The Best Sofa Furniture Manufacturers to Purchase From

La-Z-Boy

• Founded in 1927 and based in Michigan, the La-Z-Boy brand name continues to attract those who seek quality. The look of the furniture is simple and stylish, with a slightly casual feel. The furniture is sturdy. Solid wood frames are covered with long-lasting polyfill and the padding for the frame and the filling for cushions provides comfort while sitting. Upholstery comes in a variety of shades and prints or solids. The fabrics are heavy cotton weaves or microfiber. Leather upholstery is also an option. The sofa sleepers come with a heavy duty mechanism for the "bed frame." This mechanism easily allows the mattress to be lifted up and out of the sofa and unfold into a bed. It is more elaborate than a futon. Mattresses withstand up to 20 years of frequent use. La-Z-Boy sofas include those whose materials reflect ecological sensitivity to protect the environment as well as different designs.

Ethan Allen

• Ethan Allen sofas also boast high-quality, durable frames. Solid wood frames are covered with lasting fill. Comfort is important, however, and the materials have the proper amount of "give" despite their durability. The designs of the sofas allow for sitting for long periods with proper back and leg support. The furniture generally has a very traditional, almost European look. Ethan Allen doesn't offer sleeper sofas such as those built by other companies. Fabrics come in solids in a variety of colors, and some sofa models offer decorative piping to fulfill diverse tastes. Materials are often cotton weave or microfiber and, occasionally, wool.

Ikea

• Ikea, out of Sweden, sells furniture with sleek modern designs. While some furniture has only man made materials, solid wood frames are available. What makes Ikea advantageous is the combination of function and style. Ikea sofas are minimal with regard to filling and padding. They are the most sleek in terms of construction and design. Ikea furniture comes from careful engineering and design, as do La-Z-Boy and Ethan Allen. Those who appreciate modernism in home furnishings tend to choose Ikea furniture. Upholstery comes in cotton or leather. One feature of Ikea sofas is the way modules can be set up. Two sofa "modules" can be free standing or arms can be purchased and placed on the ends. The beauty of this design allows the consumer to custom design a sofa. Other typical sofas, i.e., two to three sections constructed of a frame, are also available.

Three Companies at a Glance

• Ikea, Ethan Allen and La-Z-Boy offer great value for the dollar, even at regular price. Finding items on sale always helps a shopper, and with careful monitoring of ads, sales for all three companies certainly can be found. Ads in newspapers and/or neighborhood circulars seem to be the most common means of marketing for all three companies. While Ikea is a warehouse-style store and much of the decision making is left to the consumer, employees are available for any questions. The sample areas also provide ideas on how to design a room. At Ethan Allen and La-Z-Boy, the setup is much more typical, in that store sales representatives are readily available and their job is to sell based upon a customer's budget, style and so forth. Both stores encourage customers to find their preferences from large supplies of fabric samples, and sales representatives are more than willing to go through these samples to assist customers with their choice. Ethan Allen markets its products along the same lines as Ikea, with sample rooms showing a variety of interior design for living or family rooms.

Getting Your Sofa Home

• Items from Ethan Allen and La-Z-Boy can be delivered and put into the home by movers. All furniture from Ikea, on the other hand, must be transported by the customer. If you purchase a sofa from Ikea, you will need a pick-up truck or other large vehicle to transport it to your home. Ikea provides large-scale carts -- basically, platforms on wheels -- for transporting large furniture items such as sofas from the store to vehicles.