Top 5 tips on buying a sofa
Top 5 Tips on Buying a Sofa
There are some people who live with their sofas for a lifetime. Most expect them to last in good condition for around ten years. There’s nothing better than to curl up and relax on a cosy sofa. Of course, this depends on the design and upholstery of the sofa and what you are using it for. It may be that you want a very cheap sofa for a limited time or even just to help sell your house.
At the other end of the scale, some luxury, designer or antique and vintage sofas retail for thousands of pounds. In the middle, you can expect to buy one for between £200 – £800. Remember you can also dress a cheaper sofa up with colourful throws and cushions. So it depends on you and your budget. But buying one that will stand the test of time requires some careful consideration.
The important thing is not to rush into an impulsive purchase, as your sofa will be one of the most used pieces of furniture in your home. A high level of craftsmanship that delivers deep comfort and support is paramount, but then there are other considerations, such as sofa style and shape, upholstery type and durability and the sofa’s suitability to your home and lifestyle.
Helping to steer you in the right direction, this Top 5 Tips on buying a sofa lists the most essential points to consider so that when at last you make your purchase and sink into your new sofa at home. It will not only provide an exceptionally comfortable experience but will also last for many years to come.
1. Checking and Planning
Many people set their hearts on a certain sofa but don’t think about where it’s going to go. One of the biggest issues is the size. Your sofa needs to fit comfortably in a room so check how much space (length, height and depth) you have before heading off to the sofa shop. You don’t want to get your new sofa into your lounge only to find you then can’t open and close the door!
Never forget to measure the area you’ve designated for your new sofa very carefully, taking into account the size and shape of the room. Once your heart is set on a sofa that you think will fill the space well, bring its measurements home and mark the sofa’s outline on the floor with string. This way you can be sure the sofa will fit the space and that there will be room to walk around or past it.
It is important how you plan to get your sofa into your living room, especially if your home is small and has only front door access. If you have narrow entries or live in a flat accessed via a lift or stairs, consider whether you will be able to easily manoeuvre your sofa in the lift or through the front door. Otherwise hauling it up to your apartment could end in disappointment and frustration, to say the least.
2. Test, Test, Test!
Spend plenty of time sitting on sofas testing them for comfort, as what you see and more importantly what you feel, is mostly what you get. That said, be aware that a sofa that feels wonderfully supportive now may sag over time. For this reason, ask the store salesperson lots of questions about the sofa, particularly about what’s going on under the upholstery. In terms of quality and craftsmanship, this will ultimately be the real indicator of whether you are buying a sofa for the long or short term.
If you have a large family, including small children, then a white leather sofa probably isn’t the best option. Think about who will be sitting on the sofa, where it will go and what else it might be used for. A sofa bed could be a useful dual-purpose item, for example.
If you have a narrow or small living room, you don’t want to clutter it with a huge sofa that leaves no room for anything else. Long sofas are ideally suited to terrace house living areas that are often open plan.
3. What is Sofa made of?
When out looking for a sofa, also consider how it is made so that you end up with a good quality piece of furniture:
- Frame – Like a solid building, a well-built sofa is based on a sound frame. Sofas with kiln-dried hardwood frames such as oak or poplar are good options. Kiln-drying removes excess water in the wood so that it doesn’t warp or crack later. You can get cheaper-framed sofas using softwood, plywood or plastic, but expect these to last for a shorter period of time.
- Construction – A good sofa will have its frame joined using a mixture of dowel, block and glue and screws. Cheaper sofas will be stapled and glued together with lighter weight braces to hold the joints together. See how solid your sofa is by wiggling it gently from side to side. A solid frame should not wiggle!
- Suspension – When you sit on a sofa, it’s the suspension system that gives it its bounce. The eight-way hand-tied coil system gives the firmest and most continuous ‘ride’ (how even it is across the sofa). The drop coil system gives a slightly less continuous ride so you could end up sitting in a dip. The sinuous system is often used in low slung seats and is not for those who dream of diving into a soft plump sofa!
- Cushions – Full down cushions give a very soft feel but need plumping up to reshape them. Semi-sprung, fabric-wrapped cushions give a firmer seat but still a soft feel, foam-filled sofas are the firmest of all. It can be used in anything from cheap sofas to very expensive sleek ones.
- Upholstery – This is the bit you can actually see. Keep in mind that tightly woven fabrics tend to wear the best – the number of threads per square inch tends to determine the durability and woven patterns last better than prints.
4. Material
If you want to keep your sofa to last, choosing the right textile for your sofa is as important as making sure the construction standards are high.
Hard-wearing cotton and linen are winners, but when mixed with a cheap synthetic, can often pill after a year of wear. High-quality synthetic microfibre fabrics, however, can mimic the weave and handle of most natural fabrics and are stain-resistant, making these textiles excellent choices. They are also less likely to colour fade.
Wool is natural, resilient; cotton takes colour well but may tend to mildew.
Linen works best in natural shades.
Silk is beautiful but fragile; polyester is strong and cleanable.
Nylon is the strongest and most dirt-resistant of all.
Leather for its durability is both luxurious and practical, genuine leather lounges tend to complement any home decor. If combined with quality construction, they offer years of comfort and style. Leather is a durable material and gets better with time, but it needs some care. Treat it with a high-quality conditioner every six months to a year.
If you have got young children or pets or you’re just worried about general wear and tear, it might be worth getting the fabric of your sofa protected. Sometimes the retailer will do this for you or you can buy products yourself.
5. Colour…?
If you’ve found your dream sofa but are unsure about what colour is going to work in your decor scheme, or haven’t even decided on one yet, stick with a neutral. It will probably work with any of the colourways or patterns you introduce at a later date.
If your plan has a predominately warm palette, choose a beige, mushroom or cream sofa; a grey, charcoal and even white sofa will work best with a cool colour palette. Punchy colour should come from accessory pillows or throw rugs as these can easily be replaced when the next new colour wave trend hits. If you really feel that a colourful sofa will work in your home, choose one in a block of colour that will be easier to style as trends change over time.
A new sofa could be one of the most expensive items in your home so remember to take it into account when you’re working out how much home contents insurance to take out. If you also take out accidental damage cover, you’ll be insured against common household accidents, for example, children’s crayons and careless adults!
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