Simon Li Furniture Reviews: Here’s The No-BS Truth (You’ll Want This Couch)

If you’re tired of flimsy couches that sag after a year or overpriced ones that feel like a splurge you regret, listen up.

I’ve owned a Simon Li power reclining sectional for over three years now, and let me tell you—it’s the sweet spot where real top-grain leather meets everyday affordability without skimping on that buttery-soft feel you sink into after a long day.

You get genuine quality that looks premium in your space, holds up to kids, pets, and movie marathons, and won’t force you to eat ramen for months to afford it.

If you’re ready for furniture that actually delivers comfort and style you can feel good about, go ahead and pull the trigger on Simon Li—you’ll thank yourself every time you sit down.

My Experience With Simon Li Furniture

Picture this: three years ago, my old couch was a disaster. The cushions had flattened into pancakes, the faux leather was peeling like bad sunburn, and it creaked every time anyone shifted.

My family of four, plus a energetic dog who thinks every seat is his throne, needed something tougher. I spotted a Simon Li leather power reclining sectional at Costco—one of those massive ones with power headrests, USB ports, and zero-gravity recline—and thought, why not?

It wasn’t the cheapest option out there, but the price felt fair for what looked like real leather and solid build.

From the moment the delivery guys wheeled it in (heavy as heck, by the way—that’s a good sign), everything changed. Unboxing it felt exciting. The top-grain leather had that rich, supple texture right away, not stiff or plastic-like. I ran my hand over it and knew this wasn’t some bonded junk.

We positioned it in our open living room, facing the TV, and the first test was family movie night. Everyone piled on—me, my partner, the kids, even the dog—and hit those power buttons. The recliners glided smoothly, no jerky motions or loud noises.

The headrests adjust independently, so you can get that perfect neck support whether you’re upright chatting or fully laid back.

Comfort-wise, it’s like sitting on a cloud that hugs you back. The cushions are plush but supportive, with pocket coils and high-density foam that bounce back even after hours of use. My back doesn’t ache anymore after binge-watching shows, and the zero-gravity feature?

Game-changer for reading or napping. The leather warms up quickly to your body but never gets sticky in summer. We’ve spilled drinks (kids, am I right?), had muddy dog paws jump up, and even the occasional marker incident.

Most wipes right off with a damp cloth, and the color has stayed rich without fading much, even near our big windows.

Daily life with it has been effortless. The USB ports mean no more fighting over chargers during game nights. It’s wide enough for all of us to sprawl out comfortably, yet the design looks sleek—not bulky or dated.

Guests always comment on how luxurious it feels, and they’re shocked when I say where it’s from. After three years of heavy use, the frame is rock-solid, no sags or creaks. The power mechanisms still work flawlessly, quiet and responsive.

Sure, it’s shown some natural patina on the seats—that soft, lived-in look real leather gets—but to me, that’s character, not wear. If you’re like me and want furniture that fits real life without constant babying, this is it. My only regret? Not buying it sooner.

What I Love About Simon Li: The Standout Pros

• That Buttery Top-Grain Leather You Can’t Stop Touching Every single time someone new sits down, they do the same thing—run their hand along the arm and go “Wow, this feels expensive.” It’s 100% top-grain on every surface your body actually touches, and after three years it’s softened into this incredible, almost suede-like feel in the seat spots we use most. No cracking, no peeling, just that gorgeous natural patina that makes it look better with age instead of worn out.
• Power Features That Make Lazy Days Even Better The independent power headrests are pure genius—my partner is 6’4″ and I’m 5’4″, and we both get perfect neck support without compromising. Zero-gravity recline feels like floating; I fall asleep in it way more than I should admit. The motors are whisper-quiet (our last couch sounded like a dying robot) and the hidden USB-C + USB-A ports on both sides mean the kids’ tablets never die mid-movie.
• Built Tough with Smart Construction This thing weighs a ton because it’s kiln-dried hardwood with corner blocks glued and screwed, plus steel in all the moving parts. We’ve had eight adults piled on it for game nights—no creaks, no wobbles. The sinuous springs plus pocket coils give you that “expensive hotel sofa” bounce that still feels supportive when you’re curled up for hours.
• Comfort That Holds Up to Real Use The seat depth is deep (perfect for my husband’s long legs and for me tucking my feet under), and the foam is high-resiliency—meaning it snaps back instead of turning into a hammock. My lower back pain from our old couch? Gone. Even my 75-pound dog launching himself onto it daily hasn’t flattened a thing.
• Great Bang for Your Buck I paid roughly what people spend on mid-tier fabric sectionals from big box stores, yet I got power everything and real leather. When friends tell me they dropped double on a “name brand” that’s already sagging, I just smile.
• Styles That Fit Without Overwhelming The lines are clean and slightly modern without being cold. The charcoal gray we chose hides everything yet still looks classy ten years from now.
• Smells Like Real Leather, Not Chemicals From day one it had that subtle, rich leather scent—not that overwhelming “new car off-gassing” smell you get with bonded leather

Where Simon Li Falls Short: The Honest Cons

• It’s Seriously Heavy—Plan Your Layout Carefully Moving it for Christmas tree rearranging took four adults and a lot of swearing. Once it’s in place, it’s golden, but measure your doorways and hallways twice.
• Leather Match on the Back and Sides The parts that face the wall or rarely get touched are high-quality vinyl. You only notice if you walk behind it or have it floating in the room. For 90% of setups it’s invisible, but it does knock the “all-leather” bragging rights.
• Power Parts Might Need Attention Sooner Than Expected I’ve seen a handful of owners (myself included) replace a motor or switch around year four with heavy daily use. Parts are readily available and not crazy expensive, but it’s still an annoyance you don’t get with manual recliners.
• Can Show Wear Faster with Rough Use Real leather = real scratches. My cat thinks the arm is a scratching post; we now keep a throw there permanently. Light scuffs buff out, but if you have rowdy toddlers with toys or a dog with long nails, expect some battle scars.
• Deeper Seats Aren’t for Everyone If you’re under 5’6″ and like your feet flat on the floor, you’ll want an extra pillow behind your back or a footstool. Looks amazing, but petite people sometimes feel swallowed.
• Limited Color and Style Variety You’re basically choosing between shades of gray, brown, and black. No wild colors, no fabric options, no custom configurations like some higher-end lines.
• Off-Gassing for the First Week There was a noticeable factory smell for about five days (we cracked windows and ran an air purifier). After that, pure leather goodness

Keeping Your Simon Li Looking Fresh: Maintenance Tips That Actually Work

I’ve kept my sectional looking almost new for years by sticking to a simple routine. Here’s exactly what I do—and what actually makes a difference—so you can get the same results without guessing.

• Daily and Weekly Habits to Build In

I keep a soft microfiber cloth right on the coffee table. A quick 30-second wipe-down every other day stops dust and skin oils from grinding into the leather.

Once a week I run the brush attachment of the vacuum on low suction along the seams and under the cushions—dog hair and crumbs disappear in seconds, and it prevents anything from working its way deeper.

• Handling Spills and Stains Right Away

The second something spills (and with kids it happens weekly), I blot—never rub—with a clean white cloth that’s just barely damp.

For sticky stuff like juice or soda, I mix one drop of mild dish soap in a cup of distilled water, dab it on with a fresh cloth, then immediately wipe it clean with plain water and dry thoroughly with a towel. Ink from a rogue marker?

A cotton swab with a touch of rubbing alcohol, blot, rinse the spot, condition it right after. Acting fast is everything; I’ve rescued red wine and chocolate this way with zero trace left behind.

• Conditioning for That Like-New Feel

Every eight months (I mark it on my calendar after New Year’s and before summer), I warm up a bottle of Leather Honey or Chamberlain’s Leather Milk in hot water so it spreads easily.

I apply the thinnest layer possible with a soft cloth, working in small circles, let it soak for 30–60 minutes, then buff off the excess. The leather drinks it in, the color deepens, and it feels supple again—like it did the first week we got it. Do this religiously and cracking or dryness simply doesn’t happen.

• Protecting from Sun and Heat

Our living room has huge south-facing windows, so I hung UV-blocking sheer curtains the first month. No weird fade lines across the seats like I’ve seen on friends’ couches.

I also keep the sectional at least 18 inches away from the fireplace and floor vents—direct heat is leather’s worst enemy. If you’re in a sunny spot, consider rotating the entire sectional 180 degrees once a year so wear and fading stay perfectly even.

• Dealing with Scratches or Scuffs

Light cat scratches or scuffs from jeans rivets usually vanish when I gently warm the spot with a hair dryer on low for 20 seconds (it opens the leather pores), then massage in a pea-sized bit of conditioner with my finger.

Deeper scratches get a matching leather repair compound from a $15 kit—dab, smooth, let dry, buff. You honestly can’t tell where the damage was after ten minutes of work.

• Rotating and Flipping Cushions

Even though the seat cushions on most sectionals are attached, I still rotate the chaise cushion end-to-end every month and flip the loose back pillows whenever I condition.

It spreads out the body impressions so everything wears evenly instead of one side looking loved-to-death while the other looks brand new.

• Professional Help When Needed

Once a year—usually right after the holidays when it’s taken a beating—I call a local leather specialist for a deep clean and conditioning treatment. It’s around $150–$200 depending on size, and they get into every crevice I can’t reach.

After muddy soccer seasons or when the dog decides the couch is his spa day, it comes back looking factory-fresh. Totally worth it for peace of mind and extra years of life.

Follow these steps and your Simon Li will stay soft, rich-looking, and comfortable way longer than most people expect. Five or ten minutes here and there now beats the “I wish I’d taken care of it” regret later—trust me, I’ve seen both sides!

How Simon Li Stacks Up Against Other Popular Brands?

• Simon Li Versus Cozey Couch

Cozey is the Canadian modular darling right now—super easy to assemble, move-through-doorways friendly, and they ship in boxes you can carry yourself.

I love the concept (we almost bought one), but once I compared the two side by side at a friend’s place, the differences hit hard.

Cozey uses performance fabric that’s stain-proof and pet-proof, which is brilliant if you have light-colored everything and zero desire to baby your furniture.

My Simon Li, though, is top-grain leather that feels luxurious every single time you touch it—warm in winter, cool in summer, and it develops that gorgeous worn-in look instead of just staying “new.”

Comfort-wise, Cozey is firm and supportive (great for posture), but my Simon Li wins for lounging. The power recline, adjustable headrests, and zero-gravity mode make it the ultimate nap couch; Cozey is manual and doesn’t recline at all in most configurations.

Price is surprisingly close when you configure a similar-sized sectional—Cozey often lands $300–$800 more once you add ottomans and chaises. Cozey wins for easy moves and endless fabric choices; Simon Li wins for that buttery leather luxury and built-in power features that make you actually use every seat.

• Simon Li Versus Joybird Lewis Sofa

Joybird’s Lewis leather sectional is the one I drooled over online for months—beautiful mid-century lines, over 100 leather and fabric options, and that California-cool vibe.

We even configured one and got dangerously close to clicking buy.

Materials are excellent: full-aniline or semi-aniline leathers, hardwood frames, and a lifetime warranty on the frame.

Quality feels a solid step above Simon Li in hand-stitched details and leather thickness.

But here’s the reality check: a comparable Joybird Lewis in top-grain leather with power recline (yes, they offer it) runs $5,500–$7,500 delivered. My Simon Li was under $3,000 on a good day at Costco.

Joybird takes 10–14 weeks to build and ship; Simon Li is usually in stock or arrives in days. After three years, my Simon Li leather has softened beautifully with zero cracks; I’ve seen a couple of Joybird pieces at friends’ houses that developed light creasing faster because the leather is dyed-through and shows every fold.

Joybird is the clear winner if customization and that boutique look are everything to you. Simon Li wins if you want 85–90% of the luxury experience today for half the price.

• Simon Li Versus Pottery Barn Buchanan Sofa

Pottery Barn’s Buchanan roll-arm leather sectional is the classic American living-room star—deep seats, nailhead trim, turned legs, and that timeless traditional styling. It’s the couch your parents might recognize as “real furniture.”

Leather options are thick and gorgeous (often slightly distressed for that broken-in look from day one), and the down-blend cushions feel like sinking into a hug.

I sat on a Buchanan in-store for a solid 20 minutes and almost melted. The comfort is unreal—deeper and plusher than my Simon Li. But again, price is wild: $4,800–$8,000+ depending on configuration and leather grade, and power recline isn’t even an option on most Buchanan models.

Delivery can take months, and it’s another heavyweight that’s impossible to move without pros. After three years, my Simon Li still looks modern and sleek; Buchanan owners I know say the cushions need frequent fluffing and rotating because the down compresses.

If you want heirloom-level traditional style and don’t mind the cost or maintenance, Buchanan is stunning. If you want power everything, easier care, and money left over for a vacation, my Simon Li is the practical choice that still feels special every day.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Final Thoughts: Go For Simon Li And Upgrade Your Downtime

After living with my Simon Li sectional every day, I can say without hesitation—it’s one of the best furniture decisions I’ve made.

You get that luxurious leather feel, smart features, and durability that makes your living room the favorite spot in the house, all without the premium price tag. If you’re ready for comfort that lasts and style that impresses, treat yourself to Simon Li.

Your future self (and your back) will be so glad you did.