Furniture

I am in need of some new Furniture. The last time I looked, I purchased without thinking and I got an eye soar sofa and ripped off. Plus the sofa does not look right in the room.

Anyways, I was in fortunoff last weekend and the quality of the leather that they have is amazing. Now I'm probably going to pay a bit more if I buy fortunoff or another department store compared to levitz or a normal Furniture store. However I am thinking the quality may be better. Is there any truth to this? Do department stores have an annual or semi-annual sale where they discount everything and I possibly get a better deal?

Or would I be better off just sticking to a regular Furniture store? I plan to take care of my stuff this time and have it for a long time. However I am wondering what is the average life span of a couch or sectional? I was told 5 years once, but then at the higher end stores they are telling me 15 years if it's taken care of.

I'd appreciate advice. I really don't want to have to buy any more furniture for a long time.

Furniture can last a long, long time. But it all starts with good quality.

Do this: Stop in at the highest-end furniture store in your area. Look at their furniture. Touch the cloth and leather. Turn the chairs upside down and look.

Then go to a medium range furniture store and do the same. Then go to a low-end furniture store (like Ashley's or Farmer's) and do the same.

You will see the difference. My husband and I ended up buying our last round of furniture at Haverty's, which is probably a medium-quality furniture store. We just can't afford the better quality, but even the difference between Haverty's and Farmer's or Ashley's is astronomical.

Yes, if you take care of it, you will get a lot of life out of it. Leather is incredibly durable -- if you don't let your sharp nailed cat on it! I once tore a leather couch as a kid by sitting cross-legged on it while wearing sandals with a buckle. It happens in a split second.

The disadvantage to having furniture that lasts forever is that if you buy something trendy today, tomorrow it's "dated". That's one advantage lower-end furniture has -- you can frequently change it out.

If you want true furniture that lasts, buy antiques. Not only do you get high quality items, you are also a "green" consumer, since you are "recycling" furniture, instead of buying new stuff, usually made from less-renewable resources, like hardwoods, which are also manufactured, painted, and preserved in a chemical-laden environment. So, if you're interested, start visiting antique stores (where you get ripped off) and estate sales (some deals) and auctions (better deals) and yard sales (sometimes you get such good deals because people don't know what they have on their hands!). Old stuff is good stuff! Even mid-century modern is coming back!

I have been checking around and it seems the mid to low grade stores actually sell the same brands as the high end stores. The only difference seems to be is the manufactures sell the cheap <pleather> type of stuff to only the low end stores. You will not find the same set you see at macys or somewhere else and a no name brand store. The same brand of loveseet just a low end model.

I really like the sets at macys, fortuneoff and raymor and flanagin. I am just not sure if I want to spend 2-3K on a set I may be able to get at ashleys for a bit cheaper.

I bought a set by lane which is just under 2 years and I hate it. One it's too big for the room I have. Two it's made horrible and bought it and low end store. It's alreday falling apart. The brand I am considering it nuuzzi which is one I liked that I saw at macys.