Questions
Demystifying sofa buying.
Slow makes sofas and chairs that are functional, durable, built from natural materials and, importantly, as comfortable as it gets. We’ve been making handmade upholstered furniture in the Yorkshire Dales for forty years. So you can rest assured that you will be buying the highest quality product that will last the test of time.
No polyurethane foam – not in the cushions, not hidden in the frame, and none of the so-called bio-foams either. We use natural latex, wool, cotton, coconut fibre and rubberised horsehair instead.
A naturally fire-resistant wool barrier under the top fabric meets UK fire safety regulations, so we don’t need chemical fire retardants. Our build has been independently tested by FIRA, and most fabrics in our range carry no added fire-retardant finish.
Yes. Our natural latex is GOLS certified, our organic wool and cotton are GOTS certified, and our rubberised hair and Cocolok are OEKO-TEX® certified. The little glue our frames need is soy-based, and our timber comes from certified, sustainably managed forests. See what goes into our sofas.
Yes. Every Slow sofa is made to order, so we can adjust the dimensions of any design to fit your space. Get in touch with your measurements and we’ll talk it through.
Have a look at our measuring guide first. Where access is tight, we can build your sofa specially to come apart, so it gets into your home.
Yes – any well-made sofa with a sound frame. Send us a few photos and we’ll assess it over the phone. More about reupholstery.
Yes. We can fill your cushions with plant-based fillings instead of feather, and use a plant-based coir alternative to horsehair, with the same structure and longevity.
Yes. You’re very welcome to come and try our sofas in person. We have two spaces where you can take a seat and experience our pieces: Our workshop in the market town of Settle in the Yorkshire Dales, where all our sofas are handmade. You can also visit the House of Estila, an interiors showroom showcasing British independent designers. 66a Turnmill Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 5RR. We currently have a Wharfe sofa and Owlet armchair on display.
Yes, you can order 6 samples at a time through our website. However, we recommend that all our customers order a piece of the fabric they like before buying their sofa or chair. It's essential to see how the material looks in the light of your own home and feel the quality and texture for yourself.
Whether it’s help with an order, a question about a product or a bit of feedback for us, we love hearing from you. Get in touch by phone: 07923 447672 email: info@slowsofa.co.uk or via live chat on the website.
Once we've received your item and have checked it over to ensure it's returned in its original condition and packaging, we will refund you the total amount, minus the collection cost (£175). You should receive a refund within 14 days.
If you are a consumer, you have a legal right to change your mind within 14 days and receive a refund. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, these rights are explained in more detail in our terms and conditions. If you would like to exercise your right of cancellation, you must inform us of this decision by a clear statement, including your name, address, contact details, and details of the order you wish to cancel. You can cancel your order by phone on 07923 447672 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm) or by email at info@slowsofa.co.uk.
Yes, we have a wonderful selection of hand-picked fabrics online, but if you have a specific fabric in mind that we don’t stock, send us a swatch so we can test its suitability or get in touch, and we can help find what you’re looking for. When you choose a fabric beyond our usual range, your sofa becomes a unique, bespoke creation. As such, it will be crafted just for you, which means our standard returns policy won’t cover it. But not to worry, we’re committed to working closely with you every step of the way, ensuring your custom piece is everything you imagined!
Please note, there will be a cutting charge for fabrics beyond our standard offering. This charge will be estimated based on the pattern, fabric type, and additional handling requirements. We’ll provide full transparency on this during the design process to ensure there are no surprises.
Yes, each sofa has a different selection of leg styles. Our legs are all hand turned by a local craftsman. They come in Oak, Beech and ebonised oak. You can select the leg of your choice on the product page.
Yes, this is very important to us. The feathers we buy are ethically sourced.
Our lead time is 10–12 weeks, once you purchase a sofa with us we’ll be able to confirm the lead time with more accuracy.
We use solid, kiln-dried beech and poplar ply from certified, sustainably managed forests, supplied by our local timber yard. There is no chipboard in a Slow sofa.
All of our pieces are hand made to order by our team of skilled craftsmen and women. It usually takes 10–12 weeks from order to delivery. We’ll keep you posted on our progress and our delivery partner will be in touch to arrange a convenient time. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
We charge a standard fee of £175. Our delivery partner will bring your furniture to your front door and deliver it into your room of choice. If you need your old furniture removed at the same time, let us know when we arrange something.
Yes, when your furniture is ready for delivery, our delivery partner will be in touch to arrange a time that suits you. We deliver Mon - Sat.
We understand sometimes people change their minds. We want our no-hassle refunds policy to be as simple as possible. If you’re not happy with your sofa, for whatever reason, simply drop us a message within 14 days of receiving it and we’ll arrange for a courier to come and take it off your hands. It’s as simple as that. Assuming we receive it back in its original condition, we will process the refund, please note we can’t refund you for the original delivery cost. Please view our terms and conditions for more information.
We shout from the rooftops that we’ll guarantee our frames for a lifetime. But what does a lifetime actually mean? Well, as long as you’re in ownership of a Slow sofa, we will always repair the frame. The very last thing we want to see is one of our sofas destined for landfill. However, we’re so confident in the material selection and construction of our product, that we don’t expect to see you!
