Buying a new sofa is a significant and important event for your home. Sofa serves not only for comfortable rest and watching TV, but is also often used for reading, relaxing and even for snacks. Therefore, the choice of this piece of furniture requires a serious approach and careful consideration.
What characteristics should the ideal sofa have? It should be comfortable, stylish, and durable. The upholstery should be stain-resistant, hide pet hair, and retain its appearance for a long time. And, of course, all this should be offered at a reasonable price.
Prices for sofas can vary greatly depending on the materials used and the manufacturer. Usually the differences are cosmetic, but the main thing that distinguishes a premium custom sofa from a budget model is often hidden inside the structure.
Choosing the size of the sofa
- Before deciding on the size of your sofa, loveseat or couch, carefully measure not only the furniture itself, but also the passageways through which it will be delivered. Make sure you have the exact measurements of stairwells, elevators, doors and hallways. Incorrect calculations can result in your ideal sofa being too big for your home.
Comfortable sofa
- Sit on the sofa in the store, feel free to adopt your usual position. Lie down on the sofa to check how comfortable it is and whether there are any protruding parts of the frame that could interfere with comfortable rest.
When choosing a frame for upholstered furniture
- Find out what the frame is made of. A quality sofa frame is usually made of seasoned hardwood such as maple, poplar, beech or oak. A frame made of softwood such as pine can lead to problems such as creaking and rapid deterioration, despite the initially low price.
- Pay attention to the method of fastening the frame elements. A good frame will be connected using dowels, dovetail joints and furniture bolts.
- Check the filling of the pillows. There are three main types of filling: natural, combined and synthetic. Pillows filled with goose down provide the most comfort, but require regular fluffing to maintain their shape.
More affordable, but still high-quality options include polyurethane foam, hollow fiber, and similar materials. Avoid using foam rubber, as it loses its shape and begins to crumble over time.
Another popular option is a spring block.
- Pay attention to the design details.
Consider how the sofa will fit into the interior of the room it will be in. For example, rounded armrests are ideal for a classic style, while square armrests look better in modern interiors. Custom-made upholstered furniture. Chrome elements will not look harmonious in a classic interior. If the sofa is going to stand in the center of the room, check how its back looks so that it is also aesthetically attractive.
Choosing Fabric for a Sofa
- Jacquard is one of the most durable and reliable fabric options for sofas. Velour, although attractive, tends to wear out quickly;
- Cotton - being environmentally friendly and natural, is also subject to rapid wear;
- Flock - can accumulate static electricity and is not recommended for cleaning with alcohol solutions or chemicals;
- Microfiber and microsuede are great choices because they are easy to clean and stain resistant;
- Arpatek and artificial leather are durable and easy to care for, without losing their appearance over time.
Be careful with velvet: water stains can be difficult to remove;
If you are unsure about your choice of bright colors, it is better to choose a neutral-colored sofa and use bright pillows or throws for accents.
Dark colors hide stains well, but too much color can make a room feel gloomy.
An alternative would be to use removable covers, which allow you to change the color and fabric of the sofa depending on your preferences.
