Our New Interior Define James Sectional in Essex
I have wanted a green velvet couch for as long as I’ve had my own space to decorate. They make such a statement while also being timeless!
After raising two puppies and currently having two young kids, our previous hand me down sectional was hanging on by a thread. We new it was time for a quality sectional that would be highly durable for our family, but also comfortable and beautiful.
aka: where are you, dream velvet green couch?!
This post is not sponsored. I chose to purchase an Interior Define Sectional with my own money after doing my own research. All opinions are 100% my own.
Our New Interior Define James Sectional in Essex
When I say, “I did my research” …what I really mean is that I hyper fixated on green velvet sectionals for a solid year.
I looked at just about every furniture website, every green velvet couch & sectional, ordered every free green velvet fabric swatch available. I always seemed to linger on back to Interior Define’s website. Particularly the James and Sloan sectionals.
You simply cannot beat the fabric choices, customizability and sales that Interior Define has throughout the year.
Interior Define Order & Delivery
We ordered our James Bumper Sectional during the President’s Day 25% off Sale in late February (2025). We received our sectional at the end of May (2025).
Customer service was very helpful throughout the process and my many questions haha. We were even able to switch our fabric within 72 hours of ordering (indecisiveness and big purchases are quite an adventure sometimes).
Our original estimated delivery time was the end of May through the first week of June, but our sectional actually arrived to the delivery warehouse the first week of May. The delivery company reached out to us via email and phone and we were able to choose our delivery day.
We could have received our sectional early May (about 3 weeks earlier than the estimated delivery date), but we chose a later delivery day to provide ourselves with time to get rid of our old sectional, clean the floors, etc.
The delivery company was very communicative. They arrived on time, unboxed everything and set up our sectional in our living room.
Overall the entire process was SO smooth from the time of order up to delivery.
All about our Interior Define James Sectional
James Sectional Specifications
- Sectional: James 3-Seat Bumper Sectional
- Bumper: Left side
- Fabric: Essex (performance velvet)
- Bumper Length: standard 85″
- Bumper Width: Wide 44″
- Total Depth: Wide 44″
- Size: 108″
- Seat Cushions: Bench Cushion
- Cushion Fill: Down Alternative
Other Details we love
- couch seat/bench cushions have a strap and hook so they do not slip around
- bench seat is flippable.
- Back cushions are removable so you can fluff, vacuum, etc.
- Dog fur is easily removed with a chomchom roller
- The bumper style has the look of an L shaped sectional without closing off the view of our fireplace
What Color is “Essex” Green?
While deciding between the different green velvets on Interior Define’s website, Essex was the trickiest to fully understand. In the 3D photo it appears teal while the swatch looks like a true green. In the few instagram photos, Essex looked like a beautiful jewel green.
After switching from “sage” (too apple green imo) to “essex”, I have to admit I was still a little nervous with my choice. Luckily, Essex turned out to be the perfect true green velvet!
The fabric color “essex” really is a chameleon of a green in my opinion! Depending on the lighting, it can appear as a deep jewel green, true medium green, an icy forest green and can even pull a little grassy/olive green in warm lighting.
I would say in average everyday neutral lighting, “essex” does match their website’s fabric swatch well (image above). For my specific room and lighting, “Essex” appears as this neutral true green.
The 3D model of Essex on Interior Define’s website shows a more teal green color (image above). From what I see in person, this teal color is not very accurate.
I do see a bit of a bluish undertone during more cool toned lighting situations (morning light, overcast, grey rainy day, maybe cool toned light bulbs would enhance?) However, it never appears as teal as the 3D photo above.
In my space, Essex appears more of a neutral green and easily warms up in certain lighting.
Essex Green in Various Lighting
Don’t mind the casual living room photos. We are in the process of changing a few other things! However, I wanted to show the sectional color in various lighting situations.
Our living room windows look out towards the north western sky. For most of the day, Essex looks like the perfect neutral medium-deep green.
Once we start to get the late afternoon western sun, the entire room warms up a bit (both literally and in color tone). Our essex sectional then starts to appear more of a grassy somewhat olive green.
During the evening and night, the couch pulls very warm due to our warm artificial lights.
Essex Green vs. Sage Green
I was SO torn between Essex and Sage. I really love the richness of Essex, but also love the warmth of Sage.
After a weeks worth of back and forth, we originally ordered our James Sectional in the performance velvet shade “Sage Green”.
That same night, I looked at various photos off of Interior Define’s Instagram page featuring their green velvet shades. Most of the “Sage Green” couches appeared to be too apple/lime green for my liking. I began to panic lol.
After comparing “Essex” to “Sage” across their instagram photos, I realized I felt more confident about how “Essex” would look.
I probably would have been happy with “Sage”, but the bright apple green color it took on in bright lighting scared me a bit. Especially since our back window faces the West and gets harsh western sunlight during the late afternoon.
Interior Define James Sectional Comfort
This is hands down THE most comfortable couch I’ve ever sat on. We’ve only owned the couch for a few weeks (I will be updating as time progresses), but everytime I sit on this couch I tell my husband how much I love this couch.
I really love this couch.
We opted for the “down alternative” cushions. I would say these cushions are very cozy, supportive and maybe a tiny bit firm in terms of sinking into the seat. It’s as if I am sitting on a very thick supportive yet soft mattress. I still feel like I can melt into the comfort of the couch without falling into the stuffing.
The back cushions and throw pillows are less firm, yet still supportive. They are the perfect back cushions to just melt into without needing to constantly fluff them back to shape.
If you are looking for more of a marshmallow cloud-like seat overall, The Hayes may be a better choice for you!
Performance Velvet Durability
Since we have two young (often feral) kids and two (slightly feral but mostly lazy) beagles we definitely need durability.
Interior Define’s Performance Velvet is stain & liquid resistance, pet friendly, kid friendly, OEKO-TEX® certified and has a 100,000 rub count.
Fabric Pilling
Every couch I’ve ever owned pilled, pulled and pretty much ruined my day… daily. I never want to have to shave another couch again.
Trust me, I researched high and low for a fabric that should not pill. Velvet and Leather seem to be the safest choices across all companies.
In terms of pilling, most fabrics with high rub counts (60,000 and up) will not pill as easily. However, certain fabrics like tweed, linen, chenille, etc. still risk the occasional pill and pull in the fabric due to the nature of the fabric weave.
Think of a woven basket and how you can easily tug at the alternating loops. Over time, friction causes snags and bunched up fibers in the fabric which appears as pills, loose threads, puckered areas and just an overall worn out look.
On the other hand, most velvet is a cut pile weave, so the fibers are not alternating over one another at the surface. Instead, the fibers essentially stand up (like grass). This is what gives velvet that sheen and color variation depending on which way the fibers are pushed/brushed.
Rest assured, performance velvet should not pill.
Pet Fur
I have two beagles who are constantly shedding. They also have brown, black & white fur so there is no escaping it.
I signed up for dog fur and it usually doesn’t bother me. What does bother me is dog fur becoming matted and almost woven into fabrics to a point where I cannot brush or vacuum it off.
Our previous sectional was a tweed fabric (living spaces) that was essentially velcro to dog fur. I was able to brush some of it off with a chomchom roller, but often times the fur would poke into the woven fabric and essentially become one with the weave.
With velvet being a cut pile weave (fibers stand up), pet fur will still sit on the fabric, however, it is much easier to remove than if it were to be stuck in-between alternating woven fibers.
One swipe of this chomchom roller and the dog fur is gone.
Overall Thoughts on Interior Define James Sectional
I will be updating this post as time goes on, however as of now I am obsessed with this couch! The entire process from browsing, to ordering, to delivery was so easy and worth the wait.
Our Interior Define James 3-Seat Bumper Sectional in “Essex” is very comfortable, easy to keep clean and absolutely stunning! I look forward to redecorating our living room to fit the velvet green.
This post includes affiliate product links. This post is not sponsored. All products were purchased with my own money.