How to Choose a Sofa

 A sofa is a big (and expensive) addition to your living room, so you need to choose the right one. Some of the things you need to take into consideration include the price, the size, how it looks with the rest of your furniture and how comfortable it is.

You're probably thinking that this is too obvious to mention but you'd be surprised how many people actually overlook this step...

Measure the space you plan to put the sofa in. Also, make sure your doorway is big enough to move the sofa through. So take measurements of your home and don't forget to bring along a tape measure to use at the store to take measurements of the sofa.

Before you get your heart set on any particular design or color, you need to think about the future. Which room are you planning to put the sofa in? If you're planning on putting it in a family room where a lot of time is spent, then you need to make sure you buy a sofa that is going to be strong and durable.

Do you have children or pets? If so, you might want to avoid colors that are easily stained. Do you often have friends and family that sleep over? If thats the case then you definately need something comfortable.

 Okay, now that all that fun measuring and stuff is out of the way it's time to worry about style!

Make sure you don't get too wrapped up in looks. While it's important to have a beautiful sofa, it's also important to have a room that is practical and functional.

For instance, make sure you will have enough room to place a coffee table or enough room on the sides for small end tables. You don't want to be sitting around relaxing and then have to go out of your way to sit down your drink and pick it up again.

Many designers recommend neutral colors. That way you can use throws or colorful pillows to add color. This is probably your best bet if you like to redecorate your place often.

If you're going for a traditional, cozy look then sofas with skirted bottoms are your best bet. If you prefer a more modern look then exposed legs are great and for a more Euro-chic style you should consider a sofa with metal legs.

A sofa with three back cushions is the traditional style and of course, when it comes to cushions, the more you have the cozier your sofa will be. Two cushions provide a more modern, updated look. Cushions with squared edges are more contemporary than cushions with round edges.

Some sofas have cushions that are attached to it, but you might want a sofa that has loose cushions so that you can rotate them or turn them around. This is especially important if your sofa is going to be used a lot because the ability to move cushions around might help prevent wear and tear.

Many people love to add throw pillows to their couch to add color or pattern to a room, but be careful about how many and what kind you choose. For example, a red velvet pillow with black beads on it might look beautiful, but it may also be so pretty that people are uncomfortable sitting on the sofa because they don't want to "mess anything up".

No matter how much you love a sofa, you need to make sure its worth the money you're about to spend on it. You certainly don't want a sofa that is going to to break on you.

How heavy is it? Lift it up and see. Generally, the heavier, the better. The best frames are usually made with moisture-resistant hardwoods. Sit down on it. It shouldn't squeak when you sit or move around. Check out everything! Do you feel like you're sinking when you sit on the end or does it feel like you're being sucked into the corner? Are the cushions comming out of place too easy?

 Some more tips to help you get the most from your sofa.

• Generally the seat height for a sofa is between 15-18 inches and the depth is about 24-32 inches.
• Although a sofa is a pretty major part of a living room, you don't want it to take up the entire space. Your sofa should take up no more than about 25% of your total floor space.
• Your end tables need to be about the same height and depth as the arms of the sofa. If you have a coffee table it should be about the same height as the sofa seat.
• If you're going to hang artwork above the sofa it should only be about half the length of the sofa. Otherwise, it will be overpowering.