The upholstered furniture game

I can go to a number of Amish furniture manufacturers within 2 hours of me to buy wooden furniture BUT they don't do upholstered furniture is I'm at the mercy of mass manufacturers and have no idea what's under the fabric.

Would like to hear from anyone who can shed some light on which mfrs can be trusted and what to look for.

We need a few couches and recliners and don't mind spending our hard earned money on quality furniture.

My only advice is to check out the commercial furniture suppliers. I'm talking about the furniture makers that produce furniture for better hotels and the more posh waiting rooms at your local doctor or dentist office. I've been impressed with the generally heavy construction, fabrics and faux leather. The cushions tend to be firmer, too. Surely, those manufacturers have extensive configuration and coverings options.

My pet peeve with the mainstream furniture stores (Cedar Hill, Morris, Lazy Boy, Value City, etc.), besides their light frames, is that the seat cushions just aren't firm enough. Showroom offerings in those stores sometimes leave me feeling like I'm sitting in a bean bag chair. Not good for the posture, either . . .

Hooker or Bernhardtt are brands my parents/grandparents have trusted for what seems like forever. Local ‘upscale’ furniture store near you should carry either one of these.

Bought my first piece from Hooker which was a love seat. Well worth the price and definitely have firm cushions that should hold up over time.

If you want to go high end custom, I'd go to Hickory Chair Furniture Co.'s website and find a retailer or designer to help you create what you want.

If you're just looking for a quality product at a fair price, I'd shop the internet. You can tell a lot by reading the reviews. I stick to products that have been on the market awhile and have 500, 1,000+ reviews.

If you buy a piece with good "bones" you can always have it reupholstered. That's generally more expensive in this day and age than just giving it away and replacing it.

Edited to add: I forgot to mention, don't discount your local department store. Macy's, for instance, has great furniture. They often have tons of coupons, you can go in and sit on the piece and actually feel it with your own hands, they stand behind what they sell, and they'll deliver it.

Honestly, I don't think there's as much "game" as you think. It's competitive out there. Most inexpensive stuff is poor quality, and most expensive stuff is good quality. The exception being that eventually you're paying a premium for having cutting edge style, fabric, name brand, etc. - just have to decide what's important to you.