Start with a Budget

Start with a Budget Spend a day in a furniture store or surfing online and you will quickly realize that sofas come in any way costs, from a few hundred to many thousand dollars. The good news is that you can find a great couch at every level. "Quality is not necessarily indicated by cost, contrary to what people may believe," states Cindy W. Hodnett, Upholstery and Style Editor for Furniture Today. "You can get a reasonable, high-quality sofa -- and the specific reverse is true as well." Part of what determines the sofa's cost is the type -- a sleeper sofa, or a single with "movement" capability or leather upholstery may cost more -- but it's also wise to think about how you'll use the couch when deciding how much to invest. "A couch you intend to produce the centerpiece of your living space in your dream-house might be worth of an investment," says Max Bar-Nahum, director of custom upholstery in Dr. Sofa, a furniture services provider that offers disassembly (and reassembly), upholstery, repair, and custom design and build. "On the flip side, if you know your preferences change often, you'll be moving in a couple of decades, or whether it's the couch you'll set in your playroom for your children to hang out on, you might not need to spend a lot over your financial plan."



Pick the Size and Style Whether you plan to purchase on the internet or from a brick-and-mortar shop, the experts agree that it is important to select an established, reputable merchant with long-term knowledge in furniture. "You can purchase a sofa on Craiglist or in some small corner furniture store, but you might not receive the support you require," says Bar-Nahum. "The salespeople at larger stores like Crate & Barrel or Room & Board, for instance, have instruction, so that they understand how to answer your questions -- or find out the reply to something they do not know." Many furniture manufacturers provide customization choices that salespeople can help you with, says Hodnett. "Should you enjoy a piece but really wanted some extra feature -- nail head trim, or another type of upholstery, or, to get a sectional, a different configuration -- they can provide something that will add value to you as a client."



Purchase From the Right Retailer Most sofas are upholstered with foam wrapped in some sort of cushioning or "batting" The density of the foam as well as the makeup of the padding will decide on the softness of this upholstery. "Denser foam will last longer and provide additional support," says Bar-Nahum. "We prefer ultra-high density or high-density clean foams." Round the foam you'll discover batting made from polyester, cotton, or wool, or -- the most luxurious choice -- a feather-and-down blend. The greater the content of down from the upholstery the thicker the cushions, and the more fluffing they will require in order to hold their shape.  



Find out How It's Produced Match your sofa's fabric to your dcor, of course, but also for your way of life, say the pros. "If you are purchasing a couch which will sit in a formal living area you'll use two per year, you can opt for a more delicate fabric like linen, but in a household room you will use every day that material likely won't last long," says Bar-Nahum. "We are seeing big increase in the numbers of customers who are picking performance fabrics because of their own upholstery," states Hodnett, speaking to demanding, stain-resistant fabrics like Sunbrella and Crypton, among others. Once relegated to outside spaces, these materials have come a long way and today are every bit as soft and luxurious as ordinary fabrics. "They provide cleanability, durability, and fade resistance, and they stand up to busy households with kids, guests and pets," she says.  



Understand the Upholstery The best way to estimate the quality of a sofa -- and its comfort -- is to spend some time with it in person. Sit on it for a number of minutes. Try different places: Lean against the arm to see if it digs into your neck or back; examine each end of the chair, in addition to the middle; dip a bit on the seat to see how supportive and firm it's; stand up and determine how much fluffing the pillows require after you've sat on these. Hold on a corner of the sofa and emphasise the framework: It must feel solid and firm, with no give in the joints. Lift one leg up to feel whether the couch is heavy and substantial or lightweight. Examine all the upholstery and stitching from the top to bottom. "The cloth should lie smoothly through the frame, with no puckering, along with the seams and some other cosmetic welting or trim should be straight and tight," states Bar-Nahum.



Select Life-Friendly Upholstery Fabric It is always much better to see and feel that a sofa in person, but if that's impossible you can learn a lot from an online retailer's customer service department and, especially, from consumer testimonials. "Take the opportunity to do your research," states Hodnett. "Read the specifications, which are typically recorded with any product, and then call the company to ask any questions which are not explained in the product description. Order swatches of these materials you're considering and look at them on your area, under different lighting requirements. And read all the reviews, looking for any red flags about comfort or durability."



Sit, Bounce Wiggle and Crawl Remember that in addition to matching well within your room and together with your other furnishings, the sofa also has to make it through your doorways and hallways. Ask the retailer for instructions about how best to quantify properly; lots of online sites have detailed directions to follow. If you mis-measure, or want a sofa that is too large to fit through the door, all isn't lost: providers such as Dr. Sofa and many others may disassemble your purchase and reassemble it inside the room -- for a price, of course.



Buying Online? Read the Reviews Before you commit to buy a sofa, keep in mind that there's more to consider than just cost. "When a customer buys a sofa, I believe that it's a good idea for her to think about how long this product is going to be utilised inside her house, by her family," Hodnett states. "When you examine the amount of years that a sofa is in use, it is logical to invest more for a bit which may last longer or serve the household better. And when an individual is ordering online, shipping charges can add significantly to the bottom line. All of these factors could play a role in the purchase decision." Be sure to inquire what the delivery or shipping fee is, and if the organization provides 'white glove' delivery, which generally means unpacking and placing the piece in your room -- not only dumping it at your front door in its original packaging. Figure out the warranty conditions (a one-piece guarantee on upholstery and frame under normal use conditions is fairly common, but terms change) and, possibly most importantly, the return policy. If you are displeased with the couch -- a strong possibility if you've purchased it on the web, sight-unseen -- you may choose to return it. Return policies vary widely, from three days to three months and beyond, so make certain that you know the deal, as well as any return penalties or restocking fees.