Choosing the Perfect Sofa

A sofa is likely to be one of the biggest expenses in your living room, so making sure you choose wisely is key.

I always recommend Sofa Sofa to friends and family, I've purchased my last two from them and am happy to endorse them to others.  We've had great service from them, the delivery drivers are really friendly and efficient, placing it in position and removing all packaging.  Our current sofa is around 4 years old but still looks amazing and most importantly is comfortable for lazing on in the evening watching TV, or sitting with my laptop during the day to work.  

You can rest assured that they are manufactured in the UK using only the best materials,  and come with a 2 year guarantee on fabrics and 5 years on the hardwood frame.  

In our old house, we had one of their leather sofas which I adored.  A modern style with chunky squared arms, it also caught the eye of our house buyers who requested that we include it in the house sale.  I was upset to leave it, but it worked out for the best since we had a month-long gap between our sale and completion on our new house, so it was one less thing to send to storage!

Both my sofas from Sofa Sofa have served us very well for years and years, and they really are amazing value for money and great quality.

Here are my top tips for choosing the perfect sofa:

1. How will you use it?

Decide how you and your family are likely to use it.  How many people will it accommodate?  Do you like to sprawl out and watch movies together?  Does it need to be long enough for a sneaky daytime nap?  People don't like to sit between 2 cushions, so if more than 2 people are likely to be using it, consider going for a settee with one bench-style cushion.  If you prefer to sit more upright, look for one with a higher back.  Feather pillow backs are comfortable, but they need constant plumping to stay looking great, so factor in whether you have the time for this.

2. Stay neutral

If you like to follow design trends, it's more cost-effective to stick to an overall colour in a neutral tone, rather patterned fabric or a bold colour.  That way you can update with cushions and throws rather than having to invest in a new sofa each time you re-decorate.  If you have young children or pets, consider a darker colour which won't show marks such as charcoal grey or brown.

3. Keep it in proportion

If you have large, high-ceilings and Victorian rooms, you can afford to go for a high-backed traditional sofa with scroll arms.  For smaller proportioned, modern rooms, stick with lower, squared arms which are more space-saving.

4. Measure it out

If you've just re-decorated or moved into your home, it can be easy to get carried away when faced with an empty space.  Sofas vary hugely in dimensions, so whilst you may think you have plenty of room for a three seater, make sure it will fit and not dominate the room too much.  Lay out newspaper on the floor to give you a feel for it's size, or better still build a 3D model with cardboard boxes so you can get an idea for how it looks in the space.  Don't forget to measure your door openings too!

5. Make it work harder

Sofas can have a dual purpose.  If you're short on bedroom space, consider investing in a sofa-bed that can convert to accommodate overnight guests.  If you have an open-plan living space, consider an L-shaped or modular sofa to give your room definition and work as a divider between spaces. 

This is a collaborative post but all opinions are my own.