expensive sofas - worth the outlay?

[beaglesaresweet]

I need to buy a sofa when I move, the 'main' one for the living room. I'm completely confused by the variety of prices for what often looks like similar sofas, especially in size and of classic style. Apart from fabric quality, how do they justify the cost of sofas that were 300 and reduced to 15oo? when you can also see large comfortable (albeit not huge deep cushions) ones for 600? I need a durable fabric with a pleasant pattern, nothing luxurious.
If you bought an expensive one, do you think it was worth it?

3000, not 300!

Ours was. Cost 2,200 in 2002, still looks fabulous today.
Habitat.

thanks, Fram. So can you tell me what are the features to look for? Is it all about armrests and legs ? I bet it's no just comfortable cushions, many cheaper ones are comfortable.

not

I think the frame is stronger. No armrests per se (think l shaped, italian style)
The fabric is stainguarded which has been fantastic, as it's fairly light-coloured but it looks okay after children. Things have been spilled, but wipe off really well. I don't allow eating on the sofa though (well, not children anyway )

We've always bought second hand sofas. I can't quite justify the four figure spend while we have children and dog anyway. Our sofas are excellent though. One is a marks and Spencer's chocolate brown leather sofa that was £100 and so so comfy. Not too hard to get up off either. I bought my sofas either when pregnant or when just had a baby so I was all about comfort! And wipe clean which I love about leather. The other two are a matching set also chocolate brown from scs that cost us £150 for the two, excellent condition look perfect and have a square edge look to them.
I think if we had the money and they weren't going to get wrecked by children/babies/ dogs I would look at brand new.

I buy second hand too. There are some amazing second hand furniture warehouses near me selling great quality second hand furniture, sofas typically £100 or less.
I have just bought a solid oak dining table and six oak chairs for £80.

Deepblue that furniture place sounds great! Where that?

Our dfs cream one was ex display, 7 years later it is still looking fab

rebeccamg- in Edinburgh

www.foursquare.org.uk/efi-superstore

Ours is made by Sofa Italia, sold through an independent furniture shop. A two seater and three seater came to about 5k 5 years ago (lovely thick leather). They look as good as new. Ones my parents paid a little less for in the same year from. Dfs have been scrapped already. Although they did have some animal damage, they went saggy and the leather didn't wear well. If you go to an independent shop look for the little manufacturer plate stuck to the side and then go online for price comparisons. You can get some good deals online for the same thing (or else the shop will price match usually).

Ours is made by Sofa Italia, sold through an independent furniture shop. A two seater and three seater came to about 5k 5 years ago (lovely thick leather). They look as good as new. Ones my parents paid a little less for in the same year from. Dfs have been scrapped already. Although they did have some animal damage, they went saggy and the leather didn't wear well. If you go to an independent shop look for the little manufacturer plate stuck to the side and then go online for price comparisons. You can get some good deals online for the same thing (or else the shop will price match usually).

Ours is made by Sofa Italia, sold through an independent furniture shop. A two seater and three seater came to about 5k 5 years ago (lovely thick leather). They look as good as new. Ones my parents paid a little less for in the same year from. Dfs have been scrapped already. Although they did have some animal damage, they went saggy and the leather didn't wear well. If you go to an independent shop look for the little manufacturer plate stuck to the side and then go online for price comparisons. You can get some good deals online for the same thing (or else the shop will price match usually).

Ive had both cheap and expensive. The cheap one broke in the middle when we were moving house. It turns out the frame was mdf.

For comfort, you want both foam and wadding on the cushions. The really cheap ones are one or the other. They are either too hard or dont hold their shape. I have an expensive one now. Its very comfortable and still going strong after 10 years but boy to I regret the fabric pattern I picked. Its soooo dated.

I've had all sorts over the years, although 1 very nice arm chair has remained throughout. It still looks good and is comfortable 14 years on, at some point I will get new covers and cushions as it has a solid wood frame that will last forever.

The cheaper sofas went in the end because they went saggy and if two people were sitting down they ended up leaning inwards (and not in a good way). Currently I have an old leather sofa that was from somewhere nice originally, it has been worn hard by the DC's but amazingly still holds its shape.