For three years we collected, cleaned and refurbished second-hand sofas around Bristol and the South West. Hundreds of them. When you take that many sofas apart, you stop seeing a sofa as a shape and a colour, and start seeing what is underneath: the frame, the springs, the cushions, the fabric, and the small things that decide whether a sofa still feels good in five years or gives up after two.
That is the knowledge we now use to choose the brand new sofas we sell. Here is what refurbishing taught us, and what we would check before buying any new sofa, from us or from anyone else.
1. The frame is the sofa
Everything else on a sofa can be cleaned, re-covered or replaced. The frame cannot. When a second-hand sofa came to us with a creak, a wobble or an arm that moved when you leaned on it, the problem was almost always in the frame, and it was almost never worth saving.
That is why the frame is the first thing we look at in a new range, and why every sofa we sell comes with a 12 month guarantee.
2. Sagging usually starts underneath
A seat that dips in the middle is rarely the cushion's fault on its own. More often the support underneath has stretched or given way. When you sit on a sofa, sit where you would actually sit every evening, and notice whether the seat feels even from one end to the other or whether you sink into one spot.
The problem we came across most often was poor quality foam that had stopped supporting the person sitting on it. Cheap foam flattens quickly, and a seat that felt fine in the showroom turns hard and uneven within a couple of years, however good the fabric still looks.
Talking to customers about what they had owned before, and what they wanted from their next sofa, taught us what to look for in seat support: pocket springs, dense, long-wearing foam, and a soft topper layer for comfort. Every sofa in our range has them, and it was the first thing we looked for when we chose it.
3. Cushions tell you how a sofa will age
Cushions that can be turned and swapped around wear evenly. Fixed cushions wear where people sit most, and there is nothing you can do about it later. Removable covers are also the difference between a sofa you can keep fresh and one you have to live with.
Where we have the information, our product pages show whether the seat and back cushions are removable, so you can check before you buy.
4. Fabric fades where the sun reaches it
One of the most common things we saw on second-hand sofas was one arm or one end paler than the rest, from years of sitting in the same patch of sunlight. It is completely normal, and it is also why sun fading is not covered by manufacturer guarantees, ours included.
The fix is simple: if your sofa will sit in direct sun, a throw over the sunny end, or a blind at the brightest time of day, keeps the colour even for years.
5. The most common mistake is size
Plenty of sofas that came to us were in great condition but had simply never suited the room they were bought for: too deep for a narrow living room, or too big to feel comfortable in it. Measure the space where the sofa will go, and leave room to walk around it.
Our size finder shows only the sofas that fit the space you enter. If you are unsure, message us on WhatsApp on 07418 613890 with your measurements and we will check them with you before you order.
Why we moved to brand new sofas
When we went looking for sofas for our own homes, we were shocked by high-street prices. We had spent years handling the same kinds of frames, foam and fabric, and the price tags did not reflect what we knew was inside them. So we decided to go direct: choose good brand new sofas, and sell them at something close to what they are really worth.
After three years of refurbishing and selling hundreds of second-hand sofas, we know what customers really want from a new one. That is what we take into choosing our range: how a sofa is built and how it will wear come first, and how it looks second.
What you get from us
- Brand new sofas, corner sofas, sofa beds, recliners and armchairs, priced from around £200 to £2,200.
- Free delivery to the room of your choice on orders of £499 or more, and £49 below that. Delivery in 5 to 14 days, usually within a week.
- A 12 month guarantee.
- Two people who know sofas, on WhatsApp on 07418 613890, before and after you buy.
Browse our new sofas, or read more about how we started.
Quick answers
Are your sofas brand new?
Yes. Every sofa in our online range is brand new.
What does the guarantee cover?
Every sofa comes with a 12 month guarantee from the delivery date, covering manufacturing defects. Your rights under the Consumer Rights Act are in addition to it. The details are on our guarantee page.
How do I check a sofa will fit?
Use the size finder, or send us your measurements on WhatsApp on 07418 613890 and we will go through them with you.
Owen and Will, Sofa Renewals