for your desired cover type.
I haven’t had to clean it much yet, aside from vacuuming off crumbs and the occasional smudge. I’d rate the ease keeping it clean a 9/10. Best way is to not let kids eat on it. 🙂
Burrow Reviews
On Burrow’s Verified reviews page, people who actually purchased a Burrow product (3094 as of 12/31/21 – up from 1891 Reviews on 2/23/21) collectively gave their products 4.7 out of 5 Stars.
While it’s not uncommon for companies to solicit reviews only from their satisfied users, which can drive on-site ratings artificially high, other outlets for Burrow reviews are also rating them pretty high as well.
Complaints about the Burrow Sofa
While most reviews I could dig up about the Burrow were positive, complaints do exist & generally fall into three categories: complaints about the materials (stitching wrinkles, pilling, etc.), about the parts (missing or misaligned) & comfort (firmness or straightness).
We have a fabric Nomad, which is the only Burrow couch that will even have the possibility of pilling. Though after reading around, it’s clear that the olefin doesn’t often have that problem.
The pilling issues I came upon were either from before they switched sources for this material or came after high use by humans & animals both.
Ours has yet to do so. We don’t have animals (unless you count the kids) and the downstairs couch gets most of the flying body slams – it’s much bouncier, so I imagine that our use isn’t heavy enough to cause it to pill anytime soon.
Some have also posted online that their Burrow couch wasn’t that sturdy, however that hasn’t been the case for ours. Of note, commenters that said that they experienced unsturdy Burrows and had received new cushions / sectionals mentioned that they were much sturdier. It sounds like the quality of the build is getting better with time.
Burrows come with a year warranty & if you want you can order an extended warranty before your couch is shipped, which sounds like they stand behind based on comments from owners around the web.
You can also return it within 30 days of delivery if there are any problems.
Cost, Shipping & Where to Buy Burrow Sofas
On the low end you can get Burrow’s Range 2-Piece Open Sofa, i.e. 2 modals w/ no arm rests for $835. On the high end you can expect to pay around $4,590. That will score you their Nomad Leather Double Chaise Sectional, a 4 module leather sofa with a chaise on either end.
Our Nomad sofa was more towards the lower end of that range as are many of their couches. $1,895 after taxes is what we “walked out the door” paying.
Shipping was free, which rocks. Paying for 8 boxes of fairly heavy materials was not on my Christmas wish list.
The best place to buy a Burrow is straight from their website, though they do have a NYC showroom called the Burrow House at 47 Wooster St. in Manhattan that you can visit. If you’re not in the Big Apple, you can also schedule a consultation call.
I really don’t like to spend money, but the quality / price compared to other couches I’ve bought in the past makes cost a 7/10. Pretty good value, less than luxury, more pricy than a similar sized quick fix buy from the local sofa box store.
Best Burrow Deals, Discounts & Coupons
Cruise around Burrow’s online webstore for very long and you should reveal their discount easter egg.
Okay, it’s really just a popup to entice you to part with your email address. And if okay with that, they’ll shoot you over a $50 off any purchase discount code.
But, if you really like what you see, consider buying through our referral link and save $75 off your first order instead of $50.
If you’re curious you can check out Burrow’s clearance page to see what accessories they’re discontinuing to make room for the next season’s line. Last chance items (mostly pillows, one rug when last checked) can range from anywhere between 22% & 34% off regular prices depending on the item
Other Burrow Furniture Products
While Burrow is known mainly for their “sofa in a box,” they are quickly adding to their line of furniture & accessories.
While not an exhaustive list, those offerings include:
- Tables & benches (Coffee Tables Side Tables, Benches & Carts)
- Storage options (Credenzas & Media Storage, Carts & Trays, Wall Shelves, & Storage Benches), rugs
- Other accessories like Seating Accessories, Pillow & Throw Sets, Pillows, Throws, Trays & lighting.
Burrow, the Company & its Philosophy
When it felt like the furniture industry was more interested in churning out cheaply made products, Burrow decided to create a whole new experience where couches were made in partnership with the customer and not sacrificing on either quality or affordability.
By design, they use higher quality, sustainable materials that keeps their products lasting longer, out of landfills and beautifully decorating your home longer.
By cultivating direct customer relationships Burrow has it’s finger on the pulse of what their owners want. Products have noticeably been improving as they stay close to the customers & their needs.
As an example of this, we were given a short survey after our purchase that gave us the chance to share what was most important to us in the buying process. They also do in-home consultations (over the phone).
Whether it’s to take feedback, respond to online complaints, mail out a replacement part or help you design the perfect couch for your home, their dedication to be customer centric is evident.
Burrow takes time to care for our community. Their sustainability initiative & taking time off to vote are examples of how they strive to keep their community commitment seriously.
See more here: https://burrow.com/about
Because I can get behind their mission, have experienced with the ease of customization, purchase, delivery, assembly & customer service I’d give the company as a whole a 9/10.
Other Burrow FAQs
Burrow Alternatives
While I haven’t reviewed any other brands directly to compare, here are some other brands that are commonly compared to the Burrow Sofas:
- Ikea
- Crate & Barrel
- West Elm
- Love Sac