Short answer: Cozey's Cassini is the low, curved sofa with medium-firm layered-foam seating, a 45-degree wedge module and no cushion fluffing. Cozey's Gaia is the soft, loose-cushion sofa with a high back, a chaise and a storage ottoman. Choose Cassini for shape and a compact footprint, Gaia for a soft sink-in seat.
Both are modular, both have removable, machine-washable covers, and both come in Performance Chenille and Aquaforte Velvet. They look and sit very differently, so this page compares them on the points that decide the choice. For the full picture of each, see our Cassini guide and Gaia guide.
On This Page
- What is the main difference between Cassini and Gaia?
- How do Cassini and Gaia compare side by side?
- Which is softer, and which has the deeper seat?
- Which is more compact for a small room?
- Which has a chaise, an ottoman or a curve?
- Which needs less care?
- Which fabrics can I choose for Cassini and Gaia?
- Where do the other Cozey collections fit?
- Our recommendation
- Explore our sofas
What is the main difference between Cassini and Gaia?
At Cozey, we built Cassini around shape and Gaia around softness. Cassini has rounded arms and backrests, a seat that sits about 43 cm (17 inches) off the floor and tilts gently backward, and layered foam cushions that give a medium-firm feel. Its wedge module turns the sofa by 45 degrees, so a sectional can curve instead of turning a square corner.
Gaia is the opposite in character. Each seat cushion is 24 cm (9.4 inches) thick, with polypropylene fibre fill around a D35 high-density foam core, over a padded seat base. It has slim arms, French seam cushions and a high back, and it is offered in Regular and XL sizes with a chaise and a storage ottoman. If you are comparing our soft sofas first, our Ciello vs Gaia guide covers that pair.
How do Cassini and Gaia compare side by side?
The table below shows the figures that differ most. Depths are rounded to the nearest 0.5 cm (0.5 inch), and every figure comes from our product pages and guides.
How do Cassini and Gaia compare side by side?
| Cassini | Gaia | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat feel | Medium-firm layered foam, seat tilts slightly back | Soft: fibre-filled loose cushions over a D35 foam core |
| Seat depth | 67 cm (26.5 inches) | Regular 61.5 cm (24.0 inches); XL 65 cm (25.5 inches) |
| Seat height | 43 cm (17 inches) | 54 cm (21.3 inches) |
| Back and arm height | 70.5 cm (27.8 inches) | Overall height about 99 cm (39 inches) |
| Armless seat module width | 67 cm (26.4 inches) | Regular 80 cm (31.5 inches); XL 86 cm (33.9 inches) |
| Shape | Curved, with a 45-degree wedge module | Straight lines with slim arms and French seams |
| Chaise | No | Yes: 140 cm (55.0 inches) deep Regular, 150 cm (59.0 inches) XL |
| Storage ottoman | No | Yes: 80 x 80 x 54 cm (31.5 x 31.5 x 21.3 inches) |
| Cushion care | No regular fluffing | Fluff every one to two weeks and rotate |
| Removable, washable covers | Yes | Yes |
| Fabrics | Performance Chenille, Aquaforte Velvet | Performance Natural Weave, Performance Textured Weave, Performance Chenille, Aquaforte, Aquaforte Velvet |
Neither sofa has a sleeper or storage seats. If you need either, see Atmosphere.
Which is softer, and which has the deeper seat?
Gaia is the softer sofa. Its loose cushions settle with use, which gives the sink-in feel, while Cassini's layered foam keeps a medium-firm, even feel. Our sofa comfort guide places Gaia near the top of our range for lounging and Cassini second for upright sitting, after Neptune.
On paper, Cassini has the deeper seat at 67 cm (26.5 inches), against 61.5 cm (24.0 inches) for Gaia Regular and 65 cm (25.5 inches) for Gaia XL. The depth does not tell the whole story. Cassini's seat is low and tilts back, while Gaia's is 11 cm (4 inches) higher and padded. Sit in the depth and height you are used to at home before you decide, and read our seat depth and height guide for how the numbers compare across collections.
Which is more compact for a small room?
Cassini is the more compact of the two. Its armless seat module is 67 cm (26.4 inches) wide, and its backrest and arms top out at 70.5 cm (27.8 inches), so the sofa reads low and even. Gaia stands about 99 cm (39 inches) tall overall.
Here are two like-for-like footprints from our guides:
- Two seats with two arms: about 154 cm (60.6 inches) for Cassini, and 172 cm (67.75 inches) for a Gaia 2 Seater Sofa.
- Compact L, armless: one seat, a corner and one seat is 158.5 cm (62.4 inches) on each leg for Cassini, and 166 cm (65.4 inches) for Gaia.
Gaia XL adds about 18 cm (7 inches) to the width of a comparable three-seater, so Regular is the safer start for a small room. Our guides to how many modules you need and will it fit walk through measuring the wall, the walkway and the route in.
Which has a chaise, an ottoman or a curve?
Gaia has the chaise and the storage ottoman, and Cassini has the curve and its own ottoman (not a storage ottoman). A Gaia chaise is 140 cm (55.0 inches) deep in Regular and 150 cm (59.0 inches) in XL, and the storage ottoman is the same height as the seat, 54 cm (21.3 inches), with a hidden space of 68 x 68 x 19.3 cm (26.8 x 26.8 x 7.6 inches). It works as a footrest and can create a chaise-like arrangement. Our storage ottoman guide compares it with the other collections.
Cassini has no chaise, but it does have an ottoman (not a storage ottoman) of 67 x 54.5 x 34 cm (26.4 x 21.5 x 13.4 inches). Instead, one wedge between two seats gives a gentle bend, and two wedges side by side turn the sofa a full 90 degrees with a rounder corner. Corner modules are still there for a conventional L. Cassini also has a matching lounge chair, as a swivel or stationary style, covered in our Cassini lounge chair guide.
Which needs less care?
Cassini needs less routine care. Its layered foam keeps its shape without regular fluffing. Gaia has loose, fibre-filled cushions, so we suggest fluffing them every one to two weeks and rotating the seat cushions so wear is shared. New Gaia cushions arrive vacuum-packed and can take up to two weeks to expand fully.
Covers are equal. Both sofas have removable, machine-washable covers: wash cold on a gentle cycle, air dry, and avoid bleach and high heat. Every Cassini module has its own cover, and Gaia's cover the seat cushions, back cushions, arms and base. On both, compatible replacement covers let you change the colour later without replacing the sofa. Our cushion care guide explains fluffing in more detail.
Which fabrics can I choose for Cassini and Gaia?
Gaia has the wider choice, and the two share two fabrics. Martindale counts are abrasion tests, and a higher number means more rubs before wear shows.
Which fabrics can I choose for Cassini and Gaia?
| Fabric | Martindale | Cassini | Gaia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Natural Weave | 18,000 | No | Yes |
| Performance Textured Weave | 54,000 | No | Yes, Mocha only |
| Performance Chenille | 48,000 | Yes: Sage, Frost, Espresso, Bordeaux | Yes: Sage, Espresso, Bordeaux, Harbor Blue |
| Aquaforte | 78,000 | No | Yes |
| Aquaforte Velvet | More than 200,000 | Yes | Yes |
In our own assessment, Aquaforte Velvet and Performance Chenille suit homes with pets. Colours change, so check the product pages, order free swatches, and see our guides to Aquaforte Velvet colours and the most durable sofa fabric for pets.
Where do the other Cozey collections fit?
At Cozey, we make four modular sofas and two sofa beds. Cassini and Gaia are the two ends of the range on shape and softness:
Where do the other Cozey collections fit?
| Collection | Defining trait |
|---|---|
| Ciello | Very soft, loose-cushion sofa with a dedicated chaise |
| Gaia | Soft seat with a high back and French seams |
| Cassini | Curved, low and compact, with a 45-degree wedge |
| Atmosphere | Medium-firm and deep, with storage and sleeper versions |
| Neptune | Firm sofa bed with the tallest back |
| Orian | Compact queen-size sofa bed |
Our collections comparison sets all six side by side. To see the shape you are considering, build it in Cozey Studio, our guided 3D configurator, which adds one module at a time and shows the overall dimensions on screen. Then plan the wall behind it: Themis shelves and cabinets are 28 cm (11.0 inches) deep and Altitude shelves are 24 cm (9.5 inches) deep, so measure how far they sit from the back of the sofa. See our Themis guide and Altitude guide.
Our recommendation
At Cozey, we suggest choosing by the feel and shape you want first.
- A curved sofa for a smaller room: Cassini, with a two-seater or a compact L.
- A soft, sink-in seat: Gaia, in Regular or XL.
- A chaise or storage ottoman: Gaia.
- A sofa that keeps its shape without fluffing: Cassini.
- A lower, even look: Cassini, at 43 cm (17 inches) seat height.
- The widest fabric choice: Gaia, with five fabric families.
- A guest bed or storage seats: neither; look at Atmosphere.
Seat depth and height are easy to misjudge from photos, so measure the room and try the numbers against the sofa you sit on now. Our guide to curved sofas is a good next read if Cassini is on your list.
Explore our sofas
- Cassini sofa
- Gaia sofa
- Sectional sofas
- All sofas
- Cozey Studio
- Cassini guide
- Gaia guide
- Which Cozey sofa is right for you
More Cozey comparisons: Atmosphere vs Gaia, Cassini vs Ciello, Cassini vs Atmosphere, Ciello vs Gaia, Atmosphere vs Ciello.
Product specifications can change. Check the current dimensions on the product page before ordering.