The question I get asked the most by friends seeking interiors advice, is how to buy a sofa. Being a piece in your home, you literally can’t live with out and something that I hope to keep for at least 10 years, I know how daunting it can feel to make a confident in your decision. Here are 10 points I think everyone should consider before buying their big investment.
1.Is the sofa frame made of wood? Yes! Then this is a great start, it will be longer lasting than a frame made of composite and easier to repair if ever needed.
2.Are you planning to extend your family? I know this can be hard one to envisiage, however if your getting a pet or having a baby, then checking if the covers are machine washable, could be a big must for you. This leads to…
3.Synthetic mix is usually a lot harder wearing, but always get a swatch or try sitting on it first, to check if they feel cheap or scratchy.
4.Talking swatches, see if you can loan the biggest swatch possible from the shop your considering purchasing from. Then put it in the space the sofas going in, look at it in the light your going to look at it in every day and sit in it for a night, how does it fare.
5.Does it have a guarantee from the supplier, if not question why.
6.You want the seat to be at least 90cm in depth, anything shallower will make you feel like your perching at a bus stop.
7.Are the seats feather or foamed stuff, my previous very expensive sofa came only with feather cushions and after just over a year, I had to re stuff. We ended up adding foam to the feather mix, to make sure the cushions held their shape. Pure foam, is usually a sign of a cheap make and can make the sofa feel very stiff.
8.How bespoke can it be? for example Sofa.com and Loaf offer different feet and covers, which can totally transform the look and style. Something that can make your sofa future proof , as you can then upgrade or create a new feel, without starting from scratch.
9.Go to to stores and sit on sofas. Have a longue, bring a coffee and get a feel for what shape and style suits your frame and most importantly bring your partner, flat mate, whoever you live with to see if it suits their shape too.
10.And finally before you place the order, think about it in the space, its will be one of the biggest pieces of furniture in the room. Do you want it to stand out and sent the tone for the space, the purple velvet or a graphic print might be for you. However is it something you want to blend in and bring your space together, a grey wool or loose muted linen covers may be for you.
Here are some of my favourites….
1.The Isla is a sofa.com best seller and classic, we have inheritated our friends 10 year old Isla and other than fixing a wonky leg, is still going strong and a great family comfy sofa
2. The Ghost sofa is so relaxed, you feel it goes to Ibiza on a yoga retreat 6 months of the year. Though it has had many imitations, the Ghost still holds its head up high, as the ultimate understated luxury sofa.
3. This sofa for me the ultimate occasional sofa. Considered, elegant design and would be wonderful if you had a large hallway.
4. Love it or loathe it, the Toga sofa has after 40 plus years after its launch cemented its self as a design classic. Its playful shape could totally change the feel your room, without trading in comfort or investment (they seem to keep their value on ebay)
