Alternative Couch

Category: Sleeper Sofa

  • Bundle Sofa Review

    Bundle Sofa Review

    Flexible seating for a modern life! Introducing the Bundle Sofa.

    When I was done putting the Bundle sofa together my first thought was: “That’s what style and comfort look like combined”.
    The Bundle Sofa is the type of furniture that is easy to set up, break down, and customize to your preference. That is exactly the type of alternative couch that belongs right here.

    Who Will Love This?

    People Who Move Often

    You won’t believe how easy it is to move this around, it is unlike any couch on the market.


    People who want a comfy 3 seat couch


    It is a comfortable chair to plop down onto for gaming.


    People Who Have a Small House/Apartment


    This is a high quality couch that will upgrade with you, as it will be easy to move to your next house.


      I love everything compact yet comfortable, easy to assemble and easy to move when it’s time to change locations.
      And that’s exactly what I did. I set it up, disassembled it, and moved it in my car to its permanent location where I built it all over again. I was very impressed and satisfied with the outcome.

      Can your couch do that?

      Bundle Sofa Review Menu

      Bundle Couch Video Review

      This is not a joke, this smart couch put itself in my SUV, then was assembled by the Ocean, then taken apart, then reassembled at my house.  Don’t believe me?  Watch the video below.

      Bundle Company Policies

      Ordering made easy.
      If there’s one thing I try to avoid, and let’s keep it between us, it is an interaction with a salesperson. When I go to simply check in at a car dealership for an oil change appointment for my car, I try to park my car and run, or hide behind the nearest bush. Because if I don’t, I know I am going to end up with a new car I couldn’t test and never wanted to begin with! The voodoo power of a salesman.
      Which brings me to the best part of the life we live in today: online shopping.
      Free shipping, free in-home trials, even some good discounts and bundle discounts when you order online.
      The Bundle Sofa eliminated the middleman. Consumers get to enjoy a 60-day risk-free trial period. And if for any reason you are not satisfied you get to return it for a full return. Returns are on them too.

      What’s Inside the Bundle Sofa?

      They call it Sofa, but it could easily become that cozy couch.
      The Bundle Sofa is roomy enough to have friends over for game night, stretch out with a book, binge watch Netflix, snuggle with the kids and furry friend or simply relax and take a nap.

      Top reasons you should consider a bundle.

      All Foam, no fuss!

      The Bundle Sofa is made from super soft fabric and any bulky seams or zippers. It’s filled with premium memory foam that’s designed to support you and hold its shape over time.
      The open-cell foam used in the making of the Bundle Sofa providers great support for better comfort and durability.

      Fast and easy Assembly.

      Remember back in the days when assembling furniture was complicated and power tools were required? Those days are way gone.

      The Bundle Sofa is not just easy to assemble, it comes in boxes straight to your door (no middleman or harassing salespeople), ready to assemble. Best part NO TOOLS REQUIRED.

      Just like it is easy to build, it is also easy to break down so you can have flexible seating for a modern lifestyle.

      Customize your comfort.
      The Bundle Sofa comes in Shadow Grey, Indigo Blue, Sand Beige and Stone Dark Grey. All warm, modern colors that will add a perfect pop and style to any room.
      Color customization aside, you can select the style of arms and legs that suit your lifestyle. It is built to accommodate just about anything from gatherings to book clubs, coffee breaks to power naps, all while celebrating your unique style.
      With a plush, streamlined design, material you’ll love and four classic colors that make it hard to choose your favorite.
      Bundle Sofa specs and customization.
      2 Arms: Straight or Curved.
      2 leg Options: Cone Leg or Tapered Leg.
      4 Color options: Light Grey “shadow”, Blue “Indigo”, Beige “Sand”, Dark Grey “Stone”.
      Two Back Cushions, one seat cushion. That’s the 2X1 Cushion configuration.
      Three back cushions and three seat cushions making the 3X3 cushion configuration.

      Plush Fabric is stains and water resistant, and washable.
      The Bundle Sofa is made with this modern everyday lifestyle in mind. The cover material is both ultra-soft and extra durable. It is kid and pet friendly and just in case- since in case oops and accidents happen- It is also easy to clean.
      It comes in four different modern, stylish colors to chose from! Lounging never looked so good.

      Bundle Couch, Can You Sleep ON it?

      bundle couch review from altcouch.com

      I certainly can, it is comfortable enough to have no issues catching some zzzzs.  It should fit anyone under 6 feet tall.

      Does the Bundle Have Storage?

      No, but you could fit it into a storage area or pod during a move. 

      Bundle Price & Discount Codes

      Bundle Sofa

      $300 Off, Buy Now
      They currently have a 10% off coupon as well
      Popular

      Bundle Review Conclusion

      That’s just a few things I have noticed while testing and enjoying the Bundle Sofa at the same time. My kids have tried it, we all lounged with our dog, I was even able to take a nap just like that. It is comfy, supportive durable without a doubt. Most of all it will match your everyday modern busy lifestyle!
      Small space, first apartment, dorm room, living room. The Bundle Sofa is made to complement almost every room.
      Easy to assemble, no tools required, fits in a car so that you can take it with you, stylish, comfortable.  I’m not sure that I need to say more…
      The real wow factor of the Bundle Sofa is that it will grow with you.  It is a high quality couch that you can quickly disassemble and move.  Most people scramble to find someone to take their old couch off their hands when they move out of their first apartment.  With the Bundle, you will take it with you.

    • Best Couch

      Best Couch

      An alternative couch is one that has multiple functions.  Below are our top picks for the best couch available to an online shopper.

      I am always searching for something far from your grandmother’s boring couch. To be an ALT COUCH or sofa it will need to have some of the following features:

      1. Sleeper Sofas
      2. Sofas with Storage
      3. Helps to host sleepovers for children
      4. Modular Couches.  Play around with the settings creating something different every time.
      5. Couches that Fit in Your Car
      6. Futons
      7. Pull Out Couch Beds

      Sleeper sofas! Wide and comfy enough to fit 2 people easily.

      coddle couch has multiple sitting positions

      Each side of the couch’s split backrest can recline independently and the left and right sides of the couch can be lifted to form armrests, pillows or footrests! 

      My best pick is the Coddle couch. 

      Not to be compared to your typical clumsy sofa bed- I am talking about the ones that cause you aches and pains- Coddle couch is the modern day sleeper couch.  Simple, elegant and comfy!

      I love the Coddle for so many reasons, my favorite, the ease of assembly.

      It comes in one huge box where you will find on the inside lid useful diagrams on how to unbox and assemble the couch.

      All i had to do was to match the way the legs go properly, four clicks and we are in business! No tools required but i love that it came with a metal-reinforced leather thumb protector to prevent my skin from getting pinched as I am pushing the buttons in.

      It is versatile.

      You can recline each side of the backrest independently where there’s a split right down the middle separating them. You can set it in three positions thanks to a ratchet mechanism: Upright, slightly reclined and fully flat.

      High end smart couch. Coddle comes with 1.5-amp USB charging ports and 110-volt AC receptacles on each side.

      The Coddle is so sturdy and is built comfortably enough to support up to 750 lbs.

      Only downside is that it doesn’t come with storage.

      Sofas with storage.

      storage under freiheten couch

      Clean, minimalstic space saving and enough storage to put away your or your guests essentials such as sheets, pillows and maybe a book!

      I generally love it when items are hiding neatly!  Storage to me is a life and space saver.  It is really important to have enough storage whether it’s a big or small house!  Especially small space.

      IKEA Couches

      I went to Ikea just to have an idea on what to try next.  It’s almost impossible to make up your mind on just one couch once you’re there, so i picked the two couches: The Flottebo and The Friheten.  They stood out sitting next to other couches.  They were just more unique and looked modern and stylish. Not just lame couch beds.  Most importantly I was focused on their functionality. 

      Couch- Check

      Bed- Check

      Storage- Check. 

      Just like their level of comfort, storage is essential too.  Imagine how easy it would be if instead to going back and forth to that room where your guests are sleeping comfortably, you could store away a couple of pillows, bed sheets, a book even some clothes, and not bother them at all. 

      The Flottebo and Friheten have decent storage underneath, one pulls out and transforms into a bed where two small sized people can easily lay down.  The other, all you have to do is remove the back rests, and there you have a full bed too.  Flottebo is more comfy then the Friheten, but at the end you wouldn’t want them as your permanent beds.  They are temporary, great for first apartment, dorm rooms, small space house or if you are a minimalist and like to save space. 

      The couch bed that really had it all was the Arden futon with storage drawers. Looks very stylish with its pretty and simple hardwood design.  It is armless, so perfect for someone who is tall and doesn’t like his feet to hit the foot board. 

      This couch bed comes in three functional positions, sofa, bed (in full size) and lounger. Just like it’s perfect for smaller spaces, it is ideal for RVs and dorms.  I love the simple design, it looks uncluttered and the drawers are spacious enough to fit all your necessary items.  It is available with arms, but i prefer the armless one because it is more convenient for taller guests. 

      Downside: Assembly required. But hey, that’s nothing especially that I was able to assemble 2 couches from Ikea.

      Hideaways that can be used for Sleepovers

      Sleepovers are no longer a problem!  Especially where kids can share the same room.  Pictured below is a bundle bean bag which is filled with memory foam, to provide a lounging experience that you can sleep on.

      rana dropping memory foam on otto bean bag

      With all the cool sleepover products available, there are plenty of solutions to add extra sleeping space without taking up too much room.  Bean bag chairs such as the pillowsac from lovesac and the CordaRoy’s provide excellent sleeping options, and then convert back to a standard bean bag chair.

      Below you will see an amazing invention that converts from a couch to a bed in one second.  The problem is that it doesn’t sit very high, so you either need to raise it up on a platform or put it in a kid’s room (since they are smaller people).

      Modular Couches

      If you don’t like the configuration of your couch, just move a couple of sections around to create a whole new experience.
      romy and rana on a modular lovesac

      The best feature of a modular couch is that you can get one that will grow along with your family.

      Lovesac is a strong candidate for the best modular couch due to their lifetime guarantee.  I can’t tell you how many couches that I have thrown away as my family has grown through the year.  That crappy couch from my first apartment is certainly not with me anymore.  But, what if it had been a modular option with say 3 sections?  I could have bought a new cover and added 2 new sections as I got into my first house.  Then I could have bought new covers again and added a few new sections to dominate the larger living room in my new house.  It may have seemed like a large upfront investment, but in the long run it would have been a great deal.

      Couches that Fit in your Car

      You want a nice stylish couch for your apartment, but you still want to be able to move in a flash.  It is time that you met the Bundle Couch.

      Ray and Rana Landreth on Bundle Couch

      That’s not my house, but I built a couch on that deck, then disassembled it, put it in my car and reassembled it in my house.

      Not that you would, but I had to prove that you could.  

      Futons

      Futons offer sleeping and lounging opportunities and are best placed in small spaces.  No 1st apartment or dorm room is complete without a futon.

      Walmart offers one for less than $200, including free shipping.  You can see it pictured above.  The downside is that it is pretty low to the ground and it isn’t designed to sleep people over 5’6″.

      IKEA’s Flottebo is an upgrade on the futon.  Unfortunately, it suffers from a horrible assembly time and it is quite heavy.  Meaning that you may decide to leave it behind as you leave your 1st apartment.

      Walmart Futon

      Pull-Out Couch Beds

      It is super hard to find a pull-out couch that is actually comfortable.  Just think about what they have to do.  It has to have enough storage for a bed to emerge from inside the couch.

      Personally, I wouldn’t pay more than $500 for a pull out couch.  Why?  Design wise, I haven’t found that the quality of sleep goes up enough after that price, so you are better off just getting another type of alternative couch to suit your sleeping and lounging needs.

      Feathers Sectional Couch

      How about a couch that fits into small spaces? Check out my Feathers modular review.

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    • Coddle Couch Review

      Coddle Couch Review

      Coddle Couch Review

      The Coddle, formerly known as the Gjemni, redefines the alternative couch theme, by being useful as a lounger, a couch or a bed. It currently comes in 5 different cover options:
      • Black
      • Red
      • White
      • Java
      • Microfiber Grey
      It’s more than just a couch! It’s the couch with an impossible number of possibilities. I actually gave the Gjemini its own nickname “SuperCouch”.
      What’s super cool about the Gjemini is that it is comfortable in every position. Yes, the Gjemini is beyond a couch and can be used and enjoyed in many positions. It instantly becomes a bed or a hang-out space or even a meditative place.
      I have been testing it, including my kids and dog occasionally, I am saying occasionally because it is way too pretty to be ruined and I want to enjoy it for the longest time. But then again, what’s the point of testing a product if you don’t really put it to the test.
      And so there we are, testing it in every possible way ever since I received it and put it together.
      I ordered the Gjemini in grey, microfiber. It came in a huge box, inside another of course bigger box holding it. True it took me forever to unbox it and ran out of room in my recycling bin BUT that’s a great way to keep your couch from being damaged.
      Un-handy people rejoice because it requires NO TOOLS. Once you locate the 4 legs that come in a separate “fancy” box all you must do is snap them on, flip the couch over and you are finished.
      This alternative couch is the perfect lounger by day for your guests with the ability to transform into a bed easily at any time.
      On each side of the Gjemini you will find USB ports as well as volt sockets to help you charge your devices while charging yourself.
      The modern design of the Coddle allows you to recharge all of your devices with 4 USB ports and two 110-volt sockets.

      Coddle Review Menu

      Coddle Couch Video Review

      I’m not sure if my video does a good enough job of saying how much I LOVE my coddle couch. This is truly an alternative couch as it preforms the couch job perfectly, and the bed function is great. I wouldn’t use it as an every night sleeper, but it is pretty close.

      Coddle Company Policies

      The ordering process is no different from anything else that you would buy online. Except that you are buying a major purchase sight unseen. Of course, this makes your purchase scary, and that’s why I shot the video above so that you could get a look and a second opinion of the product before you hit the buy button.
      I didn’t leave my couch to buy my coddle, they were running an end of the year 20% discount. I’ll see if I can get a similar coupon for you during other times of the year.
      Coddle offers an amazing 60 day trial period. If you don’t like it and it isn’t found to be dirty, stained, damaged or abused they will give you a full refund.
      I purchased it in December of 2018. Shipping took less than 2 weeks, depends on your window to schedule delivery.

      What’s Inside the Coddle Couch?

      This is by far the easiest assembly possible for a direct to your door couch. You simply click the 4 legs in and flip it over.
      Seriously, that’s it. I spent far more time getting it out of the box then actually putting it together.
      They provide 2 thumb protectors to keep your skin from getting pinched while you click in the legs. The other thing to note is that you need to match up leg a, with sticker a. I didn’t realize this and put the D leg into A and I could tell that it didn’t look right before I flipped it over.
      The only other difficult part of getting it set up is that you have to pull the cord to unzip the electric cord from the built-in hiding space.

      Size Bed Dimensions Couch Dimensions Weight
      Twin 40.9″W x 78″L 40.9 W” x 78L” x 38 137.5 Pounds

      It screams of day bed, yet it is fully functional as a couch or as a lounger.
      It is really heavy (137.5 lbs), so it will take 2 people to flip it over or carry it. What I find interesting is how heavy the shipping boxes are. Once you take the couch out of the boxes, it isn’t that heavy.
      On each side of the couch you will find USB ports and a US standard outlet.
      gjemeni couch with both arms at an angle

      Can You Sleep ON it?

      Yes, Yes and YES!!!
      This is a very comfortable bed once it is fully flat. Your guests will love sleeping over and you will find that you gently doze off on the Coddle more often then you think you would.

      Pros

      Can be used as a couch

      Can be used as a bed

      Tilt the head up to lounge/no need for a pillow

      Luxury Feel

      USB Ports on Each Side

      110V Port

      Cons

      It took me half an hour to assemble

      You could snag your thumb in the assembly process

      When you adjust the couch configurations it may slide/move

      Does the Coddle Have Storage?

      Unfortunately, no.  However, the ability to charge all of your smart devices still makes this an alternative couch.

      Coddle Sleeper Couch

      Coddle Couch Review Conclusion

      I have had it for about 6 months now and it gets more use than any other couch that I have. It is fun to play with all of the different settings and is comfortable doing the main job of being a couch. Where it really shines is that it is an excellent sleeper. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to drag one of my kids or my husband off the Coddle to go to their beds.
      The ideal person for this is someone who doesn’t have a ton of space yet wants to provide someone with the opportunity for a quick/comfortable bed. This would be great in an Airbnb type of condo or house. It would also fit nicely in a small home office to give you the ability to sleep an extra guest or two.
      The last type of person who should really consider this is someone who is thinking about buying a sleeper sofa. Seriously, when was the last time you slept on a sleeper sofa? Do you remember that being a nice experience? Of course not! This solves the problem created by sleeper sofas. If you have one of these and you see a sleeper sofa you will laugh, not kidding. My MIL has a sleeper sofa and my husband is too tall for it and I’m way too big for it, so it pokes me. Fortunately, my son is still small enough that he can use a sleeper sofa, but when he grows a bit more, I’m going to have to buy her a Coddle for her spare bedroom/office.

    • Friheten Sleeper Sofa Review

      Friheten Sleeper Sofa Review

      It’s a couch & it has a hidden pullout that converts it into a bed.

      What attracted me to the Friheten is that it doubles as a sleeper. I got to try it at the store, but I really needed to sleep on it before I could decide if it truly fits the definition of an alternative couch.

      Friheten Review Menu

      Friheten Video Review

      Below is the video that I shot about a month after buying it. I have had it for 9 months now and it only has 3,000 views, so it must not be very good. Or maybe there is just too much competition on YouTube for small reviewers.

      The video at the bottom of this which compares it to the Flottebo has over 30,000 views, so you may want to just skip to that one.

      IKEA Company Policies

      The true secret to IKEA is that they flat-pack their products which makes them easy to ship. Of course, that means that you have to assemble so if you are scared of an l wrench you may as well just move on to another review.

      Pros

      • Can be used as a couch
      • Can be used as a bed
      • Easy to convert from couch to bed
      • Amazing budget friendly price
      • Storage under chaise

      Cons

      • It’s an IKEA product so you know you will have to assemble it.
      • It is firm, but not thick enough for heavy people
      • You wouldn’t want it as your main bed
      • In a large living room it would probably feel out of place as it isn’t that large

      What’s Inside the Friheten?

      It is a 3 sectional sleeper, and you can choose to put the chaise section on the right or the left side of the sofa.
      The fabric is going to be polyester, unless you choose to pay an extra $100 for Bomstad black, which is 25% cotton and 75% polyester.
      The couch is a mix of particleboard and plywood.
      The seat cushions and pillows are made from a fairly dense, 2 lb/cu.ft polyurethane foam. This is the type of foam that you would usually see at the foundation of a mattress. The cushions are on the firm side, but they aren’t supportive enough for heavy people. You can feel the wooden structure if you apply a good deal of pressure to the cushions.

      Can You Sleep ON it?

      This couch will double as a bed for the days when you just can’t drag yourself off the couch, or if you have guests. The ideal purchaser is one who is either just starting out, think first apartment, or for a guest bedroom, if it doesn’t have room for a queen-sized bed.
      At this price and the shipping/ease of moving it I could see this couch making the move from apartment to apartment, up and down stairs etc.
      It is likely too small for the main couch of a family; however, I could see it getting a good deal of use in a child’s bedroom. It isn’t a luxury couch, so an established family with a large living room wouldn’t want it as their main seating option.
      If you are on the heavy side, you should probably pass on the Friheten. The foam padding in the cushions isn’t that thick, so a heavy person would bottom out and feel the wooden structure.

      Does the Friheten Have Storage?

      YES! this is a triple threat.  It is a couch, you can sleep on it, and it has storage.  Well done IKEA!

      Ikea Friheten Couch with storage

      Assembly

      As an IKEA product, you expect a good deal of fun putting it together. As surprising as this is, I was able to put together the sofa 99% by myself. I had some help flipping and moving it, otherwise I did it myself. I only got stuck on one step and it was really my fault. I didn’t have the main couch cushions lined up exactly right when I tightened one of the 2 screws. So, I had to go back and loosen one screw to realign the other screw. Usually, this wouldn’t be a big deal. However, the screws have what I call a hat so the hat came off and the screw was still in there. It was a really small issue, but I could have saved 10 minutes or so had I been more careful.
      Speaking of time, it took me about 2 hours to assemble and shoot a video about the couch. Expect it to take you about an hour alone and maybe 45 minutes with 2 people.
      Assembly can really be broken down into three main sections. First, you have to choose which side you want the chaise to go on. Then you have to assemble the other couch section. Then you install the couch extension, which is used when you want to convert the couch to a bed. I have a step by step assembly section in my video review above.

      IKEA Friheten Vs. IKEA Flottebo

      My twin and I shot this video to discuss some of the key features of the Friheten and how it compares to the IKEA Flottebo.
      As I’m writing this about 10 months after purchasing both of these, I’ll tell you which one I still have. It’s the… Flottebo, but I’m not really in love with the Flottebo since the pillows slide away if you aren’t up against a wall and it isn’t that comfortable to sleep on.