need to buy a sofa

[pinkytoe]

So wondering if any of you have purchased a sofa online? We got rid of most of our furniture when we moved, so it is time to acquire a few things - a sofa and a couple of chairs for the living room area. Have been to the local furniture places, looked at thrift and consignment stores, perused craigslist etc but it seems like the online choices are better priced with more options. Do we dare buy upholstered furniture online?

[razz]

Go and sit in them a try them out first as some of those available online are most uncomfortable, too low, tip back too far, too hard to get out of...
I ended up going with four chairs and no sofa - no regrets at all. The chairs get moved into different situations as the need requires with feet pads on their feet. That is wonderful! I have really comfortable dining chairs that I paid a good price for that fill in the seating as needed.

[catherine]

Depends on what you want. I've bought furniture online--when my son moved into his apartment he needed a sofa. I found him a nice one, right in his budget, on Overstock.com. I like Overstock--they have great deals, and they always deliver when they say they will.

I looked at customer reviews, and I was also influenced by the fact that it was made by Serta. I figured it would have to be kind of comfortable. My son loves it, so I guess it's OK.

Here's a picture of the exact sofa I ordered for him--actually he has a very small apartment so I got him a love seat, not a sofa.

https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Serta-RTA-Trinidad-Collection-61-inch-Chocolate-Fabric-Loveseat-Sofa/9091296/product.html?refccid=ZRF5NDEU2NVZTZ2C4I4VWP7GW4&searchidx=9&keywords=&refinement=brand:Serta|

[pinkytoe]

Yes. Ive been wondering whether or not we need a sofa but like to nap on them too. Its all a hard choice when starting from scratch.

[Yppej]

I have two sofas. One my ex got from a friend who was moving. The other I got curbside when my neighbor left it out. Before these two I had one my parents replaced, and before that one a coworker wanted to get rid of. I feel sorry for anyone who has to pay for furniture.

[Rogar]

I haven't bought furniture online, but I would hesitate buying a coach or chair without sitting in a similar or identical one in a store. When I was chair shopping, I found a number of attractive ones that just did not fit or were not comfortable. Depending on you budget, a couch can last a long time if you spend for quality. There is a lot of cheap furniture out there made with soft woods and stuffed with cardboard. One benefit of online shopping is that you can check the reviews, but they probably don't reflect long term durability.

[nswef]

I don't know how you feel about the look of futons, but we have one at the beach that I would be willing to have in our current living room. It's comfortable as a sofa and a napping space. It fits most decors...just change the cover. We did buy the upgraded mattress. It's a double. I don't know if they even sell them.

[pinkytoe]

After doing quite a bit of research, it seems like there are only a handful of manufacturers with same items having different names or slightly different fabrics in various stores including online. Kind of like they do mattresses. It's grueling in any case as is shopping for anything these days. Way too many options for someone with my limited decision making skills.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I'm getting a loveseat and visited several different places (not big box stores) that custom manufacture sofas themselves and locally, so I'm not so sure it's all a few manufacturers (because if so, how could there be at least 2 places manufacturing just locally - actually 3 said they did but I didn't investigate the 3rd much).

But I agree it's not easy to buy such stuff, I have no great skill at it, I hope I did ok. Oh I don't get used because a bed bug problem would cause me more headache and expense than it's worth I figure. I have looked at thrift store sofas, but didn't pull the trigger. I wish badly there was no such thing as bedbugs, I get wooden furniture used and never worry but a sofa I opted for new (and custom - well actually yes :). I hope I made the right choice)

[Tybee]

Pinkytoe, when I worked at IKEA, I sat in a lot of our couches and bought one of the greatest couches I ever had--it was made in Canada.
I vote getting one from IKEA. Good value and decent quality in the couches, and wonderful styling.

[pinkytoe]

The IKEA option is on the table - just means a long drive to check them out. Yea, the bedbug thing is scary when buying used.

[iris lily]

I bought large upholstered chairs online from Joybird. They are online only. Their stuff is relatively expensive. I went to Joybird rather than a local store because they offered a specific shade of hot pink fabric that I needed for my decorating scheme. These chairs are solidly bult and the fabric cleans up well, so they reflect rhe price.

Unfortunately, the scale is wrong and they are huge. They replaced smaller (and cheaper!) chairs that were no longer manufactured or else I would have just reordered them.

Even thlugh I looked carefully at the dimensions of these new Joybird chairs and I reluctantly accepted the bigger width, I didnt pay attention to the seat depth. And, they are supremely uncomfortable for me.

Now, Joybird has a line of smaller furniture they call "apartment size" and those would probably fit the bill for me.

In recent months we purchased a sofa feom a local furniture store and that purchase worked because the color I wanted was available here and in many places. Plus, this company sponsers the neuter/spay clinic for pets here in town, and I wanted to support that.This sofa cost about $850 and it is probably a mid range item.

[catherine]

Even thlugh I looked carefully at the dimensions of these new Joybird chair and I reluctantly accepted the bigger width, I didnt pay attenti J to the seat depth. And, they are supremely uncomfortable for me.

Mow they have a line of smaller fur iture they call "aprtment size" pie es and those woild probably fit the bill for me.


I'm assuming you're short, and the seat is too deep? I have that problem a lot. I have to use lumbar pillows on my sofa. In fact, I might be the ONLY person in the world who is more comfortable flying in economy than first class because in those big first class seats, my legs dangle and my circulation suffers. Everything is made for people who aren't vertically challenged.

[iris lily]

Pinkytoe, when I worked at IKEA, I sat in a lot of our couches and bought one of the greatest couches I ever had--it was made in Canada.
I vote getting one from IKEA. Good value and decent quality in the couches, and wonderful styling.

Sorry, but I though IKEA sofa were, with. 2 or 3 exceptions, pretty hideous, cheap and ugly looking. I do like the looks of many Ikea things, just not their upholstered pieces.

If the OP wants to sleep on a sofa, that pretty much means pillow back type where the pillows can be removed. At least, for serious sleeping, that is necessary.
That was my criteria for our latest sofa purchase, removeable pillows on the back. While I dislike the messy appearance of them, the functionality won out. I wont do futons or day beds in our living room.

I planned this sofa for the time when oir elderly dog can no longer go upstairs to sleep. i will have to stay downstairs with him.

[iris lily]

Also, agree with razz that 4 chairs are nce, or two loveseats. Depends on the space you have. i like the cohesive look of 4 chairs.

But is you want ro stretch out, those options are not viable.

[ApatheticNoMore]

If I wanted to sleep on a sofa I'd totally consider the futon option (there is a really nice futon place here, I almost went there also, but was looking for more just a standard sofa/loveseaty thing). If I ever buy a SECOND loveseat it would be a futon, but that's not on the agenda right now.

I don't like a lot of Ikea's upholstered furniture but I have a really sturdy table from them etc., so I don't actually write Ikea off entirely, it depends on what one likes. Oh I already bought the loveseat, I'm just waiting for it to be made, at least I'm employing peeps. Make America great again! :~))

[catherine]

I agree with IL that for spare sleeping purposes, you should get the kind with removable back cushions. I had a couch like that and loved it. It was so comfortable and flexible--I had no problem sleeping on it when the kids came down for holidays and commandeered all the bedrooms. I had a hard time giving it up, even when it was way past its shelf life.

[iris lily]

I'm assuming you're short, and the seat is too deep? I have that problem a lot. I have to use lumbar pillows on my sofa. In fact, I might be the ONLY person in the world who is more comfortable flying in economy than first class because in those big first class seats, my legs dangle and my circulation suffers. Everything is made for people who aren't vertically challenged.

Yes, I am 5'3' and the seat is too deep.

[iris lily]

I agree with IL that for spare sleeping purposes, you should get the kind with removable back cushions. I had a couch like that and loved it. It was so comfortable and flexible--I had no problem sleeping on it when the kids came down for holidays and commandeered all the bedrooms. I had a hard time giving it up, even when it was way past its shelf life.
I know! I got my first pillow back sofa from an alley, back in the days before ubiquitous bedbugs, and I loved it. I would have no problem sleeping on it every night.

[Tybee]

IL, your post about sleeping downstairs with the dog brought back memories of this Christmas, when our golden had her ACL tear, and I moved a single bed mattress downstairs and slept in the kitchen on the floor with her.
It actually was kind of fun.

[Tybee]

Well, cheap and hideous is not exactly what I thought of our IKEA sofas--here is one that was really comfortable and you could switch out the slipcovers:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/images/products/ektorp-sofa-beige__0386819_PE559167_S4.JPG

[iris lily]

IL, your post about sleeping downstairs with the dog brought back memories of this Christmas, when our golden had her ACL tear, and I moved a single bed mattress downstairs and slept in the kitchen on the floor with her.
It actually was kind of fun.

Awww, the things we do for our dogs! Nice.

[iris lily]

Well, cheap and hideous is not exactly what I thought of our IKEA sofas--here is one that was really comfortable and you could switch out the slipcovers:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/images/products/ektorp-sofa-beige__0386819_PE559167_S4.JPGyes! i like that. The IKEastore had 2 or 3 traditional sofas that were priced right (VERY good price, if Iremember correctly) and looked good.

For me, none of the colors worked.

[JaneV2.0]

I like the idea of slipcovers, too. That's a nice, traditional shape.

[iris lilies]

I like the idea of slipcovers, too. That's a nice, traditional shape.
Yeah. Slipcovers. Not.

I would be wrestling those suckers on and off the cushions each week. I woild probably break the zipper on the 5th time.

now I toss a bedspread, well, 3 bedspreads, over the sofa and chairs. These bedspreads were purchased to match our walls. I wash them weekly. If people come to the house I can pull them off the furniture and toss them down the basement stairs in 30 seconds.

As it is, when I wash seat cusion covers I ask DH to do the wrestling with them because I have no patience.

[JaneV2.0]

I have a seventies' era couch and chair with loose cushions--and four sets of slipcovers. But I never use the living room in this house, so...

[pinkytoe]

The Ikea one above is the style I am looking for except for the rolled arms. I would like more squarish arms. It is very hard to find sofas that still have three cushions but aren't "bigly" long, i.e. 84"+. Found one at LaZBoy that will work but dang, they want $100 to deliver it three miles and then sales tax. I am too cheap I guess.

[iris lily]

The Ikea one above is the style I am looking for except for the rolled arms. I would like more squarish arms. It is very hard to find sofas that still have three cushions but aren't "bigly" long, i.e. 84"+. Found one at LaZBoy that will work but dang, they want $100 to deliver it three miles and then sales tax. I am too cheap I guess.

Why are 3. Ushions important to you?

We went from 2 to 3 cushions and yes, it is a little longer. I dont know if I prefer 2 or 3 cushions, I guess that doesnt much matter to me. This time around my primary criterea was:loose back cushions.And, available in a yellowy-green color, but that wasnt hard to find.

[pinkytoe]

We had a two cushion couch for years and found that when you have company over, no one wants to sit in the middle on the "crack." And you can move three seat cushions around to adjust for wear. Two cushion couches cost less so might have to go that route in the end.

[ApatheticNoMore]

my custom loveseat/sofa arrived, it's very nice, cost a bit more than mass production, but I can manage, and it was made locally etc.. No complaints so far (I guess complaints would only be how long something will last and who can say at this point).