5 Things to Consider Before Buying a Sofa: A Buyer’s Guide

A sofa is the most noticeable furniture in a home. The perfect sofa can ultimately give your home a good feel and look. It is also one of the most expensive furniture in a home, and as a major investment, you’d expect it to last for a long time. What are the key things you should take into account when buying a sofa?

It is important to get it right the first time because buying the wrong sofa can be an expensive mistake. Choosing the right sofa for your home shouldn’t be a chore, it should be very exciting.  However, there are a few things to take into consideration when buying a sofa for your space.

 

  1.  The Size of the Sofa

You should consider the proportions of the room and determine the size of a sofa that will look best in the space before buying a sofa. It is important that you have enough room to move around or open doors when the sofa is placed.

Sofas never look good wedged into a space. Giving your sofa some space will also give room for side and coffee tables, magazine racks, or lamps. Don’t just eyeball and assume it’s going to fit in, I suggest you use masking tape or cut a template from newspapers in the size of the sofa you are considering and use it to mark out where the sofa will be.

The most common mistake people make when buying a sofa is not measuring the doorways and staircases in their house. You need to measure the width, height, and diagonal opening of all doorways in your house that the sofa will pass through on delivery and make sure you take the measurements to the furniture store.

If you’re living in a building with an elevator, you do not want the sofa to be taller than the elevator when you stand it up inside. To avoid this, measure the height of the elevator and ensure that the sofa can fit in during delivery.

 

 

  2.  The Style of the Sofa

Sofas come in different styles and shapes, there is the chesterfield, modern, camelback, slipper, Knole, and tuxedo, just to name a few. However, It is also important that you choose a sofa that complements the style of your home and the rest of your furniture. You do not want a have a contemporary sofa like a tuxedo and Knole if your home has a traditional interior design, you want to go for camelback or loveseat lounge-style sofas.

Also, decide on the sofa arm style, people usually go for the straight or rounded one. Do not overload the cushions, the number of cushions you need will depend on the size of the sofa, sit on it, and make sure you are comfortable overall.

The most important thing to note when buying a sofa is that you have to love it !! Ask yourself, would I still like it in five years?. It should reflect your personal style and feels comfortable with you.

 

 

  3. The Color of the Sofa

Avoid choosing the color of your sofa based on trends. I recommend you stay away from bold colors or patterns and go for something neutral like cream, gray, or navy for flexibility.

Remember, you can always decide to repaint your walls or change your cushions, rugs, and accessories to your taste and trends but a sofa should be more timeless.

It is advisable to use a color that complements your existing home interior. If you will be placing the sofa in a new or empty room, then go neutral. You need to take into account who will be using the sofa, if you have kids and pets, note that a bright color sofa is prone to stain, and a medium color like gray will be more suitable.

 

  4. The Fabric of the Sofa

All fabrics respond to water differently, If you have pets and you’ll need to clean your sofa upholstery fabric regularly, go for a leather sofa or a pet-friendly fabric that you can wash easily, such as cotton.

You need to note that brushed linen cotton will need to be professionally cleaned. There is a wide range of fabric styles, opt for a fabric that represents your personal style, and complements your home interior.

 

 

5. The Quality of the Sofa

Quality doesn’t always come cheap, do not cut corners on quality when buying a sofa as it will save you money in the long run. On average, a quality fabric sofa should last you five to ten years and leather sofas should last even longer.

A quality sofa should have a good-quality frame, the joints should be glued, dowelled, and screwed to perfection. I suggest you go for a sofa with a solid hardwood frame. A “kiln-dried” hardwood frame ( maple, oak, poplar, etc.) is the best quality frame but will cost you more than buying a cheap sofa made from metal or particleboard.

The springs in the sofa should also be taken into consideration. It is usually advisable to avoid sofas without springs that rely on webbing or mesh.

I suggest you go for a sofa made with 8-way tied springs. When shopping for your sofa, ask questions about the quality of the upholstery and make sure there is a service warranty.