One of the best investments you can make is in the right sofa. Not only do they last a long time, but if chosen carefully, they can create a statement in your living or family room. While comfort, quality, and style are some of the most important features one looks for when buying this essential item, there are other things to consider. In this new post, I want to give you the ultimate shopping guide to choosing the right sofa for your space, what to consider and what are some of my favorite options out there!

With lots of options in the market, answering these questions will help you know exactly what you want and what you’re looking for. 



1. What’s your lifestyle? Do you have small children or pets in the house? Do you stay in or spend most of your time outside of the house? 
2. What will be the main function of your couch? Is it for entertaining? Watching movies with the family? Relaxing? Or perhaps a combination of all. 
3. What’s the budget you have in mind for your sofa? Does it match the price in the store? Doing a little research will help you know an estimate that you’ll be spending on this essential item.
4. What is the layout of your living room? Is it an open space? Or perhaps it's connected to another room. When looking for the right sofa you should consider your floor plan. Search for the right options to highlight your space, match your budget and uplift the room.
5. What’s your decorating style? If you don’t know the answer to this question, I encourage you to take this quiz to find out. Knowing your decorating design style will drive you in the right direction to the perfect sofa.

Now that you’re clear which way you want to go, it’s the sofa-shopping time! Follow these five tips to make sure your purchase is a real investment.

Tip #1. Consider the construction of the sofa

When buying a new sofa, consider the suspension system of your couch. It will contribute to its quality and durability. There are two suspension systems commonly used to build a couch: The 8-way hand-tied method and sinuous springs. The 8-way hand-tied is considered the gold standard of couches, because of their detailed construction process. They’re comfortable and last a long time. On the other hand, sinuous springs, is the most common suspension used on today’s furniture. If done correctly, it works very well but is not utilized for premium furniture. My recommendation here is to invest in quality and comfort, so if you ask, 8-way hand-tied is the way to go.

If you have questions about this process, book a call with me so I can help pick the best option for your room.

Tip #2. Use a performance fabric

Performance fabrics are easy to clean and resist the wear and tear of everyday life, making them kid and pet friendly. My personal favorite is Crypton Fabric. Stains are simple to clean and odors don't stick. Other benefits include:

• It’s soft and durable
• Help preserve the life of your furniture
• Comes in many different colors and textures

Tip #3. Measure your space before buying

Sofas are generally the big ticket item in a living room, so you want to make sure the one you choose fits best in your space. When measuring your space consider the following:

• Other elements sitting in your room, like accent chairs, ottomans, or coffee tables. 

Designer’s tip: When including a coffee table to complement your couch, allow 18" of space between the edge of the sofa and the coffee table. 

• When decorating a small room, the best option is a small sofa or a two-seater, in addition to an ottoman to add some comfort.
• When decorating a large room, consider placing your sofa in the center of the room rather than leaning against the wall, to make most of the space and bring an intimate and cozy feeling.

Tip #4. Select your perfect style

Your decorating style matters. It will help you make the most accurate decisions amidst the variety of options available. When selecting your perfect style follow these guidelines:

• Decide whether you prefer loose or attached cushions: Loose cushions tend to be more expensive since you can rearrange and rotate them constantly, while attached cushions are easier to maintain, clean, and are more affordable.
• Arm style: From classic to transitional, the arm style will depend, once again, on your preference of design style. While some offer more comfort, this decision is very personal and depends on your interior design goal. 
• Back Style: This refers to how cushions are arranged on the back of the sofa. It can either create a more casual or formal space. A looser back style will create a relaxed look, while a firm back style will reflect a classical and formal look.
• Leg Style: Sofas usually have their lower end covered or they could be showing some legs. The covered end reflects formality and glamour, while showing legs is a clean and modern look. My preferred style is to include both, that way we create contrast to the room.
• Color: This is perhaps the most difficult choice. With so many options, which one will look best in your room? My recommendation is to go with neutral. They reflect a cleaner and modern look and you can pair them with throws or pillows that have a different color to create a statement and some contrast, just like I did on this project:

Tip #5. Select the one that’s most comfortable for you.

If a sofa is not comfortable, what’s the point of even having one, right? There are a few things that will make your sofa a delight to sit in:

• Quality of the cushions: these can be down, all-foam, or a combination of both. The down cushions are the best in the market. They are combined with feathers to bring the ultimate comfort, and deliver a more casual and relaxed look. But, if you’re looking for a more classical look, foam is the right option. It is made mostly using synthetic fibers and they keep their form when you stand up.
• Arm Height: Are you planning to sit upright or lean on your sofa? Then you want to pay attention to the arm height. A longer height will help you lean while a short height can help you straighten up your posture. For a short-height arm, you can use pillows to create additional comfort for your sofa.
• Seating Depth: This is perhaps one of the key features in achieving a comfortable sofa, and it all circles back to your lifestyle and personal features. If you’re tall perhaps a bigger depth may be the better option, or if you have enough space to cover in your room you may want to go in this direction as well. 

That was a lot of tips! Now, let me show you what a perfect sofa looks like. For this client, we ordered a custom sectional, inspired by a Modern Coastal Design. Let’s check some of the items we covered above:

• It's an 8-way hand tied using a performance fabric
• We measured perfectly to fit the room space. We also paired it with an accent chair and leather ottoman.
• We chose a neutral color, which coordinates with the blue in the drapes and the accent pillows to create contrast.
• The cushions are made out of down, which gives the perfect relaxed look to this room.

What’s your favorite thing about this room? Comment below!

So there you have it. The perfect guide to shop for your next sofa. If you need any help in this process or if you are uncertain about which way is the best for your space, book a consultation with me, so I can take a look at your space and provide the best recommendations.

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