How to Pick a Sofa That Can Benefit the Comfort & Look of Your Home

Let’s talk about the heart of your home. And I don’t refer to the kitchen. I think the whole “heart of the home” idea applies best to our favourite spot – the living room sofa. A cosy sofa is one of the greatest pleasures you can find in a home. A safe corner where you can relax and forget about your worries. In addition, as the largest element in the living room, it also gets the most attention. As such, it definitely pays off to invest your decorating dollars in an attractive, comfortable and durable sofa.

But buying a sofa isn’t any easier than buying a car. As a major investment, it can involve months of window shopping (both in-person and online), second-guessing, and more-window shopping. Not to mention that you’ll have to live for quite some time with the sofa you’ve picked. To help you make a pick that you’ll be happy with, here the most important factors to consider.

The Cover

Choosing the fabric of your sofa is often a matter of personal preference. If you want opulence, you can go for a designer sofa upholstered in lush velvet. If you maybe aim a for a masculine vibe that’s easy to maintain, dark leather may be a great choice.

Also, don’t forget to consider the sofa’s purpose too. Do you need something that is fade-resistant or stain-resistant? A white sofa might be mouthwatering, but if you have little ones, the maintenance might be too much to handle. So, stick to darker colours in this case. Consider the fabric’s weave too – large loops in the construction can easily develop snags. And to avoid fabrics that will pill, aim for a material with higher thread count.

The higher the thread count, the better. With that being said, linen is excellent at resisting pilling, but cushions made of it can be prone to wrinkling. Cotton on its own pills easily, but when blended with other fibres it can overcome this issue. With that being said, a luxury sofa made of a combination of cotton and linen or cotton and jute can be a great choice. Velvet and mohair are incredibly durable, and of course, nothing beats leather. Although cheaper, polyester, nylon and acrylic are the least durable of all choices.

The Fill

It’s the inside that counts. This saying is especially true when it comes to sofa shopping. The filling of the sofa is going to affect how comfortable and durable it is. Most sofas are filled with a mixture of high-density foam, fibre batting, feathers and springs. For that sensation of falling onto a cloud, go for a higher foam to feather ratio. However, keep in mind that the fluffier the sofa, the more prone to sagging its going to be. As such, fluffier sofas tend to develop “butt dents” from lounging.

If you don’t want this to happen anytime soon with your sofa, pick a luxury sofa with a higher feather to foam ratio. A filling of at least 50% feathers and some high-density foam is still going to offer that coveted “floating” feeling but it won’t deteriorate that easily.

The Size & Shape

Besides the material and the filling, size and shape also play a great role when choosing the right sofa. To determine how large the couch should be, consider the size and layout of the room. You don’t want the sofa to make the space feel cramped or obstruct the flow of movement. But don’t worry, that doesn’t mean a smaller space can’t fit a sectional. In fact, placing a sectional in the corner is usually the best solution to deal with limited space.

In any case, measure the area you’ve designated for your sofa before you go shopping. If you go online shopping for a luxury sofa, note its measurements and mark them on the floor with a string. This way, you can have a better idea of how the shape and size of the sofa is going to affect the space and whether there will be room to walk around it. Also, don’t forget to check whether the sofa can fit through your doorways.

The Design

And finally, consider the style of the sofa. As it is the centrepiece in the living room, the design of your sofa can affect the whole tone and feel of your space. If your living room has a minimalist modern design, pick a sofa with a sleek silhouette and in a neutral colour. You can even narrow down your search to Scandinavian sofas. If your room is styled in a more traditional way, a tuxedo or Chesterfield sofa will be perfect for it. On the other hand, if you love a funky, retro look, you may want to consider mid-century designs in lively but soft colours such as mustard yellow, avocado or baby pink.