Sofa Buying.

Shapes and Sizes your decision's to make?

Choosing sofa shape ! – from corner sofas to sofa beds. It's time to work out what size and shape sofa will fit and suit your space. Sofas come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

If you get to enjoy your sofa all to yourself or have to fight for the best spot with a large household , Sofa use will influence your decision.

Be realistic about the space available, too small a sofa looks out of place in a large room, while a large sofa squashed into a tight space will feel claustrophobic.

If you both like to have your legs up, then make sure the sofa is deep enough to accommodate you both.

If you like to lie down on your sofa, measure up to make sure it is long enough for you to stretch out. And, if you're tall, a sofa with a higher back will give extra support so that you're not forced to slouch.

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Two-seater sofas. Are great for smaller spaces, It’s the second most popular choice for sofa buyers in the Uk 34% . If you’re after something a bit bigger, most brands offer the same design one size up.

Three-seater sofa Whether you want to fit more people or stretch out your legs, three-seater sofa is the most popular choice 42%

Four-seaters are less popular only 3% of those we surveyed owned one. But they’re great for bigger families and larger rooms where smaller sofas might look a little lost.

Sofa bed

Sofas with a tucked-away foldout bed underneath, The quality of sofa bed you'll need will depend on whether it's intended to be used regularly or just every now and then. differences tends to be the quality of the mattress, the suspension of the foam and the filling.

Corner sofas / L-shape sofa

Great for those with large living rooms, a corner sofa includes two sections of seating,. The overall shape resembles an ‘L’.

Chaise sofa

Usually a three-seater, with one elongated seat section to support extended legs. Unlike an L-shape sofa, the backrest doesn't continue around the corner.

Modular sofa

Great if you want to adapt the shape of your sofa. Modular sofas come in sections and can be put together any way you choose. Modular sofas are perfect if you're after a more bespoke feel or if you want to start small, but change and grow your seating space over time.

Compact sofa

Also known as a love seat or snuggle seat, a compact sofa falls between an armchair and a two-seater sofa in terms of size. It's characterised by a single seat cushion and single back cushion.

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Cushions & Fillings.

Ultimately, you'll be sitting on your sofa for many hours, days and years.

The main three sofa fillings are.

fibre,
foam
feathers.

Fibre

If you like your sofa to feel like it's giving you a big hug, fibre could be for you. Man-made polyester hollow strands pumped full of air that compress and expel air as you sit, fibre gives a soft, relaxed feel and a plump appearance. A fibre sofa requires plumping and turning cushions every day to maintain the feather like feel.

Foam

The most common sofa filling, foam provides the firmest support and a more structured appearance. Foam cushions are supportive. They keep their tailored shape over time even with constant use and require very little maintenance.

Occasional cushion turns will ensure the sofa wears evenly. Foam fillings vary in density and determine the firmness of a sofa. A higher-density foam will better maintain its shape.

All new foam loses about fifteen per cent of its hardness over the first six months of use before it stabilises. This means that a foam sofa may initially feel a little firmer than it might have done when tried out in store. Expect a foam sofa to slowly lose a little volume in time.

Feather

Natural, luxurious and comfy, feather is a popular choice. Like fibre, feathers provide a softer, less structured look than foam.

However, that sink-in feeling comes at a price; cushions will need regular plumping and turning to keep their generous rounded look and soft support. A hybrid of all fillings is becoming more popular.

Feathers on their own can clump together, so feather is often mixed with foam to create a dreamy sofa to sink into. On the other hand, feathers can be combined with fibre to give cushions a little extra resilience.

Fibre Fill

Fibre Foam Wrap

Feather Cushions

Try Before you Buy

Should you try a sofa before you buy it?

Most people still prefer trying sofas out for comfort and quality before buying. 83% of the shoppers tried their sofa out in a shop before buying it.

Only 7% tried their sofa in a shop, and then bought it online. Trying out a sofa is the only real way to know whether it’s comfortable.

Comfort is the most important consideration when buying a sofa. if it’s not comfortable, you’ll regret your purchase.

It's a good idea to try out sofas in several shops to compare and contrast price, quality as well as comfort.

If you aren’t able to visit the shop and test out your sofa before buying it, make sure you buy from a shop with a returns policy that allows you to return the sofa if you are dissatisfied with it when it arrives. Different shops have different returns policies, so check this before you buy.

Sofa styling tips

If your living room is small, opt for low-back sofas to help give the feeling of more room.
Slim legs and a gap between the sofa and floor create the illusion of space.
If space isn't an issue, then high back sofas look great in rooms with high ceilings. Also corners sofas can fill vacant spaces.
Modular sofas enhance open-plan rooms and offer flexibility, so consider a corner sofa with a removable chaise section or two.

Here are our top tips for keeping your sofa looking its best for longer.

Place sofas out of direct sunlight and heat sources to stop fading
Sofas should sit on a level floor to avoid rocking or frame damage
Avoid sitting on the arms of sofas to prevent distorting the upholstery
Sagging cushions accounted for 38% of the sofa damage experienced. Revive your cushions by plumping them regularly
Rotate seat, back and scatter cushions weekly to ensure even wear.
Use a handheld vacuum cleaner and/or an upholstery brush to clean your sofa and cushions.