The seat is VERY FIRM, like a park bench. The fabric in NOT velvet, it's a lightweight microsuede. This is a futon not a sofa.  I would not have spent the money on this had the description been accurate in the details.  However, it's not worth the hassle to send it back. I'm looking for solutions to make this more comfortable to sit on. We have not tried it as a sleeper yet, it will definitely require additional padding.