The Sofa You Buy Once

We’ve all met a sofa that looked great online but collapsed faster than your motivation on a Monday. Underneath the fluffy cushions and glossy marketing, most sofas reveal their true colours within a year: squeaky frames, sagging seats, or a mysterious lean to the left.
So what separates the keepers from the clunkers? In furniture terms, it all comes down to one thing: good bones.

Pictured: Harmony Sofa

What ‘Good Bones’ Really Means

“Good bones” is designer shorthand for structure, stability, and substance, the stuff you can’t see but can absolutely feel. It’s the hidden joinery, the sturdy frame, the tensioned webbing that keeps its bounce. It’s craftsmanship that doesn’t shout, it lasts. When you sit on a sofa with good bones, it doesn’t creak or complain. It quietly says, I’m going to be here for a long time. At Furniture by Design, our sofas are built like future heirlooms (minus the guilt). Every frame, cushion, and stitch is engineered for endurance, furniture that still feels good years after the trend pieces have flaked and faded. Pictured: Bonnie Sofa

How to Spot Good Bones (Without a Degree in Upholstery)

  • The Frame: We use solid plywood framing, which is composed of engineered layers of hardwood that provide strength, stability, and long-term durability. It’s far more robust than particleboard or low-grade composite timber and resists warping, cracking, and the drama of New Zealand humidity.
  • The Joinery: Look for corner blocks, dowels, or screws, not staples or glue. The joints should be solid, not wobbly after one push.
  • The Suspension: Our sofas utilise a combination of S-springs and webbing, striking the sweet spot between structure and comfort. S-springs (also known as zig-zag springs) provide consistent seat support, while webbing maintains even tension across the frame. It’s invisible engineering that makes every sit feel right, year after year.
  • The Upholstery: Natural fibres get all the hype, and fair enough, they’re beautiful. But when it comes to everyday life, modern performance fabrics are the real MVPs. Our premium polyester blends shrug off stains, fading, and stretching, so your sofa keeps its good looks and shape without the high-maintenance attitude.

Still obsessed with that soft, slouchy linen vibe? Go for a slipcover style. You’ll get that effortless, relaxed look that only gets better with time, and it’s easy to whip off and wash when life (or wine) happens.

Pictured: Cloud Daybed, Hamilton Sofa

Hamilton Slipcover 3 Seater Sofa (Cement)-FurniturebyDesign.

The “Buy Once, Cry Once” Philosophy

When you buy better, you’re not just investing in furniture; you’re investing in fewer bad purchases. And that’s something worth sitting with. Quality costs more upfront, but it pays you back in comfort, durability, and fewer landfill moments.
View all

Why Cheap Sofas Cost You More Than You Think