A buyer’s guide to upholstery
18th July 2024
A new sofa is one of the main investment pieces for your home – it’s where we spend a lot of our leisure time, relaxing, reading, watching TV and movies, catching up with family and friends and even taking a well-deserved afternoon nap. As such, this key piece of furniture needs careful consideration to ensure it meets your needs in both comfort and style.
Here are our top tips on what to think about and what to look for when choosing your new luxury sofa…
Size and Shape
The first thing to do is assess the space that your new sofa will as well as door as well as door frames and openings – so you know the dimensions that the sofa will need to squeeze through as well as how much floor space it can cover. You may need your sofa to go up the stairs, in which case you’ll need to take note of the dimensions of your stairwell. To get around any smaller entranceways you may need a design with removable legs for instance.
Most of the sofas in our curated upholstery collection come in a range of sizes so there are plenty of options to choose from. When looking at the allocated sofa area in your room, make sure there’s enough space around it for other furniture such as a coffee table, side table, bookshelf, floor lamps and so on, as well as any other seating such as a matching armchair.
You also ideally want enough space to walk around it comfortably. A good trick is to cut out the shape and size of the sofa from old newspaper or use masking tape on the floor to get an idea of how much impact it will have on the room.
Next, check what height and depth you want your sofa to be. Look at windows within the room to see what height you need it to be as well as any other obstructions that will impact your decision. If you have a particularly small room, you may want to look at a sofa without any arms or a large loveseat rather than a two or three-seater sofa.
Style Guide
We have a fabulous range of styles to choose from – classic, contemporary, mid-century modern, relaxed, formal, traditional – so there’s something to complement every interior and décor style. It all comes down to your personal taste but think about whether you want your sofa to blend in or make a statement.
A neutral colour scheme for instance works well with a bold colour or patterned print while a busy room looks best with a subtle or muted sofa
Consider the back height, too. A lower back creates an open and laid-back look, perfect for open-plan living spaces, as it helps to reduce a sense of clutter. Sofas with lower backs are also great for positioning beneath a window so it doesn’t block the view.
A high-back sofa on the other hand tends to feel more formal with an imposing presence and these designs look best with their back placed directly against a wall.
A sofa with arms may be more comfortable to lie on but it will take up more room so make sure it will fit within your space if this is something you’re looking for. Sofas with legs generally have a more tailored look with a smart finish and as we mentioned earlier, you may need removable legs if access is tricky.
Fabric and colour
Your choice of fabric material will depend on how much wear and tear the sofa will get. If you have young children or pets, it’s best to choose one with removable, washable covers or a stain-resistant fabric. Here are the main fabric options and what you can expect from each:
- Linen – this natural fabric is known for its versatility and understated elegance and is a popular choice.
- Leather – a true classic that looks better with age, leather is very forgiving and develops its own characterful patina over time though it can be harder to clean and does require specialist leather cleaning products to keep it looking its best.
- Velvet – an opulent look that boasts a beautiful depth of colour, velvet oozes luxury and comfort but it can be a more fragile material prone to crushing and bruising. It’s definitely one for a grown-up sitting room and will make an instant statement, especially if you choose a rich Hunter green or Indigo blue colourway.
- Eco Velvet – for a luxurious look that copes easily with everyday wear and tear, our own Eco Velvet is part of our made-to-order collection and offers the same smart look and feel of traditional velvet but with increased durability. This is because it’s made from recycled PET bottle yarns so it’s a sustainable choice, too.
Colour-wise, the best thing to do is order any of our fabric swatches to see how the colour and material appear in your own space at different times of the day in different lights. For a neutral scheme, we recommend our tan leather, a natural bouclé, Bone velvet or Clay. And for a statement look, how about our Rust velvet or Turmeric design for instant impact.
Seat cushions and finishing touches
When choosing your new sofa, it’s also important to check the seat and back cushions to ensure you get the comfort and support you need. Our sofas are generally made with foam cushions with a fibre wrap for soft to medium support.
All seat and back cushions require some plumping to look and feel their best day in, day out, but those made from a thick foam core wrapped in a layer of fibre are low-maintenance so are perfect for busy lifestyles.
Seat covers should be rotated and redressed regularly, while plumping the cushions occasionally will help to restore air between the fibres, helping to maintain their shape. A weekly ‘beating’ each side of each cushion with the flat of your hand and a good shake will also help them to look and feel their best.
Finish your new sofa with some scatter cushions in a complementary or contrasting colour or print and add a comfy throw for cosy nights in.
Don’t forget to add an armchair or two to your space – we have a huge choice in all styles, sizes and colours for a matching or mismatched look.
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