Shall I shan't I get a cord style sofa....

amus

I was similar OP I have three young kids but didn't want another leather sofa.

I bought a suede type material corner sofa for one room, and for the living room, it's difficult to describe but is a chenille type material.

The chenille type one has worn really well and has been easy to clean (I did have it coated with some sort of protective spray so not sure if this has made a difference), the suede one not so much. It's certainly not in bad condition and can be wiped, but I think I'll be lucky if I get 5 years out of it.

Spendless

What my friend has is a sofa that is leather as the base but all the cushions are fabric. Similar to this pic.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=half+leather+half+fabric+sofa&rlz=1C1AVNA_enGB584GB584&espv=2&biw=1821&bih=889&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=3bVSVMrLL5TvaMf0gdAH&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=0.75#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=rnZamB53VKK_OM%253A%3BwmAUn4T7GdFK1M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fi.ebayimg.com%252F00%252Fs%252FNzY4WDEwMjQ%253D%252Fz%252FiUIAAOSwbqpT6iBW%252F%2524_86.JPG%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.gumtree.com%252Fp%252Fother-goods-suppliers-retailers%252Fhalf-fabric-half-leather-effect-medium-sofa-brand-new-tiny-rip-%2525C2%2525A3300-rrp-%2525C2%2525A3100-our-price-%252F1076741041%3B1024%3B768

I don't know if that is any help as a suggestion if you don't like the feel of leather, though skin contact with it would be minimal. I don't find my leather sofa hot in summer and cold in winter, but I suspect that might be to do with the position of the house. The sun sets on our front room (where the sofa is situated). Personally I haven't found my leather sofa has lasted well, it had 4 recliners which all started breaking within months of the 5 year guarantee being up and the seat that my husband claimed as 'his' well you can tell, compared to the other seats!!

I personally am not a fan of the scatter cushion backs, many fabric sofas have, our gifted sofas that were like this I spent my life re-plumping them!

worried_jim

Flossie. wrote: »

You can actually get some good quality cord sofas, and if they are all cord, rather than just the trim (as Peter said,) they can be very hard-wearing and durable. And they aren't too expensive either I don't think. I think you would just get them fraying and suchlike, if you bought a very cheap one, or one second hand.

http://www.onlinesofawholesale.com/c/Jumbo-Cord-Sofas

These would be knackered in two years- avoid! Soft interiors are high maintenance, at the very least you need foam fixed cushions- much more durable.

You can't get Draylon anymore as the fabric no longer passes fire retardant standards.

pm04gn

maman wrote: »

I'm going to subscribe to this as I'm in much the same position.


I want new sofas and I don't like leather either. I find leather a bit institutional looking/feeling and reminds me of a waiting room.


The pair of sofas we have are 20+ years old, were hand made and expensive and on second set of loose covers. I could have new covers and would need new seat cushions as the existing (feather) ones are too flat now. So I've decided Id like a change but what??


Dilemma is do I go for expensive and expect to last for years or cheap and expect to change in a shortish time. Having looked around I am impressed with Ikea. I have one of their sofas in conservatory and while it doesn't get daily wear, it's doing fine after 15+ years.


I had fancied bright pink cord at SofaSofa but think I'd get bored with it and I do understand where people are coming from who say it could flatten. I've seen it happen with cord trousers. My existing ones are cream but I'd only consider a pale colour with washable covers. I like the Ikea corner ones but I think they'd fill the room.


So to answer OP: I quite understand why you don't want leather but I'd be inclined to go for something with washable, fabric covers. I think the line I'm looking at is Ektorp


http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/categories/series/07488/

I have the grey version of that sofa from sofa sofa and it's been excellent so far in its two year life. I've spilt stuff on it and it's come out, my friends baby vomited all over it, nothing to see now. It's sturdy, made in the uk and pretty comfy.
I am also anti leather due to the cold in winter, sticky in summer aspect.

moomoomama27

I bought lovely oatmeal coloured cord sofas from DFs, I have three children, and we use the sofas alot, and I've not noticed anything shabby about them and we've had them four years, they clean up well, just remember to fluff them up every week by turning all the cushions should you go for one like this!

tea_lover

We were given some leather sofas last year and I don't like them at all. They seem to wear really easily and they're freezing cold to sit on!

I previously had a cheap fabric sofa (from argos) which has now been relegated to the back room - had it about 12 years now and it's still looking much better than the far newer leather ones. It's also far, far comfier.

Peter333

moomoomama27 wrote: »

I bought lovely oatmeal coloured cord sofas from DFs, I have three children, and we use the sofas alot, and I've not noticed anything shabby about them and we've had them four years, they clean up well, just remember to fluff them up every week by turning all the cushions should you go for one like this!

pm04gn wrote: »

I have the grey version of that sofa from sofa sofa and it's been excellent so far in its two year life. I've spilt stuff on it and it's come out, my friends baby vomited all over it, nothing to see now. It's sturdy, made in the uk and pretty comfy.
I am also anti leather due to the cold in winter, sticky in summer aspect.

tea_lover wrote: »

We were given some leather sofas last year and I don't like them at all. They seem to wear really easily and they're freezing cold to sit on!

I previously had a cheap fabric sofa (from argos) which has now been relegated to the back room - had it about 12 years now and it's still looking much better than the far newer leather ones. It's also far, far comfier.

:T

Confirmation for the OP that a cord sofa will be fine. Maybe the 'trims' on normal sofas wear a bit, but suites made out of cord will probably be OK.

lulu_92

pm04gn wrote: »

I have the grey version of that sofa from sofa sofa and it's been excellent so far in its two year life. I've spilt stuff on it and it's come out, my friends baby vomited all over it, nothing to see now. It's sturdy, made in the uk and pretty comfy.
I am also anti leather due to the cold in winter, sticky in summer aspect.

We have leather sofas and they are so comfortable but I hate how cold they are in winter and how sticky they are in summer!

My mum used to have cord sofas and they were lovely, seemed to flatten quickly buy as long as you keep fluffing them they'll be fine.

I heard this tip about leaving cushions in sunlight puffs them up but whether that is true I don't know.

busymumof3

Another one here who dislikes leather sofas with a passion. We have three kids, a small dog and three light coloured fabric sofas, various light fabric armchairs and no throws! These are the second set of cream sofas we've had with no issues at all. Both sets have been from M&S, are stainguarded and I am able to wash the seat covers with no shrinkage. These latest ones are about 5 years old, my previous ones were almost 12.

I would say avoid cheap versions which are just not built to last. Seat pads will sag in no time. I would not personally buy a cord fabric or a chenille, velvet or velour, all of which show wear more easily. I would also avoid many dark coloured fabrics for the same reason.

As an aside, do people who have corner sofas think that they are a good design in practice? I can't really see how they can seat any more people than conventional ones.

valk_scot

I hate leather sofas, it gives me the creeps when I go round to my friend's house as all her seating is leather covered and it just gives me the icks, because of the feel. I sit on the floor instead and claim hippy habits!


My own sofas both came from Ikea and when I bought them I got a second set of washable covers for each. I've had them fifteen years now and have bought two more sets of covers, the original sets looked a bit tatty after ten years of children and regular washing and I fancied a change of colours anyway. The actual base sofas are still in excellent nick. I just got patterned upholstery cotton in a sort of drill/twill but I'm sure they did cord covers at one point. I'd quite like a cord sofa tbh, it sounds cosy. But you could always have a plain sofa and have cord scatter cushions?