What Do I Get For My Money?

Part II of How to Buy a Sofa
What you get for your money:

• $1,000 or under
  This sofa is headed for landfill…how “green” is that? At this price you usually get plastic legs screwed into the frame instead of wooden legs that are part of the posts or bolted into the frame, a webbed seating support system with no springs, low-density-foam cushions that will break down quickly under normal wear and tear, inexpensive single-color fabrics, or inexpensive prints where the pattern is machine-stamped on--not woven into the fabric, cheap zippers on the cushions…and you’re lucky if you will get five years of use out of this sofa before it looks pretty bad. The cushions fill will start to fail after about 1 year of normal wear and tear, so considering a $2,500 sofa will last 5-7 years, you just wasted a lot of money.
  
• ~ $2,000
  Some corners might be cut to meet this price point. Instead of eight-way hand-tied springs, some manufacturers use a sinuous wire spring suspension system. Watch out for construction shortcuts like using cardboard instead of wood to form the rolled shape of the arm (it WILL break down under normal wear) and nailed or tacked on fabric (like you may have seen on the 1-hour TV show sofa transformations on Trading Spaces and the like) instead of hand sewn seams. Ask questions before you buy in this price range.


• Above $2,000
  You should be getting a quality product from a time-honored manufacturer. This price range should give you solid frame construction with a lifetime warranty, 8-way hand tied suspension, your choice of seat and back fill, and a quality, durable fabric. If you are buying from a private-label store, ask them who manufactures their product and how long they have been in business. If they are a newcomer, delve into their manufacturing techniques and warranties to insure quality for your money. Much of the cost at this price point (40-50%) is the fabric, and it’s worth careful consideration.

Decide How much to Spend:
Ask yourself:

1. Is this sofa for a seldom-used “ceremonial” living room?
   If so, almost any upholstery-grade fabric will do.


2. Is this sofa for the family room of an active family?
   If so, select a tightly woven, easily cleaned fabric. Mohair wears like steel, but is expensive. (Watch for new improved versions coming soon at a better price point.) A high quality Micofibre or ultra suede is durable and practical as spills sponge off. Tightly woven linen, linen/cotton blends, cotton/polyester blends are appropriate. Be careful of chenille fabrics that are not backed for upholstery use as they are too soft to withstand the wear and tear of an active family with kids and pets. Read more on upholstery fabric considerations here.

Where Should You Buy Your Sofa?

The Internet Yes, there are literally hundreds of websites but how do you know that the cushion feels right for you, the seat depth matches your body type (you don’t really want your feet dangling as you try to look cool impressing the boss, do you?), the fabric feels soft to the touch (called the “hand” in the fabric industry) and the size is really as you perceive it. In other words, unless you are a furniture designer who can evaluate these details, or you are buying for “show” and not for personal use, this is not recommended.

Department Stores As you can imagine, the big guys buy in bulk so get great prices, but before you go there, do your homework. Ask who manufacturers the sofa, how long the company has been in business and what is the warranty on the frame and the cushions. Department store prices are notoriously inflated (how else can they do those incredible 50% off sales?), so if you must, wait for a sale and then ask for an additional discount.

Specialty Furniture or Home Décor Stores Smaller stores are probably a good bet since they have done their homework on the manufacturer(s) they represent, have made a considerable investment in filling their showroom with samples and are interested in customer satisfaction for their limited customer base. Once again, ask for the warranty on the frame and cushions, and how long the manufacturer has been in business. Just be sure you are buying at your price point from a reputable supplier, and most important, from a trusted manufacturer who stands behind their product even if the local merchant stops representing their line.

Interior Designers Designers work closely with the local furniture manufacturer showrooms (at the San Francisco design center area there are over 100 in a 3-block radius) so offer they widest variety of styles, price categories and an unlimited selection of fabrics from this plethora of resources. If you have engaged a designer, use him or her to narrow the choices for you based on your needs, your personal style and color preferences, and budget, then go for a test drive of 2 or 3 pieces to make your decision and the final fabric selection. The designer will then order both the fabric and furniture for you, coordinate delivery from the manufacturer to a local receiver, inspect the piece for accuracy to your order, then make arrangements for local delivery to your home. If you believe the saying “variety breeds confusion”, then hire an interior designer to guide you to make the right choice for your lifestyle and your budget.