Buying a new couch when you don't have a clear plan or idea of what your needs are, can be a very costly and dangerous game to play.
First let me say I did not stage this living room, it looks good but I do not have children living with me anymore. This is an empty nesters house. So unless we have a party, I am lucky that this usually is as bad as it gets. Since I was 19 I have been moved out from my mothers home and I have come to know what I want when buying certain things. So with respect to buying a couch, I thought you'd feel inspired or like a few tips and tricks I have learned through the years to look for or stay away from.
I had already started a list of wants about a month before I actually bought our new couch. It helped me narrow things down when I walked into the furniture stores in my area. Which saved me a lot of indecision and wandering around for hours and hours. I even had a list on my cell phone. There are "note" apps for them that you can download. So when I saw the "Prettiest" one I stayed vigilant and checked my list and if it didn't meet them, I walked away. AND let me tell you it was damn hard! This couch I bought....wait for it.
Had a different version with purple pillows! But it was way to girly. If I ever switched my taste from modern/industrial to soft and romantic and replaced the ceiling fan with a crystal chandelier? That would have been bought so damn fast!
My wants:
- It had to seat at least 5 people easily.
- Medium grey or dark grey in color only.
- A sectional was listed as a possible for hubby. He likes to sit with his legs stretched out.
- Modern lines. I want strong clean lines with comfortable backing or lots of pillows for easy washing. I loathe loathe loathe those extra stuffed, over plumped couches. They are too slouchy for me. You could not give me one for a million dollars! I'm dead dog serious on that one. You know the ones? The $499 ones that are available at every flippin walmart, Menard's and Big Lots around the globe. I'm sorry if you like them, I don't want to every hurt anyone's feelings, but they are not my taste. Ever.
- Good quality fabric. Know your fabrics and how you need them to perform. Some fabrics sold, are imitation leather and will only perform if you properly care for them. Others are going to pill up after a couple weeks of being sat on. Do your research and buy what works for you and your budget. Our (you or me) failure to make knowledgeable or informed choices is not a store's fault or anyone else.
- Had to be able to split the sectional and still use it. Some sectionals when broken up have areas where they connect, that aren't upholstered. I move my furniture around, so that doesn't work for me. I actually placed the settee portion of my couch on the other side of the living room after 3 days of crawling in and out of it. Now it's my blogging settee.
- Seat cushions have to be reversible.
- No velcro attaching the seat cushions to the couch. Big fat no. They never never reattach after you wash the cushions. Plus, the reason they put the velcro on them, is because the fabric slips. Which means your cushions are not going to stay put.
Tip 1 - You are not going to be able to buy a long lasting sturdy framed couch for three hundred dollars. Unless you are buying it used or on clearance. This is the area where you get what you pay for. Now, having said that; you can buy a couch that will last, if you pay attention to Sales. There are some great deals to be had during holidays. This past Presidents Day, I got 30% off this one pictured.
Tip 3 - Know what you are willing to wait for. It's my opinion that no piece of furniture is worth paying for up front for and then waiting 3 to 6 months to receive it. In my terms - no hoity toity furniture place is going to make me wait for "just the right piece". There is always a second or third alternative from somewhere else that can be delivered within 2 weeks. Ethan Allen you know who you are.
Tip 4 - Know the measurements of your room before you even walk into the store. This is so critical it is worth yelling. But I won't. Have you ever tried to return a large piece of furniture? Because if you measure incorrectly, you're going to find out what is involved, real quick.
Tip 5 - Know the stores return policy and if it is not in writing then get it in writing. I won't mention what store I found, that even online does not spell out their return/ refund policy. But they do state that each store is owned and operated individually. Know what that says to me? They'll going to make it difficult for you to make a mistake. I also want to point out that everyone makes mistakes, but in the case of buying something that you just cannot live with, you are going to have to take a financial hit with the stores restocking fee. You might even have to deliver it back to them or pay that charge as well. Own it. You made a mistake, but the cost of living with a couch you hate will be much higher.
Tip 6 - If you have tiny humans living in your house, buy the fabric protection policy. Every store offers it. Consider it a 3 year insurance policy on letting your couch last against sticky jelly fingers. Make sure their terms for it are all in writing and take the 5 minutes to read it. (Plus if you stall, hesitate, hem or haw? Sometimes they knock that price down) I've never paid full price for the protection plan in the past ten years.
Tip 7 - Do not under any circumstances ever unpack your own couch! Specifically; let the delivery people cut and remove any and all packaging from around your furniture pieces. If YOU accidentally cut the fabric while taking the plastic off, you cut your own couch and are stuck with it. If THEY cut it, you get a new one.
My last tip
Tip 8 - Measure both your front door and your backdoor so you know what will fit through them. Especially if own an older home. My back door is 30" wide. Know what we can get through it? Groceries and mattresses. Period.
I actually got extremely lucky, the store was able to deliver this the following day after purchase. So my oldest daughter got our old one, it's now being stored in a garage until she needs it. Plus, this one is almost an exact match for my two chairs I bought last summer at Costco! I thought the color would be close, but I tried to act like I did it on purpose, but no one bought it.
I'll be brutally honest, it took about 5 days to really get used to having a sectional. I have not had one since I was in my 20's and that one was white. This is the perfect size for the room and entertaining, but it took some adjusting too. My old couch was 8 foot long nice and slender. This one sticks out into the room and I may need a new coffee table.
But I am loving it!
