How to choose the right sofa for you

Looking for a new comfy sofa that complements your style? Here are 7 considerations to lead you to your perfect match.

Choosing the right sofa for your home is super-personal. In addition to style, your decision will be based on how you intend to use your space…

For some, the sofa is the seat where vital decisions are made, like whether to opt for the custard square or the caramel slice over tea. For others, the sofa is integral to their sporting life. It hosts couch-surfing, footy-watching, tennis tournaments, and the like.

If you’re keen to kit out your living room with some cushy new seating, ask yourself how you want to use this space. Are you looking for an afternoon snooze spot? A space to host adult conversations? A mecca for movie marathons?

How you use your space will define the kind of sofa you need. We’ve put together 7 things for you to consider to guide your decision!

Size matters

In many living rooms, the sofa becomes the focal point in the room. Take a look at the size of your space. If it’s big, by all means opt for big is beautiful. However if it’s not so roomy, consider a smaller sleeker sofa.

Think practically. Consider your thoroughfares. Create a butchers’ paper pattern of the dimensions so you can see how big it is on the floor.

Remember the sofa is a 3D thing – it’s going to take up more space than you think.

Configure this

So your sofa has always gone along that one wall. Use this opportunity to explore different configurations for your furniture. Perhaps you can opt for a 3 seater instead. Keep in mind how you use the space. Try out new ways to orientate your sofas round the teev or the coffee table.

L-shape sofas and modular sofas work well for dividing a room. Consider a chaise or a daybed for more intimate spaces.

Ponder your palette

Bold is beautiful. But do you need it in your big furniture pieces like your sofa? You can still show your personality through your throws and cushions…

Solid colored sofas draw less attention to themselves. Match your sofa to your walls and opt for block colors to imbue a sense of calm…

But if you’re audacious by nature, your home should reflect this. Think bold saturated hues. Patterned sofas are for the even more daring. You may also want to consider if you’re a fabric or a leather fan in your sofas.

How low should you go?

Grab your measuring tape and size up your room! If you have a 2.4m ceiling, it’s advisable to opt for a low sofa. This has the benefit of making your room appear more spacious.

More solid pieces like chesterfields take up more space. Still, if you’re looking for a Downtown Abbey aesthetic, they work a treat. So handsome. Or if you’re looking for a Neo-steampunk look, work them into an urban industrial setting.

Macho vs fem-me

When it comes to the silhouette of your sofa, we’re talking personal taste. Are you drawn to tailored and tidy, streamlined and sleek, or a sofa with curves like Jessica Rabbit?

Consider the aspect of your room. Contemporary sofas with clean lines create a modish modern aesthetic. They take up less space visually because the eye passes over them easily.

More feminine designs cause the eye to pause so these pieces tend to become more of a feature in your room.

Show your legs

If your room is of a more modest size, Scandi-style wooden legs work well. The space beneath the sofa helps to prevent the room from appearing too crowded.

Invite a plus one

Introduce additional seating into the space through ottomans, pouffes, stools or armchairs…

Don’t feel tied to matching these with your sofa. Sure, it’s nice to have a cohesive aesthetic, but pairing complimentary styles also works well and gives your space a grounded look.

Consider matching your stool to the timber of your sofa’s legs, or picking a complimentary color and tying them in together through your choice of cushions.

Voila. 7 steps to the sofa for you… whether that’s a family-friendly leather sofa or a voluptuous couch covered with faux animal fur cushions and rich textured throws.