Sofas are one of the key pieces in your home. Most commonly found in the living room, you would want a piece that impresses your guests when they step into your home. As the living room is where your guests spend some of the most time; you may want to have a sofa set or piece that makes its mark.
To mention, some people live in apartments or houses that need negotiation between space and style. You may want just a sofa that fits into your tight space you call a living room.
Or you may want a sofa that wows your guests. You may want to even want to have a sofa that’s both stylish and practical.
4 questions to consider before choosing a sofa
- ①Is this somewhere you’d like to take your mid-day naps or curl up with a good book for a couple of hours?
- ②What is the average height & number of people who will use it on a daily basis?
- ③How big of a room will the sofa be in? Should it / can it be a sofa or sectional? Do you need an extra-long sofa to lay down on?
- ④Do you have pets/children and would benefit from having a slipcover that you can throw into the wash? or maybe just a performance fabric to prevent stains?
Seat Comfort
Go for softer sofas if you like plush, enveloping comfort. Softer sofas give you a sink-in, personalized feel and provide a more relaxed look.
Choose firmer sofas if you prefer structured, and even a dash of a comfortable environment. Firmer sofas provide more resistance and support if you have posture problems. It may help some with giving you a better sitting posture.
Sofa Length
The length of your sofa matters, as it decides how many people are able to sit on it. But with customization, you get the opportunity to determine the length and configuration of your sofa sets. L-shaped sofas tend to be able to sit more people, or at least give you more sitting space.
Sofa layouts can be flexible. It doesn’t necessarily have to stay the same layout to fit just your family size. You can customize your sofa to accommodate slightly more amounts when guests come. Alternatively, you can turn your sofa into a make-shift bed. It’s all customization for your living room.
Seat Depth
Seat depths are what you decide in accordance with your height. If you are short in height or are shorter than average, opt for shallower seats. Sofas with shallower seats give you an upright feel. It’s a great option for those who like more back support.
Pick sofas with deeper seats if are someone who is taller than average. Deeper seats are for people who like to lean back at a wide-angle, hence making it a sofa choice for relaxation. With deep seat sofas, once can often tuck their legs into the seat cushions.
Don’t confuse your seat depth with the sofa’s overall depth. The seat depth is the space in which you occupy when seated, it measures from the front of the seat cushion to the back cushion rather than to the back of the sofa.
Back Height
The worst feeling is to sit down on a comfortable sofa only to lean back and feel it stop too short with little to no support. That’s why a good rule of thumb is to find a sofa with a back height of 30″ – 36″. The deeper the sofa the lower it can be in that range since you will naturally want to sit in a more relaxed position and need less height.
Arm Height
Last but not least is the place where we lean and lay our heads upon, the armrest. Look for a sofa with an arm height between 7″ – 9″, this is measured from the top of the seat cushion to the top of the armrest.
Upholstery Matters
Your choice of sofa upholstery matters as it all boils down to your living space and family’s lifestyle. There are plenty of upholstery options, to name a few.
Cushion
Single Cushion: Or a ‘bench seat’ is a great option to be able to fit as many people as possible on a sofa with no one stuck in the crack. With the one cushion, it has a more clean & modern look but that also means that you only have ONE chance to hide that red wine stain.
Two Cushions: This means a roomy seat with two people but an awkward third seat for someone in the middle. It is both a modern and traditional style.
Three Cushions: Ideal for those who are looking for an upright sitting sofa for three people.
The softer your foams density is the more it will compress and lower when you sit down so take this into consideration when choosing your cushion construction and preferred seat height.
Sofas that doubles as beds
Common types of “sofa beds” are the Fold Flats, or more commonly known as “clic clacs”. Fold Flat beds gives larger sleeping areas but lack a headboard.
Traditional pull-out “sofa beds” often have thin mattresses, which makes sleeping for more than a night or two a bit uncomfortable.
If you are tight with space, “sofa beds” may be a good addition to your home as it doubles as a bed and a sofa.
Swivel Sofas
Swivel sofas may come across as old fashion that belong to our parents’ and grandparents’ time, but no, it isn’t. Swivel sofas (and chairs) are now fast becoming statement pieces that people have been longing to own one
