by Isabelle Esteves

Created on: January 23, 2013   Last Updated: January 24, 2013

When it is time to think about getting a new sofa, there are lots of things to consider. Since this is quite a major purchase, it is not something that you should jump into without having given the purchase some serious thought. What size sofa do you want? What style fits best with your current décor? Are you planning a huge overhaul or do you want to just replace the sofa and leave the rest of the room the way it currently is? What material do you want your sofa to be? These and many more things need to be considered when purchasing a new sofa.

Size

How big is the room where you plan to place the sofa? Is the sofa you currently have the correct size or has it always seemed too large or too small? Get out your tape measure and measure both the length and the width of your current sofa, or if you don’t currently have a sofa, in the space you plan to place the sofa. It is really hard to judge size in a show room. Also measure your doors; believe it or not, some sofas are just too big to get into a room unless you have oversized openings.

Style

Take a good look at your room and decide what style sofa will fit best. Do you want a sectional, a sleeper, a winged sofa or one with modular pieces? It is very important that you actually sit on your sofa. Many sofas are so large today that if you are not tall, your feet may not touch the ground when your back is firmly against the back of the sofa. Will you be comfortable with dangling feet?

Do you want attached cushions on the back or loose cushions? This can affect the wear of your sofa, it is always nice to be able to turn and rotate the cushions. While you are at it, check the underside of the seat cushions. Is it the same material as the upper side? If it is not, you will not be able to turn the cushions over to help them wear evenly. This appears to be an all too common cost saving measure by manufacturers.

Construction

Construction is one of the most important aspects of a sofa. The frame should be made with kiln dried hardwoods.  An entire frame of pine is not something that you really want. Be sure that the hardwood is put together with a combination of glue screws and metal braces. A good quality sofa should last a lifetime and be able to be reupholstered several times. You also want your sofa to have an adequate amount of padding. It needs to be able to stand up to wear and tear.

Material

The covering of the sofa is what you will look at every day and it is also what takes the most abuse. Keep this in mind if you have children and pets. If your sofa is going into a formal room where it will not be used every day, then it can be of a more fragile material but everyday sofas need to be stain and dirt resistant.

These are just some of the things to consider when it is time to purchase your new sofa. Cost, of course, is something that everyone considers; but buying a cheaper sofa is not always the best buy, especially if it will fall apart in just a few years.

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