Comes in two halves. Instructional video on youtube how to build, but paper instructions come with RIGHT half of couch too if you'd rather. Couch came 2 days early and all at once. 

Couch is exactly as pictured, will take ~2 days to fluff up (comes vaccuum sealed). No smell or debris at all - the corduroy cover is for cushions, base, and back, and is entirely removable to machine wash. Adjustable headrests are a bit stiff but I'd rather stiff than loose/wobbly. Very comfortable, can't feel the "gap" between the two halves at all and the cushions are very soft to sit. 

My biggest complaints with my last couch were difficulty cleaning, hard to sit on, and not enough space - this couch goes above and beyond satisfying those categories!! (it's also stupid easy to lint roll - we have a long haired cat.) I would recommend this couch 100%, in my frugal mind it's worth every penny.