Getting the Best Value Out of Your Couches
A sofa is a big-ticket piece of furniture that can greatly impact the overall feel of the room. But with so many variables to consider, choosing the best sofa for your requirements and budget can be a struggle.
Forbes Vetted enlisted a panel of experts in furniture with children and pets to test out the best couches available. Their evaluations focused on durability, comfort, as well as value.
Comfort
A good couch should be comfortable to sit on for prolonged periods of time. A good couch will help your back, without causing it to be sore. This is particularly crucial if you suffer from a back issue that is chronic or other health issue such as osteoarthritis. The appropriate fabric for your sofa is also crucial. Certain fabrics are more allergenic than others, so make sure to read the labels on any couches you're considering purchasing.
The most comfortable couches are constructed of kiln dried or solid hardwood frames. These are stronger and last longer than wooden frames made of plywood or manufactured. They also won't break or creak after heavy usage. Some companies offer the guarantee of a lifetime for their frame and upholstery while others offer warranties up to 10 years. It's also important to consider how much you plan on using the couch. If you plan on using it for a lot of family gatherings, you should consider an area that can hold many people comfortably.
One of the top-scoring couches we tested, this 7th Avenue model is made of an extremely durable fabric that's stain-resistant and water-resistant. It also has removable and machine-washable covers that are easy to clean. It's also available in a variety of more than 75 colors and fabrics, with pet-friendly options. The fabric is thick and durable, and the color was a perfect match to our tester's style well.
During our testing, this sofa was the most comfortable of all of them, with the testers giving it as nine out of ten for napping. It comes with a foam and fiber fill that was stiffer than our other top picks but still gave plenty of support. It was also surprisingly sturdy and held up to tests of jumping and daily abuse from toddlers. The cushions on the back were a bit on the firm side, but they did soften over six months of testing.
Sixpenny's couch is great for families. It has a spacious seating area and can seat two adults or three children. In our tests it was extremely comfortable for everyone to sit on, and even allowed one of our test subjects to have a catnap right in the middle, without feeling sore. Sofas & Couches and fabric are both of high-end quality, with a solid wooden frame and durable upholstery that has held up against several spills and scratches. The cushions are thick and firm, giving it the feeling of cushiony, supportive.
Durability
A couch that is sturdy and well-built will feel sturdy to sit on. A good frame will be constructed from kiln dried wood or solid hardwoods, rather than plywood. It should also be free of obvious creaking or sagging when you stretch out on it. The upholstery should be made well as well, with no loose threads or pilling. It is also important to think about how many seat cushions your couch requires, depending on the size of your living space and how much you want it to in order to accommodate guests.
A sofa's durability is determined by a mix of elements, including its upholstery material as well as the amount of abuse it will take from kids, pets and other household members. Panelists evaluated couches by jumping on them, looking for cracks and springs. They also slept in them, using a pillow as a backrest to determine if the couch caused neck and back pain. If you are looking for a couch online look through reviews to discover how it stands against the demands of family use.
Leather, which is typically more expensive than fabric, is thought to be the better choice to last longer. It is less scratch-resistant than other materials, and it is able to resist odors and stains more readily. Leather is easy to clean, and is an ideal choice for those who suffer from allergies since it doesn't hold dust or pet hair.
This model is a great choice for those looking for a stylish, durable couch that will last for many years. Its modular design can be customized to suit your space and expand with your family. It is upholstered with an anti-stain, water-resistant fabric that has removable cover that is machine washable. The couch was tested with three people frequently sitting on it, and did not show any signs of wear.
This sofa made by Allform is another excellent option. It lets you customize almost every aspect of it, including the leg finishes, upholstery color, and its size. The assembly process is a little more complicated than other couches, and at least two people are required. The end result will be a chic and comfortable couch that is easily rearranged to meet your requirements.
Style
A couch is an expensive investment. To make the best choice, you must be able to balance style, comfort and durability. Forbes Vetted invited panelists to test 19 couches over a period of months. During the time, the testers napped on the sofas at home, worked from home and held movie nights, taking detailed notes on how the couches performed in everyday use. They also noted any joint discomforts, how easy the cushions were to readjust and how many guests they could comfortably accommodate on each sofa.
It isn't easy to understand the various specifications for a couch, especially when you are dealing with classic brands or direct-to-consumer sellers. Some retailers offer a wide variety of options for customization including cushion material, upholstery fabric, Martindale abrasion ratings, and the type of joinery, or springs.
Depending on the material it can be helpful to choose the type of sofa you'd like before you begin looking at fabric and color options. If you are looking for something that is sturdy, stain-resistant, and comfortable, consider a polyester sofa instead of one made from cotton or linen. Polyester is more likely to withstand stains and wrinkles, while cotton and linen can be vulnerable to pilling and staining.
Another important consideration is the way your couch appears in your home. If you prefer a modern style, choose modern shapes and a soft neutral fabric. On the other side, if you're attracted to traditional designs, you might prefer a more traditional elegant, tailored style and more luxurious, dark-colored fabric.
After narrowing your options, you should check if the sofa is available in different widths, so that you can choose the best option for your space. Also, make sure to confirm whether the couch you're looking at is available in a variety of colors. Some retailers allow you to sort by sofa width or collection of couches that can be useful when looking for the highest quality couches.
When you are ready to buy, ask your retailer whether they can provide white-gloved delivery. This is usually an additional cost and includes assembly at home, the placement of the packaging and removal. In our tests, this option was simple and quick. If you don't have the money to pay for white-glove deliveries, you can opt for standard shipping, which is typically one-time cost but does not include assembly or removal of boxes.
Price
The best value of your couch will depend on the durability and quality of its frame as well as its fill and upholstery. The frame should be constructed of kiln dried wood and mortise-and-tenon joinery. The cushion filling should be composed of spring coils, soft fiber or down. Performance fabrics with rub numbers of between 50,000 and 150,000 are long-lasting however, you'll need to think about a fabric that could be recovered or slipcovered in the event that it should get dirty.
Margaret Carroll, who runs Better Homes & Gardens North Carolina's sofa-testing laboratory, states that the lifespan of a sofa is also dependent on the material used and its construction. She says a low-quality sofa can last only three to five years, while a high-quality, hand-tied couch can last up to 20 years.
If you're short on time or don't have time for the details of your furniture, try to purchase your sofa during furniture sales. These sales typically take place during the holiday season or at the end of winter season and provide discounts as high as 30 percent. During our testing we discovered that sofas in Article's newest collection of fabrics were particularly priced well.
Pottery Barn is another place where you can find some great discounts on couches. They have a large assortment of pieces in stock and a variety of customizable options. On the website you'll find a broad selection of options for size, depth and color (the 93" two-seater that we looked at included seven length options). The white glove delivery service includes assembly and placement for $99 but there is a 10% fee on returns and exchanges.
Other furniture retailers online have similar returns policies to Pottery Barn, but may require a higher upfront investment. 7th Avenue, for example allows customers to return an item within 10 days of delivery and receive a full refund. However its furniture is shipped directly from the manufacturer and may take longer. In the same way, the online retailer Universal Home showcases collections from different furniture brands and offers free samples. The majority of its best-scoring sofas are available only as special orders, which means you'll need to wait for something urgently.