Stay on budget with our clearance sofas
Buying a sofa in a clearance sale can be a perfect way to get a high-end designer sofa at a price that won’t break the bank. They may offer a little less flexibility over fabric and colour, but they’re still the same incredibly high-quality sofas that Darlings of Chelsea is known for, but often for around 50% of the price.
Epping Small Corner Sofa in Traviata French Grey
It’s worth remembering that you have to decide quickly when buying a clearance sofa, as generally only one of each item is available and the best bargains can be snapped up quickly. Clearance purchases are also non-refundable, however, so be certain before you buy.
Lana Storage Chaise Sofa in Espero 03 with storage footstool
Of course, one thing that worries people when buying in clearance is whether there’ll be damage to the sofa. There may be some cosmetic damage, depending on why the sofa is in a clearance sale, but this will always be clearly indicated so you can make an informed choice about whether it bothers you. For a lot of people, the savings available are well worth the small bits of wear and tear.
Ex-display sofas
One of the main reasons for sofas and armchairs to be in a clearance sale is that they are ex-display. These are sofas that have been in one of the Darlings of Chelsea showrooms for the season and are now being cleared out to make room for the new season or updated designs. They often include some of the most popular styles and sizes, as these are the sofas people want to see and try out and are generally in neutral, widely-liked colours that won’t stand out too strongly in a showroom and that allow people to image the sofa in their own home regardless of what its interior may be. This makes them really easy, reliable purchases, especially if you’re looking for colours like grey, beige, cream or brown leather.
Duresta Trafalgar 3-Seater Cushion Back in Taormina Black (R9)
Of course, like any sofa that has sat in a shop for a season, they may be a bit faded by sunlight or have picked up some minor damage or wear and tear from being sat in by potential customers. There shouldn’t be anything that would significantly detract from the quality, however, and nothing significantly worse than they would pick up by simply being well-used in a sunny living room for a few months. Many will actually be in superb condition, with the benefit of having been well-cared-for and maintained by people who know how to look after a sofa.
End-of-season sofas
These can be a particularly good buy as they generally won’t have been out in shops like a display sofa, or with a customer like a returned sofa. Instead, they are sofas that were made as part of a ready-made range but haven’t sold and have since been superseded by new seasons. As a result, they’ll be sold at a reduced price but are, of course, still beautiful sofas in great condition.
Milano Fabric Corner Chaise Sofa – Right (2 units) *BRAND NEW* in Levante 02 Grey Fabric.
The main thing to bear in mind is that as so many of Darlings of Chelsea’s sofas are custom-made for each purchase, unsold end-of-season sofas are rare and restricted to a few line that are kept in stock. These are, of course, popular lines though and will generally be produced in popular colours, so they are an easy way to get a great new sofa and a reduced price.
Returned Sofas
The last common reason for a sofa to be in clearance is that it’s been returned by a customer. Generally, this won’t be because of a significant defect, although any minor defects or damage will be pointed out, but could be because the customer has changed their mind or the sofa didn’t fit. The result is that some beautiful sofas could end up in a clearance sale, and this will often include more unusual styles and fabrics than ex-display because they have been chosen by a customer for their particular space.
Charnwood Large Sofa in Varese Delft Fabric
Levels of wear and tear can vary, of course, depending on the reason for the return and how long it was in the customer’s home, but many are almost as new, so if your taste happens to match the previous customer’s, you’re likely to be in luck.
How to be sure of getting a great bargain
If you think getting a clearance sofa might be for you, then the best bet is to keep checking the page. It will be updated frequently as sofas come and go, so don’t lose heart if there’s nothing you like the first time you look. Just bookmark the page and be sure to check back regularly, then be ready to move fast if you do find something you like.
