'I ordered a sofa in a box – it fit through my small front door and took 3 minutes to assemble'

As a Londoner, I'm used to making a yearly (or so) move to a different apartment. I'm forever on a pursuit to escape noisy neighbours, loud traffic and stingy landlords, however, the most recent flat I've moved into is one I plan on occupying for years to come. The only problem? It has a tiny front door and it's up two flights of narrow stairs. Oh, it's also located conveniently on a red traffic route.

Apart from that, I promise you it's pretty perfect. I managed to build my bed and my wardrobes in here, meaning they didn't have to fit through the front door, but there was one item I couldn't get upstairs to my living room, no matter what model I ordered or which company was delivering: a sofa. I've lived here for 6 months now and I've had delivery men turn up with sofas only for them to have to pack them back into their trucks when they realise a full sofa wasn't about to fit through my door or up my narrow staircase.

I sadly watched them cart off my lovely sofas while I went back to sitting on the floor or on a small armchair, resigned to the fact I may never get a comfy two-seater to sit on in here. I say this all in the past tense because I have indeed found a solution, and it's Swyft's 'sofa in a box'.

You'd never guess sofas like these could fit through tiny flat front doors

I was recommended them by a friend who found herself in a similar conundrum, and I immediately was hopeful when I saw Swyft's USP. The brand believes you shouldn't have to wait weeks for delivery (perfect). It believes your furniture should fit, no matter how many flights of stairs or tight doorways you have to get through (YES). And it believes in great design that's thoughtful, comfortable and that will last a lifetime (perfect, because my 6ft4 boyfriend loves lounging on a comfy couch).

Could I finally get the sofa of my dreams? I was willing to see the process through again.

Zoe's Swift review

I opted for the Model 06 for £2799 (currently in the brand's summer sale) because I loved the high backs, plush cushions and three-seater design, but there are plenty of two-seater and smaller options to pick from, as well as sofa bed alternatives depending on what you're looking for. The first thing I noticed about the website is how easy it is to shop – each model has a number and then within that there are clearly noted colour and fabric choices for each. It's like building your own couch.

Zoe chose the Model 06 in linen

I chose the Seaglass shade in a linen texture because I thought it was dark enough to hide marks but fresh enough to brighten my living room. I also find linen slightly easier to clean than velvet or suede, but those options – along with mottled velvet, faux leather, chenille, cotton and boucle – are there for you if they suit your interior design tastes better.

If I thought the choosing and the shopping processes were easy, I was about to have a treat when the delivery arrived. It took around a week for my sofa to be delivered, but there were some fabrics and shades available for next-day delivery if you were in more of a rush to get your couch. I received regular communication from Swyft's couriers in the days leading up to my delivery, including fairly specific arrival timings (also a rarity considering many companies will have you waiting in all day).

I anxiously stood near my phone that morning waiting for a call from the couriers to say they couldn't find a place to pull up on my road and wouldn't be delivering (I've had this twice), but the time arrived and I was surprised to hear my doorbell go instead of my phone. Two very polite men stood on my doorstep with the boxes ready to be loaded through my door.

I ordered a three-seater model and I'd say there were about eight cardboard boxes in total – each one of them fit perfectly through my front door and were easy to navigate up the staircase. I say easy, the two men made light work of some very heavy boxes, but they didn't have any complaints.

The best part? The couriers were allocated 20 minutes for the delivery, meaning they had time to stay and help open the cardboard boxes, which they then took away with them in their van once the task was done. Genius! It was such a small detail that most companies wouldn't think about, but Swyft even took the cardboard away with them, meaning my small flat wasn't filled with recycling that I'd have a tough time getting rid of.

Simply secure the base pieces together to assemble the sofa

The assembly process took less than five minutes

Onto the final task of setting it up, I called my boyfriend over to come assist. With the promise of making him a coffee by way of thanks for the gruelling task, I headed to the kitchen to get going on it. When I returned to the living room less than five minutes later, he was positioning the last cushion on my new sofa. He hadn't even broken a sweat.

To assemble it, he explained the three base pieces simply slotted into each other with metal rod-like fixtures placed in the easy-to-locate holes to secure the base together. Then it was just a matter of placing the cushions on correctly.

I stood back to admire my new living room addition, in awe of how comfy and luxe it looked. I know a good sofa like this is a big investment for many of us, but if you're like me and you sit on it every day watching movies, take meetings from it and entertain guests on it, I promise you it's well worth the investment. And the comfort, I can confirm, is next level.

Other Swyft designs to shop

You can also shop Swyft through John Lewis, where there's a selection of designs. I love this Model 03 Medium 2 Seater Sofa with Ottoman in Teal Velvet for £2499 here and Model 01 Medium 2 Seater Sofa in Seaglass Linen, £1099 here – my exact sofa colour and fabric but a tad smaller for living rooms limited on space.

For lower-cost 'sofa in a box' alternatives, La Redoute has some starting from £421 here. However, I can't vouch for their comfort like I can Swyft's.