Sofa Buying Guide

While online shopping for your new sofa, there are several things to keep in mind:

• Size and type
• Material
• Style

Sofa size and type

Depending on your needs, there are numerous types and sizes of sofas.

• 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.
• 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 (or boudoirs).

• Sectional sofas: Sectionals are fantastic for many spaces. They range 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.
• Sofa Beds: Sofa beds are versatile and can transition any room from a living room to a bedroom. Sofa beds unfold to create a bed that fits about two adults.
• 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.

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 materials

Sofa materials include many parts of the sofa, not just the upholstery. The frame is just as important as the fabric.

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.

Metal is most often used in contemporary sofas or those that have moving parts, such as a futon or a sofa sleeper. Metal resists wear and tear in a way that a wooden frame would not, extending the life of your sofa while still supplying excellent support. Try to avoid sofa frames made from plywood, particle board or plastic, since these materials tend to warp or crack.

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 8-way, hand-tied coils. Other sofas may use pre-assembled 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.

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 it will age rapidly. When selecting your sofa fabric, take into consideration a few things:

• Sofa placement: Will the sofa be in the family room where kids will play on it or in a room where only guests use it?
• Intended sofa use: This ties in with placement; is the couch to be used occasionally or everyday?
• Your style: Does your home reflect a formal or casual style?
• Lifestyle: Do you sit on your sofa to watch big football games and invite the neighborhood, or will pets be on the couch with kids bouncing around?

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 is durable and easy to clean.

Leather is also durable and easy to clean (brushed leather will spot when wet). Leather is also more expensive. Leather-match, which is a leather and vinyl combination, has made leather sofas much more affordable.

Sofa designs

The sofa style you need depends on your individual taste. The main elements of a sofa's design include the back style, the skirt, the feet, the arms and the cushions.

• Sofa back: 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.
• 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
• Sofa skirt: Skirts are along the bottom of a couch to hide the feet. Some skirts look very formal and others casual. Sofas without skirts show the feet.
• Sofa arms: Sofa arms can be high, low, square, curved, upholstered or bare wooden arms. If you have a habit of sitting on the arms of your sofa, be careful; the arms of a sleeper sofa will be damaged.
• 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.

Helpful tips for sofa placement and care

• The size and proportion of your sofa needs to fit the space. It also needs to fit those who sit and lay on it. A tall person will be less comfortable on a shallow sofa.
• If you're limited on space, loveseats and futons are good alternatives.
• Avoid placing bold patterns and colors in direct sunlight, since they will fade.
• To keep furniture looking great for a long time, try to keep pets on the floor.