Castlery Dawson Sofa review: Testing the newest furniture brand available in Canada
Castlery recently launched in Canada – I tested one of the brand’s most popular sofas
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The Canoe team is always on the lookout for what’s new in the Canadian shopping scene – particularly when it comes to furniture and home goods. Over the years, we’ve tested items from top furniture brands like Cozey, Article and Sundays, and now we’re adding newcomer Castlery to our list.
Originally founded in 2013 in Singapore, Castlery is a direct-to-consumer brand offering furniture for those who find themselves in between buying starter furniture and investing in their forever purchases. Its pieces are luxurious and expensive-looking but without the designer price tag, which makes it ideal for anyone looking to graduate beyond Ikea furniture (though, no hate to Ikea).
The brand expanded into Canada in early 2025, bringing its mix of modern and classic pieces to the market for the first time. Since Castlery doesn’t have any brick-and-mortar stores, all orders are made online.
I was curious about the brand’s modular sofas, so I set out to order the Dawson Extended Sofa sight unseen. Here’s how my experience went.
A plush modular sofa with generous dimensions for lounging.
What: Dawson Extended (126”) Sofa
Price: $3,537 for a three seater without ottoman
Where to buy: Castlery
Castlery Dawson Sofa specs
- Available in two colours: Beach Linen (light cream) and Seagull (pale grey)
- Return window: 30 days
- Warranties: Frame – 10 years; fabric – one year; foam – two years (read more on the warranty page)
- Dimensions (for a three-seater): W126.4″ x D44.9″ x H31.9″
- Seating depth: 24.4″
- Materials: Frame – LVL & plywood; filling – foam, fibre and feather-filled seat, fibre and feather-filled back; fabric – 93% polyester 7% linen
Castlery Dawson Sofa review
Having only recently learned about Castlery, browsing through the website was the best way to familiarize myself with its styles. Design-wise, I’d put the brand on par with West Elm and Article. Its furniture leans toward mid-century modern, with some trendier styles thrown in for good measure.
If you’re unsure where to start, Castlery has a handy guide on all of its sofa product pages, which helps determine seat comfort, height, depth and softness. The Dawson falls more towards the trendy side with a relaxed look, soft pillows and deep seats. It’s a far cry from my previous couch, a tufted mid-century inspired style with firm pillows and clean lines.
The Dawson is one of Castlery’s modular sofas, and I opted for the extended three-seat version sans ottoman in Beach Linen, a creamy off-white shade. If you’re working with more space than I am, you can also add individual pieces to create your own sectional, corner sofa or full-fledged lounge pit.
Castlery delivery
Considering that Castlery is based in Singapore, I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of delivery times. Luckily, my worries were unfounded since the brand ships from local warehouses in Canada.
I received an email about two weeks after my sofa was ordered, and was able to choose a delivery time that worked with my schedule. I really appreciated the wide delivery window, as I was on vacation when I was first alerted that my sofa was ready for delivery. I scheduled the sofa delivery for the following week, and it arrived in three large boxes, which were brought inside my home by the movers.
Assembling the Dawson Sofa
Assembling the Dawson Sofa was a breeze. Dealing with the boxes, however, was not.
Each section of the sofa arrives fully assembled and plastic-wrapped inside its own separate box. I had to play some serious furniture Tetris just to get each piece unboxed, have room to break down the cardboard and then maneuver the sofa into place. The whole process took about an hour, but most of that was due to bringing one massive cardboard box at a time to my building’s recycling room.
The sofa comes together (and apart) with just one fastener per section. Simply line up the hook beneath the base of one sofa section with the peg beneath the other, and push them together until you hear a click.
On my first attempt at assembly, I used all three sections to create the full 126″ three-seat sofa. I was hoping that the width would work in my living room, but it unfortunately ended up being slightly too wide and would block the entrance to my patio.
On my second attempt, I separated the sofa sections, took out the middle piece and used it as an armchair instead. This configuration worked perfectly in my living room, and now I have a cozy conversation set that can easily seat three to four people.
Favourite features: Plush design, removable covers, minimal assembly
It’s been over a month since I received my new sofa, and there are a few standout features that my husband and I still can’t stop raving about.
Plush design: Perhaps I’ve just been deprived after years of sitting on firm sofas, but the Dawson is one of the most comfortable sofas I’ve ever sat on. The seat cushions on the Dawson Sofa are filled with a mixture of foam, fibre and feathers, which lends them a supportive yet still comfortable feel. The back pillows are filled with fibre and feathers, so it feels like you’re sinking into a comfy cloud every time you lean back.
The sofa is wide and cushy with deep seats, and even as a two-section sofa, it’s long enough for me or my husband to fully lie down on. Even guests to our home have been impressed by this couch, earning us plenty of compliments from visitors.
Removable covers: If you’re accident-prone, having a sofa with upholstery that’s easy to clean is a must. The Dawson has fully removable covers: its seat and back cushions unzip, while the frame cover is attached to the sofa body with velcro strips. All are machine washable, although Castlery recommends professional cleaning for tough stains.
Easy assembly: Unlike my previous modular couch, which featured locking latches and legs that screw onto two sofa sections, the Dawson is incredibly simple to attach and disassemble when you want to rearrange things.
Least favourite features: Wide arms and back frame, tiny legs
Arms and back: Condo living has its ups and downs, but the biggest drawback is that every square inch of floor space is valuable. While I love the plush, wide seats of the Dawson, I’d appreciate this sofa even more if its arms and back were a little narrower and I could push it right up against the wall.
Legs: The legs on this sofa are so small that the bottom of it sits nearly flush against the floor. This is great if you have kids or pets that are likely to lose toys underneath, but not so great for ventilation. Due to where the vents in my home are placed, the sofa completely smothered them and reduced circulation. My quick solution was to purchase a set of inexpensive furniture risers to add a couple of inches below the sofa for better airflow.
Castlery Dawson Sofa recommendation
If you’re ready to graduate beyond inexpensive flat-pack furniture, I recommend looking into Castlery. My first experience with the brand has been largely positive, and I can see myself sinking into the Dawson Sofa for years to come. I love that it’s easy to shift between configurations, so when I grow out of my current condo townhouse, my sofa can also grow with me. The price is fair for the luxurious look and feel that you get, provided your space is big enough for the ample dimensions of this sofa.
What: Dawson Extended (126”) Sofa
Price: $3,537 for a three seater without ottoman
Where to buy: Castlery
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