Couch potato
I guess 2011 is the year I start approaching adulthood, what with getting a microwave and chest freezer. The growing up process continued over the weekend as I acquired a couch and coffee table. Both are secondhand, and it's a futon couch (which I tend to think of as not a 'proper' couch) but at $60 for both I couldn't pass it up. I've been contemplating couches for ages now and while I initially wanted a 'real' couch, I soon came to realize that issues relating to the layout of my apartment would seriously impede getting one inside. At first I thought the problem was after getting it in the living room which is around a short L-shaped hallway/corridor that leads in from the front door. My worry was always how to get a three-seater couch around that bend, and what if it didn't fit? There was no option to try and bring a couch in over the balcony - I'm a good ways off the ground. And getting a two-seater love seat style was also out of the question as I wanted something I could lay down on and stretch out my legs.
After a lot of thinking I eventually decided against getting a proper couch because I just wasn't confident I wouldn't have issues with getting it to the living room. In actual fact, I eventually realized that this was the least of the problems associated with a couch. Coming home one day I was standing in the hallway preparing to unlock my door when I was struck by the fact that as my door is located along one side of the hallway and not at an end, bringing a couch to the door would mean the couch would be parallel to the door and would have to be tipped up on its end so it could be positioned perpendicular to the door in order to bring it into the apartment. I'm not sure how clear that visual is but basically there is no room in the hallway to change the orientation of any couch longer than, say, a love seat so really, my problem wasn't how to get it around the L-shaped bend in my apartment, it was getting it through the front door in the first place.
That officially put the dream of getting an actual sofa on hold until such time in the future when I'm living in a place that is better positioned for moving large pieces of furniture into. It's a shame because I saw a couple of really nice couches that totally fit what I was looking for but there was no point if I couldn't get them into the apartment, which was not something I wanted to find out at the time of delivery. So I went back to the thought of a futon couch because I knew I'd be able to bring that inside in pieces, so the issues with layout and whatnot wouldn't be an issue. I figured I'd just get a simple frame as I already had a futon which, even though it was ten years old, would be fine for me to sit on until I got a new one. Turns out the wood frames are more expensive than I was prepared to pay. I mean, I like futons but honestly, most futon couches do look like they should be basement furniture, if you know what I mean. So being asked to pay $400 or $500 just for a frame annoyed me to no end.
Over the holidays I settled on a basic black metal frame figuring what the hell. I was tired of thinking about the whole couch thing and just wanted something that fit my needs and budget. I was going to pick it up this month but then last week a friend forwarded me a sale listing from their internal whiteboard. A co-worker of hers was selling her futon couch. The futon was only a few years old, the frame was wood, and it came with a green/red/neutral cover. The price was $50 but if I wanted to coffee table too I could have both for $60. Since I did actually want a nicer wood framed futon this sounded very promising, and when I saw the picture I immediately told her I'd take it. On Saturday I rented a van and friends helped me pick it up and then assembled in my apartment. I think it looks really good:
After we had it set up, the three of us sat in it and were surprised at how roomy it is. You'd think that it might be a bit of a tight fit for three adults but that wasn't the case at all. In fact, I remarked that we still had room for a few chip bowls between us! And the futon was incredibly comfortable, not to mention I can lay down and stretch out on it completely. So all in all I was pretty happy with how it all turned out, not to mention I can finally stop thinking about couches (and devote even more time to contemplating a new computer, but that's another story!)
It seems weird, though - like, I have furniture, wow! I've never accumulated any sort of furniture because for a long time I was moving a lot. I looked at any significant purchase in light of how I'd feel having to carry or move it up and down stairs at least once a year. That generally put the kibosh on most things and I just got used to living light. Furniture was just never a big priority for me, and it's not like I ever felt the need to host lots of dinner parties or whatever, so what I had worked just fine for me. But even though I've already had a thought or two along the lines of 'okay, that's more stuff to move should the time come' I will admit that I'm quite happy to have it. I mean, if push came to shove and I ended up moving somewhere far away, I'd be fine to sell it or just leave it behind. But in the meantime it's so nice to come home and have something set up that's cozy and comfortable. I mean, it's starting to look like a real living room. How cool is that? My next plan is to get an extra chair, like a recliner-type deal, and start to put more things up on the walls. I have a whack of pictures I've been meaning to frame for ages, so this is good motivation to get on that.
Sometimes this growing-up thing can be fun!
After a lot of thinking I eventually decided against getting a proper couch because I just wasn't confident I wouldn't have issues with getting it to the living room. In actual fact, I eventually realized that this was the least of the problems associated with a couch. Coming home one day I was standing in the hallway preparing to unlock my door when I was struck by the fact that as my door is located along one side of the hallway and not at an end, bringing a couch to the door would mean the couch would be parallel to the door and would have to be tipped up on its end so it could be positioned perpendicular to the door in order to bring it into the apartment. I'm not sure how clear that visual is but basically there is no room in the hallway to change the orientation of any couch longer than, say, a love seat so really, my problem wasn't how to get it around the L-shaped bend in my apartment, it was getting it through the front door in the first place.
That officially put the dream of getting an actual sofa on hold until such time in the future when I'm living in a place that is better positioned for moving large pieces of furniture into. It's a shame because I saw a couple of really nice couches that totally fit what I was looking for but there was no point if I couldn't get them into the apartment, which was not something I wanted to find out at the time of delivery. So I went back to the thought of a futon couch because I knew I'd be able to bring that inside in pieces, so the issues with layout and whatnot wouldn't be an issue. I figured I'd just get a simple frame as I already had a futon which, even though it was ten years old, would be fine for me to sit on until I got a new one. Turns out the wood frames are more expensive than I was prepared to pay. I mean, I like futons but honestly, most futon couches do look like they should be basement furniture, if you know what I mean. So being asked to pay $400 or $500 just for a frame annoyed me to no end.
Over the holidays I settled on a basic black metal frame figuring what the hell. I was tired of thinking about the whole couch thing and just wanted something that fit my needs and budget. I was going to pick it up this month but then last week a friend forwarded me a sale listing from their internal whiteboard. A co-worker of hers was selling her futon couch. The futon was only a few years old, the frame was wood, and it came with a green/red/neutral cover. The price was $50 but if I wanted to coffee table too I could have both for $60. Since I did actually want a nicer wood framed futon this sounded very promising, and when I saw the picture I immediately told her I'd take it. On Saturday I rented a van and friends helped me pick it up and then assembled in my apartment. I think it looks really good:
After we had it set up, the three of us sat in it and were surprised at how roomy it is. You'd think that it might be a bit of a tight fit for three adults but that wasn't the case at all. In fact, I remarked that we still had room for a few chip bowls between us! And the futon was incredibly comfortable, not to mention I can lay down and stretch out on it completely. So all in all I was pretty happy with how it all turned out, not to mention I can finally stop thinking about couches (and devote even more time to contemplating a new computer, but that's another story!)
It seems weird, though - like, I have furniture, wow! I've never accumulated any sort of furniture because for a long time I was moving a lot. I looked at any significant purchase in light of how I'd feel having to carry or move it up and down stairs at least once a year. That generally put the kibosh on most things and I just got used to living light. Furniture was just never a big priority for me, and it's not like I ever felt the need to host lots of dinner parties or whatever, so what I had worked just fine for me. But even though I've already had a thought or two along the lines of 'okay, that's more stuff to move should the time come' I will admit that I'm quite happy to have it. I mean, if push came to shove and I ended up moving somewhere far away, I'd be fine to sell it or just leave it behind. But in the meantime it's so nice to come home and have something set up that's cozy and comfortable. I mean, it's starting to look like a real living room. How cool is that? My next plan is to get an extra chair, like a recliner-type deal, and start to put more things up on the walls. I have a whack of pictures I've been meaning to frame for ages, so this is good motivation to get on that.
Sometimes this growing-up thing can be fun!