One of the essentials for the grown-up man’s home is a good sofa. It’s a place to read, recline, collapse, nap, watch television and get better acquainted with a date.
So when you have something like these modern tv units with storage you want to make sure that you have the best sofa to go with it.
When shopping for a real sofa, i.e. one that will last, one should expect to pay anywhere from the high hundreds ($800+) on the low end to well into the thousands. Unlike a lot of options for stylish items for other items in our life, sofas are like shoes: you kinda can’t cheat on the cost if you want something truly worthwhile. You get what you pay for if you play it cheap. Just like good shoes, a good sofa is an investment.
Here are some really handsome and reasonably affordable options that I’ve come across lately. Each of the stores have many other models and styles available. These just happen to be my favorites.
Tyler Sofa and Tyler Loveseat from Thrive
Available with over twenty five fabric/color choices and made in the U.S.A.
Sofa Dimensions: 34″h x 84″w x 36″d
Sofa Price: $1,599
Loveseat Dimensions: 34″h x 72″w x 36″d
Loveseat Price: $1,299
http://www.thrivefurniture.com/
Petrie Sofa and Petrie Apartment Sofa from Crate & Barrel
Available in sixteen colors, Crate & Barrel’s Petrie comes in two sizes: “Sofa” and “Apartment Sofa,” which is a smaller loveseat version of the sofa.
Sofa Dimensions: 32″h x 86″w x 36″d
Sofa Price: $1,699
Apartment Sofa Dimensions: 32″h x 76″w x 36″d
Apartment Sofa Price: $1,599
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/
Club Atomic Sofa from CB2
CB2 is a modern, urban and affordable spin-off of Crate & Barrel. The drag, as of this writing, is that this sofa only comes in two colors: orange (shown) and caper (like oatmeal). My suspicion and hope is that CB2 will make it available in other colors down the line. Being only 74″ wide, this is really more of a loveseat, as opposed to a full-sized sofa.
Dimensions: 26″h x 74″w x 34.5″d
Price: $1,099
Movie Sofa from CB2
This terrific sofa comes in three colors: steel (shown), walnut and swimming pool blue.
Dimensions: 26″h x 88″w x 40″d
Price: $1,099
Karlstad Sofa from Ikea
Good old Ikea… The least expensive decent sofa I’ve seen, the Karlstad is a really handsome sofa, coming in about a dozen different colors. It also has wood or chrome options for the underframe/legs. The bitch about Ikea is the shipping. Unless you live near an Ikea and have access to a van, your only option is to pay a hefty shipping fee. But if you consider that most good sofas cost more than $1,100, it’s still quite inexpensive.
Dimensions: 31.5″h x 80.75″w x 37″d
Price: $399 – $749 (depending on fabric and underframe/legs)
A word to the wise…
A sofa can be a big deal when you’re strapped for cash. Do your homework, especially if you live in a small space like I do.
Measure and tape-mark the space where you want to your sofa to live. Walk around that space and put chairs there. Imagine what something of your sofa’s size will be like. Carefully consider the width, height and depth of the sofa and its spatial relationship to the rest of the room. It shouldn’t dominate the room. Rather, it should be a seamless part of it, looking like it belongs there.
Ideally, you should make an effort to see your perspective sofa in person. Sit in it. Feel it. Imagine living with it for a long time. I’ve purchased a sofa online in haste without having seen it in person first. It was a mistake that could have been avoided if I took my time and done the research.
I hope this was helpful. Happy shopping.
3 Comments
I like your page on the sofas.I have researched and after a month of back and forth I finally bought the Karlstad 3 seater in insunta grey. I spent about 800 with delivery, no bad! I was willing to spend 1500 but in Toronto, there was nothing I liked and I actually didn’t even consider ikea until the end. maple shade of wood legs (which I wanted) or hairpin, right shade of grey and simple form. Mind you if the shipped to Canada I would have been allover Hive, they has gorgeous items and some in my price range. I’ve already spent my Friday assembling my sofa, so secretly I am relieved Hive doesn’t ship here or I would be REGRETTING this purchase already. Nothing else fits the bill.
So here’s my question. How do I know if it’s too big for my space? It fits but I had a tiny sofa before it’s arrival and maybe I am not use to it yet? I’m afraid it may feel a bit like it’s dominating but I am not sure. I considered the 2 seat loveseat version but the ikea sales person looked at me like I was nuts. Now I will have to pay to have it picked up if I made the wrong choice.
How do I figure this one out? Do I just ask the next 3 visitors and get a consensus? The two seater may have been the better choice but I am unsure. If I buy a condo the living space may even be smaller.
Anyhow, please help or any advise to calm me the hell down!
ha
thanks,
Pascal.
Pascal…
Congrats on your sofa! It’s a vital piece in any smart man’s home. And I understand your apprehension about the size. I bought the Sullivan Loveseat from Thrive Furniture, which seemed huge when it got here. But I eased into it and now love it hopelessly. (A full sofa would have been much too wide for my studio apartment.) It was just a bit of adjustment in perspective. Now that you’ve had it for a couple of days, how do you feel?
George
I’ve been thru the sofa hunt; apt. size (for me) is 79″ long. Perfect, though hard to find. Yes 8 bills is the low end for anything decent. Of course you can shop sales and get some real quality for the same $800.