The best tips for buying a sofa

Surfing the net, snuggling up with family, chilling out on a takeaway meal or enjoying an afternoon with your favorite DVD box ... Modern life means that a sofa has become much more than just a place to rest your legs. one night.

The days of the three-piece suite may be over, but there is still an almost infinite selection of sofa shapes and styles on offer. So how do you choose between a traditional chesterfield and a large squashy number?

"No other piece of furniture sounds like a new sofa," says Polly Dickens, creative director at The Conran Shop. "The right design can form the centerpiece of a room and dictate the ambience of an interior." With this in mind, knowing your options is crucial, and very easy with our guide to finding your perfect sofa.

Before buying

Sofas can cost anywhere from a few hundred pounds to the price of a small car, so it's wise to be clear on your budget.

Think about your lifestyle and how the sofa will have to function. Is it for a living room, family room, or game room? asks Matt Gayleard, brand manager at Natuzzi. 'Do you have children or pets, and how much effort can you put into supporting it?' How many people do you have to sit? What about a guest sofa bed? Some sofas have built-in storage, so think of other uses the piece might have, too.

Consider the size

Measure before buying and calculate how big a sofa can fit. Two smaller or one large sofa and one pair of armchairs can be more flexible.

"The sofas will look much smaller in the store than in the living room, so it's vital to make sure they really fit together and don't look out of proportion," says Sally Hudson, a central upholstery buyer at John Lewis. 'Lay the newspaper out on the floor the size of your sofa to see roughly how much space it will take up.'

From a practical point of view, don't forget to think about access to your home. Some retailers offer a home visit to verify that the sofa fits through doors, hallways, or stairs. Some sofas facilitate the process by having removable or sectional arms. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZR6WV41/ref=twister_B07ZR7MXCW?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Consider the shape and style

Naturally, you will naturally gravitate toward a sofa style that appeals to you: want something soft and squidy, or firmer and tidier?

"If you are someone who likes to lie down and relax, you may want a sofa with low arms and lots of loose cushions to get comfortable," advises Paul Staden, director of marketing for Sofa Workshop. "However, if you prefer to be supported when you sit, more formal and upright shapes with back cushions may be better."

Try many styles and don't be afraid to have a nice living room and really try a sofa. The shapes of a sofa and even the number of cushions can make a difference in the overall feel of the room. In a smaller space, the narrower sofa arms give the illusion of a more compact piece, and while one or two cushions look cleaner and more modern, three feel more traditional.