Reviewer: Noah Kaufman, contributor
Model tested: Arhaus Mustique Sofa
The details: With a focus on sustainable materials, Arhaus has an eclectic, global bent. They often mix rich leather chairs—the kind that would look right at home in a wood-paneled British social club with bright patterns and textured woods—with a more Mediterranean feel. The brand’s physical stores are staples of high-end malls and more upscale shopping districts around the country, with outdoor collections that supply a variety of deep-cushioned sofas in Southern California patios and Connecticut country homes.
Before Delivery
How much does it cost? Are there payment plans available?
The Mustique outdoor sofa is priced at $3100, and while Arhaus doesn’t make a show of advertising payment plans, you can finance the purchase by applying for an Arhaus credit card, allowing you six months of interest-free payments that come out to $516 per month. Also, know that white glove delivery (the only option) costs $349.
What are the upholstery or customization options? Did you choose any?
The Mustique is made of teak and a woven all-weather wicker (that Arhaus touts is resistant to mildew, fading, sagging, staining, tearing, and cracking). As such, you get what you get in terms of typical Teak coloring, though the wicker has a matching natural look to it.
What is the lead time for customization, manufacturing, and delivery?
It took about two weeks for the in-stock sofa to arrive at a regional delivery hub and another two weeks until it arrived at my house—putting the time from order to delivery at about a month.
Delivery & Assembly
What was the delivery process like? What was the assembly process like?
The sofa came with white glove delivery (as have other pieces I’ve ordered from Arhaus). It came entirely assembled and was relatively light, so the whole process took pretty much zero time—Even though two delivery team members brought the sofa in, I could easily move the sofa around myself.
Is the outdoor sofa suitable for particular decor styles? If so, which?
A guest described the style of the Mustique as nouveau cabana and I agree that it captures a certain Miami-in-the-’50s look. The sofa would probably be most comfortable in a deco set up somewhere with nice weather (if you’re a New Englander, Arhaus has a range of other rattan furniture with a more northeast look), but I think it would play well on any patio that uses more involved colors and patterns.
How has the sofa stood up changes weather/seasonal shifts?
We have the sofa set up on a covered porch and it’s gotten soaked during a few big storms, but dries out enough to sit on within four or five hours of flood-level conditions and is completely dried by the following day. In terms of what I noticed over the slightly longer term, by the end of the summer I could see the beginnings of the sort of weathering and graying that happens to teak as it continues to live outside. But it’s just some very slight spots of greying; after three months we’re talking about the head of someone in their mid-30s, not their early 50s.
After Delivery
What are the dimensions? How well does it fit in your backyard area?
The sofa is 82 inches wide, 30.5 inches deep, and 32 inches tall. It’s a three-seater and fits comfortably on my porch (though I have a wraparound porch and space isn’t an issue). It’s definitely a design that requires a larger patio or outdoor area to avoid making the space feel cramped.
Is it comfortable? Does it feel well made? Does the couch have a tendency to sag or do the cushions feel lumpy?
Considering it has no cushions, the couch was surprisingly comfortable. There’s enough give in the woven rattan that it feels nice on the butt, but enough structure to be supportive.
Is it kid/family friendly?
Because it has no cushions, parents will need to watch out if they have kids who are furniture jumpers (my five- and seven-year-old kids have used it responsibly though).
Do the photos do this product justice? Was there anything you were surprised to see IRL?
The photos capture its aesthetic well, showing both the texture and color variations, though this sofa looks less comfortable in photos than it turned out to be in real life.
What are the care and cleaning instructions?
Arhaus asks very little in terms of care. They suggest dusting weekly, using a soft brush to remove any dirt, and spot cleaning with a hose and mild soap if needed. I personally found that, even if they didn’t get cleaned right away, liquid spills have dried by themselves and left no trace. And the teak frame wipes clean with a little wood cleaner.
A fitted cover is sold separately to keep the sofa out of the elements and make it more likely that at the beginning of every spring it will look like it did at the end of every fall. The last thing to know about caring for Arhaus furniture is that you can add a very useful protection plan to it. This sofa won’t show random spills or the like as much as an upholstered piece of furniture will, but I have used the protection plan on these Arhaus stools multiple times. A technician will come to your house and work on the furniture, removing stains or fixing finishes.
Sofa Grades
Durability: A
Comfort: B+
Value: B
Delivery and assembly: A
Overall couch rating: B+
Style: A