What's in a sofa?

Hey lovely people,

I'm still pretty excited about my living room makeover, although it's creeping along as slowly as it has. And it's time we talked furniture - i.e the sofa. How do you pick the right one? I've been thinking a lot about that lately.


Well there are several considerations:

1. Comfort
2. Style
3. Size

Comfort: You'll notice I put comfort first, that was deliberate. A sofa(s) is a pretty big investment, much much like a mattress. Think about how many naps you've taken on your sofa. If you're considering buying online or via catalog, go to the store and test it (or similar models) first. This is a must. You, nor your guests, will be happy with an uncomfortable sofa.

Source

What goes into making a comfy sofa? Glad you asked. Fabric (leather, suede, cotton, etc.) is one. Is it durable? You can't really relax on something that stains easily. Feel good on your skin? Also, fill / cushioning is a big deal too.How firm do you need it to be? Yup, test drive all these things before purchasing.

Style: It's not hard to figure out what style you like, after deciding on what's comfortable for you. The two influence each other heavily. I like white sofas, but durability is key, so a slip covered sofa (like in the picture above) is a really good option.


A pretty popular choice these days is sectionals, which usually works well if your style is more contemporary.

Source

Size: Last, but not least, how big do you need your sofa to be? The bigger question is, how big is your space? Be careful on this one, just because you have a small space does not mean you need small furniture. That's the last thing you want since it makes the room appear smaller. Good rule of thumb to employ here is to measure the space thoroughly. Height, length, width, etc. According to About.com furniture typically comes in about the same size, regardless of size:

• 3 seat sofa – 35” D x 84” W
• Loveseat – 35” D x 60” W
• Armchair – 35” W x 35” D
• Coffee Table – 30” W x.48” L
• Square end table – 24” W x 24” L
• Rectangular end table - 24” W x 28” L

 So, measure will help you confirm if it will work or not. Remember, the size of the room only determines the amount of furniture you put in it.

That's it for now folks. Hope this helps. Next time we'll talk how to get great deals on sofas.

Happy designing!