January 31, 2020, 10:21 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Similar to buying a new car or kitchen, purchasing a sofa should be a well-considered decision. This is because it often involves a significant financial investment. However, many people still end up making poor choices. Here’s how you can avoid them.
When buying a sofa, it’s often considered a purchase for life or at least for a few decades. A lot of money is invested, and a lot is expected in return. The shape and size must be right, as well as the color and material quality. And not to mention the comfort. In short, it must be comfortable yet tasteful. Often, when buying a sofa, people are more swayed by the latter and let the appearance decide. It usually doesn’t take long to realize that was a mistake. So, what should you pay attention to so that buying a sofa doesn’t become a disaster? myHOMEBOOK editor and interior designer Odett Schumann explains.
Sofa Landscape? Only if it Really Fits!
These days, you often see massive sofa landscapes in living rooms. But it doesn’t always feel like the upholstered giant truly fits within those four walls, and the desire for ample seating and especially lounging space was greater than the apartment’s dimensions allowed. Realistically, you should calculate about a quarter of the living room space for the sofa. But of course, it always depends on the individual case. If a room is particularly awkwardly shaped or already has plenty of other furniture like cabinets or sideboards, the ratio must be adjusted accordingly.
Usually, it’s the sofa landscapes themselves that are extremely bulky and imposing in their form, such as the U-shape. To prevent this issue, more and more modular sofa models have emerged in the furniture market in recent years. These can be individually configured at any time: if numerous guests visit, a seating element can be added to the sofa in no time.
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When Buying a Sofa, Position Matters
Plan your new sofa carefully within your own four walls. This means, do not place it in front of radiators. The heat will barely flow into the room, and your heating bill will skyrocket accordingly. If your room allows no other option than a location directly in front of the heater, at least leave a gap of 20 to 30 centimeters.
Tip: In very bright rooms, it’s advisable not to expose the sofa to direct sunlight. Leather furniture can become brittle, and bright colors and patterns can lose their intensity and fade over time.
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A Beautiful Back That Doesn’t Always Delight
One part of a sofa that is often not fully considered when buying is the backrest. Models like the popular KLIPPAN sofa from the Swedish furniture company IKEA have a very low backrest and a very high seat. As a result, the backrest often doesn’t even reach the shoulders. Relaxing the head and neck in such cases is not possible, significantly reducing the sofa’s comfort.
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What an Interior Expert Looks for When Buying a Sofa
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Bold Colors or Patterns, but Please Make Them Replaceable
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If you’re bold and dare to choose bright tones or patterns for your sofa, you should definitely make sure the cover is changeable. Sometimes the desire for trendy colors or patterns is just a phase that doesn’t last long but might return someday. Then it’s only advantageous to have a Plan B in the form of a more simple design.
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Buying a Sofa Online – and Still Trying It Out
If you plan to order a sofa online, inquire with the online provider beforehand if you can try out the model at a retailer. This way, there won’t be any unpleasant surprises later! And sometimes, dimensions can be better assessed, preventing a bad purchase.
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