The Essential Sofa Buying Guide
From foam to feathers, seat depth to springs, here is our tips and advice on how to buy a new sofa
A sofa is one of the biggest furniture investments you’ll make – and one of the most permanent. Even if you’re just buying one for a temporary fix, it’ll eventually get demoted from the living room to the family room to the sunroom and, finally, student living. Before you know it, a decade or more has passed, and that impulse purchase has become part of your life. So give some thought to it before you buy.
Quality sofas should feel solid and heavy. Flop around on one to test its sturdiness, then lift it up by the corner and shake it a bit. If it feels light or wobbly, take a pass. Look for a frame made from a kiln-dried hardwood such as oak, alder, birch, maple or, alternatively, high-quality hardwood plywood or marine plywood. Eight-way, hand-tied springs are a hallmark of fine furniture, but sinuous S-shaped springs can provide nearly as much comfort. Drop-in coil springs are a less costly alternative.
Most cushions have a core of polyurethane foam; the denser the foam, the heavier it is and the longer it will last. In the cheapest furniture, the cushion is filled with just the polyurethane foam core. In better furniture the core is wrapped with batting. Higher-quality options include poly-down cushions, which have down mixed with the batting; spring-down cushions, which feature a core of springs surrounded by foam and feathers; and all down, which is all feathers (and all work, so avoid this unless you have servants).
The best sofas have joints that are double dowelled and fitted with corner blocks that are both glued and screwed (not stapled) into place. Quality pieces have legs that are part of the frame, not just attached to it (although removable feet do make it easier to get items through doorways).
Buy the best-quality sofa that you can afford. Your purchase will be amortised over many years. Plus, it’s usually cheaper to reupholster a good sofa than to buy a new one of comparable quality.
Quality sofas should feel solid and heavy. Flop around on one to test its sturdiness, then lift it up by the corner and shake it a bit. If it feels light or wobbly, take a pass. Look for a frame made from a kiln-dried hardwood such as oak, alder, birch, maple or, alternatively, high-quality hardwood plywood or marine plywood. Eight-way, hand-tied springs are a hallmark of fine furniture, but sinuous S-shaped springs can provide nearly as much comfort. Drop-in coil springs are a less costly alternative.
Most cushions have a core of polyurethane foam; the denser the foam, the heavier it is and the longer it will last. In the cheapest furniture, the cushion is filled with just the polyurethane foam core. In better furniture the core is wrapped with batting. Higher-quality options include poly-down cushions, which have down mixed with the batting; spring-down cushions, which feature a core of springs surrounded by foam and feathers; and all down, which is all feathers (and all work, so avoid this unless you have servants).
The best sofas have joints that are double dowelled and fitted with corner blocks that are both glued and screwed (not stapled) into place. Quality pieces have legs that are part of the frame, not just attached to it (although removable feet do make it easier to get items through doorways).
Buy the best-quality sofa that you can afford. Your purchase will be amortised over many years. Plus, it’s usually cheaper to reupholster a good sofa than to buy a new one of comparable quality.
Room size
Consider the proportions of the room and determine what height, length and depth of sofa would look best in the space. If you’re uncertain, mock up a footprint on the floor using masking tape or blue painter’s tape. Or consider ‘building’ a sofa out of empty boxes – then live with it for a few days to see how it feels.
Check out the key measurements for a living room
Consider the proportions of the room and determine what height, length and depth of sofa would look best in the space. If you’re uncertain, mock up a footprint on the floor using masking tape or blue painter’s tape. Or consider ‘building’ a sofa out of empty boxes – then live with it for a few days to see how it feels.
Check out the key measurements for a living room
Seating space
If you plan to spend a lot of time lying on the sofa for reading or naps, make sure it has enough space between the arms. Don’t rely on overall length alone, as the width of the arms will affect the space between.
If you plan to spend a lot of time lying on the sofa for reading or naps, make sure it has enough space between the arms. Don’t rely on overall length alone, as the width of the arms will affect the space between.
If you’re short on space, think about buying a sofa with low arms or no arms – it’ll make your room look larger.
How many people do you want to seat? That might sound like a silly question, but the truth is, nobody likes sitting on the crack. So if you get a couch with two cushions, expect just two people to use it. To accommodate more people, get a sofa with three cushions or a single long cushion, called a bench cushion.
The back
Sofas generally come with one of two types of backs: A pillow back, which has removable cushions or pillows along the rear; or a tight back, in which the upholstery is tailored to the contours of the sofa’s back.
Sofas generally come with one of two types of backs: A pillow back, which has removable cushions or pillows along the rear; or a tight back, in which the upholstery is tailored to the contours of the sofa’s back.
Pillow-back sofas are generally considered more comfortable and inviting, but there’s a downside: Unless you’re diligent with your fluffing, the cushions will usually look slightly askew. If you’re the kind of person who is driven to distraction by something like that, you might want to consider a tight back.
Depth
When it comes to sofas, one size does not fit all. The depth of the seat and the angle of the back will influence how comfortable you feel.
How do you know what depth is right for you? Let experience be your guide. If there’s a sofa or armchair you find particularly comfortable, measure the distance from the inside of your knee to the spot where your lower back hits the back of the sofa, then buy a sofa that has similar dimensions.
When it comes to sofas, one size does not fit all. The depth of the seat and the angle of the back will influence how comfortable you feel.
How do you know what depth is right for you? Let experience be your guide. If there’s a sofa or armchair you find particularly comfortable, measure the distance from the inside of your knee to the spot where your lower back hits the back of the sofa, then buy a sofa that has similar dimensions.
Fabric
Since sofas are such a big investment, you’ll want yours to stay in fashion as long as possible. Given that, it’s best to stick with a neutral fabric. You can always add colour and pattern with throw pillows. Plus, cushions are easy and inexpensive to change if you decide to redecorate.
Some tips to keep in mind before buying and upholstering a sofa
Since sofas are such a big investment, you’ll want yours to stay in fashion as long as possible. Given that, it’s best to stick with a neutral fabric. You can always add colour and pattern with throw pillows. Plus, cushions are easy and inexpensive to change if you decide to redecorate.
Some tips to keep in mind before buying and upholstering a sofa
If you have kids and a neutral sofa sounds like an invitation to disaster, consider a darker colour or a sofa with a subtle overall pattern.
As a rule, synthetic fabrics are more durable, colourfast and cleanable. Tightly woven fabrics and fabrics that are heavy will stand up to wear and tear better, as will leather. Avoid satins, brocades and damasks unless the sofa won’t get much use.
As a rule, synthetic fabrics are more durable, colourfast and cleanable. Tightly woven fabrics and fabrics that are heavy will stand up to wear and tear better, as will leather. Avoid satins, brocades and damasks unless the sofa won’t get much use.
Whatever fabric you choose, ask the store for a sample or cutting that you can take home on approval before you buy. (If no sample is available, ask for a cushion.) That way you can see the material under the light in your room and with other pieces of furniture. When you’re spending this kind of money, the last thing you want is a surprise.
Read more:
The Unparalleled Versatility of a Modular Sofa
Tell us:
Have you recently purchased a sofa? Tell us how you went about selecting it in the Comments below.
Read more:
The Unparalleled Versatility of a Modular Sofa
Tell us:
Have you recently purchased a sofa? Tell us how you went about selecting it in the Comments below.
Choose a sofa that complements the style of your decor. If your interior is traditional, look for a sofa with rolled arms, a contoured back, skirting or tufted cushions.
Contemporary sofas tend to have cleaner lines, fewer flourishes and understated upholstery.
Browse through pictures of stylish modular sofas