“I want the ’97 Honda Accord of couches,” I told my husband. A couch that will never break down, will last longer than you ever wanted, and will still work great when you start having grandkids. Enter: the Capa Poly and Bark Leather sofa. A boxy, low-profile, modern style couch that I’ve had my eyes on for years, and that we purchased last Fall for our fixer upper home. Six months into owning it, I’m giving my honest (not sponsored) reviews on what we think, if we’d buy it again, and how it’s holding up so far with two kids around!
Capa Poly And Bark Leather Sofa: Why We Bought It
If you know me at all, you know I have OPINIONS. But those opinions always come with so much reason and thought behind them, especially when it comes to our home. If I can convince myself into a decision, it’s rare I back out of it. Because I’ve already thought through it 1,000 times and 1,000 different ways.
Call it detail-oriented or insane, I think it helps me make some pretty good choices for our home projects.
I’m breaking down all those design decisions below for why we bought the Capa couch–why I wanted this particular style, what it would do for our space, and the details I was looking for in a family-friendly couch.
Open Living Room to Dining Room Layout
Our open, narrow living room needs furniture that connects our living room to our dining room and kitchen. A low-profile couch like the Capa Poly and Bark leather sofa would allow for comfortable seating and connected conversations between these spaces, whereas a tall-back couch could cut them off.
Modern Style, Lounge Vibe
The modern, clean line, boxy style of cigar couches have had my heart for years. It fits with our modern-vintage mixed home, and the cushions look like the kind of couch you can plop down on and lounge. I love little details, and the Capa Poly and Bark leather sofa in particular has so many subtle ones I love. The french seams and tuft cushions give it that extra layer of style. And the continuous height of the arms and back make this long couch feel solid and singular.
Durability Features For Young Kids
Now that we’re out of the infant/toddler stage of parenthood, I’m less stressed about maintaining our furniture and house in general. Less sticky jelly hands everywhere and coloring on things. This was a good time to invest in something a little more high-end.
Single, Attached Cushion: Crumb-Proof and Fort Free
One feature I really wanted was one single, attached cushion. I didn’t want the cushions to be able to come off because my kids would try to use them for forts, weapons, and the floor is lava, which wears them out so much faster.
I also didn’t want multiple cushions on this couch because crumbs (and lord knows what else) get trapped so easily in between them. After years with a couch like this, I was sick of sitting on what felt like a constantly-dirty couch filled with garbage.
After years of sitting between the cushions of our previous couch, the cushions got bent out of shape and the gaps (again, filled with crumbs), became more visible and prevalent. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant, comfortable experience to sit on.
Stain and Scratch-Resistant Materials
They say real leather is highly durable and long-lasting, even against young kids. After years of buying cheap and fast furniture and watching it wear out quickly, I was ready to test this theory out. One couch forever, I told my husband. I want this thing around when we start having grandkids. I love that real leather will patina over time too. Like it’s collecting memories of our family and putting them on display.
Budget
We’ve bought our fair share of cheap and fast furniture over the years. And we’ve experienced them wearing and tearing faster than we expected. In the long run, it makes sense to invest in a higher quality couch that you don’t have to replace so soon. So this time around we set aside about $2500 to invest in a quality couch. The Capa couch fit right into that budget.
First Impressions
Delivery Experience
Delivery was ridiculously easy. They brought the couch right into our living room for us. It took two of us to slide it out of the box since it was heavy and a little awkward, although I think I could have done it by myself it needed.
Since it’s all one piece, no assembly was needed so we could enjoy it right away.
Initial look and feel
We were instantly impressed with this couch. It’s absolutely gorgeous in person. The color was exactly what we pictured from seeing it online, so no surprises there: a rich caramel leather color. The leather feels so soft and buttery, cool to the touch at first and then warms up as you sit on it.
It feels like a really solid piece of furniture, and doesn’t feel cheap at all. It looks and feels high-end.
First sit test and how it went the first week:
Right from the bat, the cushions were not too firm, and not too soft either. It’s the perfect amount of both for support and comfort.
In fact, it’s so damn comfortable that we took turns accidentally falling asleep on it for the first two weeks. It’s big enough for an adult to stretch out on, the cushions are so supportive, and the leather feels so soft that we couldn’t help it.
We noticed right away that this couch changed the flow of our space and how we interacted as a family. All four of us could fit on this couch to watch a movie, and we could still interact with each other from the living room to the dining room. The best.
We were genuinely really impressed and excited to have this piece of furniture in our home!
How It’s Holding Up Six Months Later (Real-life use with kids)
We’ve been using this couch all day, every day for six months and I can honestly say, it still looks and feels brand new. We lounge on it, sit on it, sleep on it, eat on it (carefully…), and absolutely love sitting on it. There was no “breaking in” period. It was comfortable straight out of the box, and after six months, it still feels just as good.
Small Living Room Flow
The Capa Poly and Bark leather sofa created the connected layout flow we wanted between our open, narrow living room to our dining room and kitchen. It allows us to have conversations between these spaces, so it feels like we’re spending time together no matter where we’re at on the first floor.
Comfortable for Real-Life Living
It’s so. damn. comfortable. It’s just the right amount of soft and firm. Soft enough that we fell asleep on it almost every night the first two weeks we had it. Firm enough that the leather and cushions haven’t stretched or sagged. It still feels brand new. The single-cushion style allows our whole family of four to fit comfortably.
Durability, Maintenance, and Ease of Cleaning
It is getting scuffed here and there, but I’m finding it to be so durable! That’s just part of owning a leather couch. We haven’t had any major scratches that have penetrated or damaged the leather, despite our kids best efforts (like dropping scissors onto it…). We haven’t had any stains from spills or anything else. Again, despite our best efforts there.
We found that a lot of the scuffs will disappear when rubbed with a damp cloth. Find the Poly and Bark leather sofa care guide here.
So far, there’s no obvious spots of wear. No particular spots that are wearing or scuffing more than others, like on the cushion where we like to sit vs. the base of the couch, if that makes sense. It’s wearing evenly and beautifully.
When I first started noticing scuffs and marks appearing, it stressed me out that it was getting ruined. But I’ve realized it’s actually getting more and more beautiful with time.
The patina it’s creating is almost like it’s telling a story of the time we spent together on this couch. Which honestly makes my heart so happy. I want my home to tell a story, and materials that age beautifully create a sense of history and character. More of this, please!
It’s easy to clean, it’s so durable from stains and every day life, and it’s not collecting crumbs. WIN.
The Pro’s
So, so many. I think we nailed our decision to get this couch. I won’t keep repeating my praises for the Capa Poly and Bark leather sofa, so here’s a quick overview list:
- Durable and still looks and feels brand new after six months.
- So comfortable and fits our whole family.
- Less kid crumbs, and no couch-cushion forts. We did it!
- Created the perfect flow for our open living room.
The Con’s
This list will be very short, to be honest. I wouldn’t call these cons, but just a few things to consider before buying.
The Low-Profile Back Doesn’t Offer Much Support
This couch is low-profile which means the back is very low (only 11″ from the top of the cushion). It comes up to about the middle of my back, so I can’t lean back and rest my head or shoulders.
Before we bought it, we tested out similar ones in person and decided we wouldn’t mind the low back. I would pair it with some high-back chairs for when we needed the back support.
Six months later, I sometimes wish the back was taller. The chairs we ended up loving and purchasing were also low-back, which leaves us a bit lacking in this area.
Overall, this hasn’t been a problem for us. The couch is soft and comfortable, so we just lower/lay down a bit when we want some support. As we get older, this might be more of an issue. But for now, it works fine.
Long term, we’re planning to get a big couch with a higher back and better support for our basement (when it’s finally finished). We’re predicting we’ll spend more time down there, so that couch will get more use. Our upstairs living room will be more like a sitting room.
My advice would be to pair the Capa with other pieces of furniture that have the support you need. Whether it’s chairs, a love seat, or another couch, make sure you have something with good back support for yourself or guests.
If You Have Pets
We don’t have pets, so I don’t know how this holds up for dogs and cats. Personally, I’d be nervous about letting a pet on this couch because I don’t know how leather holds up to pet nails. I’d imagine they’d scuff the couch a ton, and the marks (even if they disappear by wiping them) would drive me crazy. Just something to consider. Maybe do a little research on leather couches with pets.
Would We Buy It Again?
100%. I highly recommend this couch for anyone looking a a low-profile, cigar-style leather couch.
The Capa Poly and Bark leather sofa is a high quality, long-lasting sofa that’s great for anyone, even families with young kids.
Article Cigar Couch vs. Capa Poly and Bark Leather Sofa
We were considering Article’s cigar leather couch, as it’s very similar size, style, and materials. Ultimately, the Capa won us over (scroll below to see why!).
Similarities
- Leather Type
- Both use full-aniline leather that showcases natural variations in tone and texture.
- Both mention a patina or unique scuffing that develops over time.
- Upholstery Look & Feel
- Each piece is unique due to the natural properties of the leather.
- Designed for a worn-in, vintage aesthetic.
- Cushion Fill
- Both use high-density foam cores wrapped in duck feathers and fiber for a plush yet structured seat.
- Frame Construction
- Both have kiln-dried wood frames for durability (though the exact woods vary).
- No Assembly Required
- Both couches arrive fully assembled.
- Dimensions
- Both are the same overall size: 92″W x 38″D.
- Similar seat depth (27″) and arm width (~10″).
Differences:
| Feature | Capa – Poly and Bark | Cigar – Article |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2500 | $2400 |
| Guarantee | 100 Days | 30 Days |
| Seat Height | 17″ | 15″ |
| Seat Back Height | 11″ from cushion | 11″ from cushion |
| Armrest Width | 10.25″ | 10″ |
| Leather Description | Full-aniline (chocolate brown & saddle tan), semi-aniline for others | Full-aniline Italian pull-up leather, buffed for suede-like feel |
| Leather Finish | Some colors are non-pigmented for natural look | Untreated and buffed for a suede-like texture |
| Suspension System | Pirelli-webbing | Not specified |
| Seam Details | French seams all over | Some french seams |
| Cushion Style | Tight, non-removable, tufted seat | Not specified |
| Back Cushion | Tight (non-removable) | Feather-filled and foam padded, may be removable |
| Materials | Full/semi-aniline leather, kiln-dried hardwood, engineered wood | Full-aniline leather, kiln-dried pine, MDF, rubberwood |
Why We Picked the Capa Poly and Bark Leather Sofa
Some reviews on the Article couch mentioned it was too stiff and already wearing out and stretching after a year. This made me nervous. We’ve never owned a leather couch or a cigar-style couch, and we wanted to make sure it would last and it would be comfortable. Ultimately, here’s what swayed us to purchase the Capa Poly and Bark Leather Sofa:
- More positive reviews on durability and longetivty
- Clear features like an attached cushion (Article’s doesn’t specify)
- 100 day guarantee (Article’s is only 30 days)
- Style details like more french seams and tufting
- Offers leather care product recommendations for maintenance
Final Verdict on the Capa Poly and Bark Leather Sofa
I’m so glad we chose this couch for our home. It has checked all the boxes and more for our family of four and our open living room flow. Durable, low-profile, comfortable, and modern. If you’re on the fence about this couch, I highly recommend you go for it!
SHOP OUR LIVING ROOM
- Capa Poly and Bark Leather Sofa
- Golden Pillow Cover
- Black Corduroy Pillow Cover
- Down Pillow Inserts
- Rifle Paper Co x Loloi Rug
- Ceiling Light Fixture
- Jute Gooseneck Brass Floor Lamp
- Green Plaid Brass Table Lamp
- MCM TV Stand
- Design Book
- Design Book
- Design Book
- Wide Vase
- Picture Frames
- Decorative Plant Basket
- Plant Basket
- Blinds
- Printable Art
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