I'm on my second set of couches in 10 years, and my current ones are already in terrible shape. They are La-z-boy. Part of it is my own stupidity for buying ivory couches, but the fabric is also ratty looking and the seat cushions are smooshed very flat. We have three dogs, a kid, and need something that can stand up to a lot of use. Any brand suggestions? Should we do fabric again or will leather hold up better?
I've heard leather will hold up much longer than fabric. We're hoping it lasts 10 years at least. We recently bought a leather sectional, i think the brand was Natuzzi. My H said it was a very good brand. The other brand we looked at was Palliser (I think), both are Italian and have good reputations (according to H, I didn't really look into it).
ETA: My parents also had Rowe couches and they held up great. And Rowe replaced the cushions when they got worn out. My sister just bought a Rowe sectional based on my parents love of theirs.
We have a Broyhill leather sofa and it's held up well with us and our 2 big dogs. My parents buy Rowe furniture and it lasts FOREVER. It's expensive but the couch they currently have is 15 years old and still looks great. The only reason they are looking to replace it is because my mom wants to replace it.
We have a Natuzzi leather sofa and chairs that are 8 years old and still looks like new.
We have a couple of Ikea couches that have held up surprisingly well too (two of three ikea couches have done well, the third one looked like crap after a short amount of time).
Mitchell Gold + Bob William sofas. 7 years and they look brand new (snd take a beating). Best furniture move I ever made.
Our leather Pottery Barn couch and armchair are made by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Not sure if PB is the cheaper place to get them or not, but occasionally they have furniture sales.
They are not 8 way hand tied though, which is the gold standard of couches. Not sure who makes them anymore, but they are $$$. They will last a lifetime, but may need re-upholstering over time.
I have a couch and loveseat by Rowe that have held up great - I've had them for nine years and they still look relatively new (assuming the dog hasn't been sneaking up on them recently).
I have not been impressed with our Natuzzi couch. We have owned it for 5 years. First, I don't think it is very comfortable. Second, the finish looks terrible in my opinion and began looking bad about 2 years into owning it. We have looked into the warranty and the issue we have is listed as an exclusion and not covered. The couch looks distressed which is not the sleek look we originally purchased or wanted. I deal with it, because we still have young kids and most people don't notice it or thinks its intended. Plus the leather itself is in good shape. It is just the finish has peeled, cracked, and on one arm looks almost lumpy. We will keep them until we move, and then they will be regulated to DH's den/mancave that he wants. I will not purchase Natuzzi again.
ETA: We had an old ikea fabric couch that held up for about 9-10 years through multiple moves, kids, etc. The fabric held up through washing which kept it fresh looking. The seat cushions were still firm. The back cushions were needing some extra stuffing when we only got rid of it. We only got rid of it, because we needed a sleeper sofa in the room it was in.
I hate my crate and barrel sofa. It was free to us, but the cushions were completely flattened after just a few years. I am taking notes for when we replace it!
I have not been impressed with our Natuzzi couch. We have owned it for 5 years. First, I don't think it is very comfortable. Second, the finish looks terrible in my opinion and began looking bad about 2 years into owning it. We have looked into the warranty and the issue we have is listed as an exclusion and not covered. The couch looks distressed which is not the sleek look we originally purchased or wanted. I deal with it, because we still have young kids and most people don't notice it or thinks its intended. Plus the leather itself is in good shape. It is just the finish has peeled, cracked, and on one arm looks almost lumpy. We will keep them until we move, and then they will be regulated to DH's den/mancave that he wants. I will not purchase Natuzzi again.
Oh, that sucks. I think ours is about 2 years old and so far it still looks great. But it is just H and I, no kids/pets. Do you mean the finish on the leather itself or other parts of it?
We have microfiber and have 2 dogs and a kid. Its held up pretty well, but I have also had it cleaned 3-4 times since its a really light tan. I would still buy it again though.
I have not been impressed with our Natuzzi couch. We have owned it for 5 years. First, I don't think it is very comfortable. Second, the finish looks terrible in my opinion and began looking bad about 2 years into owning it. We have looked into the warranty and the issue we have is listed as an exclusion and not covered. The couch looks distressed which is not the sleek look we originally purchased or wanted. I deal with it, because we still have young kids and most people don't notice it or thinks its intended. Plus the leather itself is in good shape. It is just the finish has peeled, cracked, and on one arm looks almost lumpy. We will keep them until we move, and then they will be regulated to DH's den/mancave that he wants. I will not purchase Natuzzi again.
Oh, that sucks. I think ours is about 2 years old and so far it still looks great. But it is just H and I, no kids/pets. Do you mean the finish on the leather itself or other parts of it?
The finish on the leather. I just took this picture of arm that looks the worst...hopefully it posts:
Post by whitepicketfence on Oct 31, 2012 12:26:53 GMT -5
We've been very happy with our microfiber couch. I don't recall what brand it is, but we've had it for 5+ years and it's held up well. We have 2 kids and a dog so I've had to wash the cushion covers several times and they've always turned out great. The couch is a lighter brown color and does a good job at hiding dirt.
Thanks for posting this. We are having the same issue, except we are on our third set in 7 years. With all the $$ I've thrown away on furniture I could have had some pretty awesome vacations.
My dad swears by leather furniture. He and my stepmom have 8 little dogs and their leather sectional takes a beating. It still looks and feels new and they've had it several years. I have heard good things about Natuzzi.
We just re-stuffed the cushions on our cheap Jordan's sectional, hoping to get another few months out of it. In the spring we were going to look at La-Z-Boy, but maybe not based on your experience. I think we are going to plan to spend quite a bit more than we normally do in hopes that we aren't furniture shopping again in a year.
Post by hereonceagain on Oct 31, 2012 12:41:38 GMT -5
I bought the cheapest of the cheap microfiber couches (sectionals). I paid $595 for the sectional and chose dark colors, red and the other is chocolate brown. They have held up great! I am on my 8th year with the chocolate brown one and it went through 4 kids. IMO if you have kids and/or pets, I would still buy cheap. I feel like we'd ruin a $2k leather couch in no time.
We have leather by Palliser. It's only 3 years old but it's held up well to our 60-lb dog. The sofa and chaise still look new.
We have a black leather Palliser couch and chair that we bought in 2005. Both still look new. We are really rough on our furniture too- 2 young kids, 2 cats, and 1 small dog haven't ruined them yet.
Oh, that sucks. I think ours is about 2 years old and so far it still looks great. But it is just H and I, no kids/pets. Do you mean the finish on the leather itself or other parts of it?
The finish on the leather. I just took this picture of arm that looks the worst...hopefully it posts:
I've owned three sofas (for three different rooms) - a Broyhill, a private label, and Ethan Allen.
Broyhill quality was just ok. The private label was in an office and didn't get that much use. Our Ethan Allen sofa is used all the time and it looks just as good as the day it was delivered. It is 7 years old now.
No. I was told not to use conditioners on it. Got curious if that was correct and found this on their website: us.natuzzi.com/65/24/Faq
"How can I care for my leather upholstery? A cleaning kit is available for purchase in our stores. Alternatively, we recommend that you clean your leather upholstery using a neutral soap diluted with water and a dry, soft, white cloth. We do not recommend any type of conditioner or chemical to be placed on the sofa. Simply dusting the sofa, and cleaning up spots when they occur, should help keep your sofa looking good for its expected life. Remember that leather is a natural material that can change appearance as it ages"
Post by perkyderky on Oct 31, 2012 14:45:33 GMT -5
Just like cars, most furniture companies will offer a basic, middle level, and upper level on their various options (fabrics, cushions, etc). You tend to get what you pay for, and I would steer you towards companies that make their product in the US (preferably North Carolina). Furniture making is coming back to the States for various reasons, but one of which is because our craftsmen and women make superior quality upholstery.
No. I was told not to use conditioners on it. Got curious if that was correct and found this on their website: us.natuzzi.com/65/24/Faq
"How can I care for my leather upholstery? A cleaning kit is available for purchase in our stores. Alternatively, we recommend that you clean your leather upholstery using a neutral soap diluted with water and a dry, soft, white cloth. We do not recommend any type of conditioner or chemical to be placed on the sofa. Simply dusting the sofa, and cleaning up spots when they occur, should help keep your sofa looking good for its expected life. Remember that leather is a natural material that can change appearance as it ages"
Wow, that sucks. So far ours looks fine but I'm going to inspect it more closely when we get home.