Cheap or expensive sofas - really any difference?

thor

Are cheap sofas from the likes of scs and argos that much worse than costlier ones? I am on the lookout for a suite but when I do a bit of research on the web I find that most if not all sofas appear to be equally badly regarded no matter what the price. It makes me think I would be better off going for the cheaper variety because they will probably last as long as something costing twice/three times that. You don't always get what you pay for seems to be the way of things.

Mind_the_Gap

A sofa maker once told me that the acid test of a sofa's quality is to lift one (bottom) corner. The rest of the sofa should move with it in the same plane, not resist.

Sofas with real wood frames (as opposed to chipboard) tend to last longer, and I do think that you tend to get what you pay for on the whole. That's not to say that there aren't bargains to be had if you know what you are looking for.

If you are getting a fixed fabric covered one, it's usually the fabric which ends up wrecked before the frame, so invest ion washable loose covers is my advice.

frisbeej

People complain on forums, they rarely praise.


I wouldn't buy a sofa without being able to sit on it and give it a prod and poke to gauge the construction.

Grimbal

I do think that sometimes it's worth paying more for some things - sofas I would include in this. I bought a couple of MultiYork sofas in about 1996 and they're still going strong. Bear in mind that they've been through 4 house moves (& dismantlement) and my increasingly large frame in those last 18/19 years

The covers may look a bit worn now (& like a previous poster, washable covers may have been the way to go here), and the cushions are a little squashed, but the frame is still as sturdy as ever.

I do think that it's worth paying more for things like sofas and beds

2013yearofthehouse

We bought a sofa from SCS about 12 years ago and it's still going strong. Doesn't look brand new, but not far off. It's a 5 seater corner sofa, cost about £900. All 5 cushions are identical so can be placed anywhere on the sofa as well as either way round, so I guess that's helped - there's only 2 of us (with our favourite spots), so we rotate the cushions every month to keep the squashing balanced out. It's a light colour so we paid extra for scotch guard (included in the price of £900) and although the odd thing has been dropped on it, it's completely mark/stain free, so that helps. I guess it's also benefited from never having been moved though (well apart from across the room to clean behind and for more space when we've had visitors staying).

cattie

Since I've been able to afford it, I've always gone for good quality sofas & chairs, such as Multiyork. Their furniture is built in the time honoured traditional way by craftsmen & is all British made.

Their furniture is built to last, it's not throw away stuff & properly looked after will last you a lifetime. This is the same for any of the top brands of furniture, be it Multiyork, Parker Knoll, Bridgecraft etc. etc.

With Multiyork, each piece is individually made for each customer & the details are kept on file forever, so if you decide you'd like new covers made they can do this simply & easily.

Once you've sat on a well made sofa or chair, a cheapie is always going to be a sad let down, as the same comfort just isn't there.

usignuolo

Agree totally with 2013houseoftheyear. When I bought my last sofa, from Furniture Village, I chose a good quality fabric to cover it, (not cotton which gets shiny) but probably more importantly, I chose one with 2 exchangeable/reversible rectangular seat cushions, ditto 2 back cushions and ditto 2 arm cushions. That means I can move them around if one side if being used more than another and getting saggier. Also the cushions are removable to clean.

The cushions on my previous sofa were shaped to fit each side and could not be changed over or reversed. It soon started to sag noticeably on one side where my husband sat.

Mine is not identical to this but similar (in a red chenille) and it gives you the idea: http://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/Inventory/Upholstery/Collins-and-Hayes-Merano/Medium-sofa-M.aspx

Clive_Woody

Not wishing to sound snobbish, we've had cheap furniture in the past but in the last 10 years or so have gone for better quality stuff, including sofas.

We've got a lot of stuff from John Lewis including two different style sofas, they are comfy, sturdy and are lasting very well. Sofas with a decent frame can be re-upholstered and last a lifetime.

thor

So maybe costlier sofas are are longer lasting and better for comfort after all. The problem for me is to weigh shelling out probably three figures against two or three hundred for something I know I will need to replace in a handful of years.

wallbash

Another vote for Furniture Village , the two sofas 'look' as good as they were when chosen 10 years ago but one seat took a lot more wear/tear and started to sag a little last year. So I had the webbing re-tightened and extra added.

The only problem with more expensive sofa's , you have to keep them longer to justify the price. You ( well I would) change the colour of your room every few years to bring it up to date. Would the old sofa match??

My sofa is mid range , a more expensive one , I would be looking at keeping at least 20 years.... what else do you keep for that amount of time?