Tips for choosing the best sofa or couch for your needs
The sofa is an important piece of furniture, both in the living room and in the workspace. By purchasing such upholstered furniture, we count on its durability and comfort. Modern manufacturers produce a wide range of different sofas, so making the right choice is not an easy task. Therefore, before making such an expensive purchase, it is worth learning about some important nuances.
How to choose a good sofa: step by step instructions
There are many factors to consider when choosing a good sofa. In this case, it is very important to choose the option that is right for your case. The purchase process is complicated by the availability of many options. They differ in appearance, design, filler, upholstery, and other important qualities. Therefore, in order not to make a mistake in choosing and purchase a sofa that will meet your requirements, follow the step-by-step instructions.
STEP ONE: DETERMINING THE FUTURE LOCATION OF THE SOFA
Before you go to the furniture store, determine the future location for a new sofa. It is from this that it is worth starting from. You should take into account for which room you are purchasing upholstered furniture, what is its area and interior. In addition to good quality, the sofa should also harmoniously fit into the style of the room. For example, bright colors and strict lines will be great additions to a modern or high-tech interior. For the classics, designers recommend choosing rounded shapes and pastel colors. It’s also important to consider the size of the sofa. When buying a corner sofa, it is worth considering the direction of the layout and its unfolded dimensions.
STEP TWO: CHOOSING A SOFA BY PURPOSE
When choosing a sofa, you must definitely determine its purpose. For example, it is best to put a sofa bed in the bedroom. This option is most suitable for daily sleep. For the kitchen and hallway, you should choose compact options with thick upholstery. The living room can accommodate a larger sofa with high backs and deep seats. For a children’s room, choose compact sofas in bright colors. It is important to ensure that there are no sharp corners and hard edges in upholstered furniture. This way, you will protect your child from injury and scratches. All sofas, regardless of their purpose, must necessarily provide comfort and have the required degree of softness. A sofa that is too hard or too soft will contribute to muscle and spinal pain.
STEP THREE: CHOOSING A TRANSFORMATION MECHANISM
There are many classifications of sofa by transformation mechanism. But, in general, they can be divided into only 4 types: sofas without a transformation mechanism, unfolding, folding, and rolling out. The first type of sofas differs in that they do not unfold and are intended exclusively for seating two or more people. Unfolding sofas include clamshells and accordions. They have a high level of rigidity and are not suitable for daily sleep. Folding mechanisms include “book”, “eurobook” and “click-gag”. Such sofas are a convenient solution for the living room and children’s room. They are designed for heavy loads and active daily use. Roll-out sofas include mechanisms that are called “telescope”, “dolphin” and “tick-tock”. All of these options are not recommended for daily sleep. They are not comfortable and can scratch the floor when laid out.
STEP FOUR: FRAME SELECTION
The rows of its operation directly depend on this component of the sofa, its strength, weight, and is valuable. Different materials are used in the manufacture of frames. The most reliable is a metal frame. The durability of wooden mechanisms often depends on the type of wood. Coniferous and birch structures will last less. And the most durable will be the frames from oak, walnut, beech, and ash. But when choosing a frame made of wood, consider whether you are allergic to the breed used. A cheap alternative would be a sofa on a frame made of chipboard and bars. If all the technological requirements were met during the manufacture, then such a mechanism will be reliable and durable.
STEP FIVE: CHOOSING A FILLER
Foam sofas are the cheapest since their service lines are generally no more than 4 years. They are not very comfortable, and it is quite difficult to choose a good sofa with this filler. Sofas with polyurethane foam padding have slightly better qualities. Unlike the previous version, they are more durable. Sofas with latex filling have the best properties. They are durable, adaptable to body shape, environmentally friendly, and hypoallergenic. When giving preference to spring models, take into account the fact that the quality of the product directly depends on the number of springs. If the sofa is cheap, it will most likely be of poor quality. Therefore, preferring spring sofas, you should give preference to expensive models.
STEP SIX: UPHOLSTERY SELECTION
The most expensive one is to choose a sofa with leather or chenille upholstery. They look stylish and are suitable for both home and office. Tapestry is especially popular as an upholstery material. Such upholstery is durable, it is represented by a wide variety of patterns and a huge palette of shades. Flock-upholstered sofas are no less popular. Unlike the previous material, it has fibers on the front side. Thanks to this, the upholstery is pleasant to the touch, but also less wear-resistant and requires special care. A sofa upholstered in jacquard will add luxury and sophistication to your room. It is distinguished by its high cost. Wet cleaning is unacceptable for such sofas. Microfiber upholstery material is characterized by durability and good quality.
STEP SEVEN: PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS
In addition to the material of the upholstery, pay attention to how well it is stretched, whether it is fixed evenly. The seams on the upholstery fabric should be straight and free from protruding threads. Avoid items where the back of the sofa is covered with a technical fabric. Since this nuance may indicate poor quality production. Also, check the distance of gaps and joints. Ideally, it should be no more than 5 mm. Sofa fittings must be combined with all the details. The mount is securely fixed and the additional elements work well.
STEP EIGHT: CHOOSING A COLOR
Having decided on the choice of the transformation mechanism, frame, filler, and upholstery, you can proceed to the choice of color. When buying a sofa of a certain design, consider the following nuances: personal preferences, the style of the room and its color scheme. It is important that the sofa blends harmoniously with the rest of the furniture. If you want to add a bold statement to your sofa, take care of purchasing the right accessories. Consider the psychological impact of a particular color on the emotional state of a person.
STEP NINE: DO A PRACTICE TEST
Before deciding on which sofa to choose, take a practical test. Check the operation of the pull-out elements so that nothing sticks or falls off. Unfold and reassemble the sofa, preferably several times. Try to sit and lie on it. Rate how comfortable and convenient you are. Pay attention to the location of the head restraints, they should also provide a comfortable position. After making sure of the quality and comfort of the sofa, you can safely proceed to the purchasing process.
Since a sofa is a fairly expensive purchase, it is worthwhile to devote a sufficient amount of time to the selection process. Be sure to consider all the nuances and subtleties. By following the step-by-step instructions, you will certainly be able to choose the sofa that will best suit your requirements and preferences.