I quite enjoyed sofa shopping but you go into it over here knowing that anything that you would want to sit on is made to order so you‘re waiting 13 weeks regardless.
I got my current couch like 16 years ago, and it was custom but I used to go to this design companies showroom and talk to the owners like, monthly when I was in my early 20's. And so they knew me and unbeknownst to me sold it to me for like one third of the retail price. When I went to purchase a new version of it I discovered they started at 4 grand. That discovery sucked. Good couches are hella expensive.
I just bought a standard design from the sofa shop ten years ago but they are all still all build to order. Everything being built to order does stop you compromising to just get the damn thing quickly and you get something you actually like. Getting a leather sofa though was the absolute right call though, more comfy and has easily survived more than one spilt glass of red over the last decade!
Yes leather is the way to go. That’s what’s in the record room. I love our cloth sectional. My wife hates it because when you get up from it it looks like a monster tried to eat it. But it’s very comfy.