Six Tips for Choosing the Perfect Sofa

Six Tips for Choosing the Perfect Sofa

Like everything else in this age of endless option, there seem to be infinite alternatives in regards to deciding upon a sofa. You may think you understand precisely what you need, but as soon as you walk into a store or browse pictures online, the styles, shapes, and customization alternatives can get overwhelming. Save yourself the time, money, and possible buyer’s remorse and use these hints to get a clear idea about what you need (and what you need!) Before you start the hunt.

Debbie Basnett, Vintage Scout Interiors

1. Consider size first. When you’ve got a bigger living room, you will need to decide exactly how much of the living room you desire your sofa to fill. Do you need to include other couches or chairs? Do you need a coffee table? If so, a simple sofa, or one having a slight L-shape is most likely the ideal fit. If you’re trying to find a sofa that will be the focal point of your living room, start looking to get rounder sofa shapes which take up a little more room and supply a good deal of seating. Here is a great example of a robust and easy sofa from Crate & Barrel.

Jan Skacelik

In case you’ve got a little living room, chances are you are going to need a bigger sofa. With less space, any sofa or sofa is going to be in the spotlight, so it is important to select something that’s practical, but is also of a solid design that carries and complements the rest of the space.

Design Within Reach has a ideal two-seater for a little living room.

Jerry Jacobs Design, Inc..

2. Decide precisely the way the sofa is going to be oriented. Successfully arranging a living area starts with assessing the way you live. What do you do the most in that area? Do you like to end down in front of the TV? Make sure your sofa faces that way. Appreciate hosting wine or game nights? Produce a semi circle (or perhaps full circle) around a table.

Does your household use the living room to lounge, relax and read? Surround your sofa with cushions and chairs to make multiple seating areas which may be enjoyed separately, or as a large collection.

Mark English Architects, AIA

3. Determine which shape will suit the area best. Now that you’ve decided your couch’s function, it is time to figure out which shape will help it meet that objective. A fresh L-shape this one from IKEA is very good for open areas which have to be divided — such as separating the living room from the dining area.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

A rounder shape is somewhat more conducive for a smaller area meant to function as a gathering area for groups of people, but could also be ideal for a media room.

Check out this unique curved sofa from Sears.

If you would like to implement more chairs and tables in your living room, a chaise or a daybed could be a good alternative to a conventional sofa. It provides seating for many people, but is compact and may work as a sophisticated variant of the futon. Following is a perfectly classic lace from Crate & Barrel.

Twenty7 design

4. Research upholstery materials. Which will be most suitable for you? Aesthetic is important, but functionality is crucial when it comes to deciding on a material for your sofa. A good deal of us that would like to indulge at a plush, white suede sofa –they’re so gorgeous, but so dangerous. Suede may be a poor choice if you have pets or small children who’ll cause some severe harm.

Chang + Sylligardos Architects

Leather — especially in darker colors — is consistently in style, generally wears nicely with age, and may be fairly easy to wash.

Pottery Barn has a great leather sofa that could be used in a pair, much like the previous photograph.

Amitzi Architects

Another option is to decide to have your sofa upholstered in an exterior cloth. Many businesses now carry Sunbrella fabrics, which withstand stains, fading and water from sunlight. Many outdoor furniture companies also have outside couches and love seats which are so simple and timeless in design that they could easily be used indoors.

Flüff Designs & Decor

5. Decide on a design that complements your property. It may be somewhat difficult to nail down your own personal style, but go with your gut instinct when picking the sort of sofa that will fit naturally in your home. If your design is sleek and contemporary, select something which reflects that in clean lines and striking colors.

Vintage Renewal

If your home is an eclectic mixture of colors and designs, a sofa that combines several styles (for instance, a vintage couch re-upholstered at a colorful fabric, or a modern shape with traditional accents) could be the perfect expression of your taste.

Nicole helene layouts

If your appearance is slightly bit more conventional, a classically structured sofa in a durable and neutral fabric will endure the test of time and will work nicely with various colors and complementing pieces.

West Elm has a nice (and affordable!) Example of a simple sofa shape which will always stay in style.

D Swift

6. Choose a color: bright, printed, or neutral? Re-upholstering furniture has become a relatively inexpensive option for anybody who wants to customize a piece of furniture.

Economy Interiors

Don’t be reluctant to choose a sofa with a pleasure or one of a kind print! It may add a surprisingly touch and immediately transform the feel of the full room. Urban Outfitters has a similar comforter in beautiful fabrics, in an ideal price point.

Adeeni Design Group

If you are too anxious to experiment with bolder colors and patterns in your sofa, you may always decide on a funky ottoman that can double as a coffee table. It is going to include a more subtle awareness of diversity into your living room, while complementing more timeless couches and chairs. Consider this exotic ottoman from Anthropologie.

Next: Read photographs of living room designs on Houzz

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