Buying a flat and need some help with sofas!

[Reformation]

Hello!

I'm buying a flat on my on which is in equal parts scary, exciting and hilarious that ive managed to do it! But i wondered if you can offer me some advice on sofas please? I've had VIMLE sofas from IKEA and they havent really lasted that well, they seem to lose the guts out of them quite quickly, ive had it less than 18months and its knackered really... :-(

I dont mind spending a little bit of money on the right sofa so long as it lasts and the cushions maintain there oomph.

Can anybody recommend some good sofas they've had for a while that are reasonably hard wearing please? Also any nice bits you'd recommend for a new flat that wont break the bank but will last nicely!

Mine is dfs, it’s the loch leven one, it’s really well made. They also do interest free credit, so you can pay over a number of years and of course no interest, so makes more sense rhe money is in your account than theirs.

Congrats on your flat!
I live in a small flat, and got two sofa beds, a 2 seater from John Lewis and a 3 seater from Made. They're both really easy to bring upstairs, they came in flat pack and legs are removable.
And on top of that, they can host guests (not that I need to at the moment).

Got the John Lewis one for 3 years, it's like brand new, each time I hire a carpet cleaner, I give it a little wash.

The Made one is new so can't say how it's going to age but god it looks beautiful and was on sale (£350 I think). Delivery took 8 weeks though.

I don’t think M&S have dipped in quality. I think their £850 sofas are as good as anyone else’s. Their fabrics will wear well. I do think a lot of high street brands are bringing our low price starter furniture and I think that’s where there’s a compromise but it’s often on little fabric choice like the DFS French connection ones. Once you approach £1000 then they are certainly ok. Leather should really last but we found it wrinkles.

@PresentingPercy ok thanks for the info about M&S, i had read some negative stuff online but if you're happy with the recent stuff then i'll trust your judgement.

@FastFood thanks :-)

I know the IKEA ektorp is mentioned a lot of these threads - I’ve sat on a friends and found it saggy and the cushions to slip around so I’m not a fan

I think it comes down to reading how sugars are made. What’s the construction? Then the quality of the fabric regarding how long it will last. M&S is as good as anyone at the price point. It’s your choice of course but I wouldn’t rule anyone out until you have looked at the details of what you like in terms of the above.

sugars??? It’s late. Sofas...

Dfs leather sofas. You can pick a more hardwearing leather and they break into modules so are really portable. Had ours for over 10 years and they’re as good as new except for a slight bit of sun damage on one of the seats.

Not sure if anyone else has asked but have you considered access in a flat? We had huge restrictions on our sofa choices in our last place because of turns on stairs. Initially we had a NABRU corner sofa arrangement in a sort of microfibre finish. We only got rid of it as we updated the colour scheme to sell. And when I say getting rid we gave it to SIL and it’s still going strong at hers now nearly 10 years after we spent maybe £600 on it. It’s sort of like the Lego of sofas as it comes in pieces after you have designed your footprint. Funnily enough we replaced it with a vimle and I can confirm that NABRU has aged much better. I seem to remember picking the firm cushion option on their advice at the time.

It's not original but I've owned 3 sets of DFS sofas, the first for 10 years, sold them as still excellent condition but wanted a change, second 3 years (moved house they didn't fit) still excellent, and my current ones. The key is to upgrade to foam seats and pay for the scotch guarding whatever it's called, also the pillow back sofas as they never sag and just get plumped up. Not cheap but good value for how long they last.

Most sofas are ok regarding fitting in if the legs take off. Choose a low back and arms and measure up. Yes, it was mentioned about access earlier!

I have an Ercol studio couch that I bought second hand, sanded, varnished, rewebbed and recovered the cushions. (You can still get them new, but they cost.) It's a fabulous piece of furniture. It's 2m long, but because it's wood framed it's quite slight in terms of how much space it takes up. I live in a flat with rather inconvenient access (narrow doorway and a turn in the stairs) and frankly I doubt I could have got a big sofa in.

This was the finished result... It starts three and is big enough to lie down fully, but it's easy to move and doesn't take up lots of floor space.

I've also been happy with DFS - am giving my 10 year old 3seater with chaise end to my daughter (because she finds it so comfortable even though it has some marks on it) and replacing with another 3 seater without the chaise end (separate footstool instead).

This would solve any access issues:
snugsofa.com/

Thanks @chambored

I bought my last sofa from James and Rose. That one is still going strong but my second sofa (DFS) now needs replacing and I’ll be going back to J&R. DFS sofas are a bit cheaper but they’re not long lasting in my experience. They sag.

These brands like James and Rose all seem lovely, but im not sure i can afford 2.5k or 5k on a sofa. If im swimming in the shallow end looking to spend 1k, am i just going to get ripped off and end up replacing it after a year?

I think as a PP said the key is making sure the sofa is made with proper foam seats, I haven’t done that with my three previous DFS sofas and they sagged like mad. You might have to pay extra but if you buy a cheaper design and upgrade the cushions it’s better than a fancy design with standard cushions.

Thank you @FenellaVelor that's good advice :) I think im going to risk DFS and buy the foam cushions.

Reformation My 10 year old DFS sofa has foam cushions which is why I'm gifting it to DD2 as she finds it so comfortable (as do I but I want a smaller sofa now)

Thats really good to know @sunshinesupermum and has given me the confidence to go for it!

Fingers crossed we are both happy with our new sofas!

I really recommend Ikea Stocksund. I've had mine about 3 years or so with no signs of deterioration. I think because you can buy new covers as well (not that I have had to buy any yet!) they made the sofa to last. I wash the covers every couple of months (I have kids!) and they are still as good as new.

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/stocksund-2-seat-sofa-tallmyra-blue-light-brown-wood-s39129766/

We have the blue one, it's a velvety kind of fabric. People always think I've bought the sofa from loaf or somewhere really expensive but it was under £500!

It was a little stiff to start with but has really softened over time.

We have a Demure from Sofology and it is going strong .No sagging but I give it a bit of a plump daily and I turn the cushions every few days (I would do this with every sofa as I am a bit OCD about it!).
They have different configurations starting at around £900 for a 2 seater.
We live in an apartment and had no issue regarding size/access.
Don't be put off by the bad reviews about Sofology. I had no issues at all ,good service,prompt delivery and better than expected quality.