We “Test Drove” the Top 4 Contenders So You Don’t Have To
The Mission: Find the ultimate modular “Cloud” sofa.
The Criteria: Ride quality (comfort), chassis stiffness (frame build), interior materials (cushion fill), and sticker price (value).
The Contenders: Restoration Hardware (RH), 7th Avenue, Soulfa, and the newcomer, ModernSofa.
If you’re in the market for a modular sofa, you’ve probably felt like you’re shopping for a luxury car without ever getting to take a test drive. You stare at specs, compare horsepower (cushion fill), and wonder if the sticker price is really worth it.
So, I did the heavy lifting for you. I parked these four heavyweights side-by-side in an identical 4 module configuration (4 pc sectional) to see which one is just a pretty showroom piece and which one is the true daily driver.
Contender #1: Restoration Hardware Cloud Classic
- The Spec Sheet: 40″ Depth (Classic) | Fill: Premium Down & Feather | Price: ~$12,129 (delivered)
- The Model: Cloud Modular 4-Piece Chaise Sectional
The Walkaround:
Visually, the RH Cloud is the granddaddy. It has that “I’m rich and I don’t care if I spill wine” aesthetic. It uses genuine Premium Down & Feather filled back cushions and seat envelopes, which gives it that signature “sink-in” look.
The Test Drive:
Sitting on the RH Cloud feels like driving a vintage Cadillac with blown shocks. You sink. And then you sink some more. The natural Down & Feather fill is decadent, but without a high-performance foam core, there is zero “road feel”—you are just floating in a bag of feathers.
The Service Light:
The biggest issue? The maintenance. Down requires constant attention. Getting up from this sofa requires a 5-minute “fluffing session” to get it back to shape. It’s like owning a classic Jaguar; beautiful to look at, but you’ll spend half your life working on it.
Verdict: A stunning museum piece with premium ingredients, but too soft (and too expensive) for a daily driver.
Contender #2: 7th Avenue
- The Spec Sheet: 39″ Depth | Fill: Synthetic Polyfill | Price: ~$4,250
- The Model: 4-Seat Modular Chaise Sectional
The Walkaround:
7th Avenue markets itself as the “utility vehicle” of the group. It looks crisp, like a German sedan. However, when you look under the hood, you notice cost-cutting: instead of natural down, they use Synthetic Polyfill.
The Test Drive:
I expected sport-tuned suspension; I got a park bench. Because it uses Synthetic Polyfill instead of Down, the ride is hard. Polyfill tends to resist compression, pushing back against you rather than molding to you. You sit on this sofa, never in it.
The “Kit Car” Experience (Assembly):
Here is the part the brochure glosses over: Some assembly is definitely required. Unlike ModernSofa or RH which arrive ready to drive, 7th Avenue is essentially a “Kit Car.” The seat bases and backrests come as separate components that you have to bolt together yourself. Expect to lose about 2 hours of your life playing mechanic.
Verdict: Synthetic feel, stiff ride, and DIY assembly. Do you really want to build your own car before you drive it?
Contender #3: Soulfa
- The Spec Sheet: 38″ Depth | Fill: Synthetic Polyfill | Price: ~$6,900
- The Model: 4-Cube Modular Sectional
The Walkaround:
Soulfa has been a strong contender for years. It’s the previous generation sports car—still quick, still fun, but showing its age against the newer models. Like 7th Avenue, it relies on Synthetic Polyfill rather than the premium Down & Feather found in the higher-tier models.
The Test Drive:
The ride quality here is decent, but the cabin feels cramped. With an Overall Depth of just 38″, it felt a bit small for true lounging. And because it uses Polyfill, you miss out on that organic, breathable “whoosh” of air you get when sitting on real feathers. It handles corners well, but at $6,900, paying that much for synthetic filling feels like buying a luxury car with cloth seats.
Verdict: Overpriced for the materials. You’re paying Porsche prices for a Honda engine.
Contender #4: ModernSofa
- The Spec Sheet: 42.5″ Depth | Fill: Premium Down & Feather | Price: ~$3,299
- The Model: 4-Piece Chaise Modular Cloud Sectional
The Walkaround:
ModernSofa pulls up to the line looking like it costs double its sticker price. It has the widest stance of the affordable group (42.5″ Overall Depth). Crucially, under the hood, it matches the RH spec: Premium Down & Feather filled back cushions and seat cushion envelopes (wrapped around a high-resiliency foam core).
The Test Drive:
I dropped into the corner seat and… whoa. This is the “Goldilocks” zone.
You get the immediate, luxurious softness of the Down & Feather (just like the RH), but then the High-Resiliency (HR) foam core kicks in like an active suspension system, catching you before you hit the bottom. It feels organic and expensive, unlike the synthetic bounce of the others.
The “Sticker Shock” (In a Good Way):
I had to double-check the window sticker. $3,299?
That’s nearly $9,000 less than the RH and almost $1,000 less than the synthetic 7th Avenue. Plus, it comes with a Lifetime Warranty on the chassis (frame).
The Final Lap: Comparison Chart
| Feature | ModernSofa | RH Cloud | 7th Avenue | Soulfa |
| Cushion Fill | Premium Down & Feather (Backs & Seat Envelopes) | Premium Down & Feather (Backs & Seat Envelopes) | Synthetic Polyfill | Synthetic Polyfill |
| Ride Comfort | Hybrid (Perfect Balance) | Too Soft (Sags) | Too Stiff (Hard) | Stiff/Synthetic |
| Legroom (Seat Depth) | 27.5″ (Max Comfort) | 24″ | 22″ (Cramped) | 24″ |
| Cabin Space (Depth) | 42.5″ (Class Leader) | 40″ | 39″ | 38″ |
| Sticker Price | **$3,299** | ~$12,129 | ~$4,250 | ~$6,900 |
The Winner’s Circle
After putting miles on all four, the choice wasn’t even close.
- Buy RH if you have infinite money and a staff to fluff your pillows.
- Buy 7th Avenue if you run a waiting room, don’t mind assembling furniture, and prefer synthetic foam over feathers.
- Buy Soulfa if you want a decent ride but don’t mind paying luxury prices for synthetic materials and a smaller cabin.
- Buy ModernSofa if you want the performance of a supercar for the price of a daily driver.
ModernSofa is redefining the class. It’s big, it’s comfortable, it uses real Down & Feathers and quality components just like the ultra-luxury brand, and it leaves about $8,000 in your pocket.
Ready to take a test drive?
