Homeowners may want to think twice before spending thousands of dollars on a sofa, as experts warn they could see flaking leather and collapsing cushions within three years.
Texas-based couple Ashley and Colin Lapin bought a $3,136 leather Eliot sofa in 2020, which was on sale for $2,038, assuming it would hold up.
Within a few months the buttons started to loosen and discolored spots in the fabric. The couple discovered that the cushions moved forward when they sat down.
“The $400 faux leather couch we got from Big Lots held up better than this,” said 40-year-old Colin. ‘I feel a bit cheated.’
These days, it’s not uncommon for buyers to encounter cheaper materials and lackluster construction.
Ashley and Colin Lapin, a Texas couple, spent more than $2,000 on a leather sofa in 2020
Colin says he felt ‘cheated’ when the bank started to fall apart within a few months
Buttons started to come loose and discolorations appeared on the fabric. The sofa was uncomfortable to sit on as the cushions slipped out from under it
Jeff Boyer and his team at Creative Colors International restore approximately a hundred sofas every year. Within three years, he says, many customers begin to notice significant wear and tear.
Furniture quality has undergone a dramatic decline in recent years. When it comes to wood, for example, cheaper furniture in the mid-20th century often used American plywood, while more luxurious pieces could be made from solid cherry or oak from Europe.
Today, Chinese boards and plywood fill the market, and while it may be cheap, the quality is inconsistent at best.
Parts marketed as ‘solid wood’ may be made of rubber with veneer glued on top. This material is a byproduct of latex production, making it less expensive to produce, but it is prone to decomposition.
“Everyone is just trying to reduce costs,” furniture designer CoCo Ree Lemery told the Washington Post.
The Lapins aren’t the only ones with couch problems: Melissa Newell and Jennie Fisher spent $1,945 on a reversible sectional from West Elm in 2021.
Despite spending nearly $2,000 for the sofa, the couple was shocked to find protruding staples, collapsing back cushions and worn fabric.
What should buyers pay attention to? To start with, it is important to know what you are investing in.
Melissa Newell and Jennie Fisher spent almost the same amount on a West Elm reversible sectional in 2021
But the couple were shocked to discover that their expensive purchase had ripping seams and protruding staples
While major retailers are doing their utmost to cut costs, the quality of furniture seems to be deteriorating.
Tamar Fox paid $2,457 for a sofa supposedly made of ‘quality materials’ – but within 18 months she noticed springs sticking out
‘Real leather’ may sound promising, but this rarely indicates a single hide and instead represents a sludge of glue and slaughterhouse scraps. Buyers should look for top-grain cowhide, which will not flake and crumble.
Andy Buck, professor of furniture design at the Rochester Institute of Technology, says consumers would be better off buying and reupholstering older sofas, which usually have hardwood or plywood frames.
“Typically, the construction of vintage sofas will be superior to today’s,” Buck said.
The professor encourages buyers to look under their sofa to view the skeleton. Wobbling the arms and backrest is another way to measure stability.
But it seems that no matter how much attention is paid to the furniture purchasing process, consumers will inevitably encounter problems.
Tamar Fox, 39, spent months researching before purchasing a $2,457 sofa from BenchMade Modern, a brand that uses “quality materials.”
Within just over a year, the springs started poking out of the bottom – and it was later revealed that the company had discontinued the model she had purchased.
“I’m just so frustrated and irritated,” Fox said. ‘The fact that I have to decide on a new bank three times every ten years is ridiculous.’.