Need New Living Room Furniture

[ChrisinNJ]

My entire living room is hand me downs and the couch is uncomfortable and ratty. I need to shop for new couches, but haven't bought furniture in decades.

We are a family of 5, DH & I are big, we have 2 - 13 year olds, a 10 year old and a dog. The kids don't play in the livingroom, but my DH and I sit in here all the time, watch tv in here, eat/drink on the couch and the dog sits on the couch, and the kids sit here to watch tv or movies with us.

In couches, What are good brands to shop? Lazyboy? Bassett? We have an Ashley and a Raymour and Flanigan near by. What about fabric? What will hold up well to wear and tear and everyday use? Microfiber? Leather?

I don't want to spend a lot of money only to have it fall apart on me. My MIL spent a small fortune on a Thomasville sectional and half the seats are sagged with minimal use....

I would also like to get an entertainment center/wall unit, new TV and a coffee table or possible a large ottoman that can be used like a coffee table, an area rug, and possibly end tables. I'll take any advice and brand recommendations you can offer!

 

[JandJ]

If you want something that will hold up, invest in good leather. I was totally against leather when DH and I got married. He wanted leather but I thought of it as a "bachelor pad" style. But, after getting a sofa and love seat in good, quality leather and seeing it hold up against the dog jumping all over it, bags being dumped on it, and DH's feet on it while watching TV I have to admit, leather was the best option for us. If food gets spilled on it, or the dog throws up on it, thankfully it's a super easy clean up! Our set came with the extra protection plan against punctures, too, not that we've ever needed it. Shop around until you find a set you love. We went to 17 furniture stores! I just knew I didn't want something junky that I'd have to replace again in 10 years. You'll pay more for quality, but it's worth it in the long run. Personally, I don't like the big, overstuffed arms on typical leather sofas. Our set is like a traditional fabric sofa, with clean lines, but just in leather.

Our tables and TV console are Ethan Allen. They were costly, but I think we'll have them forever. They're gorgeous, heavy, in a neutral wood, and very, very sturdy. Both DH's parents and my parents have/had Ethan Allen tables for over 30 years!

 

[LJSquishy]

The brands you mentioned aren't high quality, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing if you only want your furniture to last 5 years or don't have a high budget. Ashley is probably the lowest quality.

If you are wanting high quality furniture, look for kiln-dried hardwood frames and joints that are blocked, glued, and screwed. It is really tough picking out quality furniture because formerly "quality" brands now produce total crap. Even LaZBoy used to produce decent furniture 20 years ago, but their product is low quality now. Don't go by what people say about their 30-40 year-old sofa...that info is not relevant...someone's 20 year old Flexsteel sofa is good quality but one someone else purchased 2 years ago is falling apart. Companies change manufacturing processes, most are made overseas, etc and quality is low.

We currently have a sofa from Costco that is low quality (which we knew) and it works fine for now but will have a max life of 6 years. We bought it knowing we would need to replace it in several years...our current house has a small living room and we had to be creative with the furniture scale, but are hoping to have a new house in a couple of years where we won't be limited in space.

 

[epsmith921]

We have a la-z-boy giant sectional that is 5.5 years old and still looks great. That being said, it was quite expensive and I've seen others that don't look so nice.

We use this all the time, have a toddler and have had all kinds of spills on it.

We paid extra to get the fabric guard on it and we also picked a durable fabric. I spent more time selecting the fabric than the couch itself.

If I could have stomached the extra $1,000 I would have gotten the leather though knowing we intended to use this every day and would have kids.

Best of luck in your search! (Ps I also have hand me down furniture in about every room of my house! - at least it was free, but I love that sectional because I got to pick it!)

 

[jenniferma]

It is not budget furniture at all... but my DH and I were so sick of our furniture falling apart after 2 years.. we got Arhaus Furniture. I LOVE it. We got the baldwin sofa that has washable slipcovers.. and the chair and half and carina chair. We bought it all on sale, and it wasn't cheap--but it was purchased in 2006 and it's like it's brand new. I think it was absolutely worth the money and I am pretty frugal.

good luck!

 

[ldo]

we bought a Flexsteel sofa (they make chairs for motorhomes) covered in chenille fabric. We have had it 15 years and my 3 kids have done handsprings on it, jumped without cushions, etc. and the fabric is starting to fray a bit at the edges, but sofa is still in excellent condition. I got one on turned legs, transitional look.

 

[Sinderelly]

We have had by far the best luck with Ikea and Sams Club. Our purchases from Ikea include:
Loveseat
Ottomans
Entertainment center
End tables
Beds
Kitchen cabinets
Closet organizers (Pax system)
Dining table and chairs
Barstools

From Sams Club
Two leather recliners
Mattress/foundation
Bedroom set (bed, dresser,end tables
Rolltop desk

No problems with any of this.

 

[Darcy03231]

Whatever you do, don't get bonded leather. DH and I made that mistake. After 6 years with little use (just DH and I) our couch, chairs and ottomans all look diseased! When I started checking on-line I found it's a common problem.

 

[Soulsearching]

I think you will get the most bang for your buck buying a leather living room set from Costco.

Read the description and reviews.

 

[robinb]

I bought my couch from Costco. We've only had it for a month but we really like it. It was also very affordable. Costco only sells furniture in their stores early in the year and then mid-year (July 4th) so it may already have been moved out. Also, Costco is cash and carry so I had to find someone to help me bring it home.

 

[Soulsearching]

Costco offers a lot of living room sets on line.

 

[Anthony1971]

Leather is great..... However the foam and springs wear and most if not all do not have removable cushions (I have never seen one at least).. once you start sinking they gotta go... I have had leather coaches for 15 years and are just replacing them...new ones coming next weekend... The leather still looks great the springs and foam on the other hand sink on the most used parts. I am still keeping one for my basement so that are not unusable just not as comfortable as they were a few years ago.
with that said if you want one that is built well today be prepared to fork over the $$$$$ otherwise buy a lower end one and replace it in 5 years... nicely put a 1,000 coach is the same as the 500 one but will have a nice selection of fabric and colors... full leather lets say you will be in the 2,500-3,000 range for something that will last a long time.
I paid 1,800 for my coaches 15 years ago....

 

[Anthony1971]

forgot to add the would have lasted longer should have certain smaller people not jumped and walked on them

 

[bedogged]

I bought my couch from Costco. We've only had it for a month but we really like it. It was also very affordable. Costco only sells furniture in their stores early in the year and then mid-year (July 4th) so it may already have been moved out. Also, Costco is cash and carry so I had to find someone to help me bring it home.

I bought an Italian leather sofa and chair a few years ago at Costco. They are wearing very well. Another thing about Costco, if you buy near the end of the furniture season, they reduce their prices. If you buy within a month of the reduction, they will refund the price difference.

 

[scottmel]

I have a bad back and unfortunately go thru couches rather quickly b/c to me they lose their firmness etc. I really did my research on this last couch and bought a STickley. To say I love it is beyond words. It is SO firm yet so comfortable. It is down filled and cushions and marvelous. Have had it almost a year and it is like it was the day it arrived. Absolutely love this couch. Will never get another brand!!!!!

 

[crisi]

I love Stickley furniture, but budget it is not. You can spend the cost of a small car on a dining room table and chairs. I haven't done couch shopping there because I'd pass out the first time the dog jumped on it or the cat got her claws in it.

What is your budget? How long do you need it to last?

We got ten years out of a $500 set bought at Hom furniture - couch and loveseat (granted it was fifteen years ago now) - wasn't great, but for the price it was fine. And we abused the heck out of it. I was a little sorry to see it go.

My parents have spent a LOT of money on some expensive couches, most of which did not hold up for the price - and I'm sticking to the "abuse it for ten years and sell it to a college student for $30 on Craigslist" method. I've given up on the idea that I'll ever have a house that looks like the ones in House Beautiful.

 

[robinb]

I bought an Italian leather sofa and chair a few years ago at Costco. They are wearing very well. Another thing about Costco, if you buy near the end of the furniture season, they reduce their prices. If you buy within a month of the reduction, they will refund the price difference.

Ohhhh! I wish I had known that!

 

[Alexle2007]

We have a 9 year old leather section from Haverty's that still looks brand new. Almost all of our furniture came from there. A little pricey but they have beautiful stuff. We got our living room furniture from JcPenney's around the same time and it still looks new too. Although it gets very little use since we hardly ever use our formal LR except for at Christmas.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I shopped at Costco while they had furniture in the warehouse, but all of the "leather" couches in my local stores were actually polyurethane... pleather. I know they have sets online, but I hesitate to buy anything online without seeing it and sitting in it first.

I would love to get 10 - 15 years out of a new couch. It doesn't need to last forever, just don't want it sagged and ruined in a year or 2.

 

[nemajovc]

Also see if the nicer furniture places have "scratch and dent" it isn't that obvious and pricing can be great maybe look at designer consignment too