Sofa Buying Guide

Sofas are the largest pieces of living room furniture. From comfort to looks, the sofa plays a major role in the living room, family room or den. Often times, the decor of an entire room is centered around the sofa, and it's certainly everyone's favorite seat in the house. With all of the sofas, sofa sets, sectionals and sleeper sofas available, however, basing your choice solely on looks will only get you so far. Let us help you know how to buy a sofa you'll love without the usual confusion surrounding sofa shopping.

Buying a Sofa:

1. Sofas: Regular sofas range anywhere from 6 to 8 feet long and can fit two to three people comfortably. This type of sofa will fit comfortably in most living rooms. Make sure you leave enough room to walk around your living room furniture.

2. Loveseats: Loveseats range from 5 to 6 feet in length and can fit two people comfortably. Loveseats are perfect for small spaces, like apartments, dens and even bedrooms.

3. Sectional sofas: Sectional sofas are fantastic for many spaces. They range in length anywhere from 9 to 14 feet and can fit a slew of people comfortably. For large living rooms and family rooms sectional sofas are perfect. You can also separate pieces and use them in smaller spaces.

4. Sofa beds: Sofa beds are versatile and can transition any room from a living room to a bedroom. Sofa beds, or sleeper sofas, unfold to create a bed that fits two adults.

5. Futons: Futons are as versatile as sofa beds but not as complicated. Simply unfold the futon; it becomes a bed and transitions back to a sofa very quickly. Futons have several settings for reclining, and most futons fit standard mattress sizes.

6. Sofa sets: You can purchase your sofa singly or in a sofa set. Sofa sets usually come with a sofa and loveseat and sometimes a matching chair.

Sofa Construction Materials:

1. Sofa and futon frames: The frame of the sofa you select should be able to support and withstand quite a bit of weight and use, especially with kids in the house. Frames are usually made of kiln-dried hardwood or metal. Oak and maple frames offer durable stability. Pine and spruce are softer woods and are sometimes used to save on the price. Rattan is sometimes used when a certain style is desired.

2. Sofa springs: The sofa you select should be comfortable, and the construction element with the most influence on that comfort is the springs. The deck of the sofa houses the springs on which the cushions sit. Well-made sofas usually include eight-way, hand-tied coils. Other sofas may use preassembled coil units or sinuous wire that is stapled or nailed to the sofa's frame. Hand-tied coils will last longer and keep your sofa comfortable longer.

3. Sofa upholstery fabrics: Pay careful attention to the sofa fabric; it needs to be made to withstand serious wear and tear from kids, pets and everyday use. Otherwise, your living room furniture will age rapidly. When selecting your sofa fabric, take into consideration a few things. Tightly woven fabrics and blends tend to last longer than other fabrics, like velvet, which can wear out over time. Loosely woven fabrics have larger holes, which can catch on things, such as a watch, belt buckle or clothing ornamentation. If you have a busy lifestyle that includes kids, microfiber, vinyl and leather are durable and easy to clean.

Sofa Design:

1. Sofa designs: The sofa back is the part of the couch where you rest your back. Tight-back sofas can have a formal or contemporary look. Formal sofa looks would include buttons, to keep the foam from shifting, while a sleek, smooth one-piece back has a contemporary look. Loose-back sofas are comfortable and casual; the sofa back cushions are not attached directly to the frame and can be removed. Some cushions are attached at the top and left unattached on the bottom.

2. Sofa feet: Traditional sofa feet are ornate and carved out of wood. More modern sofa feet are sleek and straight, made from wood or metal. There are many sofa designs that have hidden feet as well, letting the sofa sit closer to the floor.

3. Sofa skirt: Skirts run along the bottom of some couches to hide the feet. Some skirts look very formal and others casual.

4. Sofa arms: Sofa arms can be high, low, square, curved, upholstered or bare wood. If you have a habit of sitting on the arms of your sofa, be careful; the arms of a sleeper sofa will be damaged.

5. Sofa cushions: The number of cushions usually dictates how many adult people can sit on a sofa. Sofa cushions can be loose or strapped in place. Loose cushions can be flipped over to hide stains or refresh loft.