Curling up and unwinding on a cozy sofa is one of life’s greatest pleasures. However the process of buying a modern-day sofa that will stand the test of time demands careful thought.
The important thing is to avoid making haste and impulsive purchases because your sofa will be the most used piece of furniture in your home. For this reason, a great level of craftsmanship that delivers good comfort and support is vital.
This sofa buying guide is designed for beginners and lists the most essential factors to think about when looking to buy that durable modern-day sofa or a modern tufted sleeper sofa if you like.
Room Size and Shape
After identifying the space where you want to place your new sofa, the next step is is measure the designated area. For example, if you have a small or narrow-shaped living area, you want to avoid buying a large sofa that hardly leaves any room for you to do anything else.
At the store, once you’ve decided which sofa you want to buy, it’s important to note the measurements of the sofa and mark them on the floor with a piece of string. This way you will ensure that the sofa you are wanting to buy will fit the space you have identified well, leaving enough room for anyone to walk around it.
Frame Construction and Material
If a sofa is constructed with a sturdy frame, that sofa will last long. A wooden framework is best if the quality of the wood is good and has been kiln-dried. Be careful not to buy a sofa with a frame made from cheap pine or green wood which can warp as time passes.
Ensure that the frame is locked in by dowels or nails, and don’t purchase those that are linked by glue or staples. The legs of the sofa must be part of the frame and or built-in solidly. Metal frames may be needed if the sofa seat has a huge span. However, this can make the sofa heavy and difficult to maneuver.
Suspension
Sofa’s that last longer usually have springs and there are many different types in the market. The strongest quality is measured by heavy-weight springs. Contrary, pocket coil springs (similar to those in mattress), as well as serpentine type springs, provide a greater level of support at an affordable price.
There exist other ways of support such as webbing. Even though this is a more cost-friendly method of suspension, the webbing can provide excellent support if used together with springs in areas that bear the most weight such as seats.
Cushion Fillings
The most pricy fillings for seat and back cushions are down and feather, cushions that are down 100 percent demand a lot of fluffing and patting to take on other shapes. Down only cushions work best when used as back cushions.
Seat cushions on the other hand need to be firm and can regain their shape once you apply pressure to them. Their shape does don’t hold unless they are a filled down or feather.
Foam cushions have the cheapest price tag, but they can deflate very fast when their density is low. A good choice for seats and backrests is to go for cushions with high-density and resilient foam wrapped using down or polyester (which is cheaper to use).
Back Cushion Arrangement
There exist three types of cushion arrangements for the back of sofas, namely:
- Fixed-back
- Cushion-back
- Scatter-back
Trends
Word of advice, when deciding on a sofa style, choose one that goes with your room’s decoration. For instance, a low-profile sofa will be suitable for modern decor and a high-back sofa will work best in a more traditional home.
A Sectional
If you occasionally host guests or have family, think about buying two sofas that will come together to form an L-shape or U-shape so everyone can have a place to sit. These types of styles are also referred to as sectional sofas, and they should be upholstered in a durable fabric more especially if you live with dogs and cats. Another good choice is leather, strong synthetic microfibre, and chenille.
Tufted
The tufted sofa also called the button-back sofa rarely goes out of style and looks fantastic in any home decor theme if its fabric is plain. Usually, they are more pricy compared to other sofas due to the amount of work that goes into tufting.
Modular
Modular sofas come with several benefits and different sizes. They are relatively compact and this is because they put together various pieces in a single unit. In addition, they provide more seating space especially if a fixed ottoman or chaise is bound.
Because of their versatility and flexibility, modulars can be put up in various configurations. Going from L-shapes of two and three-seat sectional sofas with chaise lounge additional parts to bigger U-shaped modular that can be stretched by adding a corner or terminal, these types of sofas can definitely be worth your while.
Arm Shape
Think about the style of arms you’d like and if they are comfortable enough for resting both your arms on. Some people prefer square arms, others like rounded ones. Wider arms work best for contemporary styled decor. A sofa with a high back usually has a narrow arm and if the sofa has a classic style, it may show off a curvaceous scroll or flare.
Pattern and Colour
If for whatever reason you’re not certain which color you should go for but have found your dream sofa but haven’t settled on a look yet. Go with a neutral. A neutral color is more likely to suit the decoration theme you’ll go for in the future. If the plan you have for your decor is predominantly a warm palette, go for a beige, cream, or mushroom soft. Charcoal, grey, or a white sofa will work better with a cool color palette. A punchy color should likely come with throw rugs, accessory pillows because these can be replaced easily when the next color trend hits the market.
Final Word of Advice
If you feel that a colorful sofa will do your home justice, rather choose a single color that will adapt easier as style trends come and go.
