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Jada Wong / Insider
Burrow's Nomad Leather Sectional is customizable, and you can easily assembled it yourself.
It's not cheap, but after two years, the durable full-grain leather still looks new.
Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests home products.
Table of Contents: Masthead StickyNomad Leather Sectional (small)Nomad Leather Sectional with Ottoman (small)
One of the most frustrating things about furniture (aside from said furniture shopping) is the delivery and installation. There are extra charges and 10-hour delivery windows that come and go – it just seems like an old-school way of doing things.
When my husband and I were looking to replace our five-year-old faux leather couch, we decided to shop online and only at places that offered free delivery and had modular styles that we could put together ourselves. Like Ikea but more adult.
I've known about furniture startup Burrow for a few years but never had a reason to look at it much since we had a couch. Around the same time that we were looking to replace ours, Burrow launched a full-grain leather version of its popular Nomad couch.
We tested the Nomad Leather King Sectional, a full-grain leather couch that would last years, if not decades, along with a chaise and ottoman, all in black leather with walnut legs. The total cost was $3,790 – definitely not affordable by any means but reasonable given the number of pieces we ordered and the durability of full-grain leather.
Burrow has since added more leather colors and styles to the armrests, legs, and pillows to the Nomad full-grain leather collection.
Over two years in, there's still not a scratch, tear, or ripped seam to be found after the couch doubled as a trampoline for kids and dogs and a bed for guests.
Delivery and set up
Jada Wong / Insider
The couch arrived a few days after ordering in several labeled boxes. That was helpful as we unpacked boxes in the order of installation – seats first, then the side panels with armrests, and finally, the legs. The chaise includes a long cushion that lays on top of a base and any seat you want, and the ottoman, well, it's an ottoman.
The boxes also helpfully have holes for handles and easy carrying, and each item is wrapped in thick plastic so it doesn't get dirty during transit. We reused the plastic to carry our old couch to a local donation center.
The couch is a boxy, modular design, so you can shift the seats around however you want or remove them if you ever needed to downsize. The overall design and function of the couch will be the same no matter what.
Once we took out different parts of the couch to assemble, there was a big initial cardboard smell, especially on the right side. Thankfully, it's up against a wall, and the smell has since dissipated.
Here are the specs of the king couch with the chaise and ottoman:General Dimensions: 112 inches L x 36 inches W x 35 inches HSeat Height: 17 inchesArm Height: 23 inchesSeat Depth: 22 inchesLeg Height: 7 inchesChaise Length: 61 inchesOttoman General Dimensions: 26 inches L x 26 inches W x 17 inches HSeat Height: 17 inchesSeat Depth: 26 inchesLeg Height: 7 inches
The couch has a modular design so you can customize the couch to fit your space.
Jada Wong / Insider
Instruction manuals are provided and easy to follow, so we didn't have any trouble there. You basically put two seats next to each other and secure them with a metal latch between the seats and on the underside, then move onto the other seats and armrests.
However, the metal latches were hard to find and secure among the plush seats. One person would have to use their entire body weight to force the seats flush against each other while the other would fumble around with the latches.
It took about an hour to set up the couch because of the latch issues, but some reviewers said it took 15 to 20 minutes. I'd imagine the latches were hard to deal with because the seats are well-padded and extend past their wooden frames, but if there's a way to make this process more efficient in the future, I'm all for it.
Review of the Burrow Nomad couch
For a couch that costs nearly $4,000, I expected better quality than staples and paper-thin backing.
Jada Wong / Business Insider
The general frame of the couch is made with Baltic Birch, a light-colored wood that resists warping. So far, I haven't had any issues with the seats bending in two years.
The underside is covered in thin black fabric secured via staples that are unexpectedly cheap for an over $3,000 couch. During installation, I accidentally ripped through the fabric as I was securing one of the latches. I also noticed that one of the staples is just a little too close to the edge and is exposed when looking at the couch straight on.
Thankfully, both issues are on the underside of the couch so you don't see anything. These are things I wouldn't expect from a couch that costs so much, especially when it's made with full-grain leather.
The Burrow Nomad couch hasn't lost its shape and the leather still looks great after almost two years.
Jada Wong / Business Insider
Despite doubling as a playground for two kids and a bed for a dog (none are ours), the couch still looks great, and the frame hasn't warped or bent anywhere. It's sturdy and doesn't shift or squeak.
My husband has had a full-grain leather wallet for the past five years. If that's any indication of quality, our couch will last a long time. Full-grain leather is the highest quality of leather and ages well; it'll develop a slightly glossy patina with variations in color.
I was worried that it would get sticky and gross during the summer, but it was actually quite cool, even after sitting on it for hours watching "Fixer Upper."
The seat cushions were initially too padded for my liking, but it has squished down slightly. It's a good problem to have, though, since that means the seats are well-padded and comfortable. There's a strip of fabric on the edge of the cushion so it doesn't slide down the seat, a thoughtful design detail that goes a long way.
The couch also has a built-in USB charger, which comes in handy when you don't want to get up.
Should you get it?
Couches aren't cheap in general, but given the quality of Burrow's full-grain leather, I'd recommend the investment. Similar to a bed, you're sitting on it for hours every day, so you should prioritize quality and durability if you can. We have a full set (four-seater couch with a chaise and ottoman), so ours was expensive. But depending on the size you need, it can be a lot cheaper.
What are your alternatives?
If you want to get your own sectional, you can choose from various styles, including the full-grain Nomad that I tested. Depending on your style, you might like the look of the wider arms in the Block Nomad collection, or if you're not into leather, you might want to try a velvet couch.
If Burrow's prices are out of reach for your budget, you can check out our guide to the best places to buy sofas and couches online for more options.
The bottom line
If you're looking to invest in a classic leather couch that'll last years, I recommend the Nomad Leather Sectional from Burrow. It's durable, customizable, and easy to order and install. After two years, my couch has yet to show signs of wear, and it continues to be comfortable and supportive.
Nomad Leather Sectional (small)Nomad Leather Sectional with Ottoman (small)Read the original article on Business Insider
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