Looking to buy new living room furniture - any brand suggestions?

[lissawynn]

Right before DH and I started dating, he bought new furniture. We have an oversized couch, double chair, ottoman, and a recliner. The furniture is covered in a very heavy cotton twill, but you CANNOT get it wet. This wasn't a problem for just the two of us, but after nine years and our two kids (six and four), the furniture has seen pretty much every kind of spill and stain you can think of. We did have it professionally cleaned two years ago, and it cost a fortune. Also, because it was wet (wasn't having dry cleaning chemicals in the house), there are considerable water marks on everything.
I have decided to buy new furniture this summer. I am considering leather, but I'm worried that our 100+lb. German Shepherd will puncture the cushions with her toe nails (she sneaks on the couch when we're not home.)
I am looking for comfortable, well-made, durable furniture that won't break the bank.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[mamacatnv]

Several years ago we replaced all the family room furniture with Lazy Boy. We got a couch, love seat (w/recliners on the ends) and 2 huge comfy recliners for DH and I. We went with their standard industrial strength fabric, it is not microfiber but is considered as durable. (I hate microfiber, don't like the way it feels) we have 3 cats, no dogs. At the time DS was in his teens and DD was 6/7 or so.

We use this furniture every single day and it has held up amazingly well.

We spent about 5K for the whole thing.

 

[libraryfreak]

I have a Lane couch with those recliner seats, and while it's very comfortable, we paid for an upgraded fabric and it did not hold up well at all. I'm disappointed with Lane.

 

[travelbug]

Beware of Ashley. My parents and both of my brothers all bought living room furniture from Ashley for their homes. In all 3 cases, the furniture started to peel very strangely after a couple years.

 

[dawson5]

flexsteel. We bought a sectional from them probably 10 years ago. The bones of the couch have held up well. The fabric would probably be fine except for my husband practice of mowing the lawn and coming in and sitting down and drinking a huge glass of water. Every other part of that is just fine, except where he sat. We had a cat, a dog and three little boys. They didn't destroy it. We did initially have an issue with the way one of the seats was stuffed, they came out and corrected it. No problems since. That couch has now been moved to the basement and we bought something else for the family room at sofa select, but it stinks. We've had it for maybe three years now and the bottom cushions are starting to sag and the cushions that are attached to the back of the couch are pulling away (tearing). Will not ever buy this brand again, I will search for flexsteel the next time. (This new furniture doesn't see the use that the flexsteel did. Kids are all older, they don't watch a lot of movies or tv in there. So it is really sad that this has not held up well.)

 

[shortbun]

We have purchased furniture at Kittles, Haverty's and Lazy Boy(leather recliners when they had a big sale) and all of it is holding up very well under teen aged boys. I actually caught them hanging out in my living room where the pristine furniture resides the other day-after playing basketball for two hours...but we have no large dogs, only an old maiden cat. Seriously though, I shopped, sat, bounced, turned over, checked construction and made lists as I went regarding my priorities. Kittles, on sale, and Haverty's really had consistently good furniture. I walked in Ashley, spent about 10 minutes and walked out-obviously poorer construction-cushions were not reversible-fabric had loose weaves, leather was thinner..don't shop there even though their prices are very tempting because your dog will shred that furniture. I was worried about leather holding up under heavy use but the leather I got at both Haverty's and Lazy Boy was/is high quality and well constructed-good stiching. I clean it often and condition it every few months. For what it's worth, I would never buy a couch with attached cushions. I want to be able to trade them and flip them(Ashley's cushios only had one side with fabric) to be sure there is even wear. That way, you can remove and clean one too which is a great thing if kids are all over it or flip the worn side down if you're having guests they reflip when the messy family is only there, kwim?

 

[Christine]

My friend got her sofa and chairs from Lazy Boy last year (and no, it's not those awful recliner things with the cupholders). It's very nice and she's very happy with it.

That said, many years ago when my kids were small I had the same issues as you. I had a fabulous sofa that I bought in High Point, NC, and the fabric was great. Heavy, durable, etc. but it could not get wet. It could only be cleaned with a solvent and I could never find a place that could do it. The sofa did not last long. The fabric code was "S".

Fast forward many years ago I bought a section by Smith Brothers (the store that sold that brand is out of business now). Darn thing cost me well over $3000 but it is nice. Anyway, the salesman told me to get a fabric coded with "W" which means it can be cleaned with water. That did limit me but I was able to find something I liked. Sure enough, I just pull the cushion covers off, throw them in the washing machine, let them air dry and put that back on. MUCH better. The only thing you can't do is wash the stuff that's permanently attached but you could probably clean that yourself with a home carpet cleaner like a Bissel or something.

 

[dawson5]

My friend got her sofa and chairs from Lazy Boy last year (and no, it's not those awful recliner things with the cupholders). It's very nice and she's very happy with it.

That said, many years ago when my kids were small I had the same issues as you. I had a fabulous sofa that I bought in High Point, NC, and the fabric was great. Heavy, durable, etc. but it could not get wet. It could only be cleaned with a solvent and I could never find a place that could do it. The sofa did not last long. The fabric code was "S".

Fast forward many years ago I bought a section by Smith Brothers (the store that sold that brand is out of business now). Darn thing cost me well over $3000 but it is nice. Anyway, the salesman told me to get a fabric coded with "W" which means it can be cleaned with water. That did limit me but I was able to find something I liked. Sure enough, I just pull the cushion covers off, throw them in the washing machine, let them air dry and put that back on. MUCH better. The only thing you can't do is wash the stuff that's permanently attached but you could probably clean that yourself with a home carpet cleaner like a Bissel or something.

Smith Brothers of Indiana? Neighbors of ours have this brand. It's a fairly new sofa (maybe 2 years that they've owned them), so I was curious how it would stand up. They have no pets and a daughter that isn't a year old yet. I like their couches, they are comfortable and he is very tall, so they are deeper also.

 

[kirstenb1]

I love Bassett Furniture. They have over 1000 fabrics to choose from. A couple of years ago, I bought a microfiber chair from them and a slipcovered sofa (in cotton twill).

Although I have a rule that the kids have to sit on the floor if they're eating in the family room, still I've had to wash the slipcovers a few times. Although they say dry clean only, you just zip them off, and throw them in the washer, then I use the cool setting on the dryer. They look perfect!!! The microfiber really does take a lot of abuse, and still looks great.

Haverty's is pretty good, but I prefer Bassett. My Haverty's stuff hasn't held up quite as well.

 

[Pakey]

We are very happy with our Thomasville furniture.

 

[DawnM]

I second Flexsteel. We love it.

Dawn

flexsteel. We bought a sectional from them probably 10 years ago. The bones of the couch have held up well. The fabric would probably be fine except for my husband practice of mowing the lawn and coming in and sitting down and drinking a huge glass of water. Every other part of that is just fine, except where he sat. We had a cat, a dog and three little boys. They didn't destroy it. We did initially have an issue with the way one of the seats was stuffed, they came out and corrected it. No problems since. That couch has now been moved to the basement and we bought something else for the family room at sofa select, but it stinks. We've had it for maybe three years now and the bottom cushions are starting to sag and the cushions that are attached to the back of the couch are pulling away (tearing). Will not ever buy this brand again, I will search for flexsteel the next time. (This new furniture doesn't see the use that the flexsteel did. Kids are all older, they don't watch a lot of movies or tv in there. So it is really sad that this has not held up well.)

 

[Christine]

Smith Brothers of Indiana? Neighbors of ours have this brand. It's a fairly new sofa (maybe 2 years that they've owned them), so I was curious how it would stand up. They have no pets and a daughter that isn't a year old yet. I like their couches, they are comfortable and he is very tall, so they are deeper also.

Yep, Smith Bros. of Indiana. I wish I could find someone here who sells them. I've had the sectional since, oh, 2003 and I have yet to have ANY sagging or degradation of the cushions at all. I have two older kids that flop on it daily. The fabric has taken a beating and I do wash it when something big gets on it.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Beware of Ashley. My parents and both of my brothers all bought living room furniture from Ashley for their homes. In all 3 cases, the furniture started to peel very strangely after a couple years.

DItto this! I won't go into detail with my nightmare with them! ICK!

 

[budmonster]

I vote for La Z Boy. I bought a set almost 4 years ago and it has held up perfectly. And with 1 DH 3 kids 2 dogs and 2 cats that's amazing. I would suggest to go with microfiber fabric it's amazing. I got the big sectional with a chaise, a reclining chair, and a sofa bed in the middle. LOVE IT.

My mom had a la z boy sofa set that lasted her 20 years...no lie. Toward the end it looked worn but it held up to all of us kids.