Before You Buy a “Cheap” Living Room Sofa, Check These 4 Things

Seeing a $600 dupe of that $3,000 sofa you’ve been lusting over is tempting. How different can they really be? Isn’t there some rumor they’re all made in the same factory anyway? And those $10,000 custom couches: Is there actually a reason to splurge on one, beyond getting the exact fabric and the perfect sized sofa you want? Or are people just lighting money on fire?

Unfortunately, the pros say there’s actually a difference between a cheap sofa that arrived via two-day delivery and one where you spent the money to have it made-to-order. And It’s not just the difference in material options or the ability to personalize the legs; it’s the construction (and durability) that can be vastly different. I asked two designers to share their thoughts on what to look for when trying to find the balance between an affordable sofa and one that doesn’t look like it might fall apart if one too many people sit on it. Here, they’re sharing their best shopping advice plus a little secret — namely that there are situations where it’s OK to go for the cheap option.

Cheap material often behaves badly at the seams. It might pull or pucker, particularly if it’s synthetic. If cheap thread was used, the cushion and frame seams could become a weak point in the construction. Running fabric through machines that prioritize efficiency over quality in assembly can also cause issues at the seams. And that’s why designer Barrett Oswald always recommends checking out the seams when you’re deciding if a budget-friendly sofa is worth buying.

She recommends looking closely at any place where the fabric meets. “Do the seams run straight?” says Oswald. “Does the piping stay along the edge, or does it drift across the cushion? These little details tell you a lot about the quality of the sofa.” Wonky seams or uneven trim? You might want to skip this piece.

Making sure the cushions in a sofa fit perfectly together requires careful attention to everything from the measurements of the body of the sofa to the stuffing. Even a half inch can cause the cushions to sit awkwardly. A custom-made sofa will account for any small nuances in construction. A cheap sofa will not. 

Oswald explains: ”The cushions should meet neatly, without gaps or edges overlapping because they’re too tightly packed.” If you’re noticing large gaps before a sofa has even been sat on, they’re only likely to get worse with use. You may even feel gaps when sitting on a piece of furniture, which will ultimately make something feel less comfortable. And another issue with ill-fitting cushions? Things may fall into gaps and cracks, which is just plain annoying. 

Well-designed legs on a sofa may just disappear into the background. They’re part of the overall aesthetic vision, but they don’t take on a starring role. When they’re bad, however, they stick out like sore thumbs. Cheap sofas, too, often fall victim to the fake wood leg look that’s neither stylish or sturdy. 

“Imitation wood is often pretty noticeable against fabric, and even though the legs are a small part of the sofa, you want to make sure they’re structurally sound and won’t break or bend under weight,” says Oswald. The upshot here? Look for hearty metal or solid wood legs; these are signs that you’re looking at a quality piece that’s built to last. 

A cheap sofa can be sink-into-it comfortable. But, more often than not, the way a sofa sits — essentially, the give of the cushions under your weight — is where you really start to realize you get what you pay for. Lauren Brantley, founder and principal designer of Lauren Ashley Design, explains how to test this concept out. “Sit down and really lean back,” says Brantley. “A well-made sofa pushes back a little; the cushions are dense foam, often wrapped in down, so they hold you up instead of swallowing you. On a cheap sofa, you sink straight through thin foam and can feel the frame behind it within seconds.”

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Brantley notes that some cheap sofas feel like you’re sitting on a hard board. She tells her clients to press a cushion and see if it springs back. That’s the test to see if it’s supportive, and it’s going to last.

Sometimes the cheap sofa, though, is the right move. If you’re outfitting a playroom or a basement where you just know there are going to be spills and stains, don’t waste your money on something high-end. Are you looking for a loveseat to round out your bedroom or home office design — and you may only sit on it occasionally? Then maybe don’t waste your money on custom either. 

“I’m definitely open to a less expensive sofa, especially in a secondary space where accidents are more likely to happen,” says Oswald.