Sofas are often the key piece of any living space, usually being one of the biggest pieces of furniture in the room. Sometimes they come with a sizeable prize tag too. So, it pays to get it right (first time) when choosing your ideal piece.
How will you use your sofa?
Will you perch (cocktail in hand), loll (at the end of another long day), or curl up (for a boxset binge)? Will your four-legged friends hop up for cuddles, do your children hear the word ‘sofa’ and think ‘trampoline’? Knowing how you will ‘sofa’ (it isn’t a verb, but it really should be!) means you can buy what you really need and resist the lure of ‘magazine life’ sofas. You know the ones, they look a-mazing(!) in the pages of an interiors magazine, but they will not survive real life. In a real house. Luckily, whatever you want from your sofa, there is a model for you.
Choosing the best sofa style for you
Classic and traditional, big and squishy, sleek and stylish, modern and modular…
Sofas are like people, they really do come in all shapes, sizes and styles, which means you can choose a sofa to suit your personality – as well as the character of your home.
CLASSIC
Classic good looks will never date. Think elegant high backs, and deep, comfy seats. A Chesterfield-inspired, diamond tufted style looks as good today as it did in the 18th century – and will still look great in years (or even, decades!) to come. If you do want to freshen up a traditional style, simply switch up the scatter cushions.
COMFORT
Soft, squishy sofas just scream ‘sink into me’. With rounded arms and cushions plump with feathers, squishy sofas are the furniture equivalent of a hug.
NATURAL
You can bring the outside in with natural rattan or bamboo styles. Natural style is always totally on trend! Take our Ella Bamboo Sofa to the next level with our Daybed version perfect for lounging with the entire family.
VERSATILE
If you want super versatile seating, then go modular. All of our Linen, Modular and Curve sofa collections can be produced in a modular format to any size requirement you may have and better still, there is no ‘bespoke’ extra charge for this.
When choosing a sofa style, remember that some styles – and colours – may date. Is it super fashionable right now? Yes, then it might be off trend by next year. You can protect your sofa investment by opting for a timeless classic.
Our range of Linen Sofas pair timeless Scandinavian design from Tine K Home with loose, removable covers in sumptuous neutral shades.
How do I know what size sofa to buy?
Three words. The 50cm rule!
When we look at the space between furniture in a room, anything less than 50cm looks too small to the human eye. We instantly think it is too narrow for us to easily walk through. So, even the most gorgeous sofa will look pinched if it sits too close to surrounding furniture. It’s natural that we want the biggest sofa we can, all the better for snuggling up. But, for the best-looking room, balance sofa size with the available space.
TIP:
If in doubt, mark it out. Create a fake sofa footprint with newspaper on the floor, stack cardboard boxes or wooden chairs to show height. It doesn’t matter what you use, as long as it gives you a clear idea of how your sofa will inhabit the space.
And when planning your sofa size, don’t forget to factor in somewhere to put your coffee/wine/book! Our Rattan Side Table is a smart choice and its natural woven rattan tray top is absolutely stunning.
Choosing sofa fabric and finish
‘Stroke-ability’ is high on most people’s sofa shopping list. Which means you need to see – and touch – the fabric before you invest in a new sofa. Many of our sofa ranges are on display in our Guildford store. So, you can see them, touch them, sit in them and stroke them before you buy. We also offer fabric sample books. Contact us to find out more.
Whichever sofa you fall for, have you considered removable covers? The covers in all our Sofa Collection can easily be removed for dry cleaning, which makes them not only pet and child-proof but also life-proof in general!
Yes it really is possible to have a pure white sofa even if you have an active household!
How to choose a sofa for a small space
It is possible to find a super comfy sofa even for a little room and it doesn’t need to be child-sized either. Slim or tapered legs that show space between the sofa base and the floor are an interior design trick to make a small room look bigger.
Sofas with a low back make walls look higher, which makes the room feel larger in general. You can up the comfort factor with extra cushions. Or you could go for a backless day bed like our Linen Daybed, scatter with cushions, curl up and relax… These daybeds, which also come in 4 velvet colours, are naptastic. You have been warned!
Want to know more about our sofa ranges? We would love to help so do please contact us here.
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