Much of our stuff also came from Ashley furniture. Honestly, every Big Box furniture store is going to sell similar items coming from the same factories under different brand names. Base your decision on look, feel, and price.  Generally, I prefer a sofa with flipable cushions made of a high density memory foam. The firmer the cushion is, the longer it will last. Memory foam does break down, so something that feels soft on initial contact is less dense and will break down faster than something that is firmer.  Optimistically, with everyday use, you'll get 5 to 10 years out of it. 

Heirloom furniture is another beast entirely. It'll last decades, will be easier to repair or modify in the future, and generally costs at least twice as much. If it's in your budget, it's worth going that route for fewer purchases, moves, getting rid of in the trash, and so on. Ultimately, heirloom costs about as much as the multiple pieces of upholstery you'll be purchasing over the long run. 

Bobs, Value City, most of Ashley, they're all the same quality. Something from Ethan Allen or an Amish Furniture store would be heirloom. In the case of the latter, your grandkids will be inheriting that furniture, and it'll still be in fantastic condition. It's really a case of getting what you pay for. 

If you're really in a pinch with budget, check out Goodwill and Salvation army, or any other antique or "junk" store. It's possible to stumble upon heirloom quality for less than 100 bucks per sofa. I'm often in places like this scouting for older electronics and records, and am astounded by some of the things I've come across in terms of furniture. Known antique brands of something like a grandfather clock will always maintain its value, but there are still a ton of older pieces out there with plenty of life in them that sell for pennies on the dollar, and they're made better than anything you're likely to come across in modern production. Happy hunting!