Have spent the morning trailing around charity and furniture shops looking for a new sofa. You wouldn't think it would be so hard but we seem to fall in between the youth who want the slouchy slumpy sofas and those who want the high back granny settees.
We want a cushion with just the right amount of softness combined with a reasonably high back. We can still manage to get out of low chairs - although perhaps we should be thinking about the future. Then again a sofa isn't likely to last that long.
The first sofa we had, the one we bought when we were expecting our first child and anticipated lots of evenings in, lasted us for years and years. Admittedly towards the end people used to grumble about not being able to get out once they'd sat down but who wants visitors anyway?
This - only our second - sofa hasn't lasted so well at all. Not only are the support straps gone the covers are worn out, probably from too much washing. And therein lies another problem.
We finally found a sofa we both liked in the last - and most expensive - shop. I am just thinking, 'This could be it,' when Husband said, 'I'm not sure about spending lots of money on a sofa while we have grandchildren.'
The style is also available in leather but I have a thing about leather furniture: it's not warm and cuddly. On the plus side it's easier to wipe down when chocolate, wine, ice cream etc inevitably gets spilled. And that's just from Husband. On the negative side it's even more expensive.
You can understand why our grandparents had a front parlour they kept for best.
What do you think? Do you have a leather sofa?
10 comments:
Decisions, decisions!
I've never had a leather sofa; but, like you, I've washed the covers of a lot of cushions. Our current sofa was purchased in 1981, has served in 3 houses/states, and will be with us the rest of our lives. The sofa before that, having been re-covered once and having served in 5 houses or apartments/3 states from 1963 to 1993, was only disposed of after Hunky Husband (on temporary assignment for 2 years - in a state 1500 miles distant) found that we had too many sofas to make it worth bringing it back to Kansas. It was donated - and I've missed it ever since.
Love our leather seats on our dining chairs. Easy cleaning gets my vote every time!
Cop Car
True, CopCar. Our dining room seats are filthy and there's nothing I can do.
We're like you, obviously not prone to buying new sofas every two years just because.
We have a special leather sofa. From Africe. It is the skin of ONE elephant, folded, not sewn together. Rare, from the beginning of the last century.
But of course, there's a woolen cover over it, to stop the dog scratching the leather.
I suppose I could put a blanket over it.
I have a burgundy leather love seat. Yes, leather is easier to wipe down but you can't scrub it really -- if it's dyed leather, you'll leech out some of the dye and that looks like hell. But on the plus side, good quality leather does not show wear and tear like fabric does. It takes years before leather will look shabby.
Never let anyone eat anything while sitting on the sofa. Never let anyone l-o-u-n-g-e. Declaw the cats. Keep children and dogs out in the garden. Antimacassars can be found cheaply in charity shops.
I tend to think leather sofas last longer because they are as you suggest, not as comfortable.... so they are not as well used. One possible option.... use blankets on the cloth sofa when grandchildren may add messiness?
In England is the “arcane US term” Davenport ever used for the word “sofa” ? And conversely.... is the “colloquial US term” “couch” used much in England? In my family we use all three terms as synonyms. When we say Davenport, though, we often get quizzical looks. :)
And shabby leather will probably be trendy by then, Debra.
You mean i should just give up before i begin, Sonata?! I think it's less of an antimacassar and more of a big plastic sheet that I would need.
I had a sofa. Bought in about 1993.lasted until 2016. Washable covers, a three seater sofa bed and two seater. Five grandchildren, and two cats, who didn't scratch it. Grandchildren were allowed to sit in it haha. We just taught them,.. But when tiny and toddlers , it was down to their parents to sort them out..of course when I moved on my own, I had to go "sofa" hunting. That wasn't easy, but I found one. Good luck. Nope I never did understand why they had a "parlour" that we couldn't go in. I think we went in through the front door, straight into parlour and shooed straight through. Can't really remember. I also never moved anything, to out of reach. Of tiny t hands. Just don't touch. Haha
For some reason we’ve ended up with several leather sofas, two in the UK and one in Italy. I must admit they are not cosy, they look great but even with throws and cushions they are chilly. We also have one with washable covers, it’s comfy and practical but not so handsome, I generally sit on that one. Difficult choice, look forward to your decision.
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