How to Buy a Sofa

Finding the right sofa is crucial to your living room's décor - and to the room's relaxation factor. Here are some tips that will help you rise to the challenge.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring Tapes
• Sofas

1. Determine potential size restrictions for your sofa. For example, if it will be moved up a flight of stairs or placed in a small room, determine the maximum measurements - depth and height as well as length.

2. Consider the color carefully because a sofa will last many years, during which various colors will become hot and then passé. A neutral sofa can be updated simply by swapping out the pillows.

3. Have an idea about upholstery before you shop. A tough leather may be ideal for a rough-and-tumble household with pets and toddlers; Navajo-white cotton could be fine for careful adults who don't snack while sitting on the sofa.

4. Be aware that patterned, two-tone, tweedy and other multicolor fabrics will camouflage soil and stains more effectively than will solids.

5. Try out the sofa in the store. You and other family members should sit on it for several minutes, trying out both an outside cushion and a center cushion to be sure they're comfortable.

6. Check the fabric for comfort. If it's scratchy or itchy, pass it by.

7. Examine whether the fabric's pattern is aligned where edges meet. If it's a stripe, plaid or big print, the pattern on the back of the sofa should align with the pattern on the cushion and then on down to the front of the seating base.

8. Look at the workmanship of the cushion cording. Does it snake around or is it straight?

9. Remove the sofa cushions and see what's under them. You shouldn't see any wood - just smooth, upholstered surfaces.

10. Ask the salesperson about interior construction. The frame should be wood with corner blocks and glue; don't buy a sofa with nailed, stapled or unbraced joints, as these will loosen and wobble.

Tips & Warnings

• If the legs screw in (a mark of quality), this can be a help when moving the sofa. You'll be able to remove the legs to help the sofa turn a stairwell corner.

[starlet67]

on 4/8/2009 Great tips for buying a sofa like checking the cushions and looking under them!5*

[shprice]

on 12/30/2008 Cut out a piece of wrapping paper the size of your sofa and practice moving around the room with the sofa in it. Try out different traffic patterns and make sure the sofa is not too large.

on 11/22/2005 Lounge-quality is mostly on the inside. Webbing, springs and foams all come in different grades. The cheaper the lounge, most often the cheaper the grade of materials/workmanship. Don't be scared to try the lounge. Sit down heavily and see what happens.

on 11/22/2005 Good quality used furniture is better than poor quality new. Check out auctions or classified ads before heading down to We-Sell-Cheap Furniture.

on 11/22/2005 Measure the doorway! Some sofas are too large to even fit into your home or apartment - especially in older buildings. We know!