The quality of the furniture lasts for a long time compared to cheap furniture. You won't need to replace your high-end furniture very often, making it more cost-effective in the long run.
However, much like mattresses, you get what you pay for, and as sofa is the most important piece of furniture in a living room, it's worth spending on. 'Taking shortcuts or buying a sofa which doesn't offer comfort and joy always makes for a bad investment,' agrees Suzy McMahon, Buying Director at Sofology.
Your new sofa may not last more than five to ten years (more if you take good care of it), but it should provide a comfy starting point for your family. Mid-Range ($1,500 to $3,000). You can find high-quality, mid-range sofas with polyester, velvet, and even leather upholstery for anywhere between $1,500 to $3,000.
So here's your first tip: anything under $699 is considered an inexpensive sofa. $799–$1,999 is the average you'll pay for one sofa. Any sofa within the $2,000–$3,000 is considered “higher-end”.
“You can spend $4,000 if you want a high-quality sofa, but in reality there are lots of companies where you can get a $2,000 sectional that will look good in five years' time,” she says. Here are a few things to look out for to be sure you're getting the most bang for your seating-area buck.
Consider the two thirds rule
A sofa that's the full length of the wall in front of which it is positioned could prove overbearing in a room scheme. But it's also the case that a sofa can look too small. One approach to getting the right proportions is to aim for a sofa that's about two-thirds of the wall length.
Leather is a durable choice, as well as high-quality fabrics. Woven patterns will last longer than printed, and higher thread counts with tight weaves are worthy of consideration. If you have pets, microfiber fabrics are a great choice—they are stain resistant and will last a long time.
Unfortunately, for the life expectancy of a sofa, your beloved sofa won't come with a specific expiration date that informs you of when you are due an upgrade. However, the average life expectancy of a sofa of around 7-15 years, if it's good quality and has a structurally sound sofa frame when you purchase it.
While the average sofa should last between 7 and 15 years, signs of wear and tear are likely to appear before then – especially if it's a well-loved sofa. Luckily, there are ways you can make your sofa appear just as beautiful as the day you bought it.
U.S. household expenditure on sofas 2007-2021
In 2021, the country's average expenditure on sofas amounted to 207.56 U.S. dollars per consumer unit.
There are a few factors that can help distinguish the quality; for example, the overall weight, frame/foundation, spring system, seat cushion foam and upholstery fabric all play a huge role in the quality of a sofa or chair.
Don't Be Afraid to Haggle
While you probably won't have much luck negotiating furniture prices at chains, independently owned shops are usually more open-minded.
1. How often should you replace a sofa? The common consensus is that an average sofa will remain in prime condition for around seven years, after which a drop-off will begin. A top-quality sofa might even see you through 15 years of family life, but even that will succumb to sagging eventually.
The upholstery of the seats and backs of luxury sofas is of very high quality, while their fillings are dense and compact. Deep and high cushions are characterized by their springiness, yet they are firm enough that when you sit on them you don't feel the wooden structure and the seat doesn't collapse.
High-quality furniture can offer you years of beautiful service if properly maintained. Cheaper furniture, on the other hand, will instantly affect the aesthetics of your home and may have hidden costs in the long run. But these aren't the only potential problems of buying low-quality pieces.
New Year & Winter Sales
Retailers tend to clear out stock of unwanted furniture to make way for new products. Additionally, winter sales are often held in January, so prices on popular items will be lower than usual.
The Best Times to Score a Deal on a New Sofa
While the best time of year for buying furniture depends on which type of furniture you're buying, when it comes to sofas and sectionals specifically, the best months to buy and save money are January, February, August and September.
How Long Do Couches Last? Sofas last from seven to 20 years, though most cap out at roughly 15. The same goes for loveseats, sectionals and sleepers.
Hypoallergenic: Leather sofas are the perfect sofa for allergy sufferers. Leather is hypoallergenic and repels dust mites, pet dander, pet hair, and other allergens, which collect in fabric sofas. 3. Stain-resistant: Leather sofas are highly durable due to the tanning process used in their manufacture.
Any quality sofa needs a well-made frame that will allow it to maintain its overall shape and integrity. The frame is the skeleton that keeps every part of the sofa together, and for that reason it is incredibly important that it is strong and robust — able to stand up to everyday use without compromising on comfort.
Storing a couch standing up on its side might seem like an effective way to save space in your storage unit. However, because the furniture does not support weight in this fashion, this will likely cause structural damage. You want to do whatever you can to store the couch upright.
An 18th-century design that has never gone out of style, a camelback sofa is characterized by the graceful lines of its dramatically arched back. Camelback sofas are versatile enough that they're well suited for both ornate, classical designs as well as a more modern design ethos, or even a “shabby chic” look.
Durability: The sofa fabrics with the most durability will be cotton, linen, wool, polyester, and olefin. Linen becomes stronger when wet and doesn't pill. All of these fabrics are prone to lasting longer and withstanding wear and tear better over time that other types of fabrics.