Buying Guides

Sofa and Chair Buying

Taking time to consider your own tastes in style and comfort will ensure many happy years with your new purchase from Housing Units.

This guide will help you consider the options available and help you find the perfect match.

Choosing Your New Sofa

Firstly, take some time to consider the shape, colour and style of your room. It is important that you choose something which will not only fit in terms of colour but also size. Housing Units has a large selection of varying shapes and sizes to go with all rooms.

Consideration should also be given to the amount of use you intend for your new sofa. Some options would not suit a home where the sofa is in use for many hours every day. Our sales team are on hand to listen to your needs and steer you in the right direction.

It’s worth noting that items of furniture placed in direct sunlight will always fade, so pay particular attention to where your sofa/chairs are going. This is particularly important when placing items in a conservatory where sunlight can be quite intense. Fading will occur.

Choosing the Right Shape, Support and Comfort

Please do ask questions about the sofas on display as they are all different in some way. Our highly trained sales team are here to answer your questions and help you find a suitable sofa to match your individual lifestyle needs.

It is particularly important to consider the level of comfort you are seeking from your new sofa and the amount of maintenance required to keep your purchase in top condition.

Where options on the comfort are available they will usually be as follows:

Foam
This gives the firmest feel and retains its looks best with minimal maintenance. If you prefer your sofa to always look in shape this is the best option for you to choose. Please be aware that over time the foam will soften.

Fibre
If you prefer a softer ‘sit’ then do consider a fibre-filled option. Cushions will need to be plumped daily to maintain the correct look so it is important to think if this is something you will be happy to do.

Feathers
Where available, a feather-filled option provides the ultimate level of comfort with a very soft ‘sit’ but again will require daily plumping to retain its look.

Choosing A Leather Sofa/Chair

Leather is a truly fantastic covering for a sofa or chair that will change over time. It is important to remember that each hide is different and various treatments of leather can give several looks. Buying different items at different times may also result in a different batch of leather being applied so it is important to consider which pieces you need now and order these together. Buying pieces to match later may result in shading and texture differences.

Corrected grain leather is very durable and a great addition to the family home. Analine leather is a very soft leather that shows off the natural features of the hide but is unlikely to be suitable for a family home (particularly with small children and pets). Semi-analine leather offers a better option for family use.

Please be aware due to the fact that leather is a natural product. Scars, marks and branding are entirely normal and to be expected.

Choosing A Fabric Sofa/Chair

The options here start with either fixed or removable covers. Removable covers are professional dry clean only in most cases (check the instructions first) and are usually casual in their appearance. Fixed fabric covers are not designed to be removed and so therefore cannot be washed.

The choice of fabrics is huge in terms of colour, texture and appearance. Options include hard wearing micro fibres, velvets, chenilles and woven designs. Please do ask questions of our sales team to find out which are best suited to your taste and needs.

Please be aware that a crushing and piling effect is common on velvet and chenille sofas and is perfectly normal. Some fabric sofas (chenilles in particular) do show alternative appearances in different lights and certain fabrics will also show patches/shading where the pile has been rubbed. This is normal. If this is something you would not be comfortable with then a more hard-wearing fabric choice would be better.

Recliners

Many of our sofas can be ordered as a recliner for even greater relaxation. Options are available for either a manual or electric design (it may be worth checking where the nearest plug socket is if you intend to order an electric recliner).

Your Sofa Buying Checklist

Measure carefully!
Before you order, please make sure your chosen sofa will fit your room and can be manoeuvred into your house through the front door (or rear) and any hallways/landings. Once your furniture has been ordered, we can’t accept your cancellation without a charge. If you live in a flat/apartment, please make this known to the sales person so we can help you choose something appropriate in terms of weight and size. We offer an access check service however, please be aware that this will delay the order.

Try before you buy and ask questions
Spend as much time as you like sitting on any of our sofas and ask as many questions as you like. We love to listen to your individual needs so we can assist you in making the right choice.

A note regarding the interiors of your sofa
Please be aware that every sofa will lose some density in the first few months of its life (up to 10%) and will continue to do so over the course of its life (up to 25% can be expected). Your new sofa will not sit exactly as the model on display to begin with but will adjust over time with use.

Protect you investment with Premier Care
Our Premier Care provides you with 5 years protection for fabric and leather upholstery, cabinet and dining furniture. This covers stains, accidental damage and structural defects. Full details are available upon request.

Buying Dining and Bedroom Furniture

Housing Units offers a fantastic range of dining and bedroom furniture to suit all styles and budgets.

Choosing Your New Furniture

Furniture is fashionable so begin by considering what style and look you want to create. There are a variety of different materials used in the construction of furniture and we have everything covered from modern and sleek to classic and elegant.

Here’s a quick guide to the different materials.

Wooden Furniture
Wood is a natural product so every product is unique, with varying colours and grains. Wooden furniture is particularly affected by temperature and humidity so give some thought to where the furniture is to be located. If the room is dry or damp then it may be best to avoid wooden furniture. Solid wooden furniture is also not suitable for over the top of under floor heating.

Please feel free to ask any questions, our sales team are happy to listen to your requirements and advise you accordingly.

Metal and Glass Furniture
For a more contemporary look, we have a stunning range of extending and static dining tables in metal and glass, with a choice of leather or fabric chairs.

We also have metal and/or shelving units and a wide choice of small occasional tables and bedsteads.

Lacquered or Gloss furniture
This style of furniture is very modern and popular with customers. Surfaces are prone to light scratches so it is important to protect the surface using appropriate mats and coasters.

Stone/Marble furniture
We have an extensive range of stone furniture including travertine, marble and granite. As a natural product, you can expect differences in shading, veins/lines and colouring. Stone furniture can be susceptible to staining so take great care to protect your investment.

Unfinished Wooden Furniture
As the name suggests this is wood which has not been treated with any stain, wax or oil and gives off a very unique, authentic look. As this is a raw, natural product, it is normal to expect marks, splits and scars. Untreated wood is porous and can warp easily.

Your Furniture Buying Checklist

Measure carefully!
Before you order, please make sure your chosen furniture will fit your room and can be manoeuvred into your house through the front door (or rear) and any hallways/landings. Once your furniture has been ordered, we can’t accept your cancellation without a charge. If you live in a flat/apartment, please make this known to the sales person so we can help you choose something appropriate in terms of weight and size

Try before you buy and ask questions
Spend as much time as you like viewing our extensive range of dining and bedroom furniture. Ask as many questions as you like. We love to listen to your individual needs so we can assist you in making the right choice.

Protect your investment with Premier Care
Our Premier Care provides you with 5 year protection for beds, mattresses (free mattress protector available), cabinet and dining furniture. This covers stains, accidental damage and structural defects.

Bed Buying

Given the fact that you spend a third of your life in bed, choosing the right bed for you is a very important part of life. A good night’s rest is vital to ensure you are ready for whatever the day brings.

Beds will last a long time but, as a guide, a bed over 7 years old will begin to deteriorate quickly and beds over 10 years old are recommended for renewal.

Choosing Your New Bed

When choosing a new bed, take enough time to try out all our range of beds. Feel free to kick off your shoes and lie on every bed, spending enough time to consider the feel. We have a range to suit all budgets but the quality of material used does get better as the price increases so it’s worth investing that little bit more if you can to get a better quality bed.

It is not advisable to change only the mattress and keep the original base, especially if you are buying a divan. The old base could reduce the useful life of the new mattress as well as the support and comfort it can offer.

Most divan beds can be split in two for ease of access to upstairs bedrooms. Please ensure you make us aware of any potential access issues before ordering.

Talk to our expert sales team who will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Don’t be afraid to lie beside your partner for as long as you want. We want you to be happy with your choice

Bed Options

There are several types of bed, varying in style and construction. Here are the options:

Divan Beds
Divan beds are made up of a base and mattress, which combine to give the best support and comfort.

Adjustable Beds
Electrically adjustable beds are easy to operate and can be manoeuvred into any position

Headboards
Headboards are an optional extra, but they can add the finishing touch to your bedroom.

Storage Options
Depending on the bed you want, there are a number of options available, all of which offer valuable storage space.

Guest Beds
For those short of space but needing an extra bed, a single divan with a pull-out bed underneath is a great solution

Bedsteads
Most bedsteads support a mattress on solid timber slats fixed to a frame; some come with a metal frame support and integrated sprung wooden slats

Bed Surrounds
Bed surrounds give the look of a bedstead with the divan of your choice in the middle. There are no slats or support for a mattress

Mattress Options

Open Coil Mattress
Hour glass shaped springs in rows and connected together top and bottom providing good support.

Pocket Sprung Mattress
The springs are sewn into individual fabric pockets providing independent support where needed, profiling body shape and providing optimum support.

Pillow Top Mattress
A luxurious fixed top containing additional padded layers for superb comfort.

Memory Foam Mattress
Memory foam mattresses are durable and breathable. The material conforms to the shape of the body, reducing discomfort caused by pressure points by redistributing pressure.

Latex Mattress
A natural filling with similar properties to memory foam. The latex layer moulds to provide contour support.

Mattress Fillings

Interior sprung mattresses use a variety of fillings to create different properties and comfort options. Fillings are chosen for their reliability, durability, flexibility and to absorb any moisture.

Cotton is often used near the surface for its soft feel and ability to breathe and absorb moisture.

Wool is a naturally resilient fibre and creates a luxurious feel.

Foam is used for a cushioning effect.

Polyester, a synthetic material, has good recovery properties

Hair is a highly resilient fibre and is used for high luxury.

Coir fibre (made from coconut fibre) is generally used next to the spring to insulate and to prevent the spring being felt or penetrated.

Silk, cashmere, mohair and other natural fibres are used for additional luxury.

Mattress Settlement

Please be aware that all mattress fillings will settle and compress over the first few months of use. This is entirely normal and what makes your mattress unique to your body shape. This may be more pronounced in the more luxury end of our ranges with more fillings.

Sofa Beds

Sofa beds are only designed for occasional use as a bed.

Because you sit on a thin layer of padding over a bed mechanism, sofa beds will feel firmer than a standard sofa. The firmness of the sleeping surface will depend on how the sofa bed works.

If the sofa bed pulls out from the bottom of the sofa so it is close to the floor it will feel fairly firm. If it is a metal frame than unfolds to the same height as the seats with support for the mattress it will feel more like a normal bed.

The best way to choose a sofa bed is to try as many as you can in store. It is also worth considering a mattress to add extra comfort.

Care for your sofa bed as you do with your sofa and bed. Rotate and turn the mattress every time the sofa bed is used and don’t overload any storage space.

© Housing Units Limited 1947 - 2022.

Housing Units Limited. Registered office Distribution And Administration, Centre, Tweedale Way, Chadderton Oldham, OL9 7HU. Company registration no. 00445593
Retail store address: Housing Units Retail Park, Wickentree Lane, Failsworth, Manchester, M35 9BA