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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy an posh sofa even though I dislike the fabric

65 replies

Brimup · 18/07/2022 23:12

I am moving to a new house soon. It’s a georgian listed building. I have only ever lived in new houses before. My plan is to make the decor a mix of new and old. Some antiques and some mid century modern stuff.

I have spotted a sofa at a second hand shop near me for a bargain (£500) and in great condition. It’s a very ‘traditional’ sofa. Great for lots of old houses but not so much my style. The fabric is very good quality, but not really my style. It would clash with the wall paper, but I guess could be pulled off as “supposed to” do that. New these sofas are about £8,000. Similar to this have sold for £1000+

Would I be mad to buy it even though I don’t love it. I only ever really buy furniture that will last a life time, and hate the idea of throw away stuff. I figure that in a few years I could get it recovered in a different fabric.

OP posts:
Lovelycheese · 18/07/2022 23:17

I would buy it if I could get it reupholstered NOW. I use my sofa everyday. It would bother me to have to live with it for a few years if I hated it tbh.

CLSB · 18/07/2022 23:17

I think you should get it. My parents live in a very old family home, and the non- entertaining rooms (think snug/tv room) are an eclectic mix of furniture and patterns that has been inherited from multiple people. It somehow makes it more homely, at least to me.

ErrolTheDragon · 18/07/2022 23:27

If it's a genuinely 'traditional' sofa, is it up to modern safety standards re flammability? (Maybe it would have to be to be resold). If it wasn't then I'd want to get it fully reupholstered anyway, not just recovered.

Original poster
Brimup · 18/07/2022 23:31

A posh* not an. Sorry

OP posts:
Original poster
Brimup · 18/07/2022 23:33

It’s not that old, so all up to date re fire regs. Think it’s around 7 years old. The make is George Smith if anyone is into their furniture.

OP posts:
Elphame · 18/07/2022 23:34

I just paid £1.5K to have my lovely hand made sofa re-upholstered.

Factor in the cost of recovering to what you are prepared to pay.

Lovelycheese · 18/07/2022 23:35

Just buy it op
We tend to regret the things we DON'T do.
Find the money for new fabric and enjoy :-)

Rainbowshit · 18/07/2022 23:35

£500 sounds quite a good price for a quality sofa. Go for it.

Annoyedwithmyself · 18/07/2022 23:37

It's pretty pricey to get sofas recovered, more than I expected. It might be worth having a look for other 2nd hand ones online if they're around a grand and seeing if you can find one with fabric that's a closer match. If at least price up recovering before you buy, just to get a rough idea.

Kanaloa · 18/07/2022 23:37

I probably wouldn’t buy something I disliked. I used to do stuff like that - would look at a top and think ‘well with a belt and this bit pulled in it might be ok.’ Now realistically I think ‘should I buy a sofa I’m already thinking of trying to change or just find one I actually like?’

WinterDeWinter · 19/07/2022 00:32

You can't go wrong with George smith, they're fantastic quality and although I don't generally go for that kind of thing theirs is a very refined version iyswim. It looks much better in an eclectic room for that reason, esp with mid century pieces. I'd get it even if I had to live with the fabric for a couple of years.

Original poster
Brimup · 19/07/2022 07:48

Yeah, have looked at the cost of reupholstering and is a lot of money.

Although I had another look and the used sofas are actually more than £1k. The ones that cheap have issues like a rip or something.

so guess it’s a question of getting an excellent quality traditional sofa , or getting a low-mid quality stylish sofa.

OP posts:
RaggyPolls · 19/07/2022 07:49

Can you not get huge, heavy throws to cover the majority?

PegasusReturns · 19/07/2022 07:53

You don’t like the style and you don’t like the fabric. Don’t buy it!

It will cost £££ to reupholster and you still won’t love it.

There’s no rule that you must have a certain style of furniture in a certain style of house. Choose what you love.

SoftSheen · 19/07/2022 07:53

Buy it and get it professionally re-upholstered in a fabric you like (not cheap, but cheaper than buying a high quality new sofa).

Annoyedwithmyself · 19/07/2022 07:55

Ah right, so you'd probably end up having to recover one that was a grand or so anyway.

How bad a clash is the fabric? Is it something you could bring into the decor with, say some lovely velvet cushions in colours that complement the wallpaper? I tend to go for good quality second hand myself and like quite an eclectic mix. It just obv needs to.be liveable- with in the meantime. Would doing that and recovering in a few years be an option?

Athenajm80 · 19/07/2022 07:59

I'd get it. You may love it a bit more in situ, and like others have said, throws and cushions can make a difference. I have sofas that I would never buy, but they're great quality (free from a friend who buys v good stuff) they're comfortable, and now they're in my lounge, I don't really notice the fabric anymore. They're just part of the room.

Obviously this depends on the fabric, if it's like green and bright orange satin, maybe it won't blend in 😉

girlmom21 · 19/07/2022 08:00

Is it a style you could learn to love?
Or one that could be modernised with some funky cushions or a nice throw?

Sgtmajormummy · 19/07/2022 08:01

Just cover it with a throw in the colors you do like.
Making your own sofa cover is not difficult IF it’s symmetrical. Just pin and sew in place inside out on the sofa itself, flip it right way round and the job’s done. I did that and made a second seat cover when the DC were small.

I got some lovely (and cheap) upholstery fabric from Peter Lees online which suits our 1906 flat. ILIV fabric made in Yorkshire.

stayathomer · 19/07/2022 08:04

I don’t understand. Why would you get a sofa you like nothing about? Can you not find any anywhere? A sofa is a big purchase to not like!!

Sgtmajormummy · 19/07/2022 08:06

www.peterleesfabrics.co.uk/iliv-collectionsfeast your eyes!

Greengr · 19/07/2022 08:08

We need a photo!

picklemewalnuts · 19/07/2022 08:09

Get it! You might grow to love it. Worst case you can sell it on.

Over time, you may prefer to redecorate the walls to show off the sofa, rather than recovering the sofa.

picklemewalnuts · 19/07/2022 08:11

Only if it's comfortable mind!

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 19/07/2022 08:17

I don’t second the comment about throws I’m afraid. We have a sofa which was supposed to be leather and is actually flaking plastic in parts ( thank you Furniture Village ). I’ve tried everything to cover it, throws just don’t stay on. A friend who came to tea and sat on the slipping off throw agreed that she always had the same problem.

but… re upholstery is not that hard if the basic sofa is sound and you are only recovering it.I did one , without experience, just a manual ( before You tube). I found that a stapler was a god send.

i can’t do the flaker because it is a two part recliner and I can’t see how to attach the new cover BTW. DH loves it…. But I’m thinking about it and I might try once the summer is over. Glue and stretch fabric? If there’s anyone out there…

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