Apr012007

Help Me Shop a Couch

Tagged:

Ok guys, I need to find a couch.

Criteria:

  • Couch says, “You can crash here! But don’t forget to leave my apartment!”
  • I can eat food there
  • Modern but conservative
  • I can lounge there in extreme comfort
  • Doesn’t kill my budget (it’s an expensive month, yo)
  • They have do deliver to Seattle.
  • No leather.

Questions:

  • Configuration. 3-seater? Recliners? Loveseat and 1 recliner?
  • Arms on the couch. Yes? No?
  • Anything else I need to consider?

Places to start looking:

I’m very very green at this. Help me figure out my criteria. Help me find more sources of sofas. Quick! I need to make a decision in the next week.

More?
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15 comments »

Daniel

You want a Design Within Reach Sliding Sofa. Looks great, converts to a bed (turning it back in to a couch the next morning says, “Leave my apartment”, although if you have girls around and you insist they sleep on the couch they’ll probably get the idea anyway.) It has no arms, because arms are over-rated, and all the upholstery is removable for cleaning, which is great if you’re going to eat on it.
karan
  • 2 1 config would be best, I’d say – lets couples at least feel comfortable, and gives options for sitting up or lying down as necessary when alone.
  • sofa beds suck at being either.
  • Arms help the couch be more couch and less potential bed.
  • Leather is easy to clean (i.e. can eat food), but more expensive. But then you’ve said no leather. why’s that?

Consider also: - back height. - colour co-ordination with rest of room.

Look around for shops like Freedom – i.e. more specialty furniture stores, the specifics being one for the seattle/USA people to tell you. They tend to have a variety to choose from, and bargaining is a little easier down-market.
Mike

Futon’s and beanbags. Thats all you need in life to be happy Jack, futons and beanbags.
Jack

I hate leather. It’s sticky when it’s hot and clammy when it’s cold.

Never mind the fact that I’m always thinking, “Shit, don’t wreck it because it’s leather and expensive.” Is leather really easier to clean? I’ve always had the impression that leather is more delicate.

Back height? Well yes, I’d need at least upper back support. Color coordination? Not a problem, I have a very neutral colors on the walls and carpet.
Nathan

Leather’s a bitch to clean, don’t take liquids anywhere near it. But, then, if you’re really worried about it you could always wrap it in plastic.

Also, I agree with beanbags. Be alternative culture, just like everyone else!
AkaiChou

You can’t sleep comfortably on bean bags! Your back will be stuff by the morning.

Leather is easier to clean than fabric. You can just wipe up stuff without it seeping in and leaving a permanent stain. Although I suppose those oxy-action cleaners nowadays will get stuff out of fabric.
Fubar

nothing shouts 80′s then a leather couch, there horrible….a couch is meant to be something warm and comfy that you can fall asleep on when watching TV….on that note you need arms coz what are you gona rest your head against?
Lachlan

You should get a dark green futon which has 30cm deep grooves that run the whole length of it. What better way to bolster a friendship than by ruining the person’s, sleep patterns and spinal cord at the same time?!
karan

dunno, we’ve got a leather couch which defies all the complaints about leather – i was skeptical too, but the day after we got it I fell asleep on it within half an hour and am now a convert. I know it’s easier than cleaning a fabric covered couch, given the fabric will absorb any liquid instantly, and the crumbs are easier to brush off. The lounge room couch has the more delicate light coloured leather, but the family room one is maroon and bullet proof. Then again, the worst i’ve spilt is water.

When I say consider back height, i suggest trying it. high-back sofas suck, imho, and you really have to find the compromise you’re comfortable with.

and colour co-ordination is with other items – any coffee tables etc you may have/will have. walls and carpets are very rarely factors.
andrew

low back couches suck, so do couches that have too much lentgh between back and front so that your feet cant touch the ground. you need something that is everyday comfortable not something that looks cool and ends up giving you no bak suport.

in my experience leather is only good when its that tight kind…unless its in pants. if its the puffy kind of couch then its shit. leather is hot and sticky in summer and cold in winter. but in certain circumstances depending on the kind of leather, it might be ok…might

bean bags are awesome, you can sleep on them easily but the next day your back will be stuffed. that being said i’ve slept on many a couch and i can only name a handful that were truly comfortable.

oh and most sofas suck too, just get a couch and a sleeping bag. nothing says “leave in the morning, preferably before i get up” like not having a sofa.

i suggest waling around on hard rubbish day, finding one without rips and dragging it home, but since i know you wont do that i suggest getting something you can curl up on and watch tv comfortably that also lets you veg next to someone and watch tv. if you do go for my garbage couch idea you don’t have to worry about stains, you can just spill Chinese food on it and then your whole apartment will smell like yummy Asian delicacies.
Jack

Goddammit Lachie, can we focus on my problems for once!
Mike

cinder blocks and some wooden planks. Your a young single male in a new city. Last thing you need is furniture in your own place, you should be sleeping in heaps of different random women’s apartments. Just like in the movies.
Fubar

all this talk of leather chairs makes me puke…….take it from some one who sleeps on his couch A lot…..probably a 1:3 sleep ration between my couch and my bed……..anyways comfy material cushioned based all the way.
andrew

i like mikes idea. you should steal a couch and put it on some cinder blocks. broadmeadows style
lachlan

haha too true :(

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