Upon arriving at the Raymour & Flanigan parking lot one Monday, I received a tempting email from Wayfair on my phone, advertising sofas starting at $299. Although I had no plans to purchase such an inexpensive couch, the timing was intriguing, prompting me to take a look. The world of affordable couches had suddenly become a topic of interest for me.
In the past, I never imagined myself shopping for furniture at a large retail store or on a discount website, except for IKEA. Synthetic materials, artificial finishes, and aggressive sales tactics were not my cup of tea. I have always preferred hunting for bargains and exploring secondhand stores, rather than opting for budget furniture. When my husband and I first moved in together, we spared no expense. We renovated the kitchen, indulged in a custom walk-in closet, invested in luxurious pendant lighting, and splurged on area rugs that stretched our budget.
Our living room couch was a vintage hand-me-down, not the most comfortable but stylish in its fuchsia and gold upholstery. Another hand-me-down love seat was transformed with a new blue and white geometric brushed cotton fabric.
It wasn’t long, perhaps three months, before an unfortunate incident involving spilled wine occurred on my sea-foam green carpet crafted from pure New Zealand wool. Subsequently, numerous other stains made their unwelcome appearance. As for the love seat, its once pristine white upholstery eventually took on a dingy and worn-out appearance.
When we relocated, I was convinced I had learned my lesson. One floor would be adorned with a multi-colored wool rug, while an indestructible seagrass style would cover the other. The new living room sofa would be a top-of-the-line choice within my budget, but it would be solid navy blue. Within weeks, our new puppy had jumped up on the couch with muddy paws and used the rugs as chew toys. The cats claimed another seat as a scratching post. During a dinner party, someone accidentally splashed red wine on my ivory grasscloth wallpaper. Then I had a baby, and routinely discovered dried yogurt and Goldfish crumbs ground into the sofa cushions.
And so, I decided I was tired of fretting and fussing over the furniture. I enjoyed our impromptu cocktail parties, which often turned into late night dance events. I liked eating popcorn on the couch, the pets curled up beside me. I wanted to spend my free time enjoying friends and family, not stressing out about spills and stains.
(Even if you’re more of a book club type, someone could totally still spill cranberry juice on your carpet. Probably not on your wallpaper, though.)
Which is how I found myself at Raymour & Flanigan. My living room needed another overhaul, but so did my approach. Because when you’re a piece of furniture in a hyperkinetic home like mine, there’s danger everywhere. Here’s what I’m looking for this time around: An affordable sofa that’s durable, comfortable, and easy to clean. It doesn’t need to be designer or down-filled. But it also can’t be so cheaply made that it’s landfill-bound when I’m done with it. I need to like it, but I don’t want to get too attached. In return, I’d save the budget-busting for lower-risk pieces, like lighting.
Raymour & Flanigan was the initial physical store I visited during my extensive research process. As I strolled through their showroom filled with reasonably priced furniture options that were also stain-resistant, I immediately felt a sense of relief. Although I didn’t make a purchase that day, I believe that even more affordable items require careful consideration, especially when faced with a wide selection at a large retail store. When the time comes for me to make a decision, I am prepared to accept a couch that may be made of a polyester blend or have a less-than-perfect design. In fact, I am open to it. I am prepared for the next step.
(P.S. A message to La-Z-Boys, puffy leather, and microfiber: I am still not ready for you.)
