Like everything else in this era of endless choices, there are infinite options when it comes to choosing a new sofa. You may know exactly what you want, but once you walk into a retail shop or browse some images online, shapes, the styles and customisation alternatives can become rather overwhelming.
Save yourself time and money and use these tips to get a clear idea of what you want before you start the hunt.
1. Size matters. If you have a bigger living room, you will need to decide exactly how much of the living room you want your couch to fill. Do you want to include other chairs or couches? Do you require a coffee table? If so, a simple sofa, or one with a slight L-shape is probably the best fitting. If you’re looking for a sofa that will be the focal point of your living room, look for rounder couch shapes that take up a bit more room and provide a lot of seating.
If you have a small living room, odds are you’ll need a smaller couch. With less space, any couch or sofa is going to be in the spotlight, so it’s important to pick something that is practical, but is also of a strong design that carries and complements the rest of the space.
2. Decide exactly how the sofa will be oriented in the room. Successfully organizing a living space starts with looking at your lifestyle. What do you do the most in that space? Do you like to chill out in front of the television? Make sure your couch faces towards that direction. Love hosting wine or game nights? Create a semi-circle around a central table.
Does your family use the living room to lounge, relax and read? Surround your sofa with chairs and cushions to create multiple seating areas that can be enjoyed individually, or as a large group.
3. Determine which shape will suit the room best. Now that you’ve decided your sofa’s function, it’s time to figure out which shape will help it fulfil that purpose. A clean L-shape is great for large open areas that need to be divided — such as separating the dining room from the living room.
A rounder shape is a bit more appealing for a smaller space meant to serve as a gathering area for large groups of people, but could also be perfect for a media room.
If you want to implement more tables and chairs in your living room, a daybed or chaise could be a great alternative to a couch. It still provides seating for several people, but is compact and can work as a more sophisticated version of the futon.
4. Research upholstery materials. Which will be best for you? Aesthetics are important, but functionality is key when it comes to choosing a material for your sofa. A lot of us that would love to indulge in a plush, white suede sofa — they’re so gorgeous, but so dangerous. Suede can be a poor choice if you have pets or small children who will cause some serious damage.
5. Choose a style that complements your home. It can be a little hard to nail down your own personal style, but go with your gut instinct when picking the type of couch that will fit naturally in your home. If your style is sleek and modern, pick something that reflects that in clean lines and dramatic colours.
If your home is an eclectic mix of colours and designs, a couch that combines several styles (such as a classic vintage couch re-upholstered in a colourful standout fabric, or a more contemporary shape with traditional accents) could be the perfect expression of your taste.
If your look is a little more traditional, a classically structured sofa in a durable and neutral fabric will stand the test of time and will work well with various colours and complementing pieces.
For more information on choosing the right sofa please call Kings Interiors on 0115 925 8347 today.