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Common mistakes when buying a Sofa: An Expert Guide to Buying Right

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Looking for a new sofa can be an overwhelming experience. There are so many choices to make and it’s easy to make a mistake that you’ll regret later on.

For first-time sofa buyers, looking at a lot of factors and options can quickly turn confusing. What sort of interior cushioning makes a good quality sofa? What kind of fabrics go with what climates? What fabric to choose when you have kids in the house and things will get spilled on your precious new sofa?

What design and size to choose for your specific, personal needs and your family size, and whether to splurge on the premium quality sofa or buy one that ‘does the job’?

In this article, we’ll teach you how to avoid the most common mistakes people make while buying a sofa. We’ll also recommend some tips that will help you find the perfect piece for your home. So, whether you’re looking for a new sofa for your living room or family room, read on for some helpful advice!

1. Correct Size: Take Measurements Before Anything Else

You’ve gone out with your better half for some sofa shopping. You arrive at the shop, browse through several options and find one that seems like the perfect match – comfortability and fabric wise all is good – then you finally get the sofa delivered to your house and find out it is too small for your expansive living room.

It looked fine in the shop, but here the centerpiece looks way out of place. The other pieces of furniture don’t go with it all. Uh oh, you’ve gone and bought the wrong size.

Just a small pre-purchase measurement exercise will save you from all of this hassle. Make sure to account for space in your living for your sofa.

Choose the space in your living room where this new sofa will go, and take the wall measurement. A good rule of thumb is that a sofa should cover no more than 3/4 of a wall.

Also, see how your sofa will go in your current living room settings. Would you need to change your living room settings or take out a piece of furniture to make room for the new sofa?

All of these measurements and factors should be taken into consideration before you step out of the house to go buy a new sofa – and thus avoid a common mistake – buying the wrong size.

 2. Wood and Fill Quality

sofa ideas

First is the sofa frame. Sofa’s made with different types of wood will give you different long-term results. Don’t just go with what the furniture store employee recommends as the ‘best wood’ for a sofa frame. A lot comes into play here.

For example, pine is long known for being sturdy but is also classified as ‘soft wood’, meaning long-term your sofa frame will deteriorate more quickly than with say, Walnut or Oak. Do your research and come to a type of wood frame that is not too heavy and will last you at least 7 years or more.

For the fill, furniture stores can again ‘recommend’ certain types of fill and upholstery fabric. But here’s what you have to look out for: A minimum of 2lb foam (not the total, but the type of foam) should be considered for a sofa’s long life. If you wish to have a quality sofa that serves you for 10-15 years (and even more) then invest in searching for what makes good sofa foam and fill.

sofa ideas

You’ve recently seen a dazzling emerald green sofa in a magazine and you’re all for purchasing it at once. You’ve even put an ad online to sell your old ‘poor quality sofa’ that’s been serving you loyally for 15 years.

Don’t rush into an expensive mistake, just because you want to get something that’s trendy this year. A lot of unconventional furniture colors may look good (and they are), but do they go with your current living room settings perfectly?

Would the new sofa color be too bold for your taste? Will your family like it? Will it be a statement piece for your living space or an eyesore because it doesn’t fit with your setting?

4. Getting The Wrong Style Of Sofa

sofa ideas

You’ve decided on a color that goes with your existing furniture. That’s great. But have you carefully thought of what style of sofa will go perfectly in your living room?

If you have four or more people in the house, a sectional sofa might be a good idea; if you’re just a couple, then a medium-length loveseat might do as well.

Is your existing furniture simplistic? Then you don’t want to have a luxe  Chesterfield fine leather sofa in your living room – it can cost double your regular sofa options and won’t do your living room favors all by itself.

If your living room is large and has pricey furniture and you want an impeccable sofa with premium seat cushions and perfect seat depth (and comfortability) then a Chesterfield sofa will be the right choice for you.

5. It’s All About The Fabrics

There are even more types of fabric to choose from than there are styles of sofas. Some say that the furniture industry boasts more than ten thousand types of fabric for all styles of sofas – simple or premium.

Some of the common and most used fabrics are Cotton, wool, leather, silk, and polyester. Your choice of fabric will depend upon budget (leather being the more expensive one), daily sofa use, the number of people in your home, the setting of your sofa in your house (will it be exposed to sunlight for long hours? Will it be used as a ‘window sofa’ while you have a beach view apartment? (rexine is best in these cases).

If you’re looking for an affordable option without your piece turning out to be a poor quality sofa, then cotton will be your best bet. If you’re going for something premium, then leather.

Also, consider what material/fabric your other furniture pieces are made from and if you’d like to match the fabric of your new sofa with them.

Common Mistakes When Buying A Sofa

Having gone through the basics of buying a sofa, you should now have a fair idea of what important factors to look out for before splurging on a long-term piece of furniture.

Remember there is no ‘one’ best choice, rather it all depends on your own requirements, tastes, and your budget.

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