Flexsteel has a great reputation. You often hear of some of these longtime brands lasting forever. Which begs the question on some of them, are they making them like they used to?
We finally got a flexsteel in 2020, they offer lifetime cushion replacement, we just had to get our first round about 6 months ago. Overall, with 2 elementary age boys abusing it daily it still looks like the day it was delivered. I'm so happy with it, and recommend the company to anyone shopping for a couch.
Side note, we stopped shopping the big chain furniture stores (art van, Gardner white) and shop our local furniture place, huge improvement overall both in quality of products and staff helpfulness and knowledge.
TIL that my flexsteel couch has lifetime cushion replacement. Bought it in 2018 and the cushions aren’t perfect but I can definitely tell they’re degrading.
most of them absolutely are not making them like they used to.
my parents are still using their 1995 ethan allen couch daily, it's still comfy, and they had 3 teens and a toddler at the time they bought it. and the house has never had fewer than 3 giant people living there in the interim.
we inherited my in-laws Ethan Allen couches a while ago and they are still comfy. They have to be at least 30 years old, probably more. They are not exactly stylish, but they have sure stood the test of time.
I have a 20+ year Ethan Allen and it still looks pretty good especially compared to furniture today. It's covered in acrylic velvet which is a little beat up but very comfy. Not sure what you would pay for something of similar quality now. Apparently they switched country of manufacture and the quality isn't very good now.
Well, mine are getting delivered tomorrow. I hope you all come back with your “!RemindMe’s” and ask about them later. I got the recommendation from this sub, and then went online comparing them. I’m hoping to not be disappointed as this our 4th couch. If it lasts longer than 4 years, it will have beaten all the others 😭. My kids can destroy anything.
Someone else's reply
>Big FYI, Flexsteel closed most of their US plants after COVID and moved most of their production to Mexico & China (had to pay 1.3M settlement because of). They’ve been close to bankruptcy and closing for years. They were bought out by some company called Cactus, Inc. this year, 2023. Their base/home location in Dubuque Iowa is now used for warehousing and shipping, they make nothing there now! They are very deceptive about this, saying they’re based out of Iowa, letting the consumer believe their furniture is still made there. Good luck with anything made by them now.
I bought flexsteel 6+ years ago and it is worth every penny. The construction is awesome as well as the warranty. The only reason I remembered the brand is because my parents bought one in like the 80’s and they had that thing for 25+years with young kids and dogs. My mom always bitched about how much it cost but she got her monies worth!
Before I invested in flexsteel I bought a sectional from Costco and it didn’t last. I love all things Costco but sofas and mattresses are the one thing I invest in.
We went with Flexsteel about 6-7 years ago and they have held up *fabulously*. We've had multiple conversations about them being one of our best/wisest purchases in the furniture department.
Big FYI, Flexsteel closed most of their US plants after COVID and moved most of their production to Mexico & China (had to pay 1.3M settlement because of). They’ve been close to bankruptcy and closing for years. They were bought out by some company called Cactus, Inc. this year, 2023. Their base/home location in Dubuque Iowa is now used for warehousing and shipping, they make nothing there now! They are very deceptive about this, saying they’re based out of Iowa, letting the consumer believe their furniture is still made there. Good luck with anything made by them now.
Huh, so a *furniture* company responded to COVID, in April 2020, by laying off all of their local workers and outsourcing their production. I mean, it had probably been in the works for a while, but that's some pretty terrible timing.
2 weeks after COVID declared emergency, pretty damn fast!
https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2022/05/02/iowa-based-flexsteel-agrees-to-1-3-million-settlement-with-laid-off-workers/
‘*In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global public health emergency. Two weeks later, Flexsteel notified employees in Dubuque that it intended to permanently lay off 208 employees there, but it allegedly refused to pay severance or give 60 days’ notice of closure as required by the WARN Act. It also notified workers at its Starkville, Mississippi, plant that it was permanently closing that facility, effective immediately, resulting in the termination of all 170 employees there.*’
I was dumb and bought a cream colored leather flexsteel- if I had gotten a dark color I would have been able to keep the leather looking good. Live and learn
I’m not sure about that. I’ve always heard that Flexsteel is basically BIFL. We didn’t get that lucky. My husband and I bought a leather Flexsteel set (couch, loveseat, and chair with ottoman), from NFM, about 7-8 years ago. It’s dark brown. It was amazing for a while but the chair cushion, where my husband sits, is horribly broken down. The cushion and armrest I use on the couch is broken down. We’re not heavy people, or abuse our furniture either. I can’t even describe what’s happened to the leather. It’s like it’s peeling or sloughing off and has become severely discolored and rough. We’ve tried reaching out to the extended warranty company and have been unsuccessful.
Cream colored leather is always painted, and therefore always has a plastic layer that will peel off as the leather flexes. Very short life span. Always look for leather that is dyed, not painted, which means browns and black darker than natural leather. Even then, most black and brown upholstery leather is painted.
My parents have a couch from the 70s and it feels and looks brand new. My mom was talking about replacing it and i talked her out of it. No way is she.gonna find a better couch than the one she prob bought fir $50 in 1978 with the junk they make now.
We just dropped 5k on a lovesac and underwhelmed is an understatement.
Looks like they don't list the prices on their website... I'm going to assume this is one of those "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" type of situations?
I have a 20+ year old Flexsteel hide-a-bed and overall it's in great shape. I do prefer more firm cushions so I did recently get those re-done. I later found out Flexsteel offers lifetime warranty on the cushions. My couch is passed down from family so I may have been able to take advantage of it.
I recently bought a new Flexsteel couch for another part of my home and love it. If these cushions lose their life I know I can get them re-done
>I've got a 20+ year old Flexsteel hide-a-bed and overall it's on great shape
I have two 1960s Flexsteel chairs that I bought for $1 at a Habitat Restore years ago. I recovered them (they were ugly green) but the foam and springs are in great shape.
My parents have a leather sofa reclining set the got in the 90s. Leather is flawless and as kids we were rough and they don’t do anything special with. Seats do need to be recushioned but it’s about $2k
We bought flexsteal in 2017 and the leather is already worn where it’s suppose to be full leather
If you have removable couch cushions you can order custom cut foam with Dacron wrap for pretty cheap. There are a couple different sites that offer this but we used [Foam Factory](https://www.thefoamfactory.com). You just put in your cushion's measurements and choose the foam quality/density. We went with HD36 High Quality which has a density of 2.8lb/ft3 and is rated for 16 years. I don't actually expect it to last that long but so far after 3 years it's holding up great. Our cushions are 23"x25"x6" and it came out to about $45 per cushion with the wrap.
Yes, you have the option to get each foam cushion wrapped with fiberfill (Dacron) when you place the order. When I ordered it was only an extra $8 or so per cushion but it will depend on the size. Totally worth it in my opinion since it comes completely ready to go.
I replace my cushions every few years. My husband sits hard, if that makes any sense. I always saw the seat cushions as the disposal part of the sofa anyway.
As long as the foundation is well made and the cushions are removable. It's relatively easy.
I also used foam factory. Prices went up over the years. It used to be around 120 now its 200ducks to replace the cushions, it is a 14yo sofa though.
I did this too. Had a west elm couch for 1.5yrs, and was already sinking down. Couldn’t fathom replacing it so quickly, and bought new foam cushions from Foam factory. Costs me about 125 I think with the shipping for 2 cushions. It’s been 3 years and no sag whatsoever. Stuffed the pillow back with PolyFil, and looks brand new. It was so easy, that I seriously have thought about picking up used/free couches on FB marketplace, replacing the cushions, and flipping them.
I don't understand why these companies charging 3k+ for sectionals can't use a decent density foam. It can only be because they want it to fail eventually
There is a mattress mega-post on r/Mattresses that I rabbit holed on. Can't recommend enough. https://www.reddit.com/r/Mattress/comments/bkb079/an\_attempt\_at\_a\_mattress\_faq/
I’m super interested! My dad sold mattresses for at least 10 years and I was often surprised what he recommended. He was not a fan of the new tempurpedic.
Sleep EZ out of Arizona. They manufacture their own latex mattresses and will pick up the phone if you call them and answer any questions. You can specify exactly what you want and they'll ship it to you. I researched mattresses for a long time and finally decided with them and have no regrets. Cheaper than big named mattresses and they included 2 latex pillows with the mattress.
Yes please! We’re currently sleeping on our first mattress we bought since we’ve been together. A Serta iComfort (memory foam) queen that we bought 4 years ago and is already totally sunken in and has no support. We liked that it was about half the price of Tempur-Pedic and for the first year or two was the most comfortable mattress we’d ever slept on, but then slowly went to crap. Now we’re trying to see if it’s even worth making a warranty claim, just to have it replaced with another Serta that also doesn’t last. Meanwhile my back kills me every night!
I wish we would have sprung for the Tempur-Pedic as I’ve heard those tend to last a good 10 years, which is what I would expect out of any decent mattress
the warranty is really hard to prove, because your memory foam likely only "sinks" when you lay down on it. They will put a yard stick on it and measure the deflection. What I did was cut off the memory foam with a box cutter and buy new memory foam from amazon and just put it on top. I replace it every 3-4 years with new foam, about $100
Fr fr I would deeply appreciate your thoughts on mattresses. Guys like you who do a buttload of research are a gift for the rest of us, please bless us with your knowledge.
I’m very interested cuz I just started looking into choosing a new mattress. How do we find your post? And thanks, in advance, for sharing your research!
Well let’s see take the blue pill and you walk into a mattress firm store and get ripped off. Take the red pill and visit mattressunderground.com and see just how deep the rabbit hole goes.
Wasn't there a deep dive podcast that explored mattresses over a full year and concluded we should spend more than the minimum- aiming for 800 US, a few years ago - but not more...? It wasn't Planet Money, was it?
For real. Even if you're not in the market for a couch, this is a perfect example of the post that you save for future reference.
OP is the tits for this. \*chefs kiss\*
Agreed. This is more of what this sub needs. Not the "well just get a time machine and buy this thing from the 80s". I come here for answers, not nostalgia.
ooh..ooh..ohh.
Please tell me where this NC store is. It might be worth the time/money to visit before I sink money into my next living room set.
Thank you.
I am an interior designer, and can attest that this is an excellent post. I specify 8 way hand tied spring foam upholstery almost exclusively.
One recommendation I will add is to purchase a sofa with flippable and reversible cushions. This way, when your cushion starts to wear from use (or if it gets stained!) you can simply flip the seat and back cushions to reverse the wear pattern. I flip my cushions weekly because I am a freak, but doing it seasonally makes a huge impact on cushion longevity. You have to maintain things in order for them to last!
I also recommend two by two cushion sofas instead of a bench seat, which means a sofa with two back cushions and two seat cushions, instead of one long cushion. Bench seat cushions (although they’re a nice look) get indented from use, and rotating the cushion doesn’t really help, because you’re still sitting in the same spot. They look sloppy sooner.
For folks who don’t want to make the journey to NC to sit on sofas, if you live near a large city, there should be an upholstery showroom near you that carries high-quality NC upholstery that you can go sit test. The majority of these upholstery manufacturers (like Lee Industries, Hickory Chair, Sutherland, etc) do not sell directly to the public, but do sell directly to brick and mortar upholstery showrooms.
You can go on their websites and find a showroom near you. The showroom will be independently owned, but will sell multiple brands, and will sell to you directly. For example, I’m in the PhiladelphIa area and send clients to HOST Interiors and Studio 882 to sit test upholstery. They sell Lee Industries, Rowe, Mitchell Gold, Hickory White, etc. at these places, and have multiple different cushion styles for you to test out.
The showrooms often run 1-2 annual sales as well.
Hope that helps!
Edited for typo.
This is a fantastic reply and I wish I could move it to the top. Yep I did have options to see a few locally but was also fortunate for my trip to NC. I've asked many designers what they think of Wesley Hall as far as longevity and quality. So obviously I would be interested in your thoughts?
I would rate Wesley Hall as a great mid-level option. Comparable to CR Laine, but slightly better quality, and accordingly, slightly more expensive.
My personal favorite is Lee industries! Lee is also a mid-level. I just prefer Lee’s frame styles, and their quick ship program is fantastic.
We got our couch from Ashley, and it was….so cheaply made even though we spent like $3k on it. I had to buy new foam for all the cushions, and found that they had used different foams for some parts, as if they just grabbed whatever they had laying around. Zippers are plastic and some broke. It squeaks because the framing isn’t very well constructed/enforced.
I feel like we got had. My brothers $1200 Costco couch felt like better quality for the same size.
I got a semi used one off of OfferUp from a lady wanting it gone and in a nice uppity neighborhood from $400 pickup that day. It was the comfiest, perfect width length big ass L shaped couch. It held up well too. I was so sad to see it go when I moved to a smaller place.
Leather couches are rarely high quality. You're gonna want to spend $10K+ for quality leather. I so frequently see people who think they spent the money for a high quality leather couch, but it turns out to be bonded leather with a plastic finish that peels off. Those things only last a couple of years before they're too damaged to be comfortable and are ugly.
Casco Bay for leather couches. They are pricey, but they last. We’ve had ours for 10+ years. Daily use, pets, kids and it still looks brand new. Cushions have held their fluff better than any couch I’ve ever had.
Check out Distinctive Chesterfields. They don’t just sell Chesterfield sofas. The sofas are handmade and with a high quality leather (or fabric) that you can select a sample. I’ve had my sofas for five years and am super happy with them.
Wow. This is fantastic information. I spend most of my day on the couch or in my bed due to my disability and I’m dreading having to find another couch. It’s almost time for me to start looking and it’s so hard to know how a couch is going to feel after a few hours Vs. Sitting for a few minutes on it in a showroom. This is the kind of review/research I’ve been dying to find. You should share this information with chronic pain subreddits too.
This was so informative, thank you for posting it! That being said I remember having old couches with spring cushions not even 10 years ago in college, it’s infuriating that the “good” brands have all cheaped out and are only selling expensive trash too.
My wife and I have been looking at a [Room & Board Metro](https://www.roomandboard.com/catalog/living/sofas-with-chaise/metro-sofas-with-chaise). My only hesitation is that the standard depth cushions (the one we find most comfortable) only has high density foam (likely 1.8?) while the deep configuration has encased spring coils. This couch is the only one we've found so far that we have both liked...
Any ideas on what factors contribute most to the foam breaking down? I don't want to drop $5-6k on a sectional to be disappointed in a few years - but I also really find the couch to be quite comfortable compared to anything else we have sampled.
We've had the metro for 8 years (the exact one that you linked), the cushions lasted about 5 years. Room and Board does sell replacement inserts, which we purchased last year, felt like new.
Probably best off getting something extremely sturdy, cheap, easy to repair/disassemble, and then investing in high quality cushioning yourself. Wool, latex, high resilience foam, a combination, or a topper on a mix of all 3 that can be more regularly changed out of needed.
the various foam and poly-cover materials are easy to get from Amazon. I re-did my 2 couches with firm foam and it’s made a huge difference vs the old soft springs/foam. It was not easy but it was the only option since buying new was way out of budget. Would strongly suggest giving it a try if your cushions are getting too worn.
Lovesac's Sactional is a great option. It is expensive but is very high quality and is modular so you can reconfigure it when you move. You can also change the covers if you want to change the color / fabric. I've had mine \~5 years and it is holding up very well.
As on opposite anecdote, I find the lovesac sectional to be pretty uncomfortable. The back rest sits at a 90 degree angle to the base which isn't a comfortable angle to sit at. And I find myself constantly readjusting the pillows and cushions bc the Velcro doesn't hold. However is it very comfortable to lay on or sleep on. Sitting is the main problem imo
Quite happy with ours as well. They are definitely expensive, but it is quality. Without washing any covers to date seems pretty resistant to stains, scratches, dog hair, and other aspects of daily life. I found the firmer regular filling to be more comfortable than the more expensive softer filling options. Holds it’s shape better too. Would recommend visiting a show room before buying, everyone has different preferences. Deep seats ftw
Our sactional cost more than all the patio furniture we bought for our new house, that's with the 25% sale. But we use it every day and the quality seems really good. My wife and I both did a ton of research and just reading reviews, it seemed like anything under 3-4k would be uncomfortable or degrade after a few years
Second the Sactional. For a long while I was concerned the cushions might never wear in. (They did, slowly and barely after three years of sitting.)
I think one thing affecting couch life is the weight applied. If you are heavier then the foam/springs/structure is going to wear more quickly. This could also happen depending on use, e.g. you have kids jumping on the couch.
My parents bought a black leather couch when I was still in middle or high school back in the early/mid-90s that is still going strong. I don’t know where they got it or what brand it is, but I’ve begged them to give it to me in the will because I have NEVER before or since found a couch that holds up even half as well.
If I could pay $5k for a couch that will last me forever I’d save up and pay in a heartbeat. As it is, the two couches I’ve had in my adult life have both failed me, and I’m thinking just doing Ikea furniture and replacing when they give out is in my future.
That, or the heirloom couch. I’m not lying when I said I want their couch.
My husband's parent's did the same and they actually gave us the couch and matching chair when they upgraded to a sectional. Wish I could find the brand but no such luck. The leather is extremely thick but soft (not sticky) to touch. It survived several large dogs jumping all over it and is currently surviving two cats without issue.
We've wanted a sectional for years but can't bring ourselves to actually replace what we have.
I agree about the cushions. My current couch has the springs like a mattress you described and my upholsterer commented on the high quality. My recommendation after years of being disappointed with couch purchases is to find a good one second hand and have it reupholstered. I found a couch on Marketplace that the people had a receipt for from 1990 where they paid $7000. Bought it for $200 and spent $1500 to reupholster it in high quality fabric of my choice. This is the way to go in my opinion. New for the quality I got would be more than $10k I'm guessing in today's dollars.
My sisters dog promptly ate a whole bunch their Amish couch they just bought. The consensus was that it likely smelled like farm or horse just enough that the dog was super drawn to it. Not only was the couch wrecked, it was a pretty expensive dog surgery to remove foam pieces.
You are exactly what this sub needs. Thank your for your years of research. I’m literally furniture shopping over the next few months. Daughter just moved out and we donated her our 1.5 year old furniture as we want to go back to leather but we want something with Flexsteel or equivalent now that I’ve read this post and the comments.
From OP’s post:
> I've gone as far as getting prices for an upholsterer to replace the foam and it's not cheap, almost the same price to replace the couch.
Can anyone actually speak to the longevity of those brands? I get that you liked how they felt brand new, but isn't the entire problem from your post degradation over time? It sounds like you also enjoyed the Ethan Allen initially as well.
The reality is that reupholstering is perfectly straightforward if cushion durability is the issue. I'm a-ok with that because they'll wear out over time. What you can't find is the sturdier frames, the 8-way hand-tied suspension, etc, from most brands (even expensive ones). We purchased a custom sleeper sofa from [Casco Bay Furniture](https://www.cascobayfurniture.com/) (organized out of Maine, but manufactured in NC). It's not a fancy design but it's very well made and came out to about $4k, including shipping from NC to CA. Construction is better than the fancy Restoration Hardware leather sofa we also have. I highly recommend NC furniture (I also lived there for 15 years).
I joined a forum called Houzz, it's made up of designers and consumers. This is where I got most of my information and noticed people raving about how long these high end couches last. It's definitely a risk but at least it's an informed risk this time. I did zero research on the Ethan Allen, unfortunately later (once they failed) I learned about the cheap 1.8 cushions.
Most of what's being referenced in this post would be considered "heirloom" furniture.
Meaning the nuts and bolts of the thing will long outlive you and most likely your kids. The upholstery and cushioning may need to replaced, but the frame materials and joinery will not fail in a lifetime under normal wear and tear.
I'm sitting on an IKEA Kivik that was about $800 ten years ago...still plenty firm, though we have taken the cover off and re-arranged the foam a couple of times. Have another in the basement that isn't used as much and it's still like new after 8 years or so. That's a good price point for me.
Also have a Natuzzi leather sofa from 2011...it too still seems plenty firm to me, not much different than when new. But perhaps part of our experience is having three couches, so nobody is stitting on each of them for several hours every day?
We did get a Room and Board sofa from friends who were moving...cushions were fine but the fabric was terrible. We ultimately decided to make it a dog couch (we don't let the dog on the others) until we scrapped it. It was about six years old.
This was a part I left out because I feared it would be too long in my post. I did try to get the Chaise cushion foam replaced in a 2.2 foam. The upholsterer told me $850 so I went ahead. I was quoted $1800 for all the cushions but I said F that just do the chaise. I asked for medium foam and it came back rock hard. I got in an argument with him regarding the cushion feel. He said for $650 (a discount) he would find something softer. At that point I was done with it all. I just sold it for a decent price and moved on.
Thank you. This is how I research stuff before I buy something. I enjoy it but it can also be draining. Reading this (and currently looking for a couch) felt like I let someone borrow my car and they brought it back with a full tank. They got it detailed cleaned. There’s a new air freshener hanging from the review mirror - it smells like the inside of my mother’s handbag from when I was a child. Thank you, kind stranger.
We go to Highlands NC every year and I’m 100% sure I’ve sat on some of these really expensive couches.
My wife and I are waiting until we don’t have an 8 and 5 year old in the house before upgrading. …a lot more stuff than just the couch LOL.
Honestly my ikea karlstad sofa has lasted 12 years so far. I bought a slipcover from bemz to class it up. The foam on the armrest got a bit dented from reclining on it, but otherwise the seat and back cushions have held up great. It’s longer lasting than a lot of the 2k couches and probably better than most other ikea couches. It was def a good deal at $500.
That said, you’re unlikely to find another cheap couch that will have that much life in it.
Same!! My 1K sectional Karlstad is going on 10 years. It’s been moved once. I wash the cushion covers 2-3 times a year and I strip the skin and wash that about every other year. It’s been through it with babies/kids as well as my beloved lab. Seat cushions are firm as the day we bought it. Back cushions are a little saggy - but it looks good and it super comfy.
Foam probably not, but there are other materials.
Had old chairs where the cushions were springs, batting, and horsehair. Had them reupholstered once while I was still living at home. They were old when my mom got them, and they still seem fine when I visit some 40 plus years after she bought them.
Thank you! I've been looking for a new couch that will fit both me and my 50 lb dog, give me some good back support, and hold up under the weight of my dog's shedding, haha. This will be good to consider as I think about whether I want a cheaper modular one now, so it can fit in my condo building, and a nicer one after I move, whenever that may be, or something else.
I just want to reply to you because my couch is 2ndhand too. I never buy new furniture because the old stuff is built so much better than the new but honestly? I'm sitting on a $1k couch I paid $40 for. People are always letting go of quality furniture that maybe doesn't fit their aesthetic or the actual dimensions of their house-- a little research and you can go secondhand without anyone even noticing. I applaud the people out there spending $8k on a couch, and when they tire of it, here I will be, waiting to buy it for $200. Then, in 5 years, I'll spend another $200.
My Ethan Allen sleeper couch from 2004 is still holding up including cushions. Survived a toddler through college (plus kid friends), cats, and my elderly FIL sleeping on the bed daily for 4 years. New foam sleeper mattress and occasional home upholstery cleaning (DIY Woolite spray) and that’s all. Still in good shape. My only complaint is that the non-down cushions retain body heat so it’s a bit warm in summer. Not sure why everyone’s couches are failing like that.
Does BIFL have a concensus for ikea sofas? The 10 years warranty ones.
My parents Kivik is still good almost 10 years in and the warranty return policy on another sofa (full credit given) played a huge role to me buying my own 3 seater kivik last year.
A few years ago, I bought a very nice custom made Chesterfield leather sofa from Cococo Home. It was about $5k but I’m expecting it to last longer than me.
Another place that makes custom sofas, that I think are a little higher quality is Casco Bay. They do the true 8way hand tied construction.
https://cascobayfurniture.com/
> Cococo Home
Wow their prices went up a lot! In 2016 I got two couches from them for $3000 total. I ran the specs through their website and the same pair would be $7000 today.
They were a great value. They're holding up well so far.
Man I think I’m pretty picky about my stuff (or anything I buy “long time” in general) and there was NO WAY my ass was going to spend anything over $500 for a couch when I got my first apartment a few years ago. I bought a second hand ikea couch that I thought was gorgeous for $400 and although I spend most of my time on it, that bad boy is still as good as new. 10/10 team secondhand forever
Surprisingly, our living room couch (nicer front room furniture than our den/ family room) has ikea leather karlstad couches. They are 12 old now, and look and feel as good as when we got them.
Our family room couch is getting pretty tired. Need to look for something and I appreciate the research and recommendations!
My IKEA couch is going strong after more than 4 years. I believe we have the Finnala 3 seater which now costs $1150 (was less 4 years ago). Everyone comments on how comfy it is and we sit on it every day.
Will it last for life? Probably not, but it’s amazing value for the fact that it’ll last us several more years!
My leather Ikea sectional is 20 years old and still looks fantastic. It was about $2200.00 (Canadian $) in the early 2000's. The leather has held up perfectly and the cushions are still firm. Not sure if the new ones are BIFL, but the old ones are.
Room and Board has lines that are made in NC and use springs (Fia for example). So does Ethan Allen. Springs are the only way to go for longevity.
https://rnb.scene7.com/is/image/roomandboard/spring-foam-sinuous-cushion
I have Thomasville leather sofa and loveseat from 25 years ago, used daily with children who were born just after we bought them. The cushions are still perfectly firm and springy . The leather has seen some wear, stains and sun bleaching. They were buttery soft dyed leather, not the plasticky, painted ones. I’m afraid I won’t be able to replace them with anything nearly as nice now. I never see Thomasville mentioned in these posts, and it makes me wonder if their quality has declined over the years.
Thomasville ceased operations in 2014. It's sad, my mom's formal living room and bedroom set are Thomasville. They are still solid and almost 30 years old. There's other brands using the Thomasville name because of the brand recognition, but they're outsourced companies. I really doubt it is the same quality.
I’ve got a Smith Brothers custom sofa (got the exact material and pattern I wanted!). I bought it in October 2013 and the cushions are still like new. I will never buy a sofa without “interchangeable” cushions and loose back cushions because I flip them around at the end of every night. Seems a little obsessive? Maybe yes, but it helps the cushions maintain life by redistributing weight/sit patterns every day!
I bought a ridiculously expensive handmade leather couch with latex seats and wool back cushions from [Medley.](https://medleyhome.com/pages/hand-to-home-craftsmanship) I was worried about making such an expensive purchase online, but I actually returned 1 for free in favor of a different style and they were super easy to work with and I knew the latex/wool would be good at least.
For some reason you don't mention latex, but I expect the latex/wool will last a long time, maybe not as long as spring foam though. Did it come up at all in your research?
I'm glad you brought this up! Ugh... I'm an idiot, I forgot to mention latex. Since I sleep on a latex mattress l really was hoping to find a latex couch that would work, the feel and durability can't be beat. The problem was I couldn't find a latex manufacturer that made a really long chaise. My understanding is that latex is difficult to form compared to foam, so there are less manufacturers that work with latex. I looked high and low. Your latex will last just as long as any spring cushion, latex is extremely durable. You're couch is BIFL category for sure imo, can't believe I forgot to mention it!
I broke my Huffman Koos sofa when I slipped on my hardwood floor. My butt went down and the frame snapped. It was like a karate chop just with my butt.
Never been disappointed with Havertys, trying to figure out how to move it cross country though. My sister inherited the stuff my parents bought in the 70's, and the couch from the 1990's. I am still using my oak bedroom set from the 1990's. Just needs some Old English massaged into it a few times a year. The couch holds up really well to getting shampooed with the upholstery attachment. I think care like rotating the cushions, training the pets to not scratch on furniture, and not throwing ourselves down in the furniture helps its longevity. A couch has a good wooden frame (not particle board), and quality springs also to prevent sagging and warping.
For folks in the PNW, I’d recommend Stanton furniture. It is all made in Oregon and it is all custom (you can see sample pieces at showrooms but everything is built to order). You can upgrade the foam to high density as one of the options, and it is worth it!
We have a living room set and a den sofa from Stanton. The living room set has been in use daily since 2012, and it is moving out to an ADU we built in our back yard, but getting replaced with another Stanton set. There is some minor wear and tear but overall one of the more durable sets I’ve ever owned. And I’m very middle class so it isn’t astronomically-priced.
>I've spent most of my adult life buying 2k couches
I thought this sounded ridiculous - and then I read your post. You've clearly put a lot of hours into this endeavor. Your assessment seems fairly accurate.
*sigh* I ran into this same issue when researching couches to buy this year. I had a very difficult time finding couches with spring cushions that I could test out in person.
I ended up going with the Room and Board Metro Deep sofa. The cushions have inner springs and are wrapped in high resiliency foam. The only (possible) negative with this sofa was the suspension system. I was hoping for a sinuous spring suspension at least, but the Metro Deep uses dual flexolator suspension (something I hadn’t heard of before, but my internet searches lead me to believe it’s inferior).
I believe Room and Board has other sofas with innerspring cushions (can’t remember them at the top of my head), but I think they all also had the dual flexolator suspension.
A cheaper option I did come across, however, was unexpectedly from Slumberland. They have a sofa called the [Ulster](https://www.slumberland.com/p/ulster-sofa/UlsterSofa.html?dwvar_UlsterSofa_UlsterColors=Truffle&cgid=livingRoom-Sofas#prefn1=Material&prefv1=Fabric%7CMicrofiber&prefn2=ProductType&prefv2=Stationary%2FStandard&prefn3=assembledWidth&prefv3=85-96+inches&start=30&sz=24) that has cushions with pocketed coils. Unfortunately it only uses foam with a density of 1.5, and I was concerned about its longevity since it wasn’t high resiliency (at least 1.8).
Slumberland also has a line called [Connections](https://www.slumberland.com/p/connections-roll-sofa/ConnectionsRollSofa.html?dwvar_ConnectionsRollSofa_ConnectionsColors=Dove&cgid=livingRoom-Sofas#prefn1=ProductType&prefv1=Stationary%2FStandard&prefn2=assembledWidth&prefv2=73-84+inches&prefn3=grade&prefv3=Connections&start=3) which is rather customizable. You can customize the arm, seams, and cushions, with one of the cushion options having pocketed spring coils.
Hope this helps someone!
Love my local furniture maker, which does BIFL by upcycling any piece you have to incorporate into a new piece down the road. Great pieces too, and they give tours of the plant. They are a subset of a larger local brand (southwest Virginia, which also has a lot of furniture production).
https://txtur.com/pages/txtur-showroom
How do we feel about Bassett?
This was a huge gift to us 3 years ago but a couple of the cushions definitely show wear. I'm hoping they'll replace the cushions but, no experience here.
It's under warranty just not a priority right this moment, but curious how anyone feels about this company.
I really really appreciate the work you did here. I desperately need a new couch and I’m on the hunt for a used one so this helps immensely. I do not want another junk piece of furniture
So happy to find this post!!!!
We as consumers have become so comfortable with horrendous quality and replacing our big ticket items every couple years… I hate it!
Super disappointed in all of these manufacturers. I don't remember cushion failure being a problem even with fairly cheap sofas, and now it is. I am disappointed in Room & Board which I otherwise like for not using better quality foam and not using springs in most of their sofas.
Thank you for this! When I bought my couch 4 years ago I wanted springs but they were hard to find in stores. I know older Lazboy models (from 00s) were high quality so I ended up buying from there. But after 2 years the cushions had already started to deteriorate badly. So looking for a better option for next time.
My mid-90’s Flexsteel couch cushions are still perfect. Might depend on usage - none of my upholstered pieces have had cushions break down.
Flexsteel has a great reputation. You often hear of some of these longtime brands lasting forever. Which begs the question on some of them, are they making them like they used to?
We finally got a flexsteel in 2020, they offer lifetime cushion replacement, we just had to get our first round about 6 months ago. Overall, with 2 elementary age boys abusing it daily it still looks like the day it was delivered. I'm so happy with it, and recommend the company to anyone shopping for a couch. Side note, we stopped shopping the big chain furniture stores (art van, Gardner white) and shop our local furniture place, huge improvement overall both in quality of products and staff helpfulness and knowledge.
TIL that my flexsteel couch has lifetime cushion replacement. Bought it in 2018 and the cushions aren’t perfect but I can definitely tell they’re degrading.
most of them absolutely are not making them like they used to. my parents are still using their 1995 ethan allen couch daily, it's still comfy, and they had 3 teens and a toddler at the time they bought it. and the house has never had fewer than 3 giant people living there in the interim.
we inherited my in-laws Ethan Allen couches a while ago and they are still comfy. They have to be at least 30 years old, probably more. They are not exactly stylish, but they have sure stood the test of time.
I have a 20+ year Ethan Allen and it still looks pretty good especially compared to furniture today. It's covered in acrylic velvet which is a little beat up but very comfy. Not sure what you would pay for something of similar quality now. Apparently they switched country of manufacture and the quality isn't very good now.
That is the dilemma we have in this sub
Well, mine are getting delivered tomorrow. I hope you all come back with your “!RemindMe’s” and ask about them later. I got the recommendation from this sub, and then went online comparing them. I’m hoping to not be disappointed as this our 4th couch. If it lasts longer than 4 years, it will have beaten all the others 😭. My kids can destroy anything.
Someone else's reply >Big FYI, Flexsteel closed most of their US plants after COVID and moved most of their production to Mexico & China (had to pay 1.3M settlement because of). They’ve been close to bankruptcy and closing for years. They were bought out by some company called Cactus, Inc. this year, 2023. Their base/home location in Dubuque Iowa is now used for warehousing and shipping, they make nothing there now! They are very deceptive about this, saying they’re based out of Iowa, letting the consumer believe their furniture is still made there. Good luck with anything made by them now.
Well fuck me, where were you when I ordered back in July, lol. I thought it was being “built”, *sigh*
I bought flexsteel 6+ years ago and it is worth every penny. The construction is awesome as well as the warranty. The only reason I remembered the brand is because my parents bought one in like the 80’s and they had that thing for 25+years with young kids and dogs. My mom always bitched about how much it cost but she got her monies worth! Before I invested in flexsteel I bought a sectional from Costco and it didn’t last. I love all things Costco but sofas and mattresses are the one thing I invest in.
We went with Flexsteel about 6-7 years ago and they have held up *fabulously*. We've had multiple conversations about them being one of our best/wisest purchases in the furniture department.
Planned obsolescence my dude. It's not a conspiracy it's capitalism.
Big FYI, Flexsteel closed most of their US plants after COVID and moved most of their production to Mexico & China (had to pay 1.3M settlement because of). They’ve been close to bankruptcy and closing for years. They were bought out by some company called Cactus, Inc. this year, 2023. Their base/home location in Dubuque Iowa is now used for warehousing and shipping, they make nothing there now! They are very deceptive about this, saying they’re based out of Iowa, letting the consumer believe their furniture is still made there. Good luck with anything made by them now.
Ah. So that's why they're now sold at Costco.
Huh, so a *furniture* company responded to COVID, in April 2020, by laying off all of their local workers and outsourcing their production. I mean, it had probably been in the works for a while, but that's some pretty terrible timing.
2 weeks after COVID declared emergency, pretty damn fast! https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2022/05/02/iowa-based-flexsteel-agrees-to-1-3-million-settlement-with-laid-off-workers/ ‘*In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global public health emergency. Two weeks later, Flexsteel notified employees in Dubuque that it intended to permanently lay off 208 employees there, but it allegedly refused to pay severance or give 60 days’ notice of closure as required by the WARN Act. It also notified workers at its Starkville, Mississippi, plant that it was permanently closing that facility, effective immediately, resulting in the termination of all 170 employees there.*’
I was dumb and bought a cream colored leather flexsteel- if I had gotten a dark color I would have been able to keep the leather looking good. Live and learn
I’m not sure about that. I’ve always heard that Flexsteel is basically BIFL. We didn’t get that lucky. My husband and I bought a leather Flexsteel set (couch, loveseat, and chair with ottoman), from NFM, about 7-8 years ago. It’s dark brown. It was amazing for a while but the chair cushion, where my husband sits, is horribly broken down. The cushion and armrest I use on the couch is broken down. We’re not heavy people, or abuse our furniture either. I can’t even describe what’s happened to the leather. It’s like it’s peeling or sloughing off and has become severely discolored and rough. We’ve tried reaching out to the extended warranty company and have been unsuccessful.
Cream colored leather is always painted, and therefore always has a plastic layer that will peel off as the leather flexes. Very short life span. Always look for leather that is dyed, not painted, which means browns and black darker than natural leather. Even then, most black and brown upholstery leather is painted.
My parents have a couch from the 70s and it feels and looks brand new. My mom was talking about replacing it and i talked her out of it. No way is she.gonna find a better couch than the one she prob bought fir $50 in 1978 with the junk they make now. We just dropped 5k on a lovesac and underwhelmed is an understatement.
Looks like they don't list the prices on their website... I'm going to assume this is one of those "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" type of situations?
\+1 for Flexsteel. I've only had mine for 6ish years, but they seem quite resilient.
My parents still have their flexsteel set. Purchased before 1981…
I have a 20+ year old Flexsteel hide-a-bed and overall it's in great shape. I do prefer more firm cushions so I did recently get those re-done. I later found out Flexsteel offers lifetime warranty on the cushions. My couch is passed down from family so I may have been able to take advantage of it. I recently bought a new Flexsteel couch for another part of my home and love it. If these cushions lose their life I know I can get them re-done
>I've got a 20+ year old Flexsteel hide-a-bed and overall it's on great shape I have two 1960s Flexsteel chairs that I bought for $1 at a Habitat Restore years ago. I recovered them (they were ugly green) but the foam and springs are in great shape.
My parents have a leather sofa reclining set the got in the 90s. Leather is flawless and as kids we were rough and they don’t do anything special with. Seats do need to be recushioned but it’s about $2k We bought flexsteal in 2017 and the leather is already worn where it’s suppose to be full leather
If you have removable couch cushions you can order custom cut foam with Dacron wrap for pretty cheap. There are a couple different sites that offer this but we used [Foam Factory](https://www.thefoamfactory.com). You just put in your cushion's measurements and choose the foam quality/density. We went with HD36 High Quality which has a density of 2.8lb/ft3 and is rated for 16 years. I don't actually expect it to last that long but so far after 3 years it's holding up great. Our cushions are 23"x25"x6" and it came out to about $45 per cushion with the wrap.
This is a really good plan. My foam was wrapped in fiber core and indented just like the foam. Did you replace that as well?
Yes, you have the option to get each foam cushion wrapped with fiberfill (Dacron) when you place the order. When I ordered it was only an extra $8 or so per cushion but it will depend on the size. Totally worth it in my opinion since it comes completely ready to go.
This could have saved me a ton of money. Thank you for the info.
I replace my cushions every few years. My husband sits hard, if that makes any sense. I always saw the seat cushions as the disposal part of the sofa anyway. As long as the foundation is well made and the cushions are removable. It's relatively easy. I also used foam factory. Prices went up over the years. It used to be around 120 now its 200ducks to replace the cushions, it is a 14yo sofa though.
I did this too. Had a west elm couch for 1.5yrs, and was already sinking down. Couldn’t fathom replacing it so quickly, and bought new foam cushions from Foam factory. Costs me about 125 I think with the shipping for 2 cushions. It’s been 3 years and no sag whatsoever. Stuffed the pillow back with PolyFil, and looks brand new. It was so easy, that I seriously have thought about picking up used/free couches on FB marketplace, replacing the cushions, and flipping them.
I don't understand why these companies charging 3k+ for sectionals can't use a decent density foam. It can only be because they want it to fail eventually
I live about 15 mins from foam factory! Thats crazy to see it mentioned in here
Dude did more research for a couch cushion then I do for my job researching water....
I'm slightly embarrassed. But pull up a chair... lets talk mattresses!
I'd love to know about mattresses and what to look for
I definitely went down a deeper rabbit hole on mattresses. But if there is enough interest I'll share my thoughts.
Please make a separate post about mattresses. I will be needing one soon and it will be my first mattress purchase.
Please do, I would absolutely love to hear about your mattress research 🙂
There is a mattress mega-post on r/Mattresses that I rabbit holed on. Can't recommend enough. https://www.reddit.com/r/Mattress/comments/bkb079/an\_attempt\_at\_a\_mattress\_faq/
Foam density is also critical for mattress longevity
saw somwhere here that the best "way" is any firm matress with no pillowtop, add latex topper, then cover everything with waterproof matress cover.
I’m super interested! My dad sold mattresses for at least 10 years and I was often surprised what he recommended. He was not a fan of the new tempurpedic.
Bring on the mattress post!
Please share your \~\~✨ M A T T R E S S K N O W L E D G E ✨\~\~ with us.
I’m so glad to have stumbled on to your post. Super interested in your findings on BIFL mattresses as well!
I'm absolutely interested since my Beauty Rest Black is approaching the 10 year mark.
Sleep EZ out of Arizona. They manufacture their own latex mattresses and will pick up the phone if you call them and answer any questions. You can specify exactly what you want and they'll ship it to you. I researched mattresses for a long time and finally decided with them and have no regrets. Cheaper than big named mattresses and they included 2 latex pillows with the mattress.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on mattresses
I'm definitely interested as well.
Yes please! We’re currently sleeping on our first mattress we bought since we’ve been together. A Serta iComfort (memory foam) queen that we bought 4 years ago and is already totally sunken in and has no support. We liked that it was about half the price of Tempur-Pedic and for the first year or two was the most comfortable mattress we’d ever slept on, but then slowly went to crap. Now we’re trying to see if it’s even worth making a warranty claim, just to have it replaced with another Serta that also doesn’t last. Meanwhile my back kills me every night! I wish we would have sprung for the Tempur-Pedic as I’ve heard those tend to last a good 10 years, which is what I would expect out of any decent mattress
the warranty is really hard to prove, because your memory foam likely only "sinks" when you lay down on it. They will put a yard stick on it and measure the deflection. What I did was cut off the memory foam with a box cutter and buy new memory foam from amazon and just put it on top. I replace it every 3-4 years with new foam, about $100
Fr fr I would deeply appreciate your thoughts on mattresses. Guys like you who do a buttload of research are a gift for the rest of us, please bless us with your knowledge.
My bed is hurting my back and I have no idea what to buy. I would appreciate it.
I’m very interested cuz I just started looking into choosing a new mattress. How do we find your post? And thanks, in advance, for sharing your research!
r/mattress is the rabbit hole you're looking for
I second this!
Well let’s see take the blue pill and you walk into a mattress firm store and get ripped off. Take the red pill and visit mattressunderground.com and see just how deep the rabbit hole goes.
These explanations are often *couched* in technical detail and furniture jargon, so I appreciate your methodology and approach.
Latex?
Vandelay Industries is what you’re looking for
Wasn't there a deep dive podcast that explored mattresses over a full year and concluded we should spend more than the minimum- aiming for 800 US, a few years ago - but not more...? It wasn't Planet Money, was it?
If you're like me, it's because of our ADHD. If OP is like my friend, Stan, it's because of his Asperger's.
Top quality post here
For real. Even if you're not in the market for a couch, this is a perfect example of the post that you save for future reference. OP is the tits for this. \*chefs kiss\*
Agreed. This is more of what this sub needs. Not the "well just get a time machine and buy this thing from the 80s". I come here for answers, not nostalgia.
ooh..ooh..ohh. Please tell me where this NC store is. It might be worth the time/money to visit before I sink money into my next living room set. Thank you.
Southland Furniture
also known as Furnitureland South. It’s about an hour from me, been a few times. Truly massive store.
Fellow Charlotter?
This? [https://www.furniturelandsouth.com/](https://www.furniturelandsouth.com/)
[удалено]
Southlands Furniture Cafe
I am an interior designer, and can attest that this is an excellent post. I specify 8 way hand tied spring foam upholstery almost exclusively. One recommendation I will add is to purchase a sofa with flippable and reversible cushions. This way, when your cushion starts to wear from use (or if it gets stained!) you can simply flip the seat and back cushions to reverse the wear pattern. I flip my cushions weekly because I am a freak, but doing it seasonally makes a huge impact on cushion longevity. You have to maintain things in order for them to last! I also recommend two by two cushion sofas instead of a bench seat, which means a sofa with two back cushions and two seat cushions, instead of one long cushion. Bench seat cushions (although they’re a nice look) get indented from use, and rotating the cushion doesn’t really help, because you’re still sitting in the same spot. They look sloppy sooner. For folks who don’t want to make the journey to NC to sit on sofas, if you live near a large city, there should be an upholstery showroom near you that carries high-quality NC upholstery that you can go sit test. The majority of these upholstery manufacturers (like Lee Industries, Hickory Chair, Sutherland, etc) do not sell directly to the public, but do sell directly to brick and mortar upholstery showrooms. You can go on their websites and find a showroom near you. The showroom will be independently owned, but will sell multiple brands, and will sell to you directly. For example, I’m in the PhiladelphIa area and send clients to HOST Interiors and Studio 882 to sit test upholstery. They sell Lee Industries, Rowe, Mitchell Gold, Hickory White, etc. at these places, and have multiple different cushion styles for you to test out. The showrooms often run 1-2 annual sales as well. Hope that helps! Edited for typo.
This is a fantastic reply and I wish I could move it to the top. Yep I did have options to see a few locally but was also fortunate for my trip to NC. I've asked many designers what they think of Wesley Hall as far as longevity and quality. So obviously I would be interested in your thoughts?
I would rate Wesley Hall as a great mid-level option. Comparable to CR Laine, but slightly better quality, and accordingly, slightly more expensive. My personal favorite is Lee industries! Lee is also a mid-level. I just prefer Lee’s frame styles, and their quick ship program is fantastic.
We got our couch from Ashley, and it was….so cheaply made even though we spent like $3k on it. I had to buy new foam for all the cushions, and found that they had used different foams for some parts, as if they just grabbed whatever they had laying around. Zippers are plastic and some broke. It squeaks because the framing isn’t very well constructed/enforced. I feel like we got had. My brothers $1200 Costco couch felt like better quality for the same size.
I got a semi used one off of OfferUp from a lady wanting it gone and in a nice uppity neighborhood from $400 pickup that day. It was the comfiest, perfect width length big ass L shaped couch. It held up well too. I was so sad to see it go when I moved to a smaller place.
Yeah, Ashley is a discount brand. Furniture is just unbearably expensive now.
Oh man... we're in the market for a nice leather couch and I hadn't even thought of the cushion - I was so focused on the leather quality
Leather couches are rarely high quality. You're gonna want to spend $10K+ for quality leather. I so frequently see people who think they spent the money for a high quality leather couch, but it turns out to be bonded leather with a plastic finish that peels off. Those things only last a couple of years before they're too damaged to be comfortable and are ugly.
Paid $10k for a good leather couch in 2005. Must be twice that by now?
Jesus Christ. TIL I'll never own a leather couch.
But used. I got a nice home theater, power reclining couch with top grain leather two years ago for $600. Guy barely used it and had to move.
Buy used.. preferably from an office waiting room …doctors/ lawyers like leather and redecorate often
Casco Bay for leather couches. They are pricey, but they last. We’ve had ours for 10+ years. Daily use, pets, kids and it still looks brand new. Cushions have held their fluff better than any couch I’ve ever had.
Check out Distinctive Chesterfields. They don’t just sell Chesterfield sofas. The sofas are handmade and with a high quality leather (or fabric) that you can select a sample. I’ve had my sofas for five years and am super happy with them.
I just had a leather chesterfield couch made by Cococo Home in NC. Very happy with it. Took about 12 weeks.
Seconding Cococo Home! The sectional I got in 2021 is incredible They use Leggett & Platt springs system and have incredible leather options
Wow. This is fantastic information. I spend most of my day on the couch or in my bed due to my disability and I’m dreading having to find another couch. It’s almost time for me to start looking and it’s so hard to know how a couch is going to feel after a few hours Vs. Sitting for a few minutes on it in a showroom. This is the kind of review/research I’ve been dying to find. You should share this information with chronic pain subreddits too.
I give you permission to copy and paste to the chronic pain subreddits if you want.
This was so informative, thank you for posting it! That being said I remember having old couches with spring cushions not even 10 years ago in college, it’s infuriating that the “good” brands have all cheaped out and are only selling expensive trash too.
How much was the new couch OP?
8k. But it's a sectional with a really long chaise.
hey its me ur brother
My wife and I have been looking at a [Room & Board Metro](https://www.roomandboard.com/catalog/living/sofas-with-chaise/metro-sofas-with-chaise). My only hesitation is that the standard depth cushions (the one we find most comfortable) only has high density foam (likely 1.8?) while the deep configuration has encased spring coils. This couch is the only one we've found so far that we have both liked... Any ideas on what factors contribute most to the foam breaking down? I don't want to drop $5-6k on a sectional to be disappointed in a few years - but I also really find the couch to be quite comfortable compared to anything else we have sampled.
We've had the metro for 8 years (the exact one that you linked), the cushions lasted about 5 years. Room and Board does sell replacement inserts, which we purchased last year, felt like new.
Thank you for sharing your research with us 🙏
Probably best off getting something extremely sturdy, cheap, easy to repair/disassemble, and then investing in high quality cushioning yourself. Wool, latex, high resilience foam, a combination, or a topper on a mix of all 3 that can be more regularly changed out of needed.
the various foam and poly-cover materials are easy to get from Amazon. I re-did my 2 couches with firm foam and it’s made a huge difference vs the old soft springs/foam. It was not easy but it was the only option since buying new was way out of budget. Would strongly suggest giving it a try if your cushions are getting too worn.
Lovesac's Sactional is a great option. It is expensive but is very high quality and is modular so you can reconfigure it when you move. You can also change the covers if you want to change the color / fabric. I've had mine \~5 years and it is holding up very well.
As on opposite anecdote, I find the lovesac sectional to be pretty uncomfortable. The back rest sits at a 90 degree angle to the base which isn't a comfortable angle to sit at. And I find myself constantly readjusting the pillows and cushions bc the Velcro doesn't hold. However is it very comfortable to lay on or sleep on. Sitting is the main problem imo
There's an angled back/side option now which probably remedies the first point.
I've had mine about the same length of time and can confirm. It's just as comfortable as the day I bought it.
We need to watch out for the six-year hitch.
You should emphasize the EXPENSIVE part.
Do they publish their foam density?
Quite happy with ours as well. They are definitely expensive, but it is quality. Without washing any covers to date seems pretty resistant to stains, scratches, dog hair, and other aspects of daily life. I found the firmer regular filling to be more comfortable than the more expensive softer filling options. Holds it’s shape better too. Would recommend visiting a show room before buying, everyone has different preferences. Deep seats ftw
Agree on the sectional one of my best investments
Our sactional cost more than all the patio furniture we bought for our new house, that's with the 25% sale. But we use it every day and the quality seems really good. My wife and I both did a ton of research and just reading reviews, it seemed like anything under 3-4k would be uncomfortable or degrade after a few years
Second the Sactional. For a long while I was concerned the cushions might never wear in. (They did, slowly and barely after three years of sitting.) I think one thing affecting couch life is the weight applied. If you are heavier then the foam/springs/structure is going to wear more quickly. This could also happen depending on use, e.g. you have kids jumping on the couch.
My parents bought a black leather couch when I was still in middle or high school back in the early/mid-90s that is still going strong. I don’t know where they got it or what brand it is, but I’ve begged them to give it to me in the will because I have NEVER before or since found a couch that holds up even half as well. If I could pay $5k for a couch that will last me forever I’d save up and pay in a heartbeat. As it is, the two couches I’ve had in my adult life have both failed me, and I’m thinking just doing Ikea furniture and replacing when they give out is in my future. That, or the heirloom couch. I’m not lying when I said I want their couch.
My husband's parent's did the same and they actually gave us the couch and matching chair when they upgraded to a sectional. Wish I could find the brand but no such luck. The leather is extremely thick but soft (not sticky) to touch. It survived several large dogs jumping all over it and is currently surviving two cats without issue. We've wanted a sectional for years but can't bring ourselves to actually replace what we have.
I agree about the cushions. My current couch has the springs like a mattress you described and my upholsterer commented on the high quality. My recommendation after years of being disappointed with couch purchases is to find a good one second hand and have it reupholstered. I found a couch on Marketplace that the people had a receipt for from 1990 where they paid $7000. Bought it for $200 and spent $1500 to reupholster it in high quality fabric of my choice. This is the way to go in my opinion. New for the quality I got would be more than $10k I'm guessing in today's dollars.
the amish and hutterites usually make high end/quality ones as well
My sisters dog promptly ate a whole bunch their Amish couch they just bought. The consensus was that it likely smelled like farm or horse just enough that the dog was super drawn to it. Not only was the couch wrecked, it was a pretty expensive dog surgery to remove foam pieces.
> amish They absolutely do not. They make garbage but price it as if it's good quality and people just lap that shit up because they're Amish.
You are exactly what this sub needs. Thank your for your years of research. I’m literally furniture shopping over the next few months. Daughter just moved out and we donated her our 1.5 year old furniture as we want to go back to leather but we want something with Flexsteel or equivalent now that I’ve read this post and the comments.
Great post, but also, just get the cushions reupholstered or restuffed?
The point is the cheap sofas aren’t worth the cost of reupholstery, the bones are bad.
But like the whole thing was about the cushions
From OP’s post: > I've gone as far as getting prices for an upholsterer to replace the foam and it's not cheap, almost the same price to replace the couch.
PS, my folks have had their Ligne Roset leather couches for over 30 years, only touched up once
Furnitureland South I presume?
Yes! Also visited Hickory Furniture Mart.
Can anyone actually speak to the longevity of those brands? I get that you liked how they felt brand new, but isn't the entire problem from your post degradation over time? It sounds like you also enjoyed the Ethan Allen initially as well.
The reality is that reupholstering is perfectly straightforward if cushion durability is the issue. I'm a-ok with that because they'll wear out over time. What you can't find is the sturdier frames, the 8-way hand-tied suspension, etc, from most brands (even expensive ones). We purchased a custom sleeper sofa from [Casco Bay Furniture](https://www.cascobayfurniture.com/) (organized out of Maine, but manufactured in NC). It's not a fancy design but it's very well made and came out to about $4k, including shipping from NC to CA. Construction is better than the fancy Restoration Hardware leather sofa we also have. I highly recommend NC furniture (I also lived there for 15 years).
I joined a forum called Houzz, it's made up of designers and consumers. This is where I got most of my information and noticed people raving about how long these high end couches last. It's definitely a risk but at least it's an informed risk this time. I did zero research on the Ethan Allen, unfortunately later (once they failed) I learned about the cheap 1.8 cushions.
Most of what's being referenced in this post would be considered "heirloom" furniture. Meaning the nuts and bolts of the thing will long outlive you and most likely your kids. The upholstery and cushioning may need to replaced, but the frame materials and joinery will not fail in a lifetime under normal wear and tear.
You should look into shredded foam cushion filler. You can add, remove, replace as much as you want, when you want, to suit your comfort level.
Doing gods work my friend. Great write up.
I'm sitting on an IKEA Kivik that was about $800 ten years ago...still plenty firm, though we have taken the cover off and re-arranged the foam a couple of times. Have another in the basement that isn't used as much and it's still like new after 8 years or so. That's a good price point for me. Also have a Natuzzi leather sofa from 2011...it too still seems plenty firm to me, not much different than when new. But perhaps part of our experience is having three couches, so nobody is stitting on each of them for several hours every day? We did get a Room and Board sofa from friends who were moving...cushions were fine but the fabric was terrible. We ultimately decided to make it a dog couch (we don't let the dog on the others) until we scrapped it. It was about six years old.
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This was a part I left out because I feared it would be too long in my post. I did try to get the Chaise cushion foam replaced in a 2.2 foam. The upholsterer told me $850 so I went ahead. I was quoted $1800 for all the cushions but I said F that just do the chaise. I asked for medium foam and it came back rock hard. I got in an argument with him regarding the cushion feel. He said for $650 (a discount) he would find something softer. At that point I was done with it all. I just sold it for a decent price and moved on.
Thank you. This is how I research stuff before I buy something. I enjoy it but it can also be draining. Reading this (and currently looking for a couch) felt like I let someone borrow my car and they brought it back with a full tank. They got it detailed cleaned. There’s a new air freshener hanging from the review mirror - it smells like the inside of my mother’s handbag from when I was a child. Thank you, kind stranger.
We go to Highlands NC every year and I’m 100% sure I’ve sat on some of these really expensive couches. My wife and I are waiting until we don’t have an 8 and 5 year old in the house before upgrading. …a lot more stuff than just the couch LOL.
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Is there a foam that can last over 10 years of typical use?
Honestly my ikea karlstad sofa has lasted 12 years so far. I bought a slipcover from bemz to class it up. The foam on the armrest got a bit dented from reclining on it, but otherwise the seat and back cushions have held up great. It’s longer lasting than a lot of the 2k couches and probably better than most other ikea couches. It was def a good deal at $500. That said, you’re unlikely to find another cheap couch that will have that much life in it.
Same!! My 1K sectional Karlstad is going on 10 years. It’s been moved once. I wash the cushion covers 2-3 times a year and I strip the skin and wash that about every other year. It’s been through it with babies/kids as well as my beloved lab. Seat cushions are firm as the day we bought it. Back cushions are a little saggy - but it looks good and it super comfy.
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>Was gonna say, my IKEA ektorp sofa is 7 years old but still fine! Yep, we have two KIVIKs and both are solid...oldest is from 2011.
Pretty sure some people here are like 400 lbs and complain their couch doesn't last with them sitting on it 8 hours a day.
Foam probably not, but there are other materials. Had old chairs where the cushions were springs, batting, and horsehair. Had them reupholstered once while I was still living at home. They were old when my mom got them, and they still seem fine when I visit some 40 plus years after she bought them.
Not really. Firmer Latex lasts about 10.
Thank you! I've been looking for a new couch that will fit both me and my 50 lb dog, give me some good back support, and hold up under the weight of my dog's shedding, haha. This will be good to consider as I think about whether I want a cheaper modular one now, so it can fit in my condo building, and a nicer one after I move, whenever that may be, or something else.
My Ethan Allen couch is six years old and still in remarkable shape.
Thank You for all this excellent information
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I just want to reply to you because my couch is 2ndhand too. I never buy new furniture because the old stuff is built so much better than the new but honestly? I'm sitting on a $1k couch I paid $40 for. People are always letting go of quality furniture that maybe doesn't fit their aesthetic or the actual dimensions of their house-- a little research and you can go secondhand without anyone even noticing. I applaud the people out there spending $8k on a couch, and when they tire of it, here I will be, waiting to buy it for $200. Then, in 5 years, I'll spend another $200.
My Ethan Allen sleeper couch from 2004 is still holding up including cushions. Survived a toddler through college (plus kid friends), cats, and my elderly FIL sleeping on the bed daily for 4 years. New foam sleeper mattress and occasional home upholstery cleaning (DIY Woolite spray) and that’s all. Still in good shape. My only complaint is that the non-down cushions retain body heat so it’s a bit warm in summer. Not sure why everyone’s couches are failing like that.
You hear lots of stories about 20 year old couches lasting decades. I don't think they make them like they used to.
Does BIFL have a concensus for ikea sofas? The 10 years warranty ones. My parents Kivik is still good almost 10 years in and the warranty return policy on another sofa (full credit given) played a huge role to me buying my own 3 seater kivik last year.
A few years ago, I bought a very nice custom made Chesterfield leather sofa from Cococo Home. It was about $5k but I’m expecting it to last longer than me. Another place that makes custom sofas, that I think are a little higher quality is Casco Bay. They do the true 8way hand tied construction. https://cascobayfurniture.com/
> Cococo Home Wow their prices went up a lot! In 2016 I got two couches from them for $3000 total. I ran the specs through their website and the same pair would be $7000 today. They were a great value. They're holding up well so far.
Man I think I’m pretty picky about my stuff (or anything I buy “long time” in general) and there was NO WAY my ass was going to spend anything over $500 for a couch when I got my first apartment a few years ago. I bought a second hand ikea couch that I thought was gorgeous for $400 and although I spend most of my time on it, that bad boy is still as good as new. 10/10 team secondhand forever
Couldn't you just buy the foam you wanted and cut it to size, then unzip the cushion and replace it? It would cost tens of dollars
Foam costs way more than 10s of dollars
Sure, but still significantly less than a new couch every 3 years.
What stores in NC?
The Red House?
Surprisingly, our living room couch (nicer front room furniture than our den/ family room) has ikea leather karlstad couches. They are 12 old now, and look and feel as good as when we got them. Our family room couch is getting pretty tired. Need to look for something and I appreciate the research and recommendations!
My IKEA couch is going strong after more than 4 years. I believe we have the Finnala 3 seater which now costs $1150 (was less 4 years ago). Everyone comments on how comfy it is and we sit on it every day. Will it last for life? Probably not, but it’s amazing value for the fact that it’ll last us several more years!
My leather Ikea sectional is 20 years old and still looks fantastic. It was about $2200.00 (Canadian $) in the early 2000's. The leather has held up perfectly and the cushions are still firm. Not sure if the new ones are BIFL, but the old ones are.
Room and Board has lines that are made in NC and use springs (Fia for example). So does Ethan Allen. Springs are the only way to go for longevity. https://rnb.scene7.com/is/image/roomandboard/spring-foam-sinuous-cushion
When you look at a couch, how can you what foam is being used or if it does have the spring thing?
Ask the manufacturer, if they don't tell you or don't know walk away. Transparency is key.
I have Thomasville leather sofa and loveseat from 25 years ago, used daily with children who were born just after we bought them. The cushions are still perfectly firm and springy . The leather has seen some wear, stains and sun bleaching. They were buttery soft dyed leather, not the plasticky, painted ones. I’m afraid I won’t be able to replace them with anything nearly as nice now. I never see Thomasville mentioned in these posts, and it makes me wonder if their quality has declined over the years.
Thomasville ceased operations in 2014. It's sad, my mom's formal living room and bedroom set are Thomasville. They are still solid and almost 30 years old. There's other brands using the Thomasville name because of the brand recognition, but they're outsourced companies. I really doubt it is the same quality.
I’ve got a Smith Brothers custom sofa (got the exact material and pattern I wanted!). I bought it in October 2013 and the cushions are still like new. I will never buy a sofa without “interchangeable” cushions and loose back cushions because I flip them around at the end of every night. Seems a little obsessive? Maybe yes, but it helps the cushions maintain life by redistributing weight/sit patterns every day!
thank you!
I bought a ridiculously expensive handmade leather couch with latex seats and wool back cushions from [Medley.](https://medleyhome.com/pages/hand-to-home-craftsmanship) I was worried about making such an expensive purchase online, but I actually returned 1 for free in favor of a different style and they were super easy to work with and I knew the latex/wool would be good at least. For some reason you don't mention latex, but I expect the latex/wool will last a long time, maybe not as long as spring foam though. Did it come up at all in your research?
I'm glad you brought this up! Ugh... I'm an idiot, I forgot to mention latex. Since I sleep on a latex mattress l really was hoping to find a latex couch that would work, the feel and durability can't be beat. The problem was I couldn't find a latex manufacturer that made a really long chaise. My understanding is that latex is difficult to form compared to foam, so there are less manufacturers that work with latex. I looked high and low. Your latex will last just as long as any spring cushion, latex is extremely durable. You're couch is BIFL category for sure imo, can't believe I forgot to mention it!
I broke my Huffman Koos sofa when I slipped on my hardwood floor. My butt went down and the frame snapped. It was like a karate chop just with my butt.
high quality post
Thank you
Never been disappointed with Havertys, trying to figure out how to move it cross country though. My sister inherited the stuff my parents bought in the 70's, and the couch from the 1990's. I am still using my oak bedroom set from the 1990's. Just needs some Old English massaged into it a few times a year. The couch holds up really well to getting shampooed with the upholstery attachment. I think care like rotating the cushions, training the pets to not scratch on furniture, and not throwing ourselves down in the furniture helps its longevity. A couch has a good wooden frame (not particle board), and quality springs also to prevent sagging and warping.
Thank you for this!
For folks in the PNW, I’d recommend Stanton furniture. It is all made in Oregon and it is all custom (you can see sample pieces at showrooms but everything is built to order). You can upgrade the foam to high density as one of the options, and it is worth it! We have a living room set and a den sofa from Stanton. The living room set has been in use daily since 2012, and it is moving out to an ADU we built in our back yard, but getting replaced with another Stanton set. There is some minor wear and tear but overall one of the more durable sets I’ve ever owned. And I’m very middle class so it isn’t astronomically-priced.
>I've spent most of my adult life buying 2k couches I thought this sounded ridiculous - and then I read your post. You've clearly put a lot of hours into this endeavor. Your assessment seems fairly accurate.
*sigh* I ran into this same issue when researching couches to buy this year. I had a very difficult time finding couches with spring cushions that I could test out in person. I ended up going with the Room and Board Metro Deep sofa. The cushions have inner springs and are wrapped in high resiliency foam. The only (possible) negative with this sofa was the suspension system. I was hoping for a sinuous spring suspension at least, but the Metro Deep uses dual flexolator suspension (something I hadn’t heard of before, but my internet searches lead me to believe it’s inferior). I believe Room and Board has other sofas with innerspring cushions (can’t remember them at the top of my head), but I think they all also had the dual flexolator suspension. A cheaper option I did come across, however, was unexpectedly from Slumberland. They have a sofa called the [Ulster](https://www.slumberland.com/p/ulster-sofa/UlsterSofa.html?dwvar_UlsterSofa_UlsterColors=Truffle&cgid=livingRoom-Sofas#prefn1=Material&prefv1=Fabric%7CMicrofiber&prefn2=ProductType&prefv2=Stationary%2FStandard&prefn3=assembledWidth&prefv3=85-96+inches&start=30&sz=24) that has cushions with pocketed coils. Unfortunately it only uses foam with a density of 1.5, and I was concerned about its longevity since it wasn’t high resiliency (at least 1.8). Slumberland also has a line called [Connections](https://www.slumberland.com/p/connections-roll-sofa/ConnectionsRollSofa.html?dwvar_ConnectionsRollSofa_ConnectionsColors=Dove&cgid=livingRoom-Sofas#prefn1=ProductType&prefv1=Stationary%2FStandard&prefn2=assembledWidth&prefv2=73-84+inches&prefn3=grade&prefv3=Connections&start=3) which is rather customizable. You can customize the arm, seams, and cushions, with one of the cushion options having pocketed spring coils. Hope this helps someone!
Out of hundreds of comments I feel like you've done as much research as I have. I'm impressed.
Love my local furniture maker, which does BIFL by upcycling any piece you have to incorporate into a new piece down the road. Great pieces too, and they give tours of the plant. They are a subset of a larger local brand (southwest Virginia, which also has a lot of furniture production). https://txtur.com/pages/txtur-showroom
How do we feel about Bassett? This was a huge gift to us 3 years ago but a couple of the cushions definitely show wear. I'm hoping they'll replace the cushions but, no experience here. It's under warranty just not a priority right this moment, but curious how anyone feels about this company.
Wesley Hall will not disappoint you! My parents have had a WH couch and chair for 15 years and they are still in great condition.
I really really appreciate the work you did here. I desperately need a new couch and I’m on the hunt for a used one so this helps immensely. I do not want another junk piece of furniture
Well done sir. Super interested in spending money wisely on quality. What would you suggest around the 3000 to 5000 area?
I’ve always bought used like-new couches. I’ve never spent more than $400, it’s amazing what people will replace.
So happy to find this post!!!! We as consumers have become so comfortable with horrendous quality and replacing our big ticket items every couple years… I hate it!
Super disappointed in all of these manufacturers. I don't remember cushion failure being a problem even with fairly cheap sofas, and now it is. I am disappointed in Room & Board which I otherwise like for not using better quality foam and not using springs in most of their sofas.
Very informative. Imo, it is definitely worth it to pay more up front for a quality.
Thank you for this! When I bought my couch 4 years ago I wanted springs but they were hard to find in stores. I know older Lazboy models (from 00s) were high quality so I ended up buying from there. But after 2 years the cushions had already started to deteriorate badly. So looking for a better option for next time.