A guide to finding your sofa-soulmate

Lounge furniture is a significant investment: and tends to be the most frequently used furniture in most households. Buying a new lounge suite can therefore be quite daunting.  Taking some time in advance to think about what you want and need will pay off in the long run.

Here are some things to consider on the journey to find your sofa-soulmate.

SIZE: the first thing you need to do is measure the space you have available. Use a measuring tape  and be sure to take your measurements with you when you go shopping.  Make sure you also measure doorways, stairways, and other architectural obstacles that your new sofa will need to navigate.  If you have any particularly narrow or tight spaces, ask if the feet can be removed.

CONFIGURATION: Who uses your lounge furniture, and how? Is it used mainly for TV watching, entertaining guests, or highlighting a feature (a view for example)? Will your sofa need to seat just a couple of adults (and will those adults want to be cuddling or stretching out in their own space), several couples at once, or an extensive family?  Some general suggestions are:

• Consider what fits with your lifestyle and space 80% of the time
• Make sure that you take traffic patterns around the room into account
• Two sofas (3s + 2s) or a sofa and 2 armchairs in an L or U shape promote conversation
• Sectional, corner, or suites with a chaise work well where a lot of seating is required
• Armchairs can easily be turned from facing the TV into a more sociable position, and are great if you want to maintain personal space
• A sofa bed with a good mattress is a sensible choice if you regularly have people wanting to crash on your couch! If you don’t have the space, you could just look for a sofa with proportions that could accommodate a sleeping body (removable back cushions are a great way to gain extra width in this situation)

UPHOLSTERY: for most people the main consideration when choosing upholstery is how it will withstand the rigours of life.  Generally speaking, most coverings will stand the test of time if they’re cared for properly.  Leather is luxurious, durable, and easy to clean.  Fabric is usually a less costly option, can present a softer look and offers more of an opportunity to express your personality through colour and texture.  Some general suggestions are: 

• Top Grain Leather is the most long-lasting type of leather for sofa upholstery – avoid raw or waxed leathers if you like a cleaner more uniform look.  Corrected leathers are generally easiest to care for
• Polyester is no longer a dirty word.  Fabrics with some polyester content are more likely to be stain resistant and will not be subject to the same natural degradation as natural fibres like linen.
• Choose a tighter weave fabric if the sofa gets a lot of use
• No furniture likes strong UV rays or extremes in temperature, and sofas are no exception.  If you have a sunny room the best thing you can do is treat your windows (or install blinds etc).  Failing this, consider the impact of your environment when making your selection – choose upholstery that will fade gracefully, and won’t disintegrate from prolonged exposure.
• Look to the future when choosing a colour.  You might be better using cushions and accessories to add personality to your room rather than big bold patterns on the sofa.  They’re easier and cheaper to change if you lose interest in the colour or want to freshen things up.
• If an armchair is part of your configuration consider selecting accent chairs to add interest (leather armchair with a fabric sofa, plain sofa with patterned armchair, or a stylised armchair to complement rather than match the sofa
• Have pets? Kids?  What will they be allowed to do on your sofa? Usually leather is a good choice here because it is wipeable, and the cat won’t find it as appealing as a scratching post compared to fabric.
• Love your sofa and it will love you back.  Clean your sofa regularly (according to the manufacturer’s instructions). If you go for fabric, spend the extra cash on having fabric protection applied before you get it.  The best treatments come with warranties and helplines – ask for a demo before you purchase so you know what to expect. 

FRAME: this is the backbone of the sofa.  For strength, choose a sofa with a (sustainably sourced) kiln-dried hardwood frame.  The manufacturer will show confidence in its frame if there is a warranty awarded as a standard feature.

STYLE: as influential in the overall look of your lounge as the upholstery choice.  Think about whether you want your sofa to make a statement, fit in with its surroundings, reflect an era, provide a canvas, add to a schema, or act as the starting point for a theme. Consider the following:

• The arm – high, low, slim, wide?  Lower arms suit lounging souls, slim arms can help reduce bulk in smaller spaces or where a more petite look is the objective.
• The feet – wood, steel, plain, ornate, square, tapered? Wooden feet tend to offer a more homely feel (and you might be able to select the colour finish).  Steel feet have a more clinical modern appeal. 
• Profile – sofas with a low back can give the illusion of space and modernity; a seat slightly higher off the ground may present a small storage opportunity.
• Modern, traditional, rustic, casual, formal, country, provincial: there are so many choices. Go with what you love and what feels right (not what your sister thinks you should like!).

COMFORT:  if you spend a lot of time in your sofa, this will be a priority.  The comfort factor is surprisingly different from person to person.  This can make it hard if you are a couple with differing perspectives!  Try using lumbar cushions to support the back of the shorter of the pair.  The length from hip to knee can have a lot to do with how comfortable a sofa feels, aswell as your personal preference for soft squishy luxury versus firm support.  A sofa with a low seat tends to be great for shorter people, but more difficult to get out of for elderly or tall folk.  If you like to lounge around, make sure you can do so comfortably.  Assess the position of the backrest: reclining or upright.  Most importantly: spend some time sitting in the sofa before you buy it.