The array of different sofas available to choose from these days is simply staggering, and while that may seem daunting at first, it should be embraced as a good thing, as it means there is an excellent chance of finding something that’s a perfect fit for your room, at the right price to meet your budget.
But what factors do you need to take into account when choosing a living room sofa? Here’s just a few things to consider…
1. Fabric
What do you want your sofa to be upholstered with? This may be fabric, but it could also be other materials – such as real or faux leather, for example.
Leather sofas are an ideal option in more formal settings, such as a sitting room or study, whereas if your living room is for lounging around and watching TV, you might consider a soft material covering.
Durability is important too, especially if you have children or pets, so keep in mind how easy it will be to clean your sofa, and how often you expect to need to do it.
2. Colour
Continuing on from your choice of fabric, you may also have the option of specifying your preferred colour separately from the type of material used.
Pale colours offer elegance and keep rooms feeling light, but again it’s important to think about whether you have dogs or young children in the house, or even if you prefer red wine and may spill it on the sofa.
Alternatively, dark colours are more resistant to showing up dirt and stains between washes, but dark fabric can feel oppressive in a small or poorly lit room – leather is a good option here, as it is often seen in dark colours or even black, and is very easy to clean too.
3. Shape
Do you want a traditional two or three-seater sofa, or would a different shape make better use of your space?
The obvious alternative here is a corner sofa, but you can even get U-shaped couches with seats on three sides, which can make for very efficient usage of your room.
4. Size
Again, this is related to the shape, but even sofas of the same general shape can differ in size.
Consider particularly the width of a two-seater, three-seater or even four-seater couch; in very long rooms, a long sofa could be the best way to match the dimensions while adding an extra seat or two for guests.
5. Extras
Finally, if everything else comes under budget, you might want to put your spare remaining cash towards some extra features.
Sofa beds are the practical example here, providing an extra guest bed for when you have a full house; alternatively, the indulgent option is a reclining chair or retractable foot rest, if you want to put your own comfort first.
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for all the latest news, events and offers.
