This striking beauty of a sofa definitely adds a subtle flare to the room. I love the smooth velvet fabric. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the firmest)  I would rate this an 8 but would anticipate over time to a 7. As for seat depth, I am 53 and can have both feet on the ground. 90° from hips to knee. I would consider this a more occasional sofa, used best for short-term seating such as a salon or if used at home for the occasional guest. I didnt receive instructions but the hardware is obvious to what goes where. The bottom cushion is fixed while the back cushions can be held in place by velcro steips adhere to the velcro strip. The cushions and hardware were stored on the bottom underside of the seat. This space could also double as a great place for storage.