DreamSofa London Sofa Review: The Teal Surprise That Turned a New Couch Into a Thank-You

Key Takeaways

• The London Sofa and Chair deliver structured, medium-firm comfort that works well for long sitting sessions and buyers who need real back support.
• Multiple width options and full custom sizing make the London collection easier to fit into real homes, not just showroom layouts.
• Hundreds of fabric choices, including kid- and pet-friendly performance fabrics, let buyers choose bold colors without sacrificing durability.
• Made-to-order production in Los Angeles allows DreamSofa to reconfirm measurements and customize details before building.
• Individual replacement cushions can be remade later in the same fabric, which matters for custom colors like JoAnna’s teal.
• Delivery coordination and advance driver communication helped this order arrive smoothly within a few weeks.
• The matching ottoman completed the London Chair setup, turning it into a true everyday lounge seat rather than just an accent piece.

They call me the Couch Whisperer. I help real people find real couches. But this story didn’t begin with measurements, floor plans, or fabric swatches. It started with a teacher.

Miss JoAnna teaches my son, Wilder, and she’s also part of the small circle of adults who help him manage type 1 diabetes during the school day. That means paying close attention, staying in touch throughout the day, and stepping in quickly when something changes. It’s a role that carries quiet weight, even when no one’s watching.

So when she reached out asking for advice on a new couch, it didn’t feel like a typical shopping question. She already knew what she wanted: something bold, genuinely comfortable, and in a very specific shade of blue.

That search led to DreamSofa, a brand that builds furniture by hand in Los Angeles and makes each piece to order, including full control over width, layout, and fabric.

The result was the DreamSofa London Sofa and matching London Chair, plus an ottoman we quietly added as a surprise.

This article is a real-home London Chair Sofa review, but the furniture is only part of the story. The rest is about how a couch delivery turned into a thank-you.

If you found this review while searching for real life photos of DreamSofa or trying to compare real images of DreamSofa sofas against studio product shots, that’s intentional. Everything you see here—from the color, to the scale, to how the cushions settle—is filmed and photographed in a real home with real daily use. We also include in-home walkthrough footage for shoppers who prefer watching before buying, so this article works hand-in-hand with our DreamSofa video review for the London Sofa.

Meet the Couch Searchers: Miss JoAnna, Matthew, and Their Daughter, Amelia

By the time I arrived, the London set already felt like it was part of the home.

JoAnna, her husband Matthew, and their daughter had naturally carved out their spots, the kind that form naturally without it even being discussed.

JoAnna claimed the chair.

“It’s first come, first serve for the chair. That’s usually what I try to go for… the VIP section.” – JoAnna

Amelia heads for the corner when they watch TV. She said she likes to tuck away where it’s nice and comfy.

And Matthew is happy right in the middle. It didn't seem like he had much of a choice, but he, like many wise men before him, subscribes to the 'happy wife, happy life' mentality.

“I don’t mind the middle. I like my family. I don’t mind being the sandwich to them.” – Matthew

They also happen to be a tall family, which quietly affects everything from leg support to seat depth to how cramped a room can start to feel if the proportions are off.

“We are a tall family, so we need a lot of furniture to accommodate our tall size.” – JoAnna

It’s a small detail, but an important one. A sofa that looks good in photos can feel very different when everyone in the house is above average height, especially once you factor in how people actually sit, lounge, and stretch out.

Even though the sofa was still new, they were already treating it like their everyday place — not something precious or untouchable, but the spot where TV nights, conversations, and end-of-day decompression naturally land. We also captured this setup on video for buyers who prefer seeing real movement and scale before ordering (Click the YouTube video above).

Product Spotlight: DreamSofa London Sofa, London Chair, and the Matching Ottoman

DreamSofa is a Los Angeles–based furniture brand that builds sofas, chairs, and sectionals to order rather than in preset batches. Back in the day, this was only available to select groups of people with inside connections or interior designs. At DreamSofa, Customers choose their size, fabric, and comfort level, and each piece is made locally using those exact specifications. That made it possible in this case to dial in both the dimensions and the specific fabric the family wanted, instead of adapting their space to a fixed design.

The living room setup for this couch review centers on three custom pieces from DreamSofa, all built in the same fabric and proportions so they work as one set instead of separate add-ons.

For buyers who specifically look for real images of DreamSofa sofas before committing, this setup shows what the London collection looks like outside of perfect lighting and styled showrooms. These photos reflect how the sofa sits in a normal living room, how the teal fabric reads in natural light, and how the scale works with everyday furniture around it.

London Sofa

• Modern silhouette with clean lines, squared edges, and a low-profile base that feels polished without dominating the room
• Available in 66", 74", 92", and 98" widths, with the option to customize beyond standard sizing if needed
• Built to order in Los Angeles, allowing full control over width, layout, fabric, and comfort level
• Offered in a wide range of materials, including cleanable, durable, kid- and pet-friendly performance fabrics, which made JoAnna’s very specific teal possible
• Designed to feel tailored to the room, not forced into it
  
  

London Chair

• Matches the sofa’s modern shape and proportions, creating a consistent look across the space
• Available in multiple width options, it can function as a compact accent chair or a more generous lounge seat
• Naturally became the home’s “VIP section”, the seat everyone quietly respects as already claimed
• Custom-built in the same fabric and finish as the sofa to keep the set visually unified
  
  

Surprise Addition: Matching London Ottoman 

• Built as a custom add-on in the same fabric and proportions as the chair
• Sized specifically to pair with the London Chair
• Turns the VIP seat into a full stretch-out lounge setup, not just a place to sit
• Adds everyday practicality without changing the overall footprint of the room
  
  

Across all three pieces, DreamSofa’s made-to-order approach allows customization of:

• size and proportions
• fabric type and color
• comfort level
• finishing details like wood stain
  
  

Instead of feeling like furniture that was simply delivered, the set feels intentionally chosen for the people who live there.

First Sit Test: Comfort With Structure (Not a Sinking Couch)

Once everyone settled into their usual spots, the conversation naturally shifted from layout to feel — not just whether the sofa looked good, but whether it actually worked for how they sit every day.

That mattered more than usual in this house, because Matthew deals with ongoing back problems. Comfort, for him, isn’t a bonus feature. It’s part of whether a couch is usable long-term.

JoAnna noticed the difference immediately.

“This is extremely comfortable.” – JoAnna

After sitting for a bit, the difference became clearer, especially for Matthew.

“It gives a lot of support but at the same time it’s extremely comfortable. You’re not sagging into the couch, but you’re also not feeling like you’re lying on wood or a hard surface.” – Matthew

That middle ground is hard to get right.

Too soft, and posture disappears after a short time. Too firm, and the couch becomes something people perch on instead of relax into. The London Sofa landed in that narrow zone where your body feels supported without being held stiff or upright.

For a tall family — and especially for someone managing back pain — that balance changes how the couch gets used. It becomes comfortable for longer stretches and holds up to the kind of everyday routines that quietly define a living room.

And yes, their dog finds the DreamSofa couch comfy, too.

Color + Fabric Decision: The Teal Debate (and the Veto)

JoAnna didn’t want a safe color.

She wanted a blue that would actually show up in the room, which is why the fabric samples turned into a family discussion instead of a quick checkbox.

Her daughter gravitated toward the brightest option right away — the most saturated teal on the table. The one that felt playful instead of cautious.

Matthew was more... cautious.

He tends to prefer darker, quieter tones, and the idea of committing to teal across an entire sofa didn’t land easily at first.

“I was concerned about teal on an entire couch. I’m a darker blue kind of guy.” – Matthew

JoAnna considered the other options. She laid them out, compared them, and tried to picture them in the room.

But she kept coming back to the same fabric.

“I really tried to make some of the others work and I just had to veto his opinion and just went with it.” – JoAnna (said with a smile)

Once the sofa arrived, the conversation shifted.

Seeing the color across the full London Sofa, in their lighting and against their walls, changed how it felt in the space.

Matthew admitted it not long after.

“I really liked the fabric once it came in. It totally works." – Matthew

What started as a risky choice on a small fabric swatch ended up feeling intentional once it became part of the room they actually live in.

Ordering + Delivery: Measurement Rechecks and Smooth Scheduling

The ordering part didn’t end when JoAnna clicked “buy.”

After the order went through, DreamSofa reached back out to confirm details — including reconfirming measurements — to make sure what was being built actually matched the space it was going into.

JoAnna mentioned noticing that step right away.

“After we put the order in, they even reconfirmed measurements and things… just wanted to make sure everything was perfect.” – JoAnna

From the family’s perspective, the timeline felt short.

A few weeks earlier, they were standing in the living room with fabric swatches, comparing shades of teal. Not long after that, they were moving the old couch out to clear space for the new one.

On delivery day, the driver called ahead, introduced himself, and coordinated a delivery window before arriving.

“Their delivery driver called me, introduced himself to me, looked for a window of time, and they were on time.” – JoAnna

By the time I arrived to film, the sofa and chair were already in place. The cushions were set up, and everyone had naturally fallen into their usual seats — which is usually the clearest sign that a new couch is being thoroughly enjoyed.

Cushion Replacement and Long-Term Ownership

While we were talking through the setup, JoAnna brought up something practical: what happens if one cushion gets damaged? They have a very active dog who is always on the couch so it's a typical concern.

It's also the normal kind of question that comes up when you actually plan to live with a couch — with pets, visitors, spills, and everyday use.

With DreamSofa, the answer is fairly straightforward because of how their furniture is made.

Since everything is built to order in Los Angeles, they’re able to reproduce individual components later if needed, including cushions, using the original specifications.

If something does happen down the line, DreamSofa can:

• remake a single replacement cushion instead of the entire sofa
• match the original fabric (important for custom colors like JoAnna’s teal)
• follow the same dimensions and fill so the seat feels consistent
• avoid forcing you into a full reupholstery or mismatched patch job
  
  

For this family, that mattered more than it might with a neutral couch.

They committed to a very specific color, and the idea of one damaged cushion throwing off the look of the whole sofa wasn’t appealing. Knowing there’s a practical way to fix one piece without touching the rest makes daily use feel even more "comfortable".

The Surprise Moment: The Ottoman, the Birthday, and Wilder

By this point, JoAnna thought the sofa and chair were the surprise.

They weren’t.

In the middle of the conversation, she mentioned—almost casually—that it was her birthday.

“Today is my birthday. I am 52. Proud to say it.” – JoAnna

That’s when Wilder walked in.

She recognized him immediately, stood up, hugged him, and pulled him in close. It was the kind of reaction teachers have when they see one of their students outside of school and don’t expect it. So sweet.

Then the ottoman came into the room.

JoAnna had wanted one to go with the London Chair but decided not to add it when ordering. But DreamSofa built one anyway, in the same fabric and proportions, sized specifically to match the chair. I personally appreciated it so much because of how much Miss JoAnna does for our family on a daily basis. Wow.

The idea was simple: give her something she’d actually use in the room she already spent time in, not another object that would sit on a shelf or get packed away after a day or two.

The ottoman slid into place in front of the “VIP seat,” turning the chair into a full stretch-out setup. Wilder climbed onto it almost immediately. The scale worked the way it was supposed to, and the chair, ottoman, and sofa truly felt like a single layout instead of separate pieces.

Then Wilder said why he was really there.

“I think that you are a great teacher.” – Wilder

JoAnna answered right back.

“You’re a great student.” – JoAnna

What School Days Actually Look Like for Wilder and JoAnna

After the surprise settled, the conversation turned to something more ordinary: what a normal school day looks like for Wilder.

He explained it simply.

When his blood sugar drops, an alarm goes off on his phone.

“Beep beep beep. I pull out my phone to see what it is.” – Wilder

He checks the number.

If it’s low, he raises his hand.

“Sometimes I raise my hand and say like I’m low. I’m 63.” – Wilder

That’s when JoAnna steps in.

She tells him what to eat and how much.

“Miss JoAnna says like two peanut butter cups or whatever you’re supposed to get.” – Wilder

He raises his hand, she looks over, tells him what to take to keep his blood sugar numbers even, and class moves on.

Wilder summed it up in his own way.

“We work good together as a team.” – Wilder

That routine is the reason this episode exists at all. The London Sofa, the London Chair, and the matching ottoman came later. The daily work at school came first.

More Than a Living Room Upgrade

The London Sofa, the matching chair, and the ottoman did what good furniture should do: they fit the room, fit the people using them, and made daily life a little more comfortable.

But this episode was never just about furniture.

It was about a teacher who pays attention when a phone buzzes in the middle of class, a family that wanted to say thank you in a way that would last, and a living room they’ll keep using long after the cameras are gone.

The couch just happens to be where it sits.

London Sofa Review: FAQs Buyers Actually Ask

1. Is the London Sofa comfortable for everyday use or more of a “formal” couch?

It’s built for daily use. In this home, it’s used for TV, reading, and sitting for long stretches, and it held up well during longer sit tests. The cushions have noticeable structure with real support, which mattered for Matthew because of his back issues. You don’t sink deeply into it, but you also don’t feel perched upright.

2. How firm are the cushions?

Medium-firm with support.

In the episode, the family described DreamSofa's Wave Cushioning as comfortable without sagging, and supportive without feeling hard. That balance tends to work well if you sit for longer periods or deal with lower-back sensitivity.

3. Can you customize the size of the London Sofa?

Yes. The London Sofa is available in multiple widths (including 66", 74", 92", and 98") and can also be made to custom dimensions.

That flexibility helps if:

• your room is narrow
• you’re fitting between windows or built-ins
• or you want something longer or shorter than standard retail sizes

The London Chair is also available in multiple widths, not just one fixed size.

4. What fabric options are available?

DreamSofa offers hundreds of fabric choices, including:

• performance fabrics that are kid-friendly and pet-friendly
• cleanable upholstery options
• different textures and finishes (velvets, woven fabrics, etc.)
  
  

In this case, the family ordered multiple free swatches before choosing a specific teal.

5. How long does delivery usually take?

This order arrived in a few weeks, which the family said felt fast for a made-to-order piece. Many competitors can take over 10-12 weeks in production, so this is a major value point of DreamSofa. They have one of the fastest production times for custom-made sofas around.

6. What happens if a cushion gets damaged later?

Because DreamSofa builds locally in Los Angeles and keeps the original specs, they can:

• remake individual replacement cushions
• match the original fabric color
• use the same dimensions and fill
  
  

You don’t need to replace the entire sofa if one cushion gets damaged.

7. Who is the London Sofa best for?

It’s a strong fit if you want:

• custom sizing options
• structured seating with support
• a wide range of fabric choices
• furniture made locally in Los Angeles
• the ability to replace components later instead of the whole couch
  
  

If you prefer ultra-soft, sink-in seating, this style may feel firmer than what you’re looking for.

8. Where can I see real life photos of DreamSofa sofas?

Right here in this review and in our full DreamSofa video walkthrough. We publish real life photos of DreamSofa sofas taken in actual homes, not just brand photography, so buyers can see how the couch looks with normal lighting, real room layouts, and everyday use before ordering.