Buying a new sofa

[neonplanet40]

Hi guys.

Currently looking at a new sofa. I have used the usual suspects:

Sofology
DFS
SCS

Where do you guys recommend buying from? Some prices are extortionate...

[Millennium]

Not that I have much expertise on this subject, though probably none of those. Marketing, obscene markups, showrooms etc. I look forward to other response(s).

[Smudger]

DFS always have a sale on, and are cheap, but quality may be lacking. I got a couple of sofas from them when I got my first flat, and they were comfy, but felt a bit fragile. Saying that, they lasted more than 8 years and a house move, until my wife decided she wanted to have a corner unit.
SCS I'm not massively familiar with, but from a quick peruse of one of their showrooms a few years ago, they are very similar to DFS.

Sofology seem to be a bit better quality, but the prices reflect this...

Saying that, this is something you're going to be using every day for a good few years, may as well spend a bit more to get that extra quality...

[neonplanet40]

I agree on the spend more for quality argument. Just keen to get recommendations to ensure I'm not wasting my time looking at those 3 big companies.

[Ttaskmaster]

Why have you sued them?

We used Sofaworks or Multiyork... one of the many sofa options at Forbury Retail Park. The wife uses it, so she did all the shopping while I merely got dragged around dozens of sofa shops not caring about colour or anything. She eventually found one she's happy with and tends not to get taken for rides, usually managing to haggle them down as well.

[virtuo]

I got my sofas from DFS almost 5 years ago, I got a 5 year care/guarantee package thrown in and they upgraded the leather from "very thin" to "quite thin" for free.

It's been very good to be fair, comfy, tough and looks good. All the recliners still work fine (one electric one not). Probably was expensive for what it is, but at least it was easy and 4 years interest free to spread the cost out.

[b0redom]

I got 3 electric recliners (2x2 seaters and 1x1 seater) 10 years ago. They're still going strong, although I've had to buy a couple of new transformers. They've had a particularly hard life, with 3 babies and a large dog in addition to me and the Mrs. They weren't as cheap as DFS, but considering the beating they've taken, they've lasted really well.

[Saracen]

Sofas (and chairs) is a tricky one, not least because much of the "quality" is invisible - i.e. hidden under fabric, etc.


For instance, a recent consumer program complaint about a collapsed armrest that, it turned out, consisted largely of cardboard.

So .... a lot depends on your plans for the sofa. If it's 2 or 3 years 'til you moce house, cheap-ish may be best. But a "quality" sofa is something your grandkids can inherit .... albeit perhaps recovered every 20 years or so.

My current lounge suite (sofa, three large chairs) must be 30 years old, and is getting to need reuphosltering. A fee springs have been replaced over the years. But the frames etc are built solidly and will probably outlast me.

So buy cheap, buy often. But if you want to change style to suit a home, that may be what you need. Or buy quality, but buy once. At a price.

Those suppliers? Never used 'em, because never been impressed.

Who did I use? Damned if I can remember, but it was a small, local outfit that may not even still be there. Units were custom-built though, measured for seat length, etc, to suit individuals and built to order. We were shown round the factory, invited to inspect construction methods and materials, etc. If I can find the invoice, I'll let you know (if you want).

One thing I, personally, would be very wary about is companies that want payment, in full, in advance. I won't do that at all, but if you do, ONLY EVER do so on credit card.

[neonplanet40]

We definitely want a quality sofa. We currently have one and have had it for about four years and three moved houses. Now that we own this house and are intending to stay, we want to buy our 'real ' sofa!

I want one that is comfortable and won't have foam that wears down in a year lol. We also want fabric. Not a fan of leather. Currently looking at a corner sofa, a single recliner and a 'cuddle' sofa (lol).

[Phage]

I've wandered around these people a couple of times. The quality seemed higher than the ones you mentioned, but so were the prices !
https://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/
Ended up getting one from Laura Ashley in a shop refurbishment sale.

[Ttaskmaster]

I have used the usual suspects:

Ah, I see!!!

Sorry, I was imagining you being blacklisted and refused entry to all these shops, as an infamous habitually litigious troublemaker, or something!!

"Sofas-R-Us? Nope - Been there, done them, got the lawsuit"!!

[Kanoe]

Ever thought about designing your own sofa to your own requirements? https://www.nabru.co.uk/ I used them for my last sofa 6 years ago. Was able to design it to fit the space I had perfectly and price wise was OK. Still got the sofa, although having to construct it yourself is a novel experience.

[MaQ]

I bought a 2 and 3 seater from Next last year.
I didn't choose online though, i went into the store so that i could see the sofa before deciding to buy.

http://www3.next.co.uk/homeware/sofa-collection

[Jasp]

Sofas (and chairs) is a tricky one, not least because much of the "quality" is invisible - i.e. hidden under fabric, etc.


For instance, a recent consumer program complaint about a collapsed armrest that, it turned out, consisted largely of cardboard.

So .... a lot depends on your plans for the sofa. If it's 2 or 3 years 'til you moce house, cheap-ish may be best. But a "quality" sofa is something your grandkids can inherit .... albeit perhaps recovered every 20 years or so.

My current lounge suite (sofa, three large chairs) must be 30 years old, and is getting to need reuphosltering. A fee springs have been replaced over the years. But the frames etc are built solidly and will probably outlast me.

So buy cheap, buy often. But if you want to change style to suit a home, that may be what you need. Or buy quality, but buy once. At a price.

Those suppliers? Never used 'em, because never been impressed.

Who did I use? Damned if I can remember, but it was a small, local outfit that may not even still be there. Units were custom-built though, measured for seat length, etc, to suit individuals and built to order. We were shown round the factory, invited to inspect construction methods and materials, etc. If I can find the invoice, I'll let you know (if you want).

One thing I, personally, would be very wary about is companies that want payment, in full, in advance. I won't do that at all, but if you do, ONLY EVER do so on credit card.

More then likely Multiyork, they have since gone bust and had their assests absorbed by DFS, same as Sofology who are also now owned by DFS.

From personal experiance i would recommend a few makes depending on your budget.

Buoyant - www.buoyant-upholstery.co.uk/

Going to be the most afforableable but will lack some of the quality of others.

Ashley Manor - http://www.ashleymanor.co.uk/

Sold these for quite a few years, never had one back quality was very good for the price and nothing was too much for the company, we could pick up the phone for extra fabric, fillings, different options without any problems.

Mark Webster - https://markwebster.co.uk/upholstery/

Some seriously well built bits of kit but you do pay for them.

Duresta - https://www.duresta.com/

Extremely well built sofas but you will pay through the roof, offer tradition options such as a front sprung edge, loads of colours, feet options etc.

Natuzzi - http://www.natuzzi.co.uk/

Prepare to pay upwards of £5k for the combination of what you are after but you will struggle to find better looking sofas.

Generally speaking if you are looking otherwise you want a hardwood frame thats either screwed & glued or stapled and dowelled also, feathers always beat fibre fill for cushions as they retain their shape longer but do require more work, if its fibre try and get Dacron which is a trademarked fibre and generally lasts longer, for seats you want a cold cure foam, means its cast from liquid not cut off a block, its much stronger and will last longer.

[Saracen]

More then likely Multiyork, ....

I don't think so. I'm sure I'll know the name when I see it, and that rings a bell, but not as the supplier we used. I could be wrong, though.

Good names and good tips there. Thanks.

[cptwhite_uk]

We bought a sofa bed from Ponsfords in Sheffield a couple if years ago. Upper mid-range pricing (around £2000) but it's held up very well and I've been very satisfied for the price, manufacturer was Fama (model was Bolero for reference), based on Spain. You can see their range here:

https://www.fama.es/inicio-en.html