Picking the Perfect Sofa

Picking the perfect sofa isn’t always an easy thing to do.  We tend to sit on our sofas a lot and for many years.  It’s a huge commitment to make and it can be scary.  A sofa can be a place for a family to build memories or a place to enjoy precious time off of work.  If you would like to invest in a sofa that will provide happiness and comfort for many years to come, then spend some time evaluating your options.

In this article, I will discuss what I consider to be the five criteria of sofa shopping: comfort, design, size, quality and materials.  These criteria are important to keep in mind throughout your search.  Figure out which is most important to you, and start there.

Comfort
This one is pretty obvious.  You are going to sit on the sofa and if it’s in the most used room of the house, you probably want it to be comfortable!  So, make sure you spend plenty of time sitting while you shop.  Try to move towards sofas that make you say “Ahhhh” when you sit in them.  Also, if you are someone who likes to sit in a particular position, then try it out.  Not all of us like to sit properly, so trying out sofas while sitting in various positions is helpful.

Design
We all have our personal preferences.  If design is important to you, then rule out sofas that you find unattractive right away.  This will help narrow down your choices and guide you to sofas that you’ll be happy with.

Size
Many of us have to deal with smaller spaces.  Size limitations or requirements should be addressed right away.  When working with a limited space, take measurements before you start to shop.  If you are someone that likes to play around with furniture arrangements, check out our new room planner!

Many of us want to be able to seat a certain amount of people in our living spaces.  If you are looking to seat more than three, sectional options are definitely worth looking into.  The good news is that many of our sofas come in multiple sizes and have sectional options!  If you find a sofa you love, but it’s not the right size, always find out what the options are.

Quality
There is a huge range out there when it comes to quality and pricing.  Here at The Century House, we believe that a sofa is something that should last.  And when I say last, I mean for more than a few years.  Think about what you would like to get out of your sofa and how much that is worth to you.  In most cases, you get what you pay for.

Materials
A couple of things to think about: leather vs. fabric and wood legs vs. metal legs.  These are usually the two biggest obstacles when it comes to surface materials.  Some sofas will be available in leather or fabric, while others will have a more limited material selection.  Both leather and fabric have their advantages and disadvantages, so ask a salesperson if you’re not sure which one is right for you.  Some sofas will have multiple leg options, while others will not.  If you don’t love what you see, ask if there are other options available.

There are also internal materials to consider.  Many companies are now using soy-based foam in their furniture.  Eco-friendly options are sprouting up all of the time!  You also want to make sure that your sofa is built well and made using high quality materials.  Ultimately, this will determine whether or not the sofa will stand up to the test of time.

In the end, choosing the perfect sofa is a little bit like choosing the right person to be with.  There are many things to consider and options to weigh.  But sometimes it might just be love at first sight (or sit).  And going with your instincts is almost never a bad thing.