Choosing The Right Fit: The Secret Five S’s of Buying a Great Sofa

Sofas are an essential piece of furniture within every living room. From entertaining your guests to family movie night, sofas are used daily, by everyone in your home. 

The secret to finding the right sofa isn’t as simple as buying the first design you see. To provide some clarity and helpful tips, here are five essential factors to think about when shopping for your best choice of sofa. 

Size

Sofas – Escapology Living Room Furniture

Size is one of the most important considerations to make when choosing the right sofa. Ensuring the sofa fits your living room and doesn't dominate the space is critical. If you’re unsure about where to start, we’re here to give a helping hand.

To get your measurements right, there is a general rule of thumb for sofas. Simply remember the 2/3 rule. Your sofa should be about two thirds the size of the entire room. If you decide you need a coffee table, that too should be two thirds the size of the sofa (if no chaise) or one third to half the size of the sofa if it has a chaise.

To help you visualise the layout, draw your measurements out onto a large piece of paper and cut it out to create a template. You can then use this for reference when you are shopping. Alternatively, try an online mood board tool which helps you style your room with your favourite pieces. It also saves you time from having to measure every sofa piece you see in stores or online. 

Style

Escapology Luxury Sofas – Escapology Living Room Furniture

Another important consideration when you are sofa shopping is sofa design and style. It’s essential to keep the sofa style cohesive with the overall look of your living room. If you are living by the coast perhaps you have a more coastal vibe as opposed to someone living in the city with a modern industrial styled home – consider what style you have and how that may be interpreted into your sofa choice. 

There are a few ways to approach style. The most common way is to make the sofa the centrepiece of your living room. This approach ensures the first piece of furniture you guests will see is your sofa. Their eyes will move to other pieces in your room, but regardless the sofa has done its job of enticing guests into the space. On the other hand, the second way is making the sofa blend into the entire room. When guests see your room, they’ll notice the overall style of the space instantly, rather than be drawn to one piece first. So think about whether or not you want your sofa to shout your style loud and proud, or want it to subtly convey your sense of style instead.

Once you have decided how much of a statement you want your sofa to make the next step is to consider the unique aesthetic of your sofa. The top three most popular sofa styles, especially within our loyal Escapology family, are:

• Classic English Sofas – classy and vintage are two words to describe this style. Classic English furniture, especially sofas, are all about suave lines and smooth frames.
• Chaise Sofas – Straightforward in style and highly functional. If you love putting your feet up, chaise sofas are the way to go. But plan carefully, the extra space required for a chaise sofas makes them typically bigger than your average sofa.
• Chesterfield Sofas – Chesterfield sofas are a classic favourite and for good reason too. What sets this style apart from the rest is the tufted detailing, which gives a classy and chic vibe to any living room it’s in. Chesterfield sofas can be seen as more of a traditional couch, but with velvet fabrications, bold colours and different sizes you can make them work in any style home. 
• Hampton’s Sofas – evoking a relaxed seaside atmosphere, the Hampton’s design speaks to a traditional yet relaxed aesthetic. Fabrics in lighter colours often made from a linen blend are essential fabric choice within this sofa design. 

Shade

Classic English Sofas – Escapology Living Room Furniture

The shade of your sofa is an important consideration to make, as the colour of your sofa evokes certain moods and feelings. Ask yourself: how do you want the space to make you feel? Do you want it to feel calm? Neutral? Or even bold and passionate?

A good way to approach this is to consider the primary colours first. Then mix and play with different variants. You can go darker or lighter – whatever you feel like. To help you out, here is a summary of the common colours and the moods they evoke:

• Blue – Calming. This colour is said to help you feel more centred and serene. Perfect for more coastal homes, with a Hampton or relaxed design style.
• Green – Lively. Green is recommended for those suffering from anxiety, as the shade helps you calm down and encourages inner zen.
• Red – Passionate. Red is an excellent colour to show off your bold personality. The deep shade helps the sofa to pop out in your living room, which is especially good if you’re using it as a centrepiece. Being bold in colour and design is sure to make an impact in any living room. 

If you’re having trouble visualising the look, creating a colour palette may prove useful to you. We recommend digital tools like Coolers to do this.

Seat Firmness & Softness

Firmness and softness is an important factor not to overlook when hunting for the right sofa. The choice depends on the purpose of the sofa. If you are using it for guests and only guests, a firm sofa is better. Generally, guests will be staying seated in your home for a limited time. A firmer sofa makes it easier for them to not only sit upright but easily stand up when needed. 

On the other hand, a softer sofa is ideal for everyday family use. When you sit on a softer sofa and sink in, it creates more of an informal and casual feeling. Perfect for events like movie marathons, box set binges, or just a place for you to lounge on your own with a good book.

At Escapology, we offer a range of sofas with different softness levels making it easy to find the perfect sofa for you.

Sensibility & Practicality

Last, but not least, ask yourself: is the sofa sensible to your home and your everyday requirements? For example, getting a big and spacious sofa would prove disastrous for a small apartment however stunning the design. Whereas, a small sofa would look lost in a large room. When you’re trying to find the right sofa, it’s about being practical. Not only does your sofa need to fit your budget, but also your lifestyle and your family too.

When it comes to sense and practicality, it’s also essential to consider the material of the sofa. If you have family pets, a leather sofa is ill-advised as their claws may accidentally rip or severely scratch the material. On the other hand, if you opt for a fabric sofa, ensure you have a spot cleaner on hand for any unexpected stains that shouldn’t be vigorously wiped off with a cloth.

We hope this all helps you what to think about when sofa shopping. While it would be perfect if a sofa fits all of your requirements, finding that ideal sofa that exactly fits every requirement is unlikely. So it comes down to preference – ask yourself: which of these factors are the biggest priorities for me and my home?

 

Need a helping hand with interior styles and inspiration? Escapology is the perfect place to start when shopping for sofas and furniture online.