The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: MillenialMustache on February 11, 2015, 10:03:55 AM
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Wondering if I am about to get a facepunch here...
My DH and I bought a home about four years ago (pre-mustacian, although frugal) and decided our free college couches needed to go for a matching set. We bought a sofa and loveseat from a going-out-of-business Ashley's Furniture for about $600. We also have a Black Friday special chair that was $200 from Haverty's.
We don't like them anymore. A spring fell out of the back of the chair, which didn't bother me at first, but then I was in a car accident five months ago and the missing spring is just aggravating the area. I want the couch, but DH is simply too big for my little chair and we both think the loveseat really isn't practical/comfortable.
We want to buy a sectional so we can both lay on the couch whenever we want, and cut down on some fighting. DH wants to get a really nice one that will be very comfortable and last a long time. I am trying to push him towards finding a nice one on Craigslist. I am looking in the $200-$1,000 range.
That leads me to my question - how much did you pay for your couch? How long have you had it? Is this facepunch worthy?
Note about our finances: Our home is now paid off and we own a rental, so no loans or credit cards the money needs to go towards. Just delaying money for the downpayment of our next rental.
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I would recommend Craigslist. I just moved and spent a lot of time on there perusing couches and the like. I ended up going with a $50 futon (single, in a 1 bd apt with no need for more furniture than that!) , but saw many many nice sectional couches for sale in the $500 range, barely used by people who decided they liked something better, or were moving to a smaller place. No need to buy a sectional full price-there are many spendypants people who are willing to sell to you for a discount!
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We have a leather couch, chair, ottoman by Thomasville we bought barely used for $1000 off ebay. It was less than a year old, gorgeous. The bad part is that hasn't held up well. I guess it is eight years old now, but looks and sits like crap.
We also have a sectional from Costco in our family room. $1000. So far it is holding up great. Two years old. DH had an injury and gushed blood all over it and it cleaned right up (we did Scotchguard it with some cans from the hardware store).
I'll buy from Costco again.
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Just bought a "new" couch and oversized chair thing for $420 from a thrift store. I know it is second hand but you can not tell my looking at it.
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I paid about $250, 5 or 6 years ago. It's in sad shape though - the cats have shredded the sides & we have to keep them covered with blankets because all the stuffing is falling out the sides. The cushions are still great though.
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Second hand store, 8 years ago. I think it was $500 for the couch and the matching oversized chair, but I split halvsies with my parents so they could use them ~6 months until they were out of their old home. Were holding up okay until they were kept in a storage unit with heavy things on them for ~3 months. Since then, the bottom is starting to buckle. Will have to replace them when we move.
I vote Craigslist or second hand also because the offgassing from new furniture is pretty intense and has potential health implications (VOCs, etc).
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$150 for a couch and love seat from Craigslist about 2 years ago.
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Sofa Mart, ~3 years ago, $700 sectional. I love it and it's holding up really well, even with kitty claws. It's big enough for both me (5'4") and my husband (6'4") to lie down on at the same time, plus the back is just pillows so you can rearrange them in any number of ways. My only gripe is that the clippy thing that holds the pieces together has come off, but it stays together without it and it could probably be reattached with little effort (we're lazy).
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$70 bought from a yardsale about 3 years ago. The couch sells new for thousands. Got a good deal!
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I have a bed bug phobia. I would never buy a used couch. I'm pretty sure I would need medication to get over the issue. YMMV.
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I have a bed bug phobia. I would never buy a used couch. I'm pretty sure I would need medication to get over the issue. YMMV.
I live in FL, where bed bugs are very unusual (I have never heard of anyone who had them). I know this is a big concern in other areas.
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Craigslist has great deals on furniture! Even the free section sometimes has furniture in really good condition.
To answer your question: I bought a used sofa off of craigslist for $150 about 4 years ago. It is a crazy 1980s sofa w/ amazing fabric and was super clean (barely used). Love it. Super comfy.
I have a Mitchell Gold sectional that was purchased in 1999, new, when I was living in Hawaii. I think it was abour $3000. There was no craigslist back then so... It was very expensive but it has held up. Fabric still looks good even after cats, dogs, two kids who are now 11 and 8, etc.
What is not worth spending any money on at all is *cheap* cheap super cheap furniture from dealers (sorry - the kind of place where you get a sofa for $400) and also not worth it is a lot of the upholstered furniture from Ikea. Some of what Ikea sells is ok quality, but a lot of it is junk that looks good for a while and then falls apart. Inexpensive upholstered furniture is easy to make look good in the showroom - and even if you know about furniture construction you can't nessesarily tell much about the quality just from looking at the outside. In comparison, it is pretty easy to tell poorly made casegoods (like a dresser) from junk just by looking. Springs should not be falling out of chairs after a couple years of use! Furniture frames should be heavy and have a solid feel to them when you pick them up, padding should be firm, upholstery on fixed areas should be tight w/ no loose seams. Pillows can be filled w/ foam (generally more firm) or with down (squishy), or with a combination.
Unforunately, I put Ashley Furniture in the category of a store that is selling a lot of poorly made furniture. "Big store" brands that are good quality include Henrehdon, Pottery Barn, West Elm, Mitchell Gold, Ethen Allen, Flexsteel, many others. You can find excellent quality used furniture on craiglist. Avoid that awful cheap "bonded" leather that rips and goes to hell with very little use (any leather sofa that is $1000 new is covered in the stuff - it is basically leather cooked up w/ plastic - junk).
So you can both get what you want w/ some careful shopping on craigslist - a comfortable sectional w/ a reasonable price.
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Our house was a vacation rental before we purchased it, and the sellers threw in an assortment of furnishings as a part of the bargaining process. I've gotten rid of many items over the last 6 years (DH and I do not need 6 beds, for example). The couch was the most recent thing to go. I've hated it since day 1, but waited until something better (but still cheap or free) came along. Sister just downsized and gave me her couch.
That said, I wouldn't have a problem spending in the range you mention because it sounds like you will use it daily.
Edit: I just realized that I have lived in this house longer than I have lived anywhere before. Perhaps moving 20 times contributes to my reluctance to spend money on furniture.
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Our couch is a decent quality wooden futon. I got the futon mattress for free at a yard sale. It looked like it had been barely used and the person just wanted to get it rid of it. A little later I found a moving sale on craiglist selling the wooden futon frame for $50. Cleaned it up and tightened the bolts up a bit and it's perfect for us.
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Craigslist has great deals on furniture! Even the free section sometimes has furniture in really good condition.
To answer your question: I bought a used sofa off of craigslist for $150 about 4 years ago. It is a crazy 1980s sofa w/ amazing fabric and was super clean (barely used). Love it. Super comfy.
I have a Mitchell Gold sectional that was purchased in 1999, new, when I was living in Hawaii. I think it was abour $3000. There was no craigslist back then so... It was very expensive but it has held up. Fabric still looks good even after cats, dogs, two kids who are now 11 and 8, etc.
What is not worth spending any money on at all is *cheap* cheap super cheap furniture from dealers (sorry - the kind of place where you get a sofa for $400) and also not worth it is a lot of the upholstered furniture from Ikea. Some of what Ikea sells is ok quality, but a lot of it is junk that looks good for a while and then falls apart. Inexpensive upholstered furniture is easy to make look good in the showroom - and even if you know about furniture construction you can't nessesarily tell much about the quality just from looking at the outside. In comparison, it is pretty easy to tell poorly made casegoods (like a dresser) from junk just by looking. Springs should not be falling out of chairs after a couple years of use! Furniture frames should be heavy and have a solid feel to them when you pick them up, padding should be firm, upholstery on fixed areas should be tight w/ no loose seams. Pillows can be filled w/ foam (generally more firm) or with down (squishy), or with a combination.
Unforunately, I put Ashley Furniture in the category of a store that is selling a lot of poorly made furniture. "Big store" brands that are good quality include Henrehdon, Pottery Barn, West Elm, Mitchell Gold, Ethen Allen, Flexsteel, many others. You can find excellent quality used furniture on craiglist. Avoid that awful cheap "bonded" leather that rips and goes to hell with very little use (any leather sofa that is $1000 new is covered in the stuff - it is basically leather cooked up w/ plastic - junk).
So you can both get what you want w/ some careful shopping on craigslist - a comfortable sectional w/ a reasonable price.
I agree Ashley's Furniture was the wrong place to buy something, we just didn't know at the time. Our parents had never really bought furniture before (all hand me downs), and we really just didn't know. We looked on craigslist at the time and couldn't find anything/didn't know what we were doing. Thanks for suggestions on better furniture - I will focus on craigslist postings from those.
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We paid $1,000 for a Crate and Barrel couch in 1993. It is SOLID and still in great shape. I've recovered it twice and it is probably ready for another. Recovering it costs about $600, but $2,200 for 22 years is still pretty good for a couch that gets used daily.
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I bought a newly reupholstered 4-pc sectional from a consignment shop for $450 in 2001; 3 of the 4 sections are still in my living room, and one functions as a "slipper chair" in a bedroom. It was perfect at the time because the sections are small, so easy to get up the windy staircase to my apartment at the time. I agree that you have to be super-careful about bedbugs etc, but if you shop used furniture in the right places -- consignments and estate sales in upscale neighborhoods -- you can find some great stuff.
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$1200 or $1400
9 years ago (just before my older son was born)
We opted to replace the regular couch (that I purchased used from a friend in 1994 for $100) with a sofabed. We have a small house, and it's where family sleeps when they visit.
The sofabed was cheaper than buying a house with a third bedroom.
Now, years later, we've added to the mix with 2 camping cots and a $100 cot with a mattress from Amazon. We've slept up to 4 extra people at one time. It's a squeeze though.
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I don't own a couch.
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Craigslist... sure it's hit or miss, but I lucked out and found a like new set of cream Italian leather couch and sofa... for $50.
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My love seat was about $350 from a furniture store. Both of the seats recline, the couch is leather, and it's very compact/small. Aside from the colour, it was exactly what I wanted. I've had it for about 4 years and I still love it. I'm planning on keeping it until it is no longer comfortable to sit in or it can no longer recline. Actually all of my furniture was expensive because it needed to be compact/small yet functional and I also wanted to like how the items meshed in my studio. They were purchased from furniture stores. I think I spent a bit under $2k for everything - full size bed, mattress, dresser was ~$1250, table was $250, tv stand was $60, computer table was $70. But this is excluding tip.
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$80 futon from moving sale. 10 years old. Replaced the cover and mattress for another $50 since then.
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My Craigslist couch and chair set was $150, delivered. We sold it 7 years later before moving out of state for the same price!
Our finds for the new place include a beautiful couch for $25, and a family freebie that they were paying to store. Keep an eye on Craigslist, and your ears open. You'd be surprised what people need to get rid of!
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Queen sleeper-sofa was purchased new but at a floor sample discount in 1982. Bought it at Ethan Allen in upstate NY…but I understand you have to be careful of their quality these days…apparently not the same company it used to be. Anyway, this sofa is still going strong…has been moved multiple times…never re-upholstered. Expensive to begin with, but well worth it. Our other fancy pants queen camel-back sofa with matching loveseat was bought in 1997 at an Ethan Allen bargain back room. The pieces had custom upholstery but the customer refused delivery because she didn't like the (perfectly fine) upholstery job. I think the two pieces totaled around $1700. Pricey but totally worth it--I have laid all over both pieces for years--formal looking but comfortable. We have had other sofas here and there from local middle-grade furniture stores and places like J.C.Penney. I think the most important things are practicality and comfort. Make sure you have a sofa in your house that is long enough to lie down on. I wouldn't buy second-hand unless I knew the people well. Agree with those upthread who would worry about bedbugs.
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My parents got a 2nd hand couch at a flea market. Tired upholstery but kickass oak frame and steel springs.
Paid $20 Canadian. Then $200 for brand new upholstery and cushions.
That thing is gonna last a lifetime.
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I would recommend Craigslist. I just moved and spent a lot of time on there perusing couches and the like. I ended up going with a $50 futon (single, in a 1 bd apt with no need for more furniture than that!) , but saw many many nice sectional couches for sale in the $500 range, barely used by people who decided they liked something better, or were moving to a smaller place. No need to buy a sectional full price-there are many spendypants people who are willing to sell to you for a discount!
Yep. We bought a leather couch and chair (real leather) for $500 on craigslist 2 years ago. Sits super comfortable and easy to wipe off when our kids spill God knows what on it.
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I bought a sweet leather sectional on craigslist for $300. So don't think that you can't find a good deal. Just look every day!
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I paid $1k for my leather couch 17 years ago. It's a little faded as I neglected it for a few months letting it sit in the sun. Nevertheless, the couch is supple and in excellent shape for a daily used item. The other one cost me $400. Still have it too... they're getting old and it's probably time to change but I can't do it just yet...
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I would not buy used furniture any more because BEDBUGS.
We just bought a new couch from Crate & Barrel, about $3K.
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I bought a beautiful large sofa and chair with ottoman for $1,000 brand new at a large local furniture consignment shop 3 years ago. Nice quality (they get new stuff sometimes, overstocks, designer mistakes etc.) They also carry a lot of nice high-end used furniture.
Years ago, I had a nice large sectional couch that was wicker (not the skinny reeds, the fat ones - think tropical look). The only upholstery was on the removable cushions themselves. That held up great and all I had to do was sew new cushion covers if it got worn or if I wanted to change the look. Also easy to wash the covers when my three kids spilled on it. That was really practical with kids.
If you buy leather, make sure it's real leather, not "bonded leather" - the bonded leather will not last, it wears off the surface after a while.
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I got mine for free from someone that was moving. 3.5 years and counting. I'd never pay more than $200 for a couch, and that is pushing it.
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$900 seventeen years ago ($53 per year) for a leather sofa. It does have 2 very small wear holes that are not noticeable. Otherwise it is still good and comfortable.
I prefer leather furniture (dark color), because it's durable, comfortable, and pretty much stain proof.
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I got a Rowe sofa (good quality, made in the next state over, eco-friendly, etc.) for about $800. I found the same model sofa sold under a different name at Haverty's, waited until Black Friday, got a big (Haverty's) discount, then had my independent neighborhood furniture store match the price.
We've had it for three or four years now and it's in like-new condition, but I have to admit that doesn't mean much because we don't sit on it all that much and we preemptively covered it so our cat wouldn't tear it up. (In retrospect, I should have picked a fabric with a tighter, smaller weave, like a microfiber.)
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Paid $300 for a dual-recliner sectional off Craigslist this past September. It's like 6 years old and the original owner paid $1200ish. It was in amazing condition when we got it but my dogs are jerks and now it's got rips. It's super comfy though and I don't see us replacing it until it's unusable...no sense buying a new one when the dogs are so heavy that they pop a hole in the upholstery with their nails when they jump on it.
We also just paid $180 for a nicer more "formal" Raymour & Flanagan sectional for our upstairs living room, from one of those Facebook tag sale sites. We haven't even unloaded it out of the car yet because there's been so much snow, but it's in like-new condition and only 3 years old or something. I think it was probably around $1500 or 2k new.
There are a lot of people out there getting rid of great stuff just because they feel like adjusting their decor...might as well take advantage :D
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I purchased a couch from a coworker for $300. It's nice and long with soft cushions and has held up great for four years and counting. Before that we were using a free couch that we got shortly after moving to town. It was fine for a while, but not something we wanted in our house for the long term. It pays to be opportunistic about these things -- perhaps the perfect couch isn't on Craigslist for a great price right now, but if you're willing to wait a few months and check back periodically you can find some awesome stuff!
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Our present couches are expensive (discontinued Ikea Stockholm 2.5 seater), got it for 900, but I also got a custom cover. It's guaranteed for 30 years. Our basement couch is a custom hideabed sectional, made locally, cost like $2500. We don't intend to buy any new couch ever again.
Our first couch we bought in 1999, red/orange shiny with big black paisleys and spire things the cushions hooked onto. $70 used and already at least 25 years old. It lasted until our puppy in 2012.
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I bought a love seat, chair, and coffee table at the scratch and dent store in 1999 for $583. They still look great and are very comfortable, probably because I live alone and no one really sits on them much. I plan on keeping them until I retire and move back home.
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Our current couch (and matching loveseat) came for free when a family member was downsizing. We really got lucky here since the relatives have better taste than I do. :) They appear very durable too.
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I finally bought a couch new for the first time this year. I wanted a high quality couch for less than $400. (I set that as the standard, because Ikea's cheapest couch is $400, but super ugly). I managed to find one by going to a labor day tent sale at a huge furniture warehouse. It's warrantied, locally made, and attractive and I got it for <$375 after tax (about 75% off original price). President's Day weekend might be the perfect time to look for deals on furniture.
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We paid about $800 for our couch seven years ago. It has a reclining function for the two edge seats, which partially accounts for the cost. It's holding up pretty well.
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We have a couch ($100) and two arm chairs ($75 both) which we bought on Craigslist. They are IKEA furniture and we have found that IKEA stuff re-sell very well, especially if you live in an area where the closest IKEA can be >30 miles away.
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:-/ I've never owned a couch.
Share houses FTW
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Current couch - $200 on Craigslist more than a year ago. It was two years old when we bought it from a single, older lady downsizing homes.
Previous couch - $100 on Craigslist, but we bought a cover for it ($80). It also came with an Ethan Allen wing back chair and ottoman that I sold for $100. It lasted us four years, and we sold it for $50 after buying the aforementioned one above.
Also in our set is a $700 rocker-recliner-swivel gift from DW's mom. To go with that, we have a large Ethan Allen chair that I picked up off the side of the road. (It has a cover on it, so it's not completely free.) The recliner we've had for five-plus years, and the chair for ten.
If you can find an Ethan Allen couch on Craigslist in your price range, go for it. It should last for a good long while.
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We nearly bought this for $169 ... http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70087108/ (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70087108/)
But then we bought this for $779 ... http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S99894152/#/S09850529 (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S99894152/#/S09850529)
We've gone months keeping our eyes out for something used and/or cheap. We have visitors coming and decided to just friggin buy it. I imagine it'll retain about 50% of its value for re-sale.
I'm with some of the others here who buy new upholstered furniture. For me, the issue is allergies. My immune system is hyper-active. If a piece of grass so much as wafted past a pillow, or if a cat considered cozying up near the arm-rest, well then it's a piece of furniture I can't enjoy.
Thanks for the opportunity - this sectional confessional is cathartic; I was feeling very un-mustachian as we assembled this thing yesterday.
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I was lucky enough to inherit mine from... probably only its second owner, but depending on whether you're scoping out any vintage pieces - most modern furniture is meant to have a fairly short life and replacement cycle. Heirloom stuff can sometimes really live up to the hype. My sofa's from the 1930s, carved wooden legs and everything, and the back is still springy, and if I weren't very much in the phase of accumulating and spending relatively little time at home I'd get or make some new cushions and it'd basically be like a new sofa (though with a couple of audible creaks.)
I have zero plans to replace it, but if I ever do it will be because I've retired it to photo sessions only. I adore it even if it looks comically out of place next to the bookstore salvage shelves and castoff coffee table and outdoor folding dining set.
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I love our sectional! We got it for free from a friend. That being if our friend hasn't have given us here I was going to pay $450 for a nice used one!
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We recently replaced our old $350 (in 1989) couch with a reasonably nice one, but nothing extravagant (cost about $1k).
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I've had my couch for about 4.5 years. I paid $175 for it on Craigslist. It's still very comfortable, although my dog chewed a hole in the side of one cushion (thankfully, not visible) and my brother ripped part while moving it (mended). I've kind of outgrown the style (it has some vintage elements and that's not my thing anymore) but I don't plan to replace it anytime soon, especially since I built a really nice modern coffee table that balances out the room.
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Couch #1: leather sofa with matching chair, free from a guy at work whose wife-to-be didn't like the furniture and asked him to get rid of it; I've had it for about 11 years and still love it (and the chair)
Couch #2: cloth sofa, free from my mom, who was buying new furniture for her house; I've had it for about 3 years
Come to think of it, nearly all the furniture in my house was free, from various sources. I did pay $150 for a queen-size sleigh-style headboard/frame at a garage sale, and $600 for a (new-to-me) king-size headboard/frame at a consignment store when I got married a couple of years ago, but I think that's it. :)
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$0 (both couch and loveseat). Over 10 years at this point.
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$15, almost 20 year ago. It was left over at a boy scout yard sale.
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$650 I think? Not 100% sure. Somewhere in that range, but it's a pull-out for guests (full). Figured that would be important in a one bedroom apartment. It's new (got it in December). It'll be good for 20 or so years. Ashley Furniture.
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I second the suggestion to avoid big box stores. If you're not in a crazy rush, I think furniture turn over season is in the summer, so if you don't have a specific color in mind, you can usually scoop a floor model from some of the higher end showrooms. We got out couch for 2k (that supposedly had a 5k list price) because we bought it off the showroom floor. It's a Century sofa. We've had it a year and still don't regret the high price.
Also, if you like some of the styles of the Pottery Barn/West Elm/Crate and Barrel furniture, see if there are any of those outlets in your area. The crate and barrel outlet near us constantly has furniture at pretty steep discount from returns. Sometimes they have minor things wrong, like a snag in the fabric or uneven coloration, but it's usually not noticeable and worth it for 50% off.
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We had an experience with bedbugs once several years ago. It was beyond awful, and as such, used furniture will never be an option for us. The bedbugs go away, but headbugs live forever.
I spent a lot of time looking at sofas, and just could not get over the idea that a sofa is a very complicated way to solve the fairly simple problem of not sitting on the floor.
I ended up calling a manufacturer of sofa cushion foam, and had three sofa cushion foam pieces custom cut. Two like regular sofa cushions, and one like a chaise. I ordered the top of the line foam- the kind that you only find in couches that cost an absurd amount of money. Then I hired a seamstress who makes custom dog beds to custom make cushion covers and throw pillows for the foam pieces. I also bought a couple of cutesy pillows from Pier 1 with a gift card. Got a seagrass mat to anchor the whole thing on the floor.
When I put it all together I ended up with an absolutely amazing and comfortable Morrocan-style sofa that you can move around like a puzzle to suit your desires.
Foam: $300
Removeable covers and pillows : $90
Seagrass mat: $50
We've had it for a couple years.
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I purchased a Pleather section for $700 (smh) about 3 yrs ago. It's already peeling. Now when I move I will have to buy another couch/sectional. this time suede!!!
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$650ish for a new couch with a chaise, around 8.5 years ago. It's held up well, and I expect it to turn 15 before I sell it to some college students. Most importantly--it sleeps like a cloud! Guys should never overlook that feature when shopping around.
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Couch and Loveseat set for $75. The nice, cushy, microfiber kind. They came out of a storage unit and the loveseat had had an engine sitting on it, so I had to shampoo out some grease stains. I've only had them for a year, but I expect I'll have them for a good long time. They still look new.
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$1200 or $1400
9 years ago (just before my older son was born)
We opted to replace the regular couch (that I purchased used from a friend in 1994 for $100) with a sofabed. We have a small house, and it's where family sleeps when they visit.
The sofabed was cheaper than buying a house with a third bedroom.
mm1970, did you end up with a brand/model you'd recommend? I'm in search of a good sofa bed for these same reasons. All our furniture must do double-duty, but I'm having a hell of a time finding a sofa bed that doesn't suck as a bed or a futon that doesn't suck as a couch.
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$1200 probably about 5 years ago. It still looks new. I do keep covers over it except with guests come over because of my heavy shedding dog. But there is no sag to the cushions and it gets a lot of (way too much) use. I have had cheap furniture before and after just a few years, it looked bad.
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$150 for a nearly perfect condition, comfortable, black leather couch off Craigslist.
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We bought a pleather sofa, loveseat and ottoman from Big Lots just over two years ago. Buying used upholstered furniture kind of creeped us out (fine for tables, etc but not something that people may have sex on that you can't really disinfect very easily!), so Big Lots was the most budget-friendly option that we were comfortable with. Total of about $600-700 for all three pieces and they still look great.
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This place has AMAZING prices on new sofa's!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1_MZApnzGI
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Leather sofa off of Craiglist $200.00. Man had spendypants wife who without discussion upgraded & had delivered a new one before he came home from work. On Store Credit. Needless to say he was miffed.
3 weeks later and another seller...
Leather double reclining loveseat $100. They were moving & it wouldn't fit in their new location.
They both match & are napworthy!
About a year before that we gave our old worn ones away at $35ish on Craigslist when we were given Gran's perfectly nice set before our move, but they weren't really my colors or style and we wanted leather. Sold our set for $300 so we didn't have to move it across the state. Bought these in a few weeks after moving in. So, we've had them about 2 1/2 years.
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I bought my lovely purple couch at goodwill for $200 a little under 4 years ago. I was excited because I was about to move into an unfurnished apartment by myself for the first (and only) time, and I wanted something appropriately silly to match the lime green walls in the living room.
I had no idea that I'd meet and move in with my future husband within a couple of years, and that we'd get a puppy who would scratch up the cushions. So sadly the couch is sort of a mess at this point, and it probably won't be coming with us on our next move.
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Our "couch" is actually a futon I purchased to use as a bed. I went for a pretty high-quality frame and mattress, so it was around $700.
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My parents bought our couch in the 1970s at Ethan Allen--I was born in 1984. It was our family sofa until I was about 12, and then it was the guest room sofa. About 10 years ago, they gave it to me--I had it recovered in ivory canvas for about $350. People ask me if it's Pottery Barn!
So, technically, it's been my sofa since I've been alive. :-)
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We bought an IKEA Ektorp couch and we love it. IKEA seems to be very love/hate with people, but the Ektorp has held up super well and I love that I can wash all the cushion covers regularly. It's the couch guests seem to gravitate towards too and very nap-able.
We also have a vintage/ chesterfield brown leather couch bought off craigslist from a college student for $200 after he realized it wouldn't fit through his frat house room door. He clearly had inherited it from his wealthy parents when going off to school but didn't understand its value. I *almost* felt guilty for taking it so cheaply.
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I bought my really expensive leather lounge suite new thirty years ago - it still looks great.
The very expensive new couch I got new twenty years ago for a birthday present doubles as a pull out bed. The cushions are becoming very worn, but last week I used a lot of cotton to darn/sew the covers and they will be great for another 5 years - and after that I have some spare fabric that I can use to patch it.
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$100 for a new couch that was a slightly damaged floor model in 2002. Still super comfy.
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$777 for couch / loveseat / ottoman. 12+ years ago. The couch is like new --- nobody sits in the living room --- it is wasted space. The loveseat/ottoman are in the "TV" room. Both are like new --- we don't wear shoes in the house. No complaints. 20 or more years of use are reasonably expected.
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About $400, 15 years ago. The cushions on the back are a bit misshapen, but otherwise it is in fine condition.
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People pay for couches? Really?
My grandfather bought our green sofa back in the mid 1980's..all he bought was American made solid wood furniture. We repair and try to keep it from falling apart, which is not that hard since they made things to last back then. So if you're paying for quality stuff to last decades, sure spend a little. If it's just to match the new curtains this year, expect it to break down next year....
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We are on year 10 with our Ashley furniture couch, loveseat, 2 end tables and a coffee table that cost $1200 altogether. The biggest problem is that the cushions don't match the arms anymore because we've washed them so many times.
We actually bought a second couch/loveseat/chair set for like $2500 about 2 years ago and I already really dislike them. I'm really regretting that purchase, since I have at least 5 more years with them before I can justify replacing them. They are super comfy, but they wore down really quickly and don't look good.
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I paid about £1200 for my enormous six foot long, 2 foot wide sofa and matching armchair about ten years ago. Both still look great, are extremely comfortable and are neutral enough I can repaint my walls regularly and they match.
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Ours was $450 at Big Lots for a couch with a chaise on one end (nice compromise since a sectional wouldn't work in our small living room). Only had it for ~2 years so far though so I can't speak to longevity...
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300$. Bought a coworkers Haverty's sectional that was in great condition. They even brought it to me for free. Turned around and sold my smaller Ikea sectional to a college student for 350.
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3 Craigslist couches:
1. $1100. Stickley leather and tapestry combo couch, basically unused. I think we probably overpaid, but I'm a sucker for Stickley furniture. It's in our family room and has been used and abused significantly and still looks incredible. Probably would not pay that much again, though.
2. $300. Ethan Allen sofa, chair and ottoman navy blue pinstripe velvet, excellent condition. Eventually sold the chair and ottoman for $75 and still have the couch in a cabin that is rented out and abused. Looks good.
3. $35. Henredon brown houndstooth check couch with beautiful lines. I couldn't believe running into this great condition couch at Goodwill on their 1/2 price Saturday. It appears that the couch was used for staging or something, it was in near perfect condition except for a few scuff on the side (looked like from moving it). The marks wiped right off. This is my most recent purchase. It sits in our front room that didn't previously have a couch and seems to be holding up well. Mostly my daughter lays on it with a princess blanket reading.
Since I have never experienced bed bugs, maybe I've been too casual about the risks, but I can't imagine buying a new couch. I still obsessively check all Craigslist Stickley furniture listings even though I don't need any new furniture. Just love the stuff.
Good luck with your couch hunting!
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sectional basement dual recliners microfiber ... id say mid level quality 2 years old for us ... 150 CL
recliner / sofa with dual recliner / rocker recliner love seat. microfiber... 5 years old for us 650 CL
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I wouldn't decide ahead of time, see what's out there used. Sometimes other people's used is still relatively new, and also some old sofas were really made well. We live in NC, and there are some good antique/consignment shops in our area. Our old couch (solid sleeper sofa) was still comfortable but the fabric was really embarrasingly stained despite all my attempts at cleaning (would have needed to be re-covered) so we sold it. And then re-organized room so we needed a sofa that needed pretty specific dimensions. We looked over the course of a couple months, consignment, antique, craigslist and also new before making a decision. A couch is usually not critical so you can take your time with search. If you do buy new, learn some of the terms about construction so you are comparing like with like, price-wise.
Oh when we had our sleeper sofa it was 800 (a deal, nice solid Workbench piece with higher end queen mattress that saw a lot of use and was still comfortable), next a leather sofa with ottoman for 1100, previous to that, resale sofas (less than 50).
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The couches I've had throughout my life have all been free. I don't have a couch now at all.
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i dont recall the exact amount because its been a couple of years... we got a couch, loveseat, chair, and a table... but through various issues with the table it was finally returned/refunded AND we ended up with some credits as well.
i would guess the couch was around $500 of the total.
bought through Macys i am thinking only about 3 years ago.
the butt cushions havent held up like they could. the material is a bit tweed like, and has a large amount of "pilling".
the chair butt cushion seems are letting go.
really disappointing overall.
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A year into our marriage bought a moderately-priced sofa-and-loveseat set. It looked like crap in about two weeks -- okay, that's an exaggeration, but the point is that it just didn't last. We limped along with it for a decade, especially because the kids were small and buying good stuff didn't make sense. However, we decided that we'd never again skimp on furniture that gets heavy use.
When we moved into this house 14 years ago we bought a NICE Broyhill leather set -- again, a sofa and loveseat; not the type with pieced-back-junk, but good stuff -- and although it cost 2K, it still looks like new today. Money well spent. I have no plans to replace it anytime soon.