AIBU To think I should just be able to choose a bloody Sofa Without Neurosis?

[HappyFatty]

First of all I know this is 'get a grip' time but for me it's a really big deal so please try to be kind! For the first time in our married life (10 yrs) DP and I are able to buy something new, rather than 2nd hand. We've had a family inheritance and have decided to replace our at least 3rd hand knackered 3 and 2 seat sofas with some of the spendygrippers. We'll never be in a position to buy such a luxury item again and so I've become obsessed with frame quality and lifetime guarantees. I am driving myself mad never mind my poor DP! I want to be able to just fall in love with a sofa but I am finding myself scrutinizing tech specs for hardwood frames and tied sprung bases FFS! Please help me! Where can I buy a sofa that will last foreveeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Need

Get yourself down to SCS (and similar) and take the time to sit of the sofas and feel how comfy they are. Ultimately, that's what it's all about. The Bank Holiday sales are the best time to go, as you'll get one that should cost ££££s for literally ££s So, a high quality one for a bargain.

Good luck!

I bought from sofa.com. Got lots of lovely samples through to decide on fabric.
Most of the chain store sofas had built in cushions for the backrest and arms - these end up going soft and saggy - hate it! I have the Snowdrop with nice wide seat (and the large one so I can lie down and sleep on it )

My habitat sofa still looks wonderful a year later, hand made in Italy. Its a beaut.

Have a look at Loaf.. I can't recommend their stuff enough. Really well made in the UK, really good customer service and so much choice. They have a few show rooms and there stuff is so lovely.

Otherwise I would suggest getting something through John Lewis (be it there brand or another) if you are looking for a good guarantee. You can't beat their returns and customer service.

Happy searching!

Loaf are good too.. Got my bed from loaf

How much are you willing to spend? Can you look into having one made? If you're looking fro that sort of quality that may work out. Avoid DFS/SCS/Furniture Village etc. Their 'bargain' prices in the sale are still more than their sofas are worth.

In the middle you can look at John Lewis and so on and see what you think of theirs.

Old boot sofas are fab -show room in London to try them out but has website and will deliver all over the country

Thanks so much peeps. We're looking to spend up to about 4k as this will be sofa for life ! Old Boot not heard of them, new site to perve whoopie! ... I've had a peek at John Lewis some lovely things there. Loaf well what can I say Swoon We live in rural Wales so I think a schlep to the Smoke may be in order, oh the hardship!

We bought our latest sofa from Debenhams about 2 years ago and it already looks shit, the fabric is all bobbly.

M&s!!! Ours is great after 12 years

Ikea, it has been the best soft we have ever owned.

We spent £2.5k on our last sofa and I've been really pleased with it, we went with Sofa Workshop in the end.

We've got feather cushions and a hardwood frame, which has a 10 year guarantee - and they do come and fix things. As I can attest after being extremely heavily pregnant and flopping myself down on the edge of it and cracking the frame

We splashed out on a Duresta sofa. They are hand made in England. Furniture village sell them and some other stores. Ours is leather and was about your budget. It's beautiful - we've had it about 4 years and it still looks like new.

My husband bought some sofas from Sofa Workshop in 1999 ish, we had to donate them to a local charity in 2014 when we left the UK. They still looked as good as new, no sagging or anything. I would buy from there again if we ever went back. Our replacement small sofa from John Lewis is crap in comparison. Two years old and falling apart already.

1. Measure your room. You do not want to buy a corner sofa that blocks the doorway into the room lol. (A woman I know did this)
2. Consider current and future fabric needs. I.e. functional or comfy - also consider colours, colour scheme, any pets etc.
3. Sit in the god-damned things for at least five minutes to establish whether you get butt-ache, back ache, neck ache, arm ache, DH-ache
4. Ensure that it will fit in with your lifestyle.

Well wear.

I bought a 2 and 3 seater recliner from Harvey's in 2013 that should have cost £3500 together, but we got them for about £1600 in a bank holiday sale. They're the best sofas I've ever had: comfortable, stain resistant, no faults or breaks. I'd recommend

One thing, they always look smaller in a huge showroom than they do once you get them home.
It's a faff, but unless you have a very big room and absolutely know it will be fine, it's a good idea to take accurate measurements of total length and depth, and make a newspaper template to see how much space they are actually going to take up on your floor.

OP I hate to tell you but there is no such thing as a sofa for life.

You are better off getting something hard wearing with washable covers, cushions that can have the foam replaced etc. But plan on it lasting about 5-8 years max without needing a bit of help re-filling etc

Is it just one sofa you are wanting ?

Wesley Barrell are very well made

Totally agree with Betty BiO. Nothing is built to last these days. Natuzzi are very stylish Italian leather, if you want to spend four grand.

House of Fraser, John Lewis, Furniture Village will all have good quality stuff, so will Multiyork, Wesley Barrell, etc.

Ours are from M&S in the sale. We also have a corner sofa in the family room from DFS. I know what everyone says about them, but the service was efficient, delivery prompt and if it lasts five years, I'll be happy. A chap from FV told us that five years is the average life of a sofa these days.

As long as it's comfortable and the style you want, those are the important things- as well as price of course.

5 years :o OMG! I remember my Folks buying a Sofa and being told each £100 = 1 year of life expectancy! So I want a 4k sofa to last AT LEAST 40 years lol. I know it won't last forever, I do really. I just want it to last as long as poss whilst looking as lovely as poss as it's the only New sofa we'll probably ever own! Thanks for all your advice, lots to google now I'm a very HappyFatty :D xxx

Oh n BTW We've seen one this one 88.208.249.144/~steve/products/carloway-sofa/
by Tetrad we like but can't get a straight answer from the store about guarantees Pfft!

We got a sofa from Multiyork. Audley. We went for an all leather four sitter. It is still like new three years later. The best thing is that it comes in two sections, so we were able to fit it through our rather narrow front door.

www.multiyork.co.uk/leather-sofas/audley-leather-sofa

Forgot to add, our sofa got a 10 year guarantee.