Imagine that you’re going to buy a sofa and you have no idea what to choose, or how to choose. Or if what you chose is actually going to work for your living room. Selecting a sofa that works both in looks and function can feel like science! It can bring all kinds of hesitation and worry, and it happens to all of us. So, I decided to collect what I know about sofa selection and tips I learned from designers like Joyce Pickens and Athena Calderone in this guide and break down the most important tips to consider when shopping for sofas.

 

 

Why does your sofa choice matter?

 

A sofa is the focal point of living space as it’s the most significant furniture element. It grounds your design and sets the tone and style of the whole space. 

Your sofa choice can help you achieve what you want to feel in a space because it both serves a clear function and adds to the aesthetic. I have always loved light-colored sofas, it reflects my need for comfort and serenity. on the other hand, My mom needs functionality, so she prefers dark-colored sofas with easy-to-clean fabrics. Once you know what your needs are, your design process and decisions become easier.

If you are unsure how to pick the best sofa for your style and you’re worried that you’ll choose a sofa that won’t work, keep on reading! This guide will help make the process of selecting a sofa easy and effortless. 

Here, we seek simplicity in design. We often refer to Nordic and Scandinavian style, which is simple, neutral, and comfortable. If that’s not your style, you can still learn from the tips below and apply it in your own style.

 

 

How the style of the space affects your sofa choice

Space Dimension and Proportion  

The first thing we should do is study our own space. Here are 3 things you should look out for when it comes to space and sofa proportion: 

•  Consider having extra space around the sofa. By leaving space around furniture, you’ll create contrast and highlight it as a focal point. Avoid placing sofas against walls.
• If you have a low ceiling or small room, always go for sofas with lower back to create the visual illusion of more space
• If you find yourself not sure of the right size, use tape on the floor to mark your sofa and explore the size for a week.

 

 

Space Style 

Get clear on what you have in mind for the whole space using mood boards. Consider the sofa as part of the whole room, not just a standalone choice.

If you’re not sure of the best way to do this, check this guide to help you create a mood board. When you select a sofa as part of your mood board make sure you:

• Add it in a size close to reality, because this will affect the general look and feel.
• Add it in a placement similar to reality. This will help you visualize the final look of the space.

Once you have a clear idea of the look and feel of your living room and sofa, it’s time to start searching the market. There’re so many choices out there, but keep reading to find out what you should be looking for. 

 

 

Should I choose a sofa or sectional?

Sofa 

A sofa is a single piece of furniture that typically fits up to three people. There are a wide variety of styles and sizes available, including a 2-seater, 3-seater, or oversized sofa. This would work for you if:

•  You have a small space
•  You have a certain sofa size in mind and a fixed area for it   
•  You like to move your furniture around 
•  You prefer to have multiple choices of seating
•  You prefer a formal look
•  You prefer to have it in a bright color 
•  You have guests that prefer to keep their distance 

 

 

Sectional

Sectional consists of multiple pieces of furniture that fit together like a puzzle, you can configure them in different ways and create multiple layouts, and it can fit many people. 

 

This would work for you if:

• You have a large to medium space
•  You need to fit a large number of people without having many seats
•  You prefer to have less clutter in a room
•  You prefer a casual and cozy feel
•  You don’t have the budget to buy multiple seats for a large space
•  You like a fixed layout arrangement, however, you can rearrange the layout only in the armless sectional type

 

With all these considerations, there is no determining factor on whether a sectional or sofa is better. Ask yourself, “Which choice am I more drawn to?”. You may like an elegant sofa, or you like the cozy feeling of a large sectional sofa. As long as the furniture fits in your room and the space layout works, there’s no wrong answer when choosing a sectional over a sofa.

 

 

Bench Cushion 

The shape of the bench cushion matters because it affects the overall look. When choosing a bench cushion consider the following:

 

• A continuous sofa cushion that has no breaks in between seats. They tend to look cleaner, higher-end and you won’t find yourself falling into the crack or losing your remote or phone in the break in the cushions. 
•  A continuous sofa base with no breaks not only looks better,  but it’s also more steady, you won’t have sectional pieces moving around. Also, having breaks in the base can tell you that it’s cheap because it came in pieces for easier shipping. 

Sofa with continuous cushion and base

 

 

Legs

Legs can affect the look of your sofa. It’s relatively a small element, but it reflects on sofa proportion and quality of craftsmanship.

To be safe, just skip the legs. Look for a non-pleated skirt to cover the legs, this will help you achieve a grounding feel and avoid any imbalance in sofa shape. (insert illustration here)

If you do want to have legs visible, consider them carefully. Avoid any cheap looks by staying clear of these leg designs:  (insert illustration here) 

 

 

Fabric Types

There are many fabric options that make a great sofa, but here we focus on fabrics for simple and modern styles. Here are a few things you need to consider about fabrics: 

 

 

Wool

• 100% polyester
• Wool-like fabric, with durable poly yarn weaves 
• Rich texture and soft hand feel
• High-tech performance fabric stands up to wear and stains so you can lounge without worry for years to come.