Newport sofa @ West Elm
comfort
practical
size
colour
durability
and finally style
I am going to work through the checklist and give you a guide to what I feel you need to think of when looking for your next purchase because lets face it is a high ticket expense!!!
Comfort:
When it comes to sofa comfort you have to decide what you are looking for. Is it a movie room sofa, that you want to slump into, chill and eat popcorn and inevitably fall asleep on? Or is it a formal lounge look that requires a bit more structure and form? If you need an in-between then you may have to sacrifice some elements further down the list to get the level of comfort you want. Some are even willing to sacrifice comfort for style....your choice and not a wise one as ultimately comfort kind of trumps all in the end. Try before you buy, this is key. Places like sofa.com and Loaf are online but now have high street stores that you can try the sofa out. If you are willing to drop a few thousand on a BIG purchase you want to make sure it is right. If you cannot get to a showroom, then make sure you read every review you can to make an informed decision. If it is feather filled cushions, they will be super comfortable but you will be FOREVER pumping up those pads to make them look full again which ties in to practical....see this checklist will all lead into one another.
Practical:
Practicality is high up on my list as I have two kids, I need to make sure that the fabric I chose is up to the task or is washable. If you have pets then velvet is possibly is not your best choice. You have to look at the lifestyle you lead, the room it will be in and how much traffic it will get.
Size:
One of the things I HATE are sofas that are too large, that overbear a room and just look silly. They make the room seem smaller and claustrophobic. Measure your space, make sure you can manoeuvre around the room and think about how many people will need to sit. Would a 2 seater and 3 seater work or a large L shape? If it helps draw the room to scale, then plot your space with the sofas your are considering. One BIG tip is think about how you will get it in the house. I personally had a BAD situation where the sofa arrived and would not fit through the front door, it had to be carried above the poor delivery guys heads round the side and in the back door.
Colour:
Colour is key, it doesn't mean you have to go wack-a-doodle and order a bonkers colour, but you have to balance your palette, and consider what would look good considering it is the biggest thing in your living space. Colour is fabulous, I love a splash - just limit your choices and don't pick anything too trend driven or you will be wanting to cover your sofa and buy a new one in a years time.
Durability:
I mentioned previously that fabric and durability is important, velvet doesn't work with dog hair, although I believe there are some brands that are doing pet friendly velvet now. Wool will bobble, so if its a high use sofa probably not the best idea, leather and cat claws are not great, and your stuffing may need pumped up so think about how often you want to deal with that!
Style:
People often put style first but there is literally no point in a fancy looking sofa that's a brick and needs constant maintenance. Sleek lines or country style, a Scandi look or traditional, modern or vintage? You will know what you like, what your current furnishings are that your sofa has to work with. Think about how long you will likely have the sofa and again, trends are not a great idea as they just date so quickly.
Do your research and consider all the points above before you drop your pennies.
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