Strap yourselves in because we’re doing an impressions piece on furniture. That’s right, I know GameZone is your stop for gaming news and reviews, but once in a while, we’re offered some truly unique products to check out, and I have to admit that this modular couch was simply too enticing for me to pass on.
The Gjemeni by Coddle Couch is modular in the way that it allows you to configure it in various ways. When it’s set up in its most basic form, it’s a flat couch with a flat back. However, both the sides and the backs can be adjusted to make the couch as comfortable as you need it to be.
For example, you can raise one of the sides of the couch to either make it into an armrest or a raised platform to rest your head on. Similarly, both backs can be lowered all the way down, which then turn the Gjemeni into a bed, or more appropriately, a futon.
The modular nature is something I appreciated while giving it the old test run in my apartment since I received it when I had family visiting for a few weeks. The fact that the entire thing can convert into a very comfortable futon, proved to be the best feature as it can comfortably fit two adults on both sides, meaning our guests didn’t have to sleep on our standard couches or a blow-up mattress.
When in futon mode, both sides on each end can also be raised, in case you wanted to watch a movie or play a game for example and wanted your head to be at an angle facing the TV.
The most unique part of the Gjemeni, outside of its modular nature, is its ease of setup. The couch basically comes completely assembled, and the only action you need to take is flipping it up and slotting in the metal feet. Then simply flip it over on the feet and it’s done. The setup literally took us five minutes, if not less, and it’s probably one of the coolest features.
There’s another awesome feature built straight into the couch. Both sides feature a single power outlet, and two USB ports, giving you instant access to easily charge your devices. The couch itself has a power cord in the back that you simply plug into your wall outlet, which then powers both the two outlets and the four USB ports. I found this feature especially helpful to keep my PS4 controllers charged. Since those tend to run out of juice fairly quickly, having a USB cable handy to quickly plug them in and be able to continue playing was pretty sweet.
There are a few downsides, however. This one might be a little subjective since it’s based on your living arrangement, but the leather version of the Gjemeni is prone to getting a lot of handprints on it. I have two kids, a three and a six-year-old, and no matter how much my wife and I try to keep their hands clean, they kept leaving marks on it which we then had to keep wiping off with wet wipes. This could also be because we went with the black leather option, so other colors might vary.
However, the biggest pain (literally) were the metal feet. The two front metal feet are slightly angled outwards, and they extend a little bit past the couch. I can’t even tell you how many times me, or anyone staying over our apartment, has kicked those metal feet in the front, and let me tell you, it is quite painful when you do. This wasn’t just something that happened occasionally, it happened daily. I understand that this was most likely done to differentiate the front from the back of the couch, but even that slight angle that extends past the couch proved that when we’re not actively thinking about where we’re walking, we’re most likely going to be kicking it.
Lastly, I do have to mention the cost. At $999, this piece of furniture is certainly no impulse buy, nor is it something that an average person can purchase on a whim. Those looking to improve their gaming spaces with a couch that honestly looks good no matter where you decide to put it, will probably find a lot to love about it, but the price will probably be a downside to many.
