So your old furniture is giving up the ghost, perhaps what was once a comfy sofa is feeling a little flat, or your armchairs are creaking as you try your best to chill out after a long day? We’ve heard all the stories and often, what seemed like the best bargain sofa at the time has turned out to be a bit of a false economy.
Future proofing your furniture by knowing where to save and where to splurge can seem like a minefield. Sure, there are plenty of cheap sofa options out there but are they going to match up to a deep pile velvet sofa, packed full of the fluffiest feathers that you will lug and love from home to home for years to come? Never fear, we’re here to help you realise your interior goals, and aide with your choice of pieces that you will take from home to home and are guaranteed to age as beautifully as the best family heirlooms.
Statement Sofas
Almost certainly, a sofa, bed and chair will be the biggest interior purchases you will make, therefore it’s key to choose wisely to ensure longevity. Our top tip here would be to steer clear of anything that’s too ‘on-trend’.
A classic, velvet sofa will last a lifetime and create a statement in your home. This is our number one investment piece, and here are just a few reasons why: 1. Velvet is unbelievably hardwearing, topping most of the rub test lists. 2. Velvet comes in many guises, and can be made from any fibre; choose cotton velvet for a fabric that will gain character as it ages, polyester for its durability or viscose for something so soft you’ll be finding any excuse to get snuggly. Velvet, in our opinion, looks best in bold, jewel colours. Choosing a velvet bed or sofa in rich peacock blue, emerald green or ruby red will see you through all seasons and pairs perfectly with both neutral interiors and bolder schemes alike.
Our Haresfield chesterfield sofa adds a modern twist to this classic design. Squared off arms enable even the smallest of spaces to embrace the traditional, button back sofa style, while maximising on seating space. Deep buttoned, Chesterfield sofas look stunning in rich velvets, and equally elegant in luxurious linens.
Ensuring longevity from your furniture is partly down to choosing a fabric that will match up to your households demands but it is equally important to choose a design that will stand the test of time. A classic, howard style sofa, like our Alwinton or Kentwell sofa designs offer neat, ‘bandaged’ arms, allowing for a sumptuously soft seat that allows plenty of space for lying out on, or squeezing in the extended family and friends during special occasions.
If traditional styling isn’t for you, maybe mid-century sofas tick the boxes? 50’s and 60’s sofa designs have come in and out of fashion since their creation but stay looking slick at every moment in between. We’ve picked the best designs of the bunch and popped them all neatly into our concise Sofa Pronto collection. Channel your inner Don Draper with the Haggerston leather sofa or style it out with the Kennington sofa, complete with ‘smartie’ buttons.
Bold and Beautiful Beds
We don’t think there is a more important piece of furniture to invest in than a bed that will ensure a good nights sleep. We all know that sleep makes us happier, more content and able to take on all the challenges that day-to-day life can throw at us.
Big beds are our bag and we love nothing more than a statement king-size headboard! Go grand with height, width or bold fabrics and make sure your upholstered bed is the sanctuary it should be at the end of a long day.
Our Pentlow buttoned bed will add timeless elegance to your bedroom. Upholster in a classic, textured linen, be bold with bright buttons or mix the two with pops of your favourite tones on the buttons, keeping the rest of the bed neutral. Order your free fabric samples online to inspire your interiors. Whether you’re an 8 hours a night kind of person or a pro at power napping, we can help you design the bed that will help you to catch those extra zzz’s when you need them.
Heirloom Chairs
The perfect chair is about as personal as it gets when it comes to those big ticket items. Whether you want to be able to get cosy with a good book, find that perfect position for picking through the Sunday papers or even if it’s just somewhere for the cat to curl up, it needs to look the part. Big chairs, small chairs, high backed chairs and everything in between, you’ll find a chair to suit your needs at Sofas and Stuff.
Fabric or Leather?
Chairs are a great way to set your fabric fantasies loose and go for something a little bit unusual. Button back chairs will look fabulous in florals or try pairing a traditional chair in a more modern print to give it a fresh new feel. Velvet chairs will add drama to a neutral space or cover a contemporary chair in felt wool for a seat that is both practical and stylish. If you’re looking for the ultimate ageless piece, we suggest a buttery soft leather club chair. The rugged good looks of our Blackdown chair will look better and better as it wears, gaining character and personality with every scuff and imperfection it picks up. Footstool optional but highly recommended for ultimate comfort.
For more design ideas and advice on choosing chairs, sofas or beds that will last a lifetime, pop into one of our 12 nationwide showrooms where our expert design consultants will be able to update you on all the latest trends, as well as inform you on the timeless classics. Book a dedicated design consultation today and we will guide you as we design your dream British furniture together. You’ll also find loads more interior inspiration in our Customer Gallery, as well as across our Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest pages.