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lucigabrielle76

Sofa that doesn't get lumpy back cushions within months?

4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago

UPDATE: BOUGHT A NEW SOFA 5 MONTHS AGO THAT I'M VERY HAPPY WITH; SEE MY POST IN THE THREAD BELOW WITH PHOTOS.


After 25 years, it's finally time to replace our sectional. Because of the size and shape of our livingroom (SMALL!) a symmetrical/corner sofa that is 98" or less is really the only option to maximize seating. With our current sectional, which is 97" on each side and seats 5, plus a small accent chair, we can comfortably seat 6 for movie night.

I am also looking for something with a clean, not bulky, modern vibe. Oh, and it has to be comfortable and well-made/sturdy as it is really our only indoor seating other than the dining table (did I mention we live in a small FL bungalow?) and we practically live on it.

I've been looking at all the usual higher-end suspects and thought I'd settled on Room & Board's York sectional (FIRST PHOTO). R&B has always been highly rated, and our friends have a down-filled R&B sectional that's 7 years old and looks like new. Here's the York in the 93" option, which actually has more interior space than our current 97" sectional due to the narrower arms:


But reading the customer reviews of the York, the number one complaint is that they have no back support and the back cushions become lumpy and creased within months (and indeed, they look awful). The customers complain that they have to fluff them after every use or they look sloppy. I also read some reviews about feathers coming out!

Here are some customer photos of the R&B York with lumpy back (and even bottom!) cushions:




The only other R&B sofa that comes in a small enough option to fit in our space is the Metro, and I read the same complaints! Looking at the photos, it's as if they don't stuff them with enough material, or they are just free-floating fill rather than fill wrapped around foam. There are also complaints with both of some of the "dog and kid friendly" fabrics pilling and snagging.

Here are some photos from customer reviews of wrinkled/lumpy R&B Metro sofas:






WHAT HAPPENED TO R&B ?

Mitchell Gold, Perigold, Crate & Barrell, West Elm, Pottery Barn, and Rove do not have symmetrical/corner sectionals that are small enough. Joybird doesn't even make a symmetrical/corner option - chaise lounge options only. Again, it's important that we can seat 5 people and there is not enough room for a 3-seater sofa + 2-seater loveseat in the space.

Besides R&B, the only other symmetrical sectionals in a small enough size are from Interior Define (the Sloan and the Asher), and Article (the Timber). Here's the Sloan from Interior Define's website:



But again, IRL, the same complaints from customers and same lumps & creases!:




This customer image of the Sloan from Interior Define is distorted by a fish-eye lens and looks like it's bowed in the middle but I don't think it really is - posting just for the cushions:


Whatever happened to sofas with FIRM, STRUCTURED, but still SOFT, cushions?

My parents bought a midcentury sofa set in 1965 and 4 reapholsterings later, it still looks great and is as comfortable as ever. In our vacation home, we have a Pottery Barn foam-and-down-filled sofa that we inherited that must be 20 years old and still holds its shape and structure. I also bought a sofa from Rove in 2009 that was foam with down and looked as good as new after 8 years.

Are all sofas that aren't tight-backs now made this way, with loose-stuffed back cushions that look lumpy and sloppy after a few months? Is this a recent problem of quality declining across the board?

If even the higher-end sofas (R&B) look this way, I'm thinking I might as well go with one of the cheaper options (Interior Define, Article) and plan on replacing it in 5 years.

Any suggestions for a symmetrical/corner sectional that won't look like these within months? I'm especially interested in anyone who has had a sofa for a while who can attest to longevity.

Thank you in advance!

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