How to Choose The Right Sofa For Your Living Room

Buying a sofa is one of the biggest purchases you’ll make for your home. It’s a piece of furniture you sit on, read on, eat on, entertain on, watch TV on and even sleep on in the living room so it makes sense to invest in one that will last for years. Here are the 8 things to consider when buying a new sofa, from measuring up to choosing the frame to collecting fabric samples.

Good Frame: When buying a sofa look for one with a good strong frame. A sofa is one of the bigger pieces of furniture you’ll use for many years so it makes sense to invest in a good one. A sofa made of solid wood or metal will last much longer than one made of softwood or MDF. What to Look For When Buying a Sofa? Before you buy make sure to check the warranty and repair options.

Seat Cushions: One of the best sofa buying tips is don’t judge a book by its cover. What’s inside your sofa is just as important. We mean your sofa’s seat cushions. When buying a sofa consider the filling. Is it feathers, foam, fibers or something else? Because this will determine the comfort and durability of the seats.

And the type of material you choose will also affect how much maintenance your sofa will need. Is it easy to wash and dry? How often will you need to deep clean it? Consider all these before you buy a sofa.

The Fabric: No sofa buying guide is complete without advice on how to choose sofa upholstery. The fabric you choose for your sofa will determine not just how it looks and feels but also how long it will last. And it can make or break the atmosphere in your living room. So it’s important.

Choose cotton or linen and then work out how to wash it. If you choose leather or leatherette you’ll need to work out how to keep the surface looking good.

If you have kids and pets at home choose dark colours and materials that are easy to wipe and wash. If you live in a dusty environment avoid materials with textures that collect dust.

Make Sure It Fits: The size of your sofa is a big consideration. If you put a big sofa in a small living room you’ll run out of space. If your sofa is too small you won’t be able to fit enough people in. If you have a small home and small living room you could opt for a sofa that can be a bed when needed. If you have a big living room a sectional sofa will transform the space in no time.

Sofa Depth: Don’t forget to consider the depth of your sofa as well as its length. A 40 inch (about 101cm) deep sofa in a style is too big to fit if there’s not enough space. Downsizing to a shorter length but same style isn’t an option if the sofa takes up too much space in this dimension because the seat depth will still be the same. Instead look for a different design; more classic and upright rather than trendy and slouchy might be the answer.

The Design: Now you’ll find many sofa designs; contemporary, modern, mid-century, antique and more. Your sofa design is up to you. But there’s more to it. When buying a sofa consider your overall home decor and the layout of your living room. Choose a modern design if your living room has a modern feel. If your living room is filled with antique furniture you’d want to find something that will complement your antique furniture pieces which are too valuable to throw away.

Think Purpose: While the room dimensions are important when choosing the right sofa, how the room is used will also impact which size sofa is best.

In a TV or family room where people don’t mind sitting together we usually use a big corner sofa, often with a footstool that can be pushed along for whoever wants to put their feet up and lounge or pulled away. When a room is used to entertain people two couches facing each other can be more convivial than one big one that seats people in a line and the sofas will need to be smaller to allow for space between and around them.

Extra Features: Choosing extra useful features in a sofa like a sofa bed or recliner no longer means sacrificing design. Consider features beyond the usual 2 or 3 seater. Do you need an integrated footstool? Do you want a removable cover that you can wash regularly? Consider its versatility too. Modular sofas for example are a total score because they’re adjustable to your needs - when you have company you can break up your modular sofa and put a coffee table in between the parts to make your living room more social. Your sofa can work harder for you if you buy the right model.

Conclusion:

Buying a sofa is not easy. Consider many things when choosing a sofa; price, material, size and design. Where to buy a sofa? Check out UpInteriors to see many sofa designs.