Getting the Best Value Out of Your Couches
A sofa is a costly piece of furniture that can greatly impact the overall look of a room. Finding the perfect sofa for your needs and budget is difficult with so many options.
Forbes Vetted enlisted a panel of experts in furniture with pets and children to test out the best couches available. Their findings focused on durability, comfort, as well as the value.
Comfort
A high-quality couch must be comfortable enough to be able to sit on for long periods of time. A good couch should also be capable of supporting your back without making you feel uncomfortable. This is particularly important if you have a back issue that is chronic or another health issue such as osteoarthritis. The right sofa fabric is another important factor to consider. You should always be sure to read the label on any couch you are considering buying. Some fabrics can be more prone to allergies than others.
The most comfortable couches are made of solid or kiln-dried frames. These are stronger and last longer than plywood or manufactured wooden frames. These couches won't sag after heavy use. Some companies offer a lifetime guarantee on their upholstery and frame and some offer warranties that cover up to 10 years. It is important to consider the frequency you use the couch. If you're planning to use it for frequent family gatherings, think about an area that can hold many people comfortably.
This 7th Avenue model is among the highest-scoring couches we've tested. It is made of a tough performance fabric that is water-resistant and stain resistant. It also features removable and machine washable covers. Another advantage is that it is available in more than 75 different color and fabric choices that include pet-friendly styles. The fabric is strong and durable, and the color complements our tester's style well.
During our testing this sofa was among the most comfortable of all of them, with testers rating it a nine out of 10 for napping. It has a foam-and-fiber filling that is stiffer than the other top picks, but still provides plenty of support. It was also surprisingly sturdy and stood up to the abuse of toddlers and jump tests. The cushions on the back were a little more firm, but they softened over the course of six months.
This couch from Sixpenny is ideal for families, as it has a large seat size and can easily accommodate three adults or two children. During our test it was extremely comfortable for all to sit on and even allowed one of our testers to have a catnap right in the middle without feeling uncomfortable. The frame and the fabric are constructed of high-end materials with solid wood constructions as well as durable upholstery. They've stood up to several scratches and spills. sofa on sale are plump and firm, giving it a supportive, cushiony feeling.
Durability
A couch that is strong and well-built will feel sturdy to sit on. A good frame will be constructed of kiln-dried or solid hardwoods, not plywood. It should also not have visible creaking or sagging when you stretch out on it. The upholstery should also be well-constructed with no threads that are loosened or pilling. You should also think about the number of cushions your couch will require, based on how large your room is and how far it can expand to accommodate guests.
The durability of a couch is determined by a mix of factors, including the upholstery material as well as the amount of abuse it can endure from pets, children and other household members. Panelists who evaluated couches in this roundup jumped on their couches and listened for the sound of springs or creaks. They also slept on them, using their pillows as backrest and evaluating whether or not the couch caused back or neck pain. If you're shopping for a couch online, ensure you read reviews to see how the couch stands up to the demands of family use.
Leather is generally more expensive than fabrics, but is often seen as the best option for durability. It's less scratchy than other materials, and will resist stains and odors more easily. It is also easy to clean and a ideal choice for those suffering from allergies, as it doesn't gather dust or hair from pets.
This model is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a stylish, durable couch that will last for many years. Its sleek and modular design is customizable to the space you have and can expand with your family. It is upholstered in a stain-resistant, water-resistant fabric with removable cover that is machine washable. During testing, this couch stood up to three people sitting on it often and never showed any signs of wear or tear.
Another option that is worth considering is this couch from Allform that allows for the ability to customize every aspect of the couch including colors of the legs, upholstery color and size, as well as more. The assembly is a bit more difficult than other couches, and at a minimum two people are required. But the end result is a stylish and comfortable sofa that can be a perfect fit with any decor and is easily reconfigured to meet your requirements.
Style
A couch is a significant investment, and choosing the best one is the right balance between style, comfort and durability. Forbes Vetted invited panelists to test 19 couches over a period of months. During that time, the testers napped on their sofas as well as at home, and held movie nights, taking detailed notes on how the couches stood up to daily use. They also logged any joint aches and how easy it was to readjust the cushions, and how many people could fit comfortably on each sofa.
It can be difficult to sort through all the couch specifications including classic brands and direct-to-consumer (DTC) retailers. Some retailers offer a wide range of customization options including upholstery fabric, cushion material, Martindale abrasion ratings, and the type of joinery or springs.
Before you start looking at fabric and color options, you might want to consider the type of couch that you are searching for. If you are looking for something that is sturdy, stain-resistant, and comfortable, go with a sofa made of polyester instead of one made from linen or cotton. Polyester is more resistant to stains and wrinkles. Cotton and linen are more susceptible to staining.
Another important consideration is how the couch looks in your home. If you're looking for an aesthetic that is more contemporary think about a modern design and choosing an easy, neutral fabric. If you're drawn to a traditional style, you may want an old-fashioned, tailored look and a soft dark fabric.
Once you've narrowed down your search, make sure the couch comes in multiple widths, so that you can select the ideal option for your space. Also, make sure to confirm whether the sofa you're looking for is available in a variety of colors. Some stores let you filter by couch collection or the width of the sofa, which can be beneficial when you're looking for the top quality couches.
If you're ready to purchase, consider whether your preferred retailer offers white-glove delivery. This is typically an extra-cost upgrade that involves at-home assembly, placing and removal of the packaging. The service was simple and easy to use in our tests. If you don't have the funds to pay for white-glove delivery You can choose standard shipping, which is usually a flat fee but doesn't include assembly or removal of boxes.
Price
The durability and quality of the frame along with the filling and upholstery will determine the worth of your sofa. The frame should be made of kiln dried wood with mortise-and-tenon joinery. The cushion filling must 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 should consider a fabric that can be cleaned or replaced in the event that it should become dirty.
Margaret Carroll, who runs Better Homes & Gardens North Carolina's sofa-testing laboratory. She says that the life expectancy of a couch is also dependent on the material used and its construction. A sofa that is of low-quality can last only three to five years, while a high-quality, hand-tied couch can last up to 20 years.
If you're strapped for time, or you don't know much about upholstery, you can purchase your sofa at an auction for furniture. These usually happen around the holidays and at the end of winter and can offer discounts of up to 30 percent. When we tested the sofas we discovered that the sofas in Article's latest line of fabrics were especially priced well.
Pottery Barn is another place where you can find some great bargains on couches. They offer a wide range of stock pieces and a variety of customizable options. On their website, you'll find a wide range of options for size, depth and colors (the 93" two-seater sofa we tried offered seven length options). The company's white glove service includes assembly and placement and is priced at $99, however returns and exchanges are subject to a 10 percent charge.
Other online furniture retailers have a similar return policy similar to Pottery Barn, but may require a higher initial investment. For instance, 7th Avenue allows customers to return any item within ten days of delivery for a full refund however, its upholstered pieces typically ship direct from manufacturers and may take longer to arrive. The online retailer Universal Home showcases collections from different furniture brands and offers free swatches. The majority of its best-scoring sofas are available only as special orders, which means you will need to wait if you want something today.