Buying a New Sofa? Here’s What You Need to Know.

A living room is incomplete without a comfortable sofa set. It’s probably where you will be spending a large part of your day – watching TV, chatting with friends, eating and maybe even sleeping, if you’ve had a crazy night…But finding one that’s perfect for your room involves a bit of effort. You will have to do some homework and no, it’s not a good idea to buy a sofa set just because it’s got polka dots on it. Here are a few tips to help you buy like a pro.

Check the Frame

A sofa is a long-term investment so you might as well pick one that has a tough, sturdy frame. You don’t want it to wobble and fall apart once you sit on it. A solid wooden frame is guaranteed to last much longer, so you can skip the plastic and the MDF varieties if you are particular about quality.

Comfort is Key

There is no point in buying a sofa that you are not comfortable sitting on. It might look great and even be sturdy, but if it gives you a stiff neck or a backache, it’s not worth buying. It’s always advisable to feel the sofa, pat it, sit on it, recline and check if it suits your posture, before picking it up.

Size Matters

While buying a sofa, always keep in mind the size of your room. You do not want to pick a sofa that’s too big for your room. You could measure the dimensions of your room before heading to the store. The size of your sofa also depends on the kind of lifestyle you have. If you have frequent parties at your place, you might need to go in for a sofa that can seat more people. You could buy additional one or two-seater sofas if you have more people in the house. But once again, it comes down to the space available in your room. The idea is to ensure that you have enough walking space even after the sofas are placed.

Pillow Talk

You could either choose a pillow back sofa which has cushions propped up as back-rest or opt for a tight back where the material is tailored to the sofa and cannot be removed. Both have their advantages and the choice here is clearly subjective. A tight-back is fuss-free while the pillow back, though more comfortable, requires frequent fluffing or replacement of cushions.

Décor Decoded

You have two main options 1 – pick a sofa in a neutral colour – black, grey, beige, etc, as it will never go out of vogue. Besides you can quickly change the look of your room or accentuate its appeal by adding colourful cushions. 2 – If your room already has a nutural colour scheme you may want to liven things up a bit with a fantastic bright, spotty, striped or patchwork sofa. This will provide a real centre piece and be a great showstopper.