The Cutting Table · compared on the table
Does the new foam smell when it arrives?
Also asked as:Is there any odor from the foam?Harsh rubber chemical odor from the new sofa
One odor complaint in about 3,000 sofa orders. Here is what happened with that one, and the order of operations if yours is the second.
SaveThe quick answer
The workshop says its cushion foam has no odor, and it has recorded only one smell complaint in about 3,000 sofa orders. If new foam does smell, wash the covers and air the foam out for several days first. In the one case where the smell persisted, the workshop checked replacement foams itself and resent the seat and ottoman foams below cost.
Get a quote for a modular floor sofa
The foam smell question, in five rows
| Question | What the workshop says |
|---|---|
| Does the foam smell on arrival? | No odor, by the workshop's account |
| How often has smell come up? | Once in about 3,000 sofa orders |
| What to do first | Wash the covers; air the foam out for several days |
| If it still smells | Report it; the workshop checks replacement foams itself |
| What was replaced last time | Two seat foams and the ottoman foam, below cost |
Key facts
- The workshop states its foam has no odor.
- One smell complaint was recorded in about 3,000 sofa orders.
- First step for an odor: wash the covers and air the foam out for several days.
- When a smell persisted, the workshop checked replacement foams itself before resending.
- Two seat foams and the ottoman foam were replaced, supplied below cost.
Have it made
Have Nate’s workshop cut this for you
Send the numbers in inches: length × depth × thickness, plus any angle. The workshop checks them with you, because foam has no undo button. — Nate
Leave your details and the workshop will call you to confirm measurements, fabric, foam and piping. No prices, dates or payment on this page: it is a request, not an order.
The one sofa in about 3,000
A buyer got in touch that the foam in a new floor sofa had a strong smell. The first advice was the standard one: wash the covers, then air the foam out for several days.
It didn't clear. So the workshop checked replacement foams itself before sending anything, then resent the two seat foams and the ottoman foam at a price it said was below cost. At the time, it was the only smell complaint in about 3,000 sofa orders.
Why airing comes before anything else
Airing is cheap and reversible, partner. The covers go through the wash, the foam sits out in open air for several days, and you learn whether the smell is fading or holding.
If it holds past that, don't keep waiting. Report it and name which pieces smell, so the right foams get checked. The airing-out pattern has the full routine, washing cushion covers covers the fabric side, and modular floor sofas shows how the pieces come apart.
How many days has yours been out of the box?
Before you write in about a smell
- Covers off and washed
- Foam aired out for several days, not a single afternoon
- The smelling pieces named: seats, backrests or ottoman
- The number of days since unboxing
One smell complaint in about 3,000 floor sofa orders: wash the covers, air the foam for several days, then ask for replacement foam.
Nate
Buyer questions
- A common question
Is there any odor from the foam when the sofa arrives?
The workshop's answerThe workshop says its foam has no odor. Across about 3,000 sofa orders, it has had one smell complaint.
- A common question
The new foam has a strong smell. What should I do?
The workshop's answerWash the covers and air the foam out for several days. When a smell persisted, the workshop checked replacement foams itself and resent two seat foams plus the ottoman foam at a price it said was below cost.
- A common question
Can I buy just the foam inserts, without covers?
The workshop's answerYes. Pillow fillings, foam-only L-shaped backrest inserts and full sofa foam sets, with the metal supports if needed, are sold without covers through a dedicated link, quoted per set.
- A common question
Can I get a softer seat than the standard foam?
The workshop's answerYes. Ask for about 1.75 lb/ft³ (28 kg/m³) foam instead of the standard about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³) for a plusher, slightly sink-in feel, or add a 3/4 in (2 cm) wadding layer.
Questions buyers ask next
How long should new cushion foam air out before I judge the smell?
Several days, per the workshop's advice, with the covers washed at the same time. If the smell is still there after several days of airing, write to the workshop rather than keep waiting.
Will the workshop replace foam that keeps smelling?
In the one persistent case on record, yes. It checked replacement foams itself and resent the two seat foams and the ottoman foam, at a price it described as below cost.
Is a foam smell common on these floor sofas?
No. The workshop counts one smell complaint in about 3,000 sofa orders and states that its foam has no odor, so a strong smell is unusual enough to be worth reporting.
