Sofa Buying Guide
Choosing the right sofa starts with finding the right balance between comfort and size. It should suit how you prefer to sit, provide enough seating space and fit comfortably into your living room.
In this guide, we walk you through the key considerations when buying a sofa, from choosing your preferred seating comfort and configuration to checking delivery access and understanding the materials used in its construction. We also cover essential sofa care tips to help keep your sofa comfortable and looking good for longer.
Choose Your Sofa Comfort
Start With Your Preferred Sitting Position
Consider whether you prefer sitting upright with your feet resting on the floor or leaning back in a more relaxed position.
If you prefer sitting upright, a shallower seat can make it easier to sit against the backrest while keeping your feet on the floor. If you prefer lounging, a deeper seat provides more room to lean back, curl up or change sitting positions.
Your height also affects the seat depth, seat height and backrest height that may suit you. Shorter individuals may prefer shallower seats, while taller individuals may benefit from deeper seats and higher backrests.
Choose Your Seat Cushion Firmness
Seat cushion firmness affects how much you sink into the sofa and how supported you feel while sitting.
Different cushion materials create different seating experiences. Down and feather provide softer cushioning with more sink-in, latex offers a more responsive feel, while full foam provides a firmer and more stable seating surface.
Your body weight and age can also influence your preference. Heavier individuals may prefer slightly firmer cushions, while older adults who find it difficult to stand up may benefit from a firmer, more stable seat.
Choose Your Sofa Size & Configuration
Measure Your Available Space
Start by checking the sofa's overall width and depth against the space you have allocated for it.
Remember to leave enough room for surrounding furniture, walkways and doors to open comfortably. If you are considering an L-shaped or U-shaped sofa, include the space occupied by its extending sections.
Choose Your Seating Capacity Based on Available Space
The overall width of a sofa does not tell you exactly how much usable seating space it provides.
Thicker armrests take up more of the sofa's overall width, leaving less room for seating.
Also consider whether you prefer individual seating areas or a wider continuous bench seat that gives you more freedom to change positions.
Choose Your Configuration Based on Available Space
Once you know how much space you have and how many people you need to seat, choose a sofa configuration that suits your living room layout.
A straight sofa works well for simpler layouts, while L-shaped and U-shaped sofas provide additional lounging and seating space but require a larger footprint. If you prefer a more open appearance, a one-arm sofa may be worth considering.
For greater flexibility, modular sofas allow you to combine different units to create a configuration that better suits your available space.
Plan for Sofa Setup & Care
Check Your Delivery Access
A sofa may fit comfortably in your living room but still be too large to pass through the access routes leading to it.
Before ordering, check the dimensions of your lift, doorways, corridors and any tight corners along the delivery route.
Use the sofa's packaging dimensions rather than its final assembled dimensions to determine whether it can reach your intended space.
Set Up Your Sofa Properly
Once installed, make sure the sofa modules are securely connected and the outer legs are properly aligned and resting firmly on the floor.
If you need to move your sofa later, lift it from underneath the main frame rather than dragging it across the floor.
Maintain Your Sofa Upholstery
Different upholstery materials require different cleaning and maintenance methods.
For fabric sofas, remove dust regularly, blot spills promptly and avoid harsh cleaning agents. Only wash removable covers if the fabric is washable, following the recommended care instructions to minimise shrinkage.
For genuine leather sofas, avoid excessive moisture and use a suitable leather conditioner when required.
Keep both fabric and leather sofas away from prolonged direct sunlight and excessive heat to minimise fading.
Maintain Your Cushions & Frame
Vary where you sit to distribute wear more evenly across the sofa. Rotate interchangeable cushions where possible and fluff down and feather cushions regularly to maintain their shape.
Avoid jumping on the sofa or sitting on areas that are not designed to support body weight, such as certain armrests and backrests.
Periodically check that the sofa legs remain securely attached and properly aligned.
Understand Sofa Materials
Fabric Upholstery
Fabric sofas are available in different compositions and textures, with options designed to suit different lifestyles and appearance preferences.
If you have pets, consider pet-friendly fabrics with tighter weaves and backing for better resistance to scratching and snagging. For households with children, washable fabrics upholstered on removable-cover sofas or easy-clean fabrics can make maintenance easier.
If you sit for long periods without air conditioning, more breathable cotton and linen fabrics may be worth considering.
Once you have identified the features you need, narrow down your preferred fabric texture and colour.
Leather Upholstery
If you prefer leather upholstery, start by deciding between genuine top-grain leather and PU faux leather.
Top-grain leather retains the natural cow hide's dense upper fibre structure. PU faux leather has a synthetic surface bonded to a textile backing and provides a more affordable alternative.
From there, consider the grain pattern, surface finish and colour to achieve your preferred appearance.
Cushions
Cushions provide the comfort and support you feel when sitting against the backrest and on the seat.
Their filling materials, foam density and thickness influence how the sofa feels and how well the cushions retain their shape.
Suspension
The suspension system sits beneath the seat cushions and provides support when you sit down.
Zigzag springs and webbing work together to distribute body weight across the seating structure.
Frame
The frame forms the main internal structure of the sofa.
Its materials, construction and joints influence the sofa's structural strength and ability to support everyday use.
