Every home needs a cosy, comfortable sofa to complete its living room. However, buying a sofa can be daunting, especially if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for.
There are many factors to consider when making your decision, including the sofa fabric, colour, design, size, materials, and cleaning requirements. Availability is another key factor that may influence your purchase decisions, so it’s important to find a trusted furniture store like Fishpools that offer high quality furniture that will last you for years to come.
Our sofa buying guide will teach you everything you need to know to choose the perfect sofa for your home.
Planning the layout of your living room
Start your journey to the ideal sofa by carefully planning the layout of your living room. First, consider the intended purpose of the room you want to put your sofa in. Will you be using it for entertaining, relaxing with your family, or giving your children a space to study and play? Depending on the purpose, you’ll need to pick sofa styles that provide you with the seating space and open floor area you require.
You need to consider how well a sofa will fit into the space you have chosen for it. Measure the height, width, and depth of any sofa you are considering buying. Then, measure out the same dimensions in the room to ensure that it does not take up too much space or leave the room looking sparse. It’s also essential to ensure that your sofa will fit through the front door and other entrances to avoid any frustrating surprises when it arrives!
You can simplify the process of planning your living room layout by using a handy measuring guide. Alternatively, lay down boxes or newspaper in an area the same size as the sofa you’re looking to purchase to help you visualise the size, height and shape of the chosen sofa in your living space.
What type of sofa is best for me?
When it comes to selecting the ideal sofa for your living space, understanding the various sofa styles is essential, especially when you consider both form and style. The most common sofa styles available include:
- Two-seater sofas
- Three-seater sofas
- Four-seater sofas
- Corner sofas which fit into corners of your home and provide ample seating space
- Recliner sofas that allow you to put your feet up for the ultimate relaxation at the touch of a button
- Chesterfield sofas are a timeless piece of furniture instantly recognisable from their button detailing and classic rolled arms
- Sofa beds which offer a practical solution for saving space and hosting more guests
It’s important to remember that different sofa suppliers have unique scales for sofas of varying sizes. This means that not all three-seater sofas will be the same size. Remember to obtain the measurements of any sofa you plan on buying before you make your purchase to ensure that it will fit properly into your intended space.
Sofas can also be categorised by their style. There is a myriad of styles available, including but not limited to glamorous, modern, contemporary, retro, classic and casual. Consider your home’s interior décor and choose a sofa style that works harmoniously with your preferences.
What fabric should I choose?
Selecting the right sofa fabric is a crucial decision, as it affects both the aesthetics and maintenance of your furniture. As sofas often come in a huge range of different fabrics, colours, patterns, and textures. These fabrics and materials offer diverse ranges of benefits and have unique cleaning requirements too.
For instance, leather sofas are fairly simple to clean, but need to be maintained by dusting regularly with a soft cloth as well as an occasionally clean with a mild soaping agent. Rinse with clean cold water and wipe off with a dry cloth. Most leather sofas sold are upholstered with protected leather, which is easy to wipe clean and maintain. Natural leathers show creasing, scars, colour variations and natural markings more, and provide a tactile feel, but can be more sensitive to spillages. Apply a protection cream to natural leathers to help maintain their appearance.
Fabric sofas come in a wider range of colours and materials, providing endless design possibilities. Spots and spills should be dealt with as soon as they happen by dabbing with a clean absorbent cloth. Velvet sofas look stylish in virtually any setting. Gently brush or vacuum your upholstery at least once a week. Accumulated dirt will increase wear and dull the colours. Luxurious velvets and sumptuous chenilles may be show signs of shading and pile pressure from new.
If you are looking for a sofa fabric that’s easy to maintain and to clean, we recommend opting for leather, cotton polyester velvets, or fabric sofas, especially in darker material shades.
If you’re looking for a sleek and tactile option, velvet and suede sofas add wonderful texture to a room and come in a selection of eye-catching colours. Velvet is fashionable and higher value than many other options and choosing a sofa in this fabric will help to create a luxurious ambience. Sofa fabric that has a lighter finish will help to brighten up your living room and create the illusion of space and depth, which makes them ideal for smaller rooms and living spaces.
No matter which sofa you choose, Fishpools offers Guardsman protection to maintain the appearance of your furniture in the event of accidental spills and damage.
What colour should I choose?
When it comes to selecting the right sofa for your living room, the choice of sofa colour plays a pivotal role in defining your space’s atmosphere and style.
The most popular colours for sofas are currently neutral tones, grey shades, and dark blue and teal velvets. It’s also becoming trendier to add pops of colour or retro pieces, like dark green velvet sofas, to create a distinctive and unique look.
Bear in mind that when buying a lighter sofa colour, it will require more maintenance. If you do opt for a light-toned sofa, consider purchasing Guardsman for total peace of mind.
If you are looking for a more practical and lower-maintenance option, opt for darker colours like grey or navy blue. These hues still look incredibly stylish, and they don’t show up stains, scuffs, and dirt as easily as white or beige sofas, making them a better choice for families.
What are sofas filled with?
Sofa filling materials are essential considerations when selecting a sofa that offers both comfort and durability. The most common materials include:
- Foam. Foam sofas offer a more formal and structured look with a firm feel. They require little maintenance, as the foam interior will maintain its shape without intervention on your part.
- Fibre. Fibre-filled sofas make for a softer sitting experience than foam, but not as soft as feathers. It’s important to rotate fibre-filled cushions regularly to get air into them and keep them feeling plush.
- Feathers. This is a luxurious option that provides a casual, relaxed feel and an extremely soft sitting experience. Feather sofas will need to be plumped regularly to help maintain their shape and comfort.
- Combinations. Some retailers combine several different fillings in a single sofa design. For instance, a sofa might contain foam core in the middle to help maintain its shape, and fibre within its cushions to make it as comfortable as possible.
When choosing a sofa, it’s important to consider the overall look and feel you’re looking to achieve and to select your sofa with comfort in mind.
How to style your sofa
Now that you know how to buy a sofa, it’s time to focus on styling it. You can style your sofa with new or existing furniture as you see fit. Pair it with matching armchairs and footstools to create a cohesive look or pick a sofa from one range and accent chairs from another to create a more distinctive collection of living room furniture that you can truly make your own.
Scatter cushions are a great styling option that allows you to add pops of colour, texture, and pattern to your sofa to enhance its appearance. Consider buying accent chairs with similar fabric to your scatter cushions to keep the overall collection cohesive while still adding interest to the room and tying the look together.
You could even accessorise your sofa with rugs in matching or contrasting tones or textures. Accessories and home décor like rugs and scatter cushions are also useful when testing out different colours for your living room. You can easily change up the look of your sofa by updating your accessories, and even change the entire décor style of your living room this way.
Frequently asked questions
How long will I have to wait for my sofa?
Waiting times for furniture can vary, however Fishpools has upholstery available from stock for immediate delivery.
What delivery service do Fishpools offer?
We offer a premium delivery service for our customers. Our team will transport your new sofa to the room of your choice and remove all of the packaging for you once the sofa has been installed.
What’s the best sofa for a small living room?
If you have a smaller living room and are looking to maximize your space, our corner sofas are an excellent choice. They not only provide ample seating but also make efficient use of your room’s layout, seating more people than a regular two or three-seater sofa.
How do I look after my sofa?
Maintaining your sofa is essential to ensure its longevity and continued comfort. At Fishpools, we offer a range of care guides with all the information you need to care for and maintain your new sofa. We also offer our Guardsman Policy for your peace of mind.
Choosing a sofa, simplified
Fishpools offers a wide range of premium quality sofas in a variety of shapes, styles, sizes, colours and fabric upholstery finishes to suit your needs. Browse our online collection today, or view our selection of sofas at our store in Waltham Cross and make yourself at home. View our opening hours to plan your visit.
Buying a sofa has never been simpler with Fishpools by your side. Discover exceptional style and quality that reflects your unique taste and transforms your living space into a haven of comfort and elegance.