Take a Load Off… picking out a new sofa.
Okay, so I think I am finally ready to take the plunge of buying a sofa for our living room (which we have been working on lately, Part 1, Part 2 and looking for rugs.)
What the heck right?
Splurge a little.
We have been married for ten years this May, so it is about time I get to buy a sofa, right… not premature. (I’ve never bought a “new” anything… accept an ottoman I got for cost during my internship in college, I have been patient)
I have been around to a million “sofa” places over the last few years, and never really seen anything that I like- well, I should say that I would be willing to fork over the cash for. I do not want a large sofa, nothing overstuffed… which is EVERYWHERE- seriously the only thing I have seen in all those big box stores. They say everything is bigger in Texas, and seriously scale wise there is nothing that you would call small. So, I have had a hard time locating a decently priced version of something I want.
I also have these prejudices against cheap disposable furniture and dreams of 8 way hand tied, down-insert, kiln-dried hard wood framed, heirloom quality pieces… Basically I need to find a real sofa manufacturer, and I used to have some good sources when I worked for a designer, but I don’t have those now….
Which means, I have been looking around online, and was wondering what your opinions are of some of the sofa’s I like, not sure if the one I will buy is in this lot- or how soon we will buy it… I need the cash first, which I just spent on the new flooring OOPS!
OR if you have some good sources for properly built sofas for a reasonable price, I would love to hear about them. Either that, or I need to find some auctions/estate sales of antique heirloom pieces…
But anyway here are the sofa “looks” that I like, I am not sure they meet all my standards, but I like the look.. They would be done in a neutral color, no print…
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(the number is under the picture, just FYI)
>Hi Cassity – This is such a great post. I think sofas are definitely the hardest piece to pick out. I am in desperate need of a new sofa too – I hate mine but it's going to be a while before I get a new one! I love all of your choices but my favorite is the one from Room & Board. They are one of my favorites – Made in the USA, great quality, and a good price point!
Happy Tuesdays!
Alissa
P.S. – Just went and nominated you – glad for the reminder because I meant to do it the other day but I forgot!
>From experience, if this is to be a frequently used couch, you will not want 1, 3 or 7. The arms are so short that there's nothing to lean against and pillows often fall off the sides. If the purpose is for a formal not-to-be-used-daily couch, that may not matter as much (but honestly, who does those formal off-limit rooms any more?!).
Good luck!
Amen. Sofa arm height & comfort are major issues. If the back leans backwards, that’s a negative too. My mistake was getting a sofa where the arms and back are low and rolled. Cushions are higher than the back. Arms too high and too wide to reach your drink easily on the end table. I also got a tapestry so I can’t change out accessories easily for seasons. No expensive sofas for me again. Wish my decorator (more talented as a stager and drapery designer) would have discouraged me just a little bit.
>I'm liking the arms on #6, but not the slipcovered bottom. I have a sofa from Arhaus Furniture. It is very well made. Not sure if you have that in your area though!
>If it helps, I have a 3.5 year old and put an ivory colored slip cover on our dark brown couch to protect it. That lasted a few weeks because I had to wash it every day to every other day because of his dirty hands and feet. Granted my son is a little wild, but it's been my experience and that of my friends that light colored sofas and kids don't mix! I'd either get something dark or get a light one but keep it slip covered. That's just been my experience, but I've seen others with light colored couches so maybe not everyone has this problem!
>I like #1 best, for these reasons: I like a sofa w/ separate back cushions because it just looks more comfortable (all your other choices have tight backs). Also, since I slipcover furniture, I like to have that option available when the piece gets old. The style is classic, but also modern.
>I am feeling you! I live in Texas too, and I don't know the exact name but there is a company that'll custom make a sofa for about the price of a Pottery Barn sofa.
I like the look and shape of option 1. It has style and looks comfortable!
>My pick is between number 1 and number 7. They have similar looks and can adapt to any style of decor in your room. Nice lines to both sofas.
>Have you looked at bassett furniture? Really great quality and made in the USA. They have very similar styles to the options you like. We have loved our sofas we got from them.
>I hate to admit it, but I like the Dylan Sofa (4) by Pottery Barn. I'm also in the market for the perfect sofa and buying on line scares me as i need to sit on it, but that one has all the features I want. I want no skirt, two cushion, slightly curved arms, but not overstuffed, the color here is too light for me, but with a little pattern or golden color would be perfect. My husband is 6'4" and I'm nearly 6', so having a couch with enough room for us, the right height back, and yet that fits in our little cottage home is a tough one. Good luck!
>I am de-lurking because I had to tell you that I went through this whole process a few months ago and felt like I looked and sat on every couch known to man. I also wanted something quality that wasn't too trendy (or too boring). I ended up at Ethan Allen and I LOVE LOVE LOVE our sofas. They were comfortable from the first day, have gorgeous fabrics that clean well, and I think they were worth every penny. I sat on Pottery Barn couches, convinced that was the way I was going to go when I saw them online, and when I sat on them in person they were not nearly as nice as I had hoped. Just my humble opinion. 🙂 Good luck!
>For me it depends on how you use a sofa. I like the design of #7 the best and think you could change the whole feel of your room in the future and still have it tie in. But to me, it's a great sitting sofa, but not such a great lay-down-and-take-a-sunday-nap sofa. My current sofa has high arms like that, and it's a bit tricky to get comfy for naps. If your family is big on that kind of sofa use, I'd go for #2
>I agree with Peggy….buy a couch that you can rotate the cushions. People tend to sit in the same place on couches and if you can rotate the cushions it helps from getting a warn look in just one place. Plus you can makesslip covers it easier than the tight backs.
Good luck…they are all very pretty but make sure to sit on them first if you can.
>I personally love #4 from Pottery Barn. Im not a huge fan of skirted bottoms, and I love that its a combo of a few of the others.
>so many great choices, but i might have to pick #4. room and board has such great customer service, a ton of fabrics to choose from, decent prices, and i love the quality!
i really do think that any of the sofas would look great though!
hope you are doing ok my friend!!
🙂
>Probably prefer #5. I am not a fan of "T" cushions so I would not consider those ….
>#5 is pretty similar to my sofa, in color as well. So I pick #5. We bought our at Macy's Furniture store and it was under $800. I love, love it cause it's kid friendly!
>Hi there!
I really like 4 and 6,but definitely a darker color safety reasons. I am not a fan of the short arms on some of the others. I wish you luck on your purchase. I am in major need of sofas in our family room…but then again we also need carpet in that room too (which is why I haven't blogged about that room at all yet lol). One day we'll finally get to it.
Have a great day!
Manymomentsofme.blogspot.com
>before we got our sectional we had number 4 from pottery barn and it held up beautifully and was comfy, classic, and chic. we just needed to have a bigger couch for our bigger family, and the dogs had kinda sat on that one too much. 🙂
>I like #4, #7, and #8.
Jennifer B.
>I like #3, #6, #8.
#3 – Nice colour, I like the sloping arm.
#6 – West Elm has great design, but recently was there trying out sofas, and the quality is reflected in the price. The Hanover is an inviting sofa,
#8 – this is a beauty. Would you get red? Love it.
#1 is also nice, smiliar to #3
I have been in search of a sofa for several years and have failed to replace mine because it is completely fine, but drives me nuts. The back is too high and it is not neutral enough. And, I haven't found the perfect replacement sofa… The ones you have chosen are very similar to the style I like : 2 seat cushion, lower back.
Sofas I have come across that may be of interest:
The Vaughn Sofa by Crate and Barrel is similar to the styles above. I love the grey wool flannel fabric and it is super soft and comfy (if you want a harder seat, forget this one.)
The Luna sofa is a more modern minimalist design, but still has wooden legs and two seat cushion.
The Belgian Slope Arm by Restoration Hardware…Pricey, but looks really comfortable (although I don't like skirted bottoms).
I do recommend trying out sofas. Go to your local furniture store and you may find very similar designs and be able to try it out.