Buying guide: Choosing the right sofa
I remember dreaming of the day I had my own home so I could buy all the gorgeous furniture I’d see in shop fronts and store windows. When I was younger, I thought it was amazing that you could buy anything you wanted.
As I’ve got older, however, I’ve realised that money gets in the way. But what also gets in the way is decisions.
I’m not the best decision maker, particularly when I can’t visualise what I’m trying to achieve, or how something will look. And when you’re buying large, expensive pieces of furniture, you don’t want to make a mistake.
If you’ve landed on this page, then you’re likely on the lookout for a new sofa, but have no idea where to start, what colour you’d like, what fabric you want and so much more. These decisions do need to be made carefully so that you will love your sofa for years to come.
Buying furniture is a significant investment and as with any piece of furniture, there are plenty of options available, and you need to think about the benefits and drawbacks of each choice before you make a decision.
Below, I’ve tried to create the ultimate guide to buying a sofa, looking at sofa types, usage, size, fabrics, colours and fillings.
There’s a lot to take in so settle down with a cuppa!
Types of sofa
Love seat. A love seat, sometimes also called a cuddle chair, is usually bigger than a single armchair but smaller than a two-seater sofa. You can just about fit two people on it, but you’d be forced to get close and personal (hence the name).
Two-seater. The classic two-seater sofa is perfect for smaller spaces and offers space for two people without being too wide or using too much space. A two-seater can also be paired with a three-seater to create a larger seating area.
Three-seater. Three-seater sofas are generally the norm for those that have space. They can be used by two people who like to spread out or put their legs up, or will comfortably fit three adults on. They might have two large sofa cushions to sit on or three smaller ones.
Chaise longue. Chaise longues come in multiple sizes but generally only seat one person. They’re designed to lay down on rather than sit on, and have space for you to put your legs up without the need of a footstool. They can take up a lot of space for just one person but are extremely comfortable.
Chaise sofa. (Left) A chaise sofa generally looks like a three seater, but one seat is longer than the rest meaning one special person can put their feet up on the sofa without the need for a footstool.
Modular sofa. Modular sofas are more flexible than two or three-seaters because they can easily be rearranged depending on what you need. They usually have space for at least three people, but a footstool, or multiple footstools, can be added as an extension of the sofa to create almost any shape you want or need.
Corner sofa. Corner sofas are generally very large and can seat multiple people. You’ll be fighting over who gets that coveted corner spot. These sofas are made to be placed in the corner of a room and suit large families.
Sofa bed. Designed to look like a sofa, these multifunctional furniture items double up into a bed. They’re perfect for a spare room that has multiple uses and allow you to have extra guests to stay. Some are bigger and more sturdy than others, so do your research before buying one that’s for every-day use over occasional use.
How will the sofa be used?
Now that you’ve had a look at some of the types of sofa, you need to understand how it will be used so you can decide on a type.
Is it a formal sofa that’s going in a fancy lounge especially for when guests come over? Is it an every day sofa for reading, watching television, etc.? You want the latter to be easy to clean, easy to maintain and sturdy. But in a formal sofa, you might be happy to go for a more daring fabric or colour that you only trust around adults (white fabric, anyone?).
You will also need to consider who will be using it. If you are looking for the best sofa for kids and pets, not only must it be easy to clean, but you may also want to choose a sofa that’s not so high up. If the user has long legs, they may appreciate space to put their legs up. For elderly people, a higher sofa with a shallow back will be easier to get in and out of.
You also need to figure out whether you are looking for a sofa that also doubles up as a bed. If you feel like you might need an emergency bed or a place for extra guests to sleep a sofa bed would be ideal.
How to measure for a sofa
Measuring is important, as we all should have learned after Ross’ ‘PIVOT’ incident in classic comedy, Friends. There are two things you need to measure:
- Measure the sofa for the space
- Measure entryways so you can be sure you can actually get it in the house
First, decide exactly where you want the sofa to go, and factor in any other furniture items you might be pairing it with (coffee tables, end tables, other sofas, bedside tables (if you’re getting a sofa bed), etc.).
Then, measure the absolute maximum the sofa can be. Finding your maximum measurements will narrow down your search and there may be a lot of sofas that you then can’t buy.
Start by measuring the width of the space (from armrest to armrest), the depth (from front to back) and height. Height generally won’t have much of an impact on your decision, but width and depth are important. Note these measurements down and, when shopping for your sofa online or in store, use these as the absolute biggest the sofa can comfortably be.
If you’re unsure how big you want your sofa, use newspaper or cardboard to lay out a mock-up on the floor. This really helped me when I bought our two-seater sofa (pictured left), as I didn’t want it to look bulky or out of place.
It ended up being the perfect size precisely because I measured everything. Height was important for this sofa because of the radiator and windowsill. Too high, and it would have looked silly, so height can be important sometimes.
Once you have your cut out, put it on the floor and ensure you can easily walk around it without having to squeeze through. If this is the case, you may need a sofa that’s not as wide or deep.
Next, you will need to measure entryways and corridors to ensure you could get the sofa in. Many sofas come with the feet off, so you can get it in place and screw these on later. This does help a lot, but you will also need to measure the doorways themselves. If you have a set of double doors, this would be the perfect solution.
If your home is very narrow and access is limited, consider a modular sofa that can be delivered in sections.
Sofa fabrics
Now that we’ve checked off sofa types, uses and measuring up, it’s time to think about your fabrics. You can find some popular fabrics below, as well as some pros and cons of each type.
Cotton. Cotton is one of the most natural materials you can purchase a sofa in. It’s soft and breathable, but can be pricey and hard to maintain due to its creasing. If you choose a cotton sofa, make sure the covers are removable so you can keep it clean.
Linen. Linen is a great alternative to cotton because it’s another natural material but is more durable and hardwearing, and is hypoallergenic too. Linen may be the preferred choice if you have pets or children. Linen is as breathable as cotton and the colours won’t fade in the sunlight, making them ideal for conservatories or south-facing rooms.
Velvet. Velvet is often associated with luxury, and these sofas can look ultra expensive. It’s a material that’s woven from cotton and polyester to give a gorgeously soft texture. These sofas do need more maintenance, however, so be prepared to clean them fairly regularly. This fabric may not be the best choice for people with pets.
Leather. Leather seems to be a love/hate material in the world of sofa fabrics. Some people love its soft sheen and how easy it is to wipe down. Other people hate that your legs stick to it in summer and that it’s freezing cold in winter. Leather can also rip more easily from pet claws (like those of my cats), so may not be ideal if you do have pets.
Wool. Wool isn’t as expensive as it once was, and it can add cosiness to a cold room, while also cooling in the summer. Wool can be dyed to almost any colour, so you’ll likely have lots of options in this fabric.
Polyester. More and more sofas are made from polyester and other man-made materials. It’s synthetic, really durable, and comes in many colours, so a polyester sofa would be ideal for a busy room.
Sofa colours
The colour is the thing that many people fixate on when choosing a sofa. It’s a large piece of furniture so it needs to be right, and its colour could influence how much it ‘commands’ the room.
If you want it to blend in, choose a softer, natural colour, such as creams, greys, pinks, etc. These keep the space light and airy and allow you to play about with colour and pattern through cushions and throws, rather than the sofa itself. Choose the colour based on what you already have going on in the room. If you’re redecorating, base it on what is staying in the room (such as furniture, flooring, rugs) and then you can repaint around your sofa colour.
For sofas in heavy-use areas, a patterned fabric can help to hide all kinds of spills and stains. Therefore, if you’re shopping for a sofa that will go in a kids’ room, bold patterns and colours may work in your favour.
If you’re completely unsure of what colour to go for, many stores will allow you to take a fabric sample. Grab a few and take them home to mull over the decision properly.
If you’re like me and struggle to visualise what something will look like, use Instagram as your search engine! Try searching the name of the particular sofa and see what colours other people have used in their homes. This might help to inform your decision.
I worked our entire living room design around our sky blue sofa and I’m glad I did! I chose the paint colour as a contrast, sticking with the pastel colours.
Sofa fillings
Now, we’ve come to the final decision you need to make: sofa fillings.
The filling is generally what gives a sofa a specific shape and you may want to choose a filling based on how high or low maintenance they are.
Polyester fibre fillings are very soft and very comfortable. But for this reason they can start to lose their shape over time. If you buy a sofa with fibre-filled seats, be prepared for a LOT of plumping. Fibre is often the cheapest option.
Next, we have foam-filled cushions. Foam is generally firmer, which is why many people choose fibre instead, however it won’t lose its shape. There will be no plumping needed, which is exactly why I bought our blue sofa and our grey two-seated in foam. Just remember that they do soften up over time. If you try a foam seat in a sofa showroom, you may instantly think it’s too hard. But within about 6 months, the seats will lose some of their firmness and will become a little more squishy and comfortable.
Finally, there are feather-filled seats. These are a luxury option and will likely be more expensive but they usually give the cushions and seats a really full, soft look. When you sit on a feather sit, you’ll almost disappear into the sofa, so this option isn’t best for elderly people who need good support. But a feather filling is unmatched in terms of comfort. These will need as lot of plumping, perhaps more so than a fibre filling, so do be prepared for that. Also be prepared for the occasional feather that will fly out of the cushion.
Final questions
How easy is it to clean?
Your sofa will be an investment, and hopefully something you can keep for many years. But in order to keep it looking its best, it’s important that it can be cleaned.
Always look at the information pack that comes with the sofa, as this will generally give you an idea of what products you can and can’t use. If you’re unsure how easy a sofa will be to clean, you can always ask in store.
How long will it last?
You may also wish to think about how long the sofa will last. It could be a good idea to check out reviews and ratings to see what other people have to say. Does the sofa fade in the sun? Is it ruined if it gets wet? If you want furniture you can pass down to future generations, make sure you purchase a sofa that is designed to last for many years.
Sofa Trends for 2022
Stay ahead of the curve with these top sofa trends for 2022. Remember, you’ll want to keep your sofa for some years, so don’t purchase it because it’s a trend. BUT these should give you some ideas of most popular sofa styles for this year.
- Grey sofas – grey continues to be a popular colour and so the sale of grey sofas won’t be going down any time soon.
- Green or pink sofas – if you want to stay away from grey, green and pink sofas are the next two most popular colours!
- Orange sofas – this sofa colour could be on the rise. Searches for ‘orange sofa’ have increased on Pinterest by 30% and in Google search by 50%!
- Velvet sofas – velvet might actually be declining in popularity this year
- Leather sofas – but leather is on the rise!
- Chesterfield sofas – Chesterfield-shaped sofas just like mine continue to be popular.
*Data from MSofas.
