A Buyer’s Guide on Sofas: How to Choose the Perfect Sofa for Your Living Space

No living room is complete without a cozy sofa! A sofa or couch offers comfort while pulling together the style of your living space. Sofas come in various styles, sizes, features, materials, and designs. This furniture can be used to accentuate a specific point in the room or to harmonize all the elements in the space.

A sofa is a major investment so always choose carefully and consider all options! To help you choose the right sofa according to your needs, budget, and preference, consider this in-depth buyer’s guide:

The Space

One of the first things you need to consider when shopping for a sofa is the size of your living space. Again, sofas come in various sizes. Some are extremely large and cushy, others are compact, light, and sleek. Some sofas come in sets so you do not have to buy separate chairs with the couch.

Check how big the room is and where you plan to place the sofa. If you can, you can draw a diagram of the room to help you decide the best spot to place the sofa. If you have a large space to fill, you can go for larger sofas with sectionals. For smaller living spaces, get a two-seat sofa.

The Style

The existing style of your living area is important in terms of choosing the right sofa style. The last thing you want is to mistakenly purchase a sofa that clashes with everything you have at home! As far as style goes, everything will depend on your preference, the color palette or design of the space, and your lifestyle. If you have a contemporary home, you can go for compact, sleek sofas in neutral or vivid colorways. If your living space is leaning towards traditional or features country-style furnishing, go for cushier sofas in complementing patterns. If you have pets or children, avoid sofas made with delicate textiles or materials like leather.

The Frame

The durability of the sofa will depend on the frame. El cheapo sofas tend to have weak frames so they cannot hold a lot of weight. These sofas barely last five years if they go through everyday use.

If you want to get your money’s worth, go for sofas that will last you a lifetime. These sofas are typically made with a solid hardwood frame that has been kiln-dried to resist warping. Go for sofas with legs that are either part of the frame or attached with metal screws and brackets.

The Suspension

Sofas are fitted with metal coils, ties, or webbing to add cushion and provide support. A high-quality sofa should provide ample, even support. When shopping around for a sofa, you need to feel the sofa springs by removing the seat cushions and running your hand along the seat deck. High-quality cushion system features eight-way, hand tied springs to provide ample support and comfortable seating.

The Cushion Quality

It is equally important to check if the sofa offers comfortable sitting. This means you have to test the foam cushion to check if the sofa provides sufficient give when you sit. Does the sofa offer firm support or a sink-in-and-stay feeling? To check what material makes up the core of the sofa, press your hand on either side of the cushion. You can tell by touch if the cushion is made from quality material. The best sofas are those that are soft enough for a comfortable sit but firm enough that you cannot feel the seat deck underneath the material.