Buying a sofa

Measure up: Size and shape count
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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. Don't take the decision to buy a sofa lightly.

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.

  • Modus One for All 4 Seater Sofa

    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 One for All, 4 Seater (£2595) by Michael Sodeau for Modus. For a couple, try a pair of two seater sofas which offer room to veg out.

  • Vita 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 Vita Corner Sofa (£1495) from Heals.

  • Athens Sofa Bed Chocolate

    Fillings:

    This will massively 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. Tesco's Athens Sofabed in dark chocolate brown (£199.99) is a good foam choice.

  • Red Luxury Velvet Pod

    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 furniture leg protectors like these from Lakeland (£3.99). You can jazz things up and still play it safe with these decorative red luxury velvet bean bags with fire retardant filler (£60)from Next.

  • Bea Medium sofa bed loose covered in Dune fabric Rouge

    Sofa beds:

    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 Bea medium sofa bed (£519) from Sofa Workshop.

  • John Lewis Samson Leather Modular Furniture, Black

    Leather:

    Leather is hardwearing and improves with age. Despite the huge choice of colours, traditional brown, cream and black, like this Samson Leather Modular corner unit from John Lewis (£1700), 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.

  • Richmond Fabric Sofa - JO1405

    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 Richmond Fabric Sofa (£1265) from Sofa Classics. 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.

  • Mary P Sofa

    Bespoke:

    Bespoke needn’t be as expensive as it sounds and it’s a great solution for maximising awkward spaces. Try Hidden Art for this chic Mary P Sofa (£2299). For the more formal but fresh look, the Sofa Workshop make the process simple: Select a design from their website, choose your size and fabric and they will make up your sofa for you - job done. Take a look at their loose covered Rosie small sofa (prices from £549).

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SteveReid

SteveReid

Posted | 1st February

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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thomas teichman

thomas teichman

Posted | 11th April

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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