Including sofas and sofa sets are the largest
pieces of furniture in your living room. Decorating is inspired by the sofa;
friends and family use and abuse the sofa; but with all of the sofas, sofa
sets, and sectional sofas available, basing your choice solely on looks will
only get you so far. Let us help you know how to buy a sofa you'll love without
the usual confusion surrounding sofa shopping.
When
sofa shopping online, there are several things to keep in mind:
·Material
·Size
and type
·Style
Sofa Material
Pay careful
attention to sofa fabric.It needs to be
made to withstand serious wear and tear from children, pets, and everyday
use.Otherwise it will age rapidly.When selecting your sofa fabric, take into
consideration a few things:
·Intended
use for sofa:Is the couch going to be used occasionally or
everday?
·Lifestyle:Do you sit
on your sofa to watch big sports games and invite the neighborhood, or will
pets and kids be on the couch bouncing around?
·Style:Does the
home reflect a casual or formal or casual style?
·Sofa
Placement:Will the sofa be in a family room where kids
play on it or in a room where only guests use it?
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. The two main types of sofas are: microfiber sofa sets and leather sofa sets.
Sofa Size and Type
Depending on your needs, there
are various sizes and types 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: 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.
·Sectional sofas: Sectionals are fantastic for many
spaces. They range anywhere from 9 to 14 feet and can fit many 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 Style
The sofa style you need depends
on your individual taste and preference.The main components of a sofas design include the arms and cushions,
back style, the feet, and the skirt.
·Sofa Arms:Sofa arms can be low,
high, curved, or square, upholstered, or bare wooden arms.
·Sofa Cushions:Sofa cushions can
be loose or strapped in place.The
number of cushions usually dictates how many people can sit on sofa.Loose cushions may be flipped over to hide
stains or wear and tear.
·Back Style:Tight back sofas can have
a formal or contemporary look.Formal
sofa features would include buttons, while a sleek, smooth one piece back has a
contemporary look.Loose back sofas are
casual and comfortable as they can be removed.
·Sofa Feet:Traditional sofa feet are
carved out of wood and ornate.More
modern sofa feet are sleek and straight, made of wood or metal.
·Sofa Skirt: Skirts are along the bottom of the sofa to hide the feet and
provide style.Some skirts look formal
and others casual.Not all sofas come
with a skirt.
