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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think you get what you pay for with sofas?

62 replies

bbcessex · 26/08/2015 15:38

Not a very controversial AIBU, granted, but I need to choose new sofas, and I am worried about style over substance.

Our current sofas are 15 years old. They are hand made, cost a fortune, still really fabulous overall but the covers have almost past it and it would cost as much to re-cover each sofa as it would to buy new ones from mid-range retailers.

Can you share your experience of your sofa purchases if you've had them a while? I've seen some sofas in Next that I like the look of, and they are a great price but I'm worried about paying out and finding them shabby in a year or so.

I haven't even been to DFS etc. yet.. is it worth going? I know all sofas look great when they're new, but has anyone had their sofas for a few years and are still delighted with them?

OP posts:
Jammyscones · 26/08/2015 16:29

I have a dfs sofa it's about 10 years old now and looks fine.

Like anything it depends on how you look after it. Mines leather and I clean and condition it every few months. The leather is still supple and the colour hasn't Faded.

In fact I quite fancy a new sofa but can't justify it when mines in such good nick!

Sianilaa · 26/08/2015 16:33

4k for sofas is "mid priced"?! For 6 years use? I'd be furious.

I paid £2k for our sofas from DFS 10 ears ago and they look like new. They have been professionally cleaned once. And we have 2 DC.

However I have just sold them because they are the wrong colour for the new house :) I've just paid the same (£2k) from Sofaworks for a 4 seater, 2 seater, footstool and swivel chair - and I hope they still look and feel as good in 10 years time as our current ones do.

TheFairyCaravan · 26/08/2015 16:36

Our's came from Nabru. It still looks brand new, but it's not jumped on, is plumped and hoovered regularly.

We've got Stressless chairs too. They're not made as well as I'd have liked them to be for the price!

NewBallsPlease00 · 26/08/2015 16:38

Our next sofas have lasted 11 years no probs, fabric not leather cost about £2k then
Our cheap family Room IKEA job might see out 2...
Get what pay for however covers vs next prob still 2k either way?

Original poster
bbcessex · 26/08/2015 16:40

Thanks all... seems like a mixed opinions.

I do love our sofas so maybe I should look at the re-covering option... I also quite fancy a change though - dilemma!!

Thanks for your opinions.

I have a two Multi York sofas in a different room that we've had for 10 years.. I agree, they are fabulous.. wasn't thinking of spending the same money again this time though, maybe I should have a re-think.

OP posts:
Original poster
bbcessex · 26/08/2015 16:42

NewBalls yes, from what I've seen, the Next sofas I like would mean 2 x Next sofas would be just over £2k, whilst re-covering existing sofas would be slightly more with the fabric category I would choose.

OP posts:
Almostfifty · 26/08/2015 16:43

I've had our very expensive suite recovered by a very good upholster, after 12 years of boys wriggling around on it.

It cost a lot of money, but three years down the line they're looking just as good as when they were done and I think it'll last even longer now the DC are all grown up and don't wriggle quite as much.

The upholsterer didn't just recover them, he changed some of the cushions as they were worn. It looked brand new when it came back.

VeryPunny · 26/08/2015 16:44

We had one set of IKEA Ektorp which lasted us 12 years before giving up the ghost (we bought new covers during that time) and it was second hand when we got it. We've replaced it with more Ektorp - you can't beat the value for money. I don't think that spending £2K+ would get you that much more, TBH.

CaptainHammer · 26/08/2015 16:44

I've been looking for new sofas recently and everyone is recommending getting one from made.com.
Our old one is a DFS one and its lasted us well but want a change! People seem to either have brilliant or shit experiences with them, not much in between!

DisappointedOne · 26/08/2015 16:46

I've never bought a sofa. Ours are the ones that DH bought with his ex years before we met (15 years ago). They were from DFS and not cheap. I had the cushions re-stuffed last year and the guy collecting them thought it was a warranty job because they still look new (despite 2 house moves and the addition of DD to the mix 5 years ago).

lavendersun · 26/08/2015 16:47

I would recover and have a set of loose covers made at the same time.

I have had two sofas in 25 years both expensive and made to my specification. I always add a couple of inches to the seat depth - we are a long legged family Smile.

The first one still had tons of life in it but I moved to a house with more smaller rooms rather than one big living space. It was almost 10ft long so I gave it to a friend.

When I had this one made I had a set of loose covers made at the same time to prolong the life of the upholstery, now 12 years down the line and it looks fab. My covers are 100% cotton - I had them dyed by these people 6 years on and had a colour change.

www.bluemill.co.uk/sofacoverdyers/FadedSofaCovers.html

Still have the original pristine colour underneath.

A quality sofa is worth the money to recover - the woods and springs/stuffing/webbing/ticking used will generally be better quality.

ohmyeyebettymartin · 26/08/2015 17:03

Another Ikea Ektorp fan here. Of course you have to like the style. But I love it. They are very sturdy, very comfy, and you can replace the covers easily.

Ektorp link

Squooshed · 26/08/2015 17:20

I have an Ektorp. They're a good budget buy but that's about it.

And I'd bet good money you'd hate it after years of perching your bum on handcrafted loveliness.

lanbro · 26/08/2015 17:26

Mu sister has my gps Bridgecraft sofas, that came via my parents. They are over 30 yrs old and she had them reupholstered. They look modern and are comfortable so definitely get what you pay for.

Mine are second hand sofa works, looked brand new and I only paid £300 but I don't expect them to last anywhere near 30 odd years!

HaveAWeeNap · 26/08/2015 17:26

DFS here. Four and a half years and still look like new. Clean and use leather care on them regularly.

LarrytheCucumber · 26/08/2015 18:29

We had a Peter Guild one from John Lewis and it had to be replaced after ten years. Very disappointing.
Current ones we bought from our local Co-op. They are still going after twelve years, and were cheaper than the PG one.

GoooRooo · 26/08/2015 18:33

Ours are from Furniture Village because we wanted a leather sofa bed and they are almost impossible for find unless you want to pay stupid money. I've had to restuff the back cushions a couple of times but they have had a lot of use over the past five years.

Next time I think we'll just get a regular sofa and a blow up bed for guests!

MiaowTheCat · 26/08/2015 18:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sarahsnail · 26/08/2015 18:56

You get what you pay for. Purchased one 3 years ago from SCS paid £1000 in total and had nothing but problems, poor frames breaking, DS was actually sat on it one night and just fell through it.

Luckily we paid the 5 year extra insurance so you can guarantee that the bloke is out to fix one thing after another each month.

will NEVER buy from here again, looked good for a few weeks then went flat and awful.

Dogsmom · 26/08/2015 19:14

I think it depends how often you want to change it, I spend less than 1k on a 3 and 2 seater combo with recliners (current one was 800 from SCS, is 2 years old and hasn't worn at all), they do the job for 3 years then I swap them with no regrets.

I like change though and if I spent thousands I'd feel like I was stuck with them.

If you do venture into SCS be prepared to be followed by the sales people, they're a pain in the arse.

Chattymummyhere · 26/08/2015 19:57

if worth spending more to make it last, out newest sofa is 2 years old and cost just over 1k plus £300 for the matching footstall it's still perfect even with kids and dogs the ones we had before was 1 three seater and 1 tee seater for around £500 including delivery and it was knackered within the year, cushions used to fly off the back as well as it was very low in real compared to how advertised.

Noodledoodledoo · 26/08/2015 20:03

My sister has had a mid range Next sofa for nearly 14 years now and its as good as new, has been the main sofa in her house for all this time and has two young children.

Mine is about 12 years old but came from Alders so not much help there!

HackerFucker22 · 26/08/2015 20:59

Ours are brown leather from IKEA (cost £1.3k for a 3 seater though so not exactly cheap) but it's as good as new 8 years down the line despite kids and cats and it being used as a bed for months

bilbodog · 26/08/2015 21:17

Tetrad do good sofas

Radiatorvalves · 26/08/2015 21:31

We have 2 big sofas from furniture village, about 15 years old +. They are comfy and in one piece, and we had this discussion last year. I couldn't justify chucking out 2 good sofas even though they looked tacky...they cost about £1500 each and I'm from Yorkshire.

Plumbs quoted about £2500 to recover both. I found fabric on line and a local guy did the work...cost £1000 altogether. They look fab and are still comfy.

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