Sofas...

[punkypossum]

What on earth has happened to sofa fashion? I've got a really small living room, so all I want is a reasonably delicate looking 2-seater with an equally reasonable price tag, but every single sofa at the moment seems to be a big chunky overpadded lump, where even a 2 seater is the size of an old style 3 seater. The only one I can find was nearly £2000 pounds, and I certainly didn't like it that much. And why do they all have to be either shiny leather, mad florals or something that looks like it belongs in an old-men's club? ARGH!!!!

 

[Fnaar]

I have never bought a sofa in my life

[edit: I call them couches... perhaps that's another debate]

But I have 3 in my house

All donated by friends who were 'upgrading'. Two are nice, and match each other, and are both in the (large-ish) living room... one converts into a sofa bed. The other is in kid #1's bedroom, and also becomes a sofa bed for friends stopping over etc. Try freecycle

 

[punkypossum]

I love freecycle, but the whole room has been redone, painted, new carpet, etc, so I thought I'd treat myself to a nice new sofa as a Christmas present to myself... At this rate, I'll still be sitting on beanbags by next christmas!!!

 

[gavintc]

Try Ikea, they make some decent ranges of furniture for the 'normal' sized home. We have had sofas from there - reasonable quality.

 

[cisamcgu]

I second IKEA, or M&S do nice ones for a bit more money

http://www.marksandspencer.com/2-Seater-Sofas-Sofas-Armchairs-Home-Furniture/b/212021031

lots of different fabric options





Andrew

 

[fossyant]

When we re-decorated, we went for a 'reasonable' quality beige leather one - a smallish 2 and 3 seater (you could get both on their own) and paid about £500. Didn't get anything fancy as we have two grubby kids (hence regular sponging sofa down) and 3 cats (claws)....

My mother has a huge 2 and 3 seater in white leather....cost a fortune, but it's so impractical........she has it covered up with throws and you are scared to sit on it.....

 

[Globalti]

*cough* Mrs Gti has just bought two sofas in heavy brown hide, a 2 seater and a 3 seater worth £3500, for £450 from a pal who has a furniture business. I think I'll wait a bit longer before I throw her out of the house.....

 

[XmisterIS]

There's websites where you can get sofas made to measure - you mix 'n' match the design, materials, colour, etc, and they make them up for you for a few hundred squids - delivered flatpack and then self-assembly.
Example: www.intosofa.com, www.nabru.co.uk

CGW IMHO! (Can't Go Wrong In My Humble Opinion!)

 

[Globalti]

Look very carefully at all the sofa ads on TV and you'll realise that very small, well-proportioned people can make good money as sofa models because they make the sofas look bigger.

 

[goo_mason]

In the 12 years since I stopped renting furnished accomodation and bought my own place, I've never paid for an chairs or sofas yet (and I've had 3 sets so far). All have been from relatives upgrading. The latest suite was from my cousin's husband's old flat which he sold when they got married and got their own place together. I think he'd had it less than a year and it was spotless - they wouldn't take a penny off me for it either!

As others have said, Ikea seems to do smaller sofas & suites. I'd likely choose them or something like the Sofa Workshop if I had to buy one.

 

[dellzeqq]

Look very carefully at all the sofa ads on TV and you'll realise that very small, well-proportioned people can make good money as sofa models because they make the sofas look bigger.

you beat me to it. Sofa models are Lilliputian.

The best and worst way to buy a sofa is to go to South Wales. They make zillions of sofas there, and they're not expensive. The downside is that the quality of the frame and the stuffing might not be brilliant, but if you go down to the factory and look you'll know what you're getting.

For our part - John Lewis. Can't be beat. I did once buy an Ikea sofa. It didn't last.

 

[Fnaar]

Go to South Wales. The quality of the frame and the stuffing might not be brilliant, but if you go down to the factory and look you'll know what you're getting.

Ah, those South Wales girls!

 

[punkypossum]

I like some of the ikea ones, the only problem is that they somehow even manage to flatpack a sofa, plus their delivery charges are rather hefty (the only transport available is a tiny micra, which is too small even for a flatpack sofa). And I CANT FACE ANOTHER FLATPACK!!!!! Will have a look on those other ones you suggested in my quest for the perfect, cheap, small, dog-resistant, non-grannified sofa!

 

[Crackle]

I like some of the ikea ones, the only problem is that they somehow even manage to flatpack a sofa, plus their delivery charges are rather hefty (the only transport available is a tiny micra, which is too small even for a flatpack sofa). And I CANT FACE ANOTHER FLATPACK!!!!! Will have a look on those other ones you suggested in my quest for the perfect, cheap, small, dog-resistant, non-grannified sofa!

We bought one from Ikea that I reckon you'd get it in and on the roof of your Micra (was in 3 packages I think) and it wasn't too bad to put together and it's quite comfy.

 

[Arch]

I saw a sofa ad last night, talking about getting 'next season's sofas' now, in time for Christmas.

2 things: why do people need a new sofa in time for Christmas, and just how different is 'next season's sofa' going to be from all of this season's?

I'd have thought that pretty much all the designs of sofa there are ever going to be, have been made already!