For most new homeowners looking to furnish their home, one piece of furniture often tops their list of must-buy items: the sofa. The sofa makes your living room both functional and aesthetically appealing. Without a couch, the living room looks like an empty shell. After a hard day’s work, the sofa is the one place you want to head for to wind down and relax.
The piece of furniture that sells the most is the sofa. It’s a versatile piece of furniture that you can use in many ways in your home, including sitting, lounging, playing, and even sleeping. When buying a sofa, look for high-quality artistry, easy to clean fabric, comfortable filling, and sturdy construction.
This article will explore why a sofa is the one piece of furniture that sells the most. Keep here for detailed information on this and tips on what to look for when buying your ideal sofa. Let’s dive in.
Why Is the Sofa the Most Purchased Piece of Furniture?
It Is Versatile
As it’s also known, a sofa, couch, or settee is one unique type of furniture you can use for almost anything. You can lounge on your sofa, sit, cuddle up with your pets or loved ones, sleep, or even jump on it. Additionally, you can use your couch to complement your interior decor by matching it with your carpet or curtains.
It Forms the Focal Point of Your Living Room
More often than not, the sofa forms the focal point of your living room. People tend to focus their eyes on your sofa, and if it’s a striking model or sports a particularly interesting design, it will draw their attention even more. Indeed, attractive upholstery, durability, and size are all aspects that make your couch stand out.
The Living Room Is an Often-Used Room
Since the living room is used often for entertaining guests, most homeowners go to great lengths to make it attractive and welcoming. One simple way to do this is to get a beautiful piece of furniture like the sofa set. You also spend most of your waking hours in the living room hence the desire to make it as comfortable as possible by including a sofa for lounging, relaxing, and even working.
What To Look for When Buying a Sofa
When you are looking to buy a sofa, you need to consider or look out for many things before making a purchase. Here are a few tips to guide you:
Go for Quality, Well-Made Furniture
Your relaxation and comfort are paramount and should be taken into careful consideration. As such, choose a well-made, high-quality sofa. You want a sofa that feels solid, heavy and boasts a solid wooden frame. Consider your needs too; what is your specific furniture style?
Whatever seat type you decide on, make sure that your back and pelvis receive maximum support, and your feet rest on the floor while you sit. And don’t allow your head to overstretch when leaning against the sofa.
Choose Long-lasting Furniture
Living room furniture is more likely to wear out much faster than any other furniture in your home. This is mainly because it is used more often. You sit on your couch every day, entertain guests, and kids jump all over them, wearing them down a little faster. As a result, you are likely to replace your living room couch more often.
Cushion construction is key in determining your sofa’s comfort and lifespan. Therefore, for your couch to give you more than five years of usage, you need to look for one with good quality cushioning. Cushions typically wear out and need replacement much faster than the rest of the couch. While removable cushions have replaceable inner cores, it entails looking for an independent upholster to make for you custom replacement cores.
Hence it’s vital to buy the most long-lasting cushions possible from the get-go. You can do this by:
- Picking up the cushions. As a rule, seat cushions that feel light wear out much faster than their heavier counterparts.
- Avoiding thick fiber cushions as the fiber compresses quickly, causing the cushion to lose shape.
- Choosing cushions supported by in-built coil springs over low-density foam cushions.
Also, opt for durable furniture that will withstand daily wear and tear. And don’t just make your choice from a glossy furniture catalog. Your choice needs to be practical, not just beautiful.
Therefore, it is advisable to pay a visit to the furniture store so you can touch, feel, and sit on the settee. Doing so will allow you to get the full experience before purchasing your seat. Again, buy from reputable companies renown for their high-quality furniture.
Make Sure To Buy the Right Size
Ensure to take detailed measurements of your living room before parting with your money. Your couch needs to seamlessly fit within your living room walls; hence it needs to be the right size. The best thing is to sketch the floor plan indicating where to place the sofa.
If your apartment has an unusual floor plan, you need to be extra keen since too much play between furniture wastes space and looks unappealing. Again, a good fit enables you to leave enough room for free movement. Besides, your house will look a lot more spacious with sizable well-designed furniture.
Match the Rest of the Aesthetics
Allow your choice to reflect your style. What are your likes in terms of patterns, colors, and textures, or is mix and match your style more? Whatever the case, a good couch should match the rest of the room in color or blend in well. Try and complement the tone of your room, the decor, and general style. In any case, a sofa that clashes with the rest of your living room will look unattractive and out of place.
If you are redecorating, decide on the look you want for your home. For instance, are you keen on a traditional look, eclectic, casual, or prefer a more contemporary one? Remember, a simple but elegant style is a classic that never goes out of style.
Consider the Cost
High-quality furniture doesn’t come cheap. However, you need to work with your budget. Still, this doesn’t mean buying cheap furniture since it will wear out quickly. It’s also essential to bear in mind that the furniture’s materials determine the sofa’s price; hence, substandard materials produce the cheapest furniture.
Consider Your Lifestyle
Do you have young children or pets? Then perhaps you don’t want to invest in a pricey leather or suede couch since it will suffer much damage from your lively housemates. You also want to avoid delicate materials that stain easily. As such, durability, practicality, ease of cleaning, and being objective about your needs are factors that will play a more significant role here than mere good looks.
Final Thoughts
When buying your sofa, understand your specific needs first, then check out the available products. Visit different stores and compare furniture quality, finish, designs, and pricing before making a commitment. A sofa is an item you’ll often be using, so you want to make sure it’s comfortable, durable, and the most attractive one you can afford.
Follow the tips in this article, and you’ll be sure to select a sofa that will last for years. Ultimately, your choice will depend on your personal preference as you are the best judge of what makes the most suitable couch for your space.
Sources
- Real Homes: How to Choose a Sofa Bed
- Spruce: How to Judge the Quality of a Sofa
- Houzz: Six Tips for Choosing the Perfect Sofa
- Houzz: What to Know Before You Buy a Sectional
- The Most 10: 10 Most Widely Used Furniture Pieces
- Quora:What Do People Look for When Buying Furniture?
- Quora: What Is the Most Commonly Purchased Item of Furniture?
- Quora: How to Choose Best Furniture for Home?
- Urban Company: 5 Stunning Styling Tips For a Living Room With a Statement Sofa
- Universal Explorer Home: 8 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Sofa