Budget
Before choosing a sofa, be aware of your finances, and check your budget before you buy. If you have a strict budget some designs could be out of your price range, for example, leather sofas are generally more expensive than fabric sofas. Be realistic as to what you can afford. Buying second hand may be an option you could consider if money is tight.
There is something to be said for "you get what you pay for", and as a sofa often has major use I would say pay as much as you can afford for a quality sofa.
Design
Think about the style of the room you are buying the sofa for and your own personal design preference. Are you going for a modern sofa with clean lines, a retro style from the 50's or 60's or a traditional Chesterfield sofa with quilted leather and a button back?
Consider the height of the back of the sofa, the depth of cushion and how comfortable it is to sit on. You really need to be testing out a sofa to see if it is the right one for you.
You may also want to consider a corner sofa or a sofa bed that can be useful when people come to stay.
Size
Think about the size of the room and the size of the sofa that is appropriate for the room. If you have a small room you don't want the sofa to take all the space, however, if you have a large family you may need a big sofa. Perhaps two smaller sofas or a small sofa and chair would be a better use of space, only you can decide.
If you have a large room then your lounge can take a big sofa, such as a corner sofa and a small sofa may get lost in the area. You also need to take into consideration the length of the sofa for comfort if you like taking the odd afternoon nap.
Material
Are you going to choose a leather or a fabric sofa? Leather sofas are easy to wipe clean, useful if you have kids or pets, but can be cold to sit on whilst fabric sofas are warmer but may get dirty easily. An alternative could be a fabric sofa with stain guard protection. Leather sofas are generally more hardwearing than fabric sofas too, the material on a fabric sofa can wear and fray over time.
You also need to consider a plain or patterned material. A sofa in a plain colour or tone is less likely to date, and the most popular colour is black or brown as these tones go with most decor and are dark so marks don't show as well.
Add a splash of colour with cushions and throws to add interest if you get bored with the design. A throw can make a leather sofa warmer too.
Lifestyle
As mentioned before if you have kids, pets or a large family it can all impact on the style, size and material of your sofa. Again if you are on your own or a couple you will have different needs. If you have visitors on a regular basis you may want to consider a sofa bed.
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I hope this guide has been useful in how to choose a sofa. What designs and materials do you like?
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I love this, I really need to try re-furbish my home but it's so difficult to choose!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many designs these days, it can be quite difficult, I agree.
DeleteI've had 5 sofas in the last 3 years!! I've always picked the wrong size or style and changed my mind quickly. I love the one that we just recently got though so think I'll be sticking with it for a while x
ReplyDeleteMy next mission is to get new sofa's for my flat as mine weren't the best quality when I bought them 4 and a half years' ago x
ReplyDeleteSome things are worth paying for in my experience including a good mattress and a good sofa.
DeleteI've only ever really chosen based upon budget and size... My inner designer never really woke up, so I lack the ability to make a room look good... So I usually put together my list of choices, whilst my wife puts together hers, and then we compare... Haha
ReplyDeleteSome great tips here especially make sure it fits. They always look so small in the huge warehouses
ReplyDeleteI need a new sofa, we have had this leather thing for over 10 years and it has started to sag, it was meant to be a stop gap as we moved but yeah, we are still stuck with it x
ReplyDeleteLeather sofas are great though but if it's sagging you either need to look at the cushioning and upcycle it or get a new one
DeleteWe're redecorating our living area at the moment so this is definitely food for thought.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips! :)
Some really great tips here, I always forget taking in to consideration the sizing of my living room.
ReplyDeleteLindsey
http://www.londonmumma.com
It's easy to forget but it can make a big difference to what looks right in the room.
DeleteSome very helpful tips here on choosing a sofa, size can be important as I live in a flat and they are many stairs too
ReplyDeleteYes size can be very important. I live in a flat too and if a sofa is too big it won't go up the stairs.
DeleteThat Chesterfield sofa is absolutely gorgeous! We're hoping to move out of our furnished flat into one where we can choose our own very soon so this advice is perfectly timed, thank you! x
ReplyDeleteYes it is, such a classic look.
DeleteSuch an informative post thank you, we are going to upgrade our sofa in the near future so will definitely be usig your tips :) xo
ReplyDeleteFresh orange body mousse because I feel my body would benefit from it x
ReplyDelete