Do I need a new couch? If so, advice for buying?

So, has it had its day? I dunno, man. If you put it on your curb, I'd totally roll up in a pick-up truck loaned to me by a friend whose parents loaned it to him, and take it. Is the couch sagging underneath the cushions? Do you care about the creaking noise? It could be that it's just the foam inside the cushions breaking down, in which case, replacing or restuffing them will help a lot. But if it is sagging, then it's likely that it's your springs. That's harder to fix. You can try to adjust them with pliers (depending on the couch and your personal handiness), or you can try to get your couch resprung--something that may not be worth it to you, as it can cost several hundred dollars. There's the trick of putting plywood under the cushions, but that's not very comfortable if you use your sofa for lounging. The creaking noise could come from the frame or the springs. If you could pinpoint it, you'd have a better idea what to do--tighten a screw? lube/adjust a spring?

A high quality couch can be pretty expensive. When I was pricing out a couch a few years ago I found that the good stuff starts around $750-1000. It might be worth restuffing or replacing the cushions while you save up the scratch for something nice. Or bide your time and wait for a deal.

I'd buy a 2nd hand couch from CL, a good thrift or consignment store. Look for hand-tied springs, kiln dried wood construction. You can always get it recovered or slipcovered. Look for brands made in North Carolina. My couch is 25(!) years old, and I bought it from a furniture store's discount outlet--I could never get the same quality today without spending around $5000 (Sorry, but "the good stuff" starts at around $2000. Anything cheaper is probably made in China, and assembled here.) If you're freaked about bedbugs, try looking at outlet stores or liquidators. Ikea stuff isn't made for the ages. You could get new cushions made if the frame is okay. Get down-wrapped foam. I don't know where you are, but CL usually has some listings for people who do this kind of work, or ask at a local fabric store. You can buy good upholstery fabric on Ebay.

Someone http://www.ikeafans.com/forums/workspaces/10762-restuffing-ektorp-sofa.html (halfway down the page) talks about restoring some of the Ektorp's sturdiness by fixing springs which had come unclipped from the frame. Maybe this could be the reason behind some of the creakiness?

IKEA stuff is most definitely not heirloom-quality. If you particularly care about your furniture, most of their things are made to hold you over with style until you can get a long-lasting, expensive piece of furniture. If possible, I'd suggest rearranging your budget toward investing in a good couch; buying another IKEA model will just mean replacing it in another five years.

+1 for Craigslist couches. Also, never, ever, ever, ever buy a couch with a fold out bed, especially if you plan on moving around often. They're impossible to move and one of the worst experiences as a bed, ever. (I bought one new and have been dragging it around for 10 years trying to get my money's worth). Get a futon if you must have a hybrid. :)

A good futon can be surprisingly cheap, too. Not as grown-up in appearance as a nice couch, but you can get something really gorgeous for under $500.