How to Choose a Sofa
Picking the Perfect Sofa
So, you’ve decided you would love a new sofa?
But with so many styles, and fabrics available, it can be hard to know where to start. It can be a costly mistake to make, but Sofa Spring are here to help you get the perfect sofa for you, your family and your wallet.
The impact of a sofa on the look and feel of your living room should never be underestimated – it’s a large piece of furniture, and as such should add balance and a sense of calm to your decor, pulling the room’s other items together as a complete setting.
Before we look at style, there are several points to consider first.
What factors are important when buying a new sofa?
Sizing
Firstly, think about what purpose you need your sofa to fulfill. If it’s going to be your main family sofa, how many people is it going to have to accomodate? A second, or guest, sofa can get away with being a smaller model, but the average size for a main sofa is a three seater.
How much space do you have available for your new sofa? Interior design experts suggest, as a rough guide, an approximate 15’’ gap between the sofa and coffee table, and at least 3 feet between chairs to encourage easy conversation. It can be useful to mark out on the floor using tape the dimensions of your new sofa, helping you to envision its size.
You also need to consider the access route to the living room – you don’t want to get stuck in a doorway or around a corner, and this is why Sofa Spring double check all the manufacturer’s stated measurements, just to be on the safe side. If access is tight, modular or sectional sofas are a great solution as each section can be moved separately.
Fabric
If you have young kids, or family pets, you’ll need the fabric to be as durable and hard wearing as possible. Leather is a good choice, and is easy to clean, too. A slip covered sofa would work well too, allowing you to easily remove the covers and throw them in the washing machine. Most sofa fabrics are treated with stain resistant products during the manufacturing process, meaning that spilled drinks will just roll off, with a quick sponge to remove the worst.
Style and color
The choice of colors for your new sofa depends on the scheme for the rest of your room.
Patterns can look great and give an unusual touch, especially when the other soft furnishings are in a plain, but complementary, color. They are also very effective at hiding small marks and scuffs, as are darker colors, such as black or navy blue.
As for style, this is very much a matter of personal taste, but you can never go too far wrong with a gorgeously classic tufted back sofa, velvet couch or a beautiful French style sofa.
If you’re stuck for design ideas, and want to make your living room the envy of your friends, here’s some great living rooms, and this video has even more:
