Buyer's guide to sofas

Marks & Spencer Sofa
Measure up: Size and shape count
© Marks & Spencer

It's home to a serious amount of traffic, hosts many of your waking hours and is probably one of most expensive pieces of furniture you will buy. Think carefully before making a final decision on your sofa and read our expert tips before you buy.

Do you need a large sofa for family pile ups or a sofa bed for guests? Will it be blocking a door or radiator? Does it allow you to move around the room freely or are you confined to squeezing round the sides? These are questions to be seriously considered before making that all-important sofa purchase. Measuring your space is key and this includes making sure doors (or windows) are wide enough to get the couch inside in the first place.

  • Megan Extra Large Sofa - Charcoal

    Space:

    As with beds, when buying a sofa you should choose the largest you can fit in your space without compromising the look of the room. How many people will it have to accommodate? A large sofa will comfortably seat three adults upright, but remember people like to spread out so don’t scrimp. Try this Megan Extra Large Sofa from Argos. For a couple, try a pair of two seater sofas which offer room to veg out.

  • FLORENCE corner sofa

    Shape:

    Very important. While low back sofas are perfect for rooms with low ceilings and may be a stylish statement, they may not offer the back support you require. High back sofas are more supportive but can crowd a room. Corner or modular sofas are a great way to make use of awkward spaces. Look for models with different configurations to find the perfect shape to fit your room. For a contemporary, vibrant look, check out the Florence Corner Sofa from John Lewis.

  • Genoa Regular Sofa Natural Bruno

    Fillings:

    This will hugely affect both comfort and appearance. Foam-filled sofas have a firm feel and appearance, and bounce back after being sat on. Feather-filled sofas have a more casual, squishy feel, and will need to be plumped daily to keep the sofa looking its best. Don’t forget to consider whether anyone has allergies. Sainsbury's Genoa Regular Sofa in natural is a good foam choice.

  • Rented accommodation:

    Furnishing a rental property? The law requires you to make sure that all furniture complies with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations, which includes fire retardant sofa fillings and coverings. To prevent your floor getting scratched, invest in floor protectors. You can smarten things up and still play it safe with these decorative Clarendon sofa from Marks and Spencer.

  • Pisa sofa bed black

    Sofa beds:

    The sofa bed need no longer mean an uncomfortable, futon-esque contraption that leaves guests wishing they hadn’t bothered visiting. They are particularly useful if you’re lacking a spare bedroom or have a small living space. Look out for ones that have a pull-out mechanism and proper mattress and remember to make sure you have enough room for them to extend. Try the Pisa Sofa Bed from Dwell.

  • Barletta Large Sofa

    Leather:

    Leather is hardwearing and improves with age. Despite the huge choice of colours, traditional brown, cream and black, like this Barletta sofa from Marks & Spencer, are still the most popular. Ensure your sofa is at least 30cm away from heat sources like radiators or it could scorch or crack. Leather creams and wipes such as Method’s premium wipes can prevent leather from cracking and remove stains.

  • Laura 3 seater striped sofa

    Fabric:

    The choices are endless and thousands of patterns, colours and weaves exist. Choose carefully if you opt for a patterned sofa though – they tend to date easily - so it’s best to choose a classic pattern or stripe, such as this Laura Sofa from Juliettes Interiors. Alternatively, have removable covers made if you want to experiment with a bold look. Because fabric sofa covers are usually machine washable (read the manufacturer’s label carefully to avoid shrinkage and fading) they can remain looking good for longer too.

  • Shoreditch Sofa in Designers Guild Fabric Footstool

    Bespoke:

    Bespoke needn’t be as expensive as it sounds and it’s a great solution for maximising awkward spaces. Try Darlings of Chelsea for this quirky Shoreditch Sofa, which can be made to fit your specific requirements. Or if a corner sofa is more your style, their Juliet Fabric Sofa is divine.

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Anniej

Anniej

Posted | 9th April 2009

I know what you mean about sofa beds-I never really liked them- but we have just invested in a new state of the art sofa bed in our sitting room which doubles up as our spare bedroom-the mattress is very comfortable and surprisingly big, it's almost better than my main bed...

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thomas teichman

thomas teichman

Posted | 11th April 2008

article doenst tell me about the differing qualities of leather used on sofas which i gather are very broad ranging and some use reconstituted leather

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SteveReid

SteveReid

Posted | 1st February 2008

I agree on the sofa bed comment - I think a few years ago they were associated with discomfort, and an unpopular compromise - however there are some really great ones around nowadays. Comfortable as sofa's, and a proper mattress as a bed. In our small space society nowadays, they are really practical for converting a living room into a spare bedroom, or keeping a spare bedroom/office practical

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