New flat need recommendations for furniture

[NewHomeToFurnish]

I’m feeling totally overwhelmed with choice

I need to get at the very least to start with a new bed and sofa.

Bed needs to be a small double as it’s a small bedroom, I think I could fit a double in there but it would be tight. It’s only me though so I’d rather have the space than a larger bed. Also need a firm, preferably turnable mattress as I have a lot of back and neck pain etc

Sofa also needs to be firm, seat height not too low and comfy arm rests. I’m leaning towards chesterfield styles if I’m honest as they’re easy to get up and down from. But I’m looking at all styles that are proper sofas not futons or similar

Budget I’m not exactly sure I’m thinking probably no more than £1000 for the bed £750 for the sofa

I also need delivery to 3rd floor no lift, to the room and ideally include assembly by the retailer or minimal assembly needed by me.

I want to get as good quality as I can afford as they need to last me and not make my pain worse.

I would really appreciate advice and guidance on how to look for these items as much as actual recommendations.

Just feeling confused and overwhelmed by the choice and the huge difference in price. I don’t know what’s cheap, what’s too expensive for what it is, what are the specs I really need to focus on and which are really quite unimportant.

Hoping the wise people of mn can help

Also which retailers have you had good or bad experiences with, I need reliable customer friendly delivery please too

Bumping as posted middle of night so people maybe haven’t seen it hoping you can all help

If you’re buying new then there are hundreds of places to look. Maybe start with somewhere big like Wayfair.

In general I like to furnish houses with second hand stuff.

Bensons for beds have a good selection of small doubles, make sure you go to the most local branch to the flat-I went to the one near my work and I had to arse about with a third party delivery firm, they were very good but it was an extra thing to worry about.
DFS, I got the French Connection Zinc sofa in a two seater, not too low and they were happy to take up to my third floor flat, put the legs/cushions on and took away the packaging. The service was fantastic throughout.
Made.com, good for small spaces, and again happy to take up three storeys.

If I were you I'd go out and test some out. I went to dreams and got my bed frame from them because I loved it.

I went online and ordered a hypno mattress these ar eased in premier Inn hotels. However fitness is something you need to test out.

I think your right to go for a smaller double.

Most delivery firms would drop upstairs eap if their is a lift. Assembly though might be tricky you might have to find someone privately like a handyman.

When I did my shopping I went to furniture land and dreams and scs sofas.

Oh just spotted no lift they might charge extra for thst but check

Could a sofa & a bed realistically be carried up your 3 flights of stairs without being taken apart? It might be easiest for you to buy flatpacks and pay someone to assemble them.

IKEA? And it is likely to fit up the stairs.

John Lewis have some good small sofas.

Give some thought to access as well OP. I’m in a first floor flat and the delivery people only just managed to get my small, two seater sofa up the staircase and into my flat because the passageway is so narrow. I had to get a metal framed bed as there is no way a divan base would have made it around the top of the stairs.

I suggest you measure the dimensions of the staircase and lift before you shop. I agree that you should buy a bed that comes to pieces. I got a nice bed in Bensons for Beds. They delivered it and put it together. (The Allen key is in a plastic bag taped to the frame in case it is ever needed.) You can choose whatever grade of mattress you want. I found my local branch really helpful.

If I could start again totally from scratch I'd go round antique / second hand shops and choose individual things - maybe not sofas but tables / dressers / drawers etc. Not so much for price as just solidity and character. But if you are ordering new, I recommend Wayfair - had some good bits from them and they're not as ubiquitous and bland as Ikea.

@User76745333 I’m happy to go second hand and even prefer it for things like tables and Knick knacks but not for beds and sofas as medically I need items that haven’t been affected by others use

@Crimeismymiddlename third party delivery drives me nuts! I want good quality delivery not flipping Hermes delivering to the wrong doorstep! That’s what is putting me off some retailers eg made.com as they don’t have their own delivery people. I want/need expert delivery personnel a professional delivery service NOT couriers! DFS sound good - they’re own delivery people

@Dreamstate I’ve done this a bit the difficulty is many of these places are out on industrial estates and I don’t drive! Furniture land, scs, dreams - noted.

I don’t mind/can do minor assembly like fitting feet or castors maybe even a headboard but there’s only me so anything that really genuinely needs 2 people several tools and hours to figure out the bloody instructions won’t be any good to me!

I don’t mind paying extra for the no lift thing but a few I’ve come across won’t deliver above a 1st floor without a lift at all! (How these stay in business I don’t know! If you’re selling beds and sofas surely you will be selling to a fair few people in flats with no lift, certainly where I live!)

@EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn they can be carried up there’s space/wide/high access (older building not a teeny new build) it’s just whether they WILL

@Iheartmysmart see above paragraph hopefully that explains

@parietal ikea no good for me unfortunately tried them in the past I end up sore/injured/medical issues deteriorate it simply isn’t sturdy/good enough quality tbh

John Lewis I like but prices can be high and delivery times VERY lengthy eg 24 weeks! Which is fine if you’re just replacing old stuff but I’m not sleeping on an air bed for that long! I’ll wreck my body!

@ChiselandBits I’m the same with tables etc but again I’m finding it hard to access such places as they’re on the big industrial estates the ones that do furniture etc

Where I’m lucky is place I’m moving to there’s a whole street just up the road that is famous for artsy/antiquey bits and bobs type shops for small tables, lamps, ornaments this kinda thing which I can’t wait to explore.

But for now I’m needing to focus on the essentials so I can sit/eat/sleep comfortably

Bed I’ve been told ideally divan for the medical/support side of things, I think the bases come in 2 parts usually? A low style padded headboard as the best place for the bed in the room is with the headboard at the window? And a good, firm, turntable mattress (which seems damn near impossible to find without spending a fortune! I’ve been getting cheap mattresses for years - had no choice then - and I’m now really suffering for it)

John Ryan by design could probably do you a bed and mattress within your budget. You can play around with various fabric choices and drawer options for the base. I have one of their mattresses and have been very happy with the quality.