Purchasing a new sofa is a huge decision. It’s the place you go to at home for relaxation and comfort, and it’s typically the heart of the living room. While the kitchen is thought of as the heart of the home, the sofa is where the good things happen. You relax, unwind, catch up on family drama or spend time together connecting in front of your favourite shows.
And if you choose the wrong sofa, it will impact the experience you have and how you feel about your living room activities.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best tips for choosing your next sofa so you don’t make any mistakes.
Size and Layout
This is a big one. Before you fall in love with any sofa, you need to be aware of the dimensions of your room and the layout you have.
Measure your room and your existing sofa first. Include doors, alcoves, your front door and the hallways and stairs. Why? Because many sofas are too big to get from the front of the home to the intended room, as they are too big to move through spaces. The more measurements you have, the easier it will be to find sofas that can fit through the home until they reach where they will be placed.
Then focus on how the room is used so you don’t buy a sofa that is too big, and you can’t move around it, or even so small, it looks lost in the room.
Comfort
One of the best things you can do is to visit sofa shops in person to try out different sofas. You need to be comfortable with the style, the materials, the colour, plushness, etc.
Different sofas have different variables such as seat depth, cushion firmness and back support.
If you like to lounge, for example, a low sofa with deeper seats might work better for you, but if you have mobility issues, this would be the wrong choice.
Head to a Sofa Shop to try out the different types before you buy, so you know exactly what you want.
Frame Build and Quality
A higher quality sofa will automatically cost more, that’s a given. And solid hardwood frames will last longer than softwood ones.
And it is really important that the frame is the foundation of your sofa, so you need to know how it’s built, not just what it’s covered with.
Then look at how cushions are supported, too. Springs, foam and webbing all impact how well the sofa holds up over time and with use. A well-built sofa should feel sturdy and not creak or shift when you sit down.
Fabric Choice
Fabric choice is about more than just colour. Before you make any decision, you need to look at how your sofa will be used and who by.
If you have children and pets, you might want to opt for more durable sofa fabrics that are easy to clean. Leather can be hard-wearing and easy to clean, but it needs care, and it doesn’t suit every home.
Lighter fabrics can show up stains easily, and while they look good, they’re not practical for all home environments.
Weigh up your choices, look for care options for different materials and focus on finding that sweet spot between aesthetics and practicality.
