Buying a new sofa is a big and costly decision. Sofas are one of the largest pieces of furniture you will buy for your home, and one of the best used. Everyone’s requirements are different and sofa’s range from standard sizes to custom designs. Choosing the right one for your home is important, so we thought we would put together our top tips when choosing a new sofa:

  1. Size Matters. Make sure you are looking for the right size for your space. A good guide is to allow at least 1 metre around your entire sofa to be able to move around your sofa comfortably. Modular sofas are larger but actually save space verses the traditional 3 + 2 seater.

  2. Quality Matters. Like everything you get what you pay for. Buying a well-made sofa may be more expensive in the short term but will last you in the long time. Having a well-made sofa reupholstered in the future will save you buying new every 5 years.

  3. Fillings vary and include poly foam which is low cost and an easy care option but can feel hard without any give. High-resilient (HR) foam is more expensive but will last and be much more comfortable. Feather from goose or duck can be comfortable but will clump. Look for a filling that is a mix of poly and feather to create a comfortable and long lasting look.

  4. Fabric; where to begin. Deciding on what fabric finish you want your sofa to have is an equally important decision. Fabrics not only decide the look for the finish of the sofa but also play a practical role. Leather will give you a long term finish that is easy to maintain but can look cold and dated. Linen is a beautiful finish but is hard to maintain and can be impractical. When choosing a fabric make sure you speak to a professional who can advise you on the best fabric for your brief.

  5. Dress to impress. Cushions can really add something extra to any sofa. Our recommendation is to have your sofa fabric in a plain, hardwearing, quality fabric and add pattern and colour through cushions. We love adding cushions in various sizes to our sofas, from large, over scaled 60 x 60 to the smaller 30 x 40’s and make sure you mix up colours and patterns to create texture and interest.