someone holds swatches of fabric over a sofa while furniture shopping Shopping for a sofa is fun, but should not be taken lightly. After all, you want to love everything about this investment, including how it looks, how it feels, and how it fits into your home — both literally and figuratively. Follow these tips to narrow your choices and choose the best sofa for you and your lifestyle.

Function

To start: what are you looking for from this sofa? A cozy place to lay and watch television for two, a place for several people to sit and chat, a couch that converts into a bed for out-of-town guests, or something in between?   Sofas come in a vast array of sizes and serve many functions. One of the more flexible types of sofas is a sectional, which is comprised of multiple pieces that can be assembled in a variety of ways. It's essential to invest in furniture that satisfies your needs and ultimately makes you feel good.

Fit

Determine the dimensions of your available space so you will know what will fit properly and what will not. It’d sure be disappointing to buy your dream sofa, only to discover that it can’t fit. Once you have a prospect in mind, mark the dimensions on the floor with tape so that you can better imagine how the piece will look in the room. Just because you have the space available, it doesn’t mean you need to fill it all. Also, measure your doorway to make sure you can get it inside!

Comfort

Even if you primarily want this for a more formal room, you still want it to be comfortable for your guests.  The more comfortable it is, the longer they will probably stay, so keep that in mind, and purchase accordingly. On the other hand, if this sofa’s function is for family movie night or binge watching, then you want it as comfortable as possible for you and your family. Will all of you fit on it?  Can you kick back and relax? Can you immerse yourself comfortably in the cushions, but can also get up to go get the popcorn? A comfortable sofa makes all the difference in how you enjoy the space it fills.

Durability

When purchasing a sofa, you know you want it to last. The frame and fill of your sofa is very important when thinking about quality and durability. Although costlier, hardwoods such as oak are much more durable than softer woods like pine or plywood. You also want to be sure there is more than just glue and staples holding your sofa together. You are looking for the pieces to be joined together by wooden dowels, metal screws, and/or metal brackets. As far as the fill is concerned, high-density foam and down feathers are the more durable materials. Since you can’t see much of the frame or fill, ask your salesperson or call the company to ask about the materials.

Fabric

Family sofas for everyday use need to be tough to handle an occasional spill. Some great textiles in this regard are cotton, linen, and synthetic microfiber. Stain-resistant microfiber is very easy to clean. No matter what fabric you choose, you should get it professionally treated to help avoid stains. If you have pets that will be on the sofa, you want a fabric that won’t snag, such as velvet. If this is a more formal sofa, consider wool, leather, or silk. Ask your furniture store for a piece of the fabric you are considering. Take it home and place it where the sofa will sit. Make sure you like it with your room decor in both daylight and lamplight. Finding the right sofa really is an important part of living comfortably. Keep all of this in mind, shop around, find a quality sofa that you love, and don’t forget the throw pillows to complete the look! For help selecting the right sofa for you, get in touch with the team at The Back Store today by calling 1-800-315-3496, or contact us online.