A sofa is built to last for years. I know that some households may have a sofa that is 20+ years old! But there will come a time when you need to part with what has become a treasured part of the home and replace your sofa with a new one.

Buying a new sofa can be daunting, with lots of options available and lots of things to think about. That’s where Furniture Factory comes in. I’ve decided to write up a little sofa buying guide full of things you should take into consideration when you start looking for your new sofa. Not only will this help you through the process, but it means you’ll have a better idea of what you want when it comes to visiting a showroom.

Type of Sofa

Before you start looking at styles and fabrics options you need to establish the type of sofa that you want. There are a few options to choose from. First, you will want to figure out how big you need it to be and what type you want. Do you want a 2-seater, a 3-seater or even a 4-seater? Are you considering a corner sofa? Do you fancy a recliner sofa?

There’s also the question of the type of fabric you would prefer. Do you want a leather sofa or a fabric sofa? Or maybe a velvet sofa? There’s a wide range of material choices for you to choose from. Each one has pros and cons when it comes to aesthetic and how easy there are to clean.

Get the Tape Measure Out

The second step of this sofa buying guide is size. Once you have decided on the type of sofa you want, you’ll need to make sure it fits. There’s no point in spending your time searching for the perfect 3-seater sofa if you have got the space to put it anywhere. If you are replacing a sofa, it will be fairly easy to just measure how big that one is and replace it with a similar-sized one. However, if you are rearranging your room or moving to a new house, you’ll need to put more thought into where you can put your new sofa and how big it can be.

Consider Your Entrance

An important part of our sofa buying guide, it’s often a step a lot of people forget. Now you know how big you want your sofa to be, you need to make sure you’ll be able to get it into the room. To do this you should measure the width of any doorways and hallways your sofa will need to make it through. If you have an upstairs living room or you live in a flat, you will need to take into account the size of the stairway or the lift if you will be using one.

Think About the Design

This is the fun part of our sofa buying guide. Once you know the type of sofa you want and the size it needs to be you can start to think about what you want your new sofa to look like. Look at different colours and how they will fit with your home décor. You should also consider the arm style you’d like, such as traditional roll arm or contemporary. At this point you could also think about the width of the arms.

There’s also the seat style to think about. Most sofas will come split into 2 or 3 cushions, or with a bench seat-style cushion. Some people prefer the bench seat-style because it looks more modern, but then others prefer having 3 cushions because it feels cosier. You could also think about the back style. Some sofas have a firmer back cushion, whereas others will have a looser and softer back. You won’t always be able to see it in photos, but softer-backed sofas will usually look more casual and comfier whereas tighter-backed sofas will look tighter and tidier.

There is a large number of things to consider when thinking about the sofa you want. I hope that you have found our sofa buying guide helpful. It can sometimes become overwhelming, but we are here to help. If you need any advice about fabric choices and the different types of sofas, we can answer your questions. We carry a variety of sofas, including velvet, fabric and leather sofas. We also specialise in mobility furniture so can help you find the best recliner sofa for you. I’d you like to get in touch you can use our easy online contact form or give us a call on 01452 741880.