Shall I spend the extra £750?

[Salome61]

I've fallen in love with a sofa at sofa.com from a Sophie Robinson DIY SOS, it's a beautiful turquoise velvet, and £1000. The rug that looks great with it is from Ikea and £149.00.

I haven't got a sofa and do need to buy one, and want turquoise.

Ikea do an Ektorp sofa in a dark turquoise for £350.

How do you decide your budget for your furniture? I've just downsized and do have some equity left over to make the house 'my own' , I just always feel nervous of spending.

Have you sat on both of them?

If you have the money then spend it how you like.

How long will they last? Will the cheaper one being a false economy?

Have you sat on it? Make sure it’s comfortable (I’ve made too many mistakes with sofas!)

Thank you Paq! I do worry about my young adult kids needing money, that's the trouble. My daughter's job is OK for the moment, but my son is a school taxi driver and keeps getting conflicting info about contracts.

I haven't sat on the sofa.com one, but inherited a 12 year old Ektorp here when I moved in. It's showing it's age but still sittable on.

Here is the one I love, as well as the rug - I've bought a bungalow with an odd kitchen/lounge extension, can't get my head round how to make the lounge comfortable. Reminds me of a caravan.

I really like that sofa, OP.

If you can afford it, the sofa.com one, hands down - it's far, far nicer!

If you really loved the Ektorp, you'd happily get another one.

I think that’s lovely. The whole combination. I would go for it, when you think you could use it for more than a decade it’s not bad value.

Yes, it's gorgeous, you love it, buy it. I'm the same, I agonise over purchases like these and I wish I had someone to say those words to me!

The fabric of the ektorp is fine, but you can tell it’s IKEA iyswim… Sofa.com fabrics are lovely, customer service is good and sofas are v comfy.

The Ektorp one isn't velvet, that makes a huge difference to the look and feel.
You can buy covers for Ikea sofas online, not from Ikea ..here's one example, but there are loads.www.etsy.com/uk/listing/687619128/whole-set-ektorp-2-seat-sofa-cover?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=velvet+ektorp+cover&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&col=1&variation0=1174170930

We have waited years to buy new sofa and chairs because I was terrified of making a mistake. Toyed with IKEA (ektorp!) for years. Finally ordered from sofa.com three weeks ago having been to their showroom. Very pleased with service so far - being delivered in two weeks!

Or you could down the middle and get this?

sofasofa.co.uk/products/agatha-3-seater-sofa-opulence-teal

These are an excellent company - long lasting, hard wearing etc

I'd spend it, you can't keep putting stuff off for your kids! I was thrilled when we could upgrade our IKEA sofas, sure they do the job but ours are much nicer.

Oooh, that's lovely. I'd probably spend the extra, although I'd like to sit on it prior to buying it. We spent £2k on sofas from Sofology a couple of years ago and wished I'd have tested them first. They now barely get sat on (and the stitching is coming undone everywhere - crap quality, don't go there) and we much prefer our £200 IKEA sofa.

Spend the extra! Comfort is always an investment.

The sofa.com one is much nicer OP personally, if you can afford it, I’d get that one.

It’s kinda pointless worrying about situations which might arise where your kids needs money. I mean if they were in dire financial straights right now that would be a bit different.

Treat yourself to the sofa you love. You deserve it!

Definitely buy both sofa and rug. It will make you happy every single day.

The good news is that your maths is £100 out so there’s actually only £650 between them.

I say do it. If you get the IKEA one you’ll always wish you’d bought the other one

I can’t comment on the comfort of the spendy sofa but I had an Ektorp and it was vile. Like sitting on concrete. I hated it so much.

I find sofa.com sofas very uncomfortable. My DP has the one you posted about and I really do not like sitting on it. So definitely take the advice of trying it for a good long sit before you splurge.

Sofa.com are great but I have a velvet sofa from them and it has faded a lot so that’s worth bearing in mind.

Love everything I’ve bought from sofa.com and find their customer service to be brilliant

Love my sofa.com sofa but it does need constant replumping to stay looking nice!

I'm fussy, I wouldn't buy anything large that I couldn't try first
We bought the best we could afford from a large department store, 15 years on it looks new despite having major building work going on around it

Does the sofa.com have loose covers you can take off and wash/dry clean?

I downsized, too, and thought I might improve on my 15 yr old Ektorp, still going strong. But I wanted a light-coloured one which meant covers I could take off and wash. Searched everywhere but it was £££ to buy a 3 seater with loose covers in other brands. Ended up with another Ektorp in a natural linen shade.

Turquoise velvet sounds lovely, but it won't wear v well. And it will fade.

Never buy without trying it out. Height from floor and depth of seat really matter, especially as you get older.