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Sofa Setup & Care

Your new sofa has arrived - now let’s help it reach its full Forme. Because it has been compressed and vacuum-sealed for delivery, it will need a little time and care to expand and settle.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Make sure you have plenty of space around your sofa before unboxing. Find the safety cutter included in your box and use this to carefully open the vacuum packaging — avoid using scissors or sharp knives near the upholstery.

Once opened, your sofa will begin expanding straight away. Don’t worry if it doesn’t look perfect immediately — compression marks, wrinkles and uneven areas are normal at first.

Follow the steps below and allow up to 72 hours for your sofa to fully recover.

Unbox

01. Unbox

Carefully does it.

Remove your sofa from the box and carefully open the vacuum packaging using the safety cutter provided.

Take extra care around the upholstery and avoid using scissors, knives or other sharp objects that could accidentally damage the fabric.

Once released from its packaging, your sofa will immediately begin expanding.

Shape & Pat

02. Shape & Pat

Give it a little love.

Your sofa has been tightly compressed for its journey, so some areas may initially look flatter or less defined than others.

Use your hands to pat, massage and shape the foam. Pay particular attention to the arms, backrest, corners and edges to help encourage the sofa back into its intended form.

Don't worry about getting it perfect straight away — it will continue to recover over the next few days.

Let It Expand

03. Let It Expand

Now, give it time.

Allow your sofa up to 72 hours to fully expand and recover after being removed from its packaging.

During this time, you may notice wrinkles, compression marks or areas that appear uneven. This is a normal part of the recovery process.

We recommend periodically patting and reshaping the sofa during the first 72 hours to help the foam settle into place.

Steam & Finish

04. Steam & Finish

The finishing touch.

Once your sofa has had time to expand, gentle steaming can help relax any remaining compression wrinkles and smooth the upholstery.

Using a garment steamer, gently work over wrinkled areas while continuing to pat and shape the sofa with your hands.

Avoid pressing a hot iron directly onto the upholstery.

Don't have a garment steamer?

Please let us know and we'll be happy to help arrange one for you.

Contact us

Sit back. Settle in.

Every Forme sofa recovers a little differently after compression. Some will take shape quickly, while others may need the full 72 hours and a little extra shaping.

Small wrinkles and variations are a natural part of the unboxing and recovery process and should gradually soften as your sofa settles into your home.

If you've followed the steps above and something still doesn't look right after 72 hours, we're here to help.

Send our team a few clear photos of your sofa, along with your order number, at hello@formeliving.com.au and we'll take a look.

Ongoing Care

Keep your sofa looking its best

Helping your sofa recover

Keep the sofa in a comfortably warm, well-ventilated room.
Make sure each section has enough space to expand freely.
Gently pat and plump compressed areas by hand.
Shape the edges and backrests as the foam expands.
Use a garment steamer to relax creases and encourage recovery.

Minor wrinkles, unevenness and compression marks are expected after vacuum compression and will gradually soften as your sofa settles.

Everyday care

Vacuum regularly with a soft upholstery attachment on a low-suction setting.
Remove dust, crumbs and pet hair before they settle into the fabric.
Rotate where you sit to encourage even wear.
Keep the sofa away from prolonged direct sunlight to help prevent fading.
Avoid placing it directly beside heaters, fireplaces or other strong heat sources.
Do not pull, stretch or attempt to remove the upholstery covers.

Spills and spot cleaning

Blot spills immediately with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth or paper towel.
Work from the outside of the spill towards the centre.
Avoid rubbing, which can spread the spill and push it further into the fabric.
If needed, use a small amount of mild detergent diluted with water.
Test any cleaning solution on a discreet area first.
Allow the area to air-dry completely before using the sofa again.

Avoid harsh cleaners, bleach, abrasive products and excessive water. For significant stains or a thorough clean, contact a professional upholstery cleaner.

Moving your sofa

Lift the sofa from underneath rather than pulling it by the fabric or connecting hardware. Larger sections should be moved by two people. For modular designs, disconnect the sections before moving them wherever possible.

Once unpacked and expanded, your sofa cannot be recompressed into its original box.