Surfing the net, snuggling up with the family, chilling with a takeaway or indulging in an afternoon with your favourite DVD box set... Contemporary living means a sofa has grow to be a lot even more than somewhere to rest your legs of an evening.
The days of the three-piece suite may well be gone, but there\'s still an practically endless selection of sofa shapes and styles on offer you. So how do you opt for between a conventional chesterfield and a massive squashy number?
\'No other piece of furniture rings the modifications like a new sofa,\' says Polly Dickens, creative director at The Conran Shop. \'The correct style can form the centrepiece of a room and dictate the mood of an interior.\' With this in mind, understanding your choices is vital - and a breeze with our guide to locating your ideal sofa.
Before You Obtain
Sofas can cost anything from a few hundred pounds to the cost of a tiny automobile, so it is wise to be clear about your budget.
Believe about your way of life and how the sofa will require to function. \'Is it for a living room, a family room or a playroom?\' asks Matt Gayleard, brand director at Natuzzi. \'Do you have kids or pets, and how much effort can you put in to maintaining it?\' How several persons do you have to seat? What about a sofa bed for guests? Some sofas have built-in storage, so feel about other uses the piece could have, too
Give some thought to the Size
Measure up prior to you shop and work out how massive a sofa you can accommodate. Two smaller sofas or 1 sizeable 1 and a couple of armchairs could be far more flexible.
\'Sofas will look significantly smaller in the store than in your living room, so it\'s crucial to make sure it will really fit and won\'t look out of proportion,\' says Sally Hudson, central buyer for upholstery at John Lewis. \'Lay out newspaper on the floor to the size of your sofa to see roughly how much room it will take up.\'
From a practical point of view, don't forget to believe about the access into your house. Some retailers provide a house check out to check that the sofa will fit through doors, along corridors or up staircases. Some sofas ease the method by having detachable arms or coming in sections.
Take into account the shape and style
You will, of course, naturally gravitate towards a style of sofa that appeals to you - do you want some thing soft and squidgy, or firmer and tidier?
\'If you're somebody who likes to lie down and relax, you could want a sofa with low arms and lots of loose cushions to get cosy on,\' advises Paul Staden, marketing and advertising director at Sofa Workshop. \'However, if you prefer to be supported when you sit, a lot more formal, upright shapes with back cushions could be far better.\'
Attempt out lots of styles and don\'t be afraid to have a beneficial lounge and actually test a sofa.The shapes of a sofa and even the number of cushions can make a difference to the overall feel of the room. In a smaller space, narrower sofa arms give the illusion of a even more compact piece, and whereas 1 or two cushions give a cleaner, a lot more modern look, 3 feel additional conventional.
Take into account the Fabric
The material you decide on to cover your sofa is vital to its feel and comfort.
When considered a luxury, leather has now become significantly extra economical and hence a well known option. Fabrics give a tremendous range of colour and texture options, but where leather sometimes improves with age, fabric will show wear and tear. In a household with kids or pets, machine-washable loose covers are a practical choice. Removable covers also mean that, ought to you redecorate and your sofa doesn\'t match your new colour scheme, you can just dye them or purchase a new set of covers.
Tightly woven fabrics will wear the ideal and fabrics with woven patterns will retain their appearance greater than printed designs. But unless you're going for loose covers, pick out some thing classic, such as a smart stripe, as patterned sofas can date speedily. Wool is springy and resilient, with a natural stain resistance, chenille is soft and tough-wearing, and velvet is warm and textural with a luxurious feel. Linen is cool and crisp and 1 of the most durable fibres for sofas, though cotton is outstanding for taking colour and blends well with other fabrics.
Leather is robust, cool in summer and warm in winter and, if well-maintained, can last a lifetime. Technology means that all sorts of finishes can be achieved, from distressed and antiqued to smooth and soft. There are a number of unique grades of leather, so ask an expert which type is most suited to your needs. Most leathers will age in some way, but this can add to the character.
Alcantara is a man-created microfibre with a luxurious feel that\'s similar to suede. It\'s incredibly powerful, with a contemporary look, but mainly because it is quick to maintain, it is an superb alternative for busy households.
Take into account the filling
Cushion fillings vary widely. Foam has a firm feel and appearance and will hold its shape well.
Feather-filled cushions are soft and comfy, and have a much more casual look, but will need normal plumping.
\'A mixture of feather-wrapped foam seat cushions and serpentine springs makes for particularly soft and comfortable sofas,\' says Rohan Blacker, co-founder of Sofa.com. \'Plus, this kind of filling will maintain its shape and reduce the will need for continuous plumping.\'
