Picking The Right Sofa

Shopping for new furniture, especially a new sofa, is exciting. It’s a hunt for the perfect piece that will bring the look of your room together while also giving you a comfortable place to lounge and relax. Sometimes this hunt can feel a bit overwhelming, but if you approach it with the right steps, you’ll be sure to catch the right one. Read on for our guide on how to pick the right sofa!

Step 1: Measure 7 times, order once

You’ve heard the saying “measure twice, cut once.” When it comes to sofa shopping, you’ll want to measure multiple times — and I’m not just talking about the room where your sofa will live. You should measure every area in your house the sofa will pass through to get to its final spot. The most common mistake we see is when shoppers pick their big, beautiful sofa, but can’t get them down the stairs to the basement! (Don’t laugh, this is the biggest issue we have with delivery). So, get that measure tape and notebook out, then measure everything.

Step 2: Pick the right cushion!

There are a lot of options when it comes to what inside your sofa, and each one has its own unique pros and cons. You’ll have to channel your inner Goldilocks for this step.

Feather fill is the softest option. You’ll find it gives a more “casual” vibe, though it does need regular maintenance (aka fluffing) to stay, well, fluffy.

Soft foam gives you that feeling of “sinking in” to your sofa. It’s great for media rooms and anywhere you’ll be relaxing for a long period of time. The only downside is that it’s hard to get out of! (Though it’s so comfortable, why would you want to get up?)

Medium foam is comfortable enough to relax on for a long time, while still retaining its shape (unlike soft foam). In fact, this is our most popular option!

Firm foam works best in rooms with a more formal purpose — so it’s not for relaxing, but rather situations where you need to sit up and stay awake. This option is primarily used in commercial settings like waiting rooms and sitting rooms where you’ll be "perching" rather than relaxing.

Step 3: Pick the right fabric

Your sofa’s upholstery determines both the tactile experience — how it feels on your skin when you’re curled up — and the visual impact it makes on your space. In fact, most upholstery fabric options come in multiple colours and patterns — so you can layer those patterns in if you want to make a statement!

Linen and linen blends give a casual, relaxed look. High performance or treated fabrics are great for high-use spaces, like dens and living rooms. It’s sturdy enough to withstand all the wear and tear that comes with daily use by you, your family and your pets, if you have them.

If you're not sure which fabric to choose, my advise is to go with a tonal, neutral colour in a performance fabric.  Something that looks like a linen/cotton but with the durability of a performance weave.  You can't go wrong!

Step 4: Find the right shape

Lots of sofa shoppers start with this step, but as you can see, we put it last. That’s because the shape of the sofa is, in our opinion, the least important part of the process in terms of quality.  Sure, you’ll want the shape that works best with your space and fits your needs, but the comfort (cushions) and durability (fabric) rank a lot higher on our priority list when it comes to loving your sofa long-term.

So, shape is a last step in our sofa selection process. Here are some classic sofa shapes — these work in every space, from Traditional to Modern and everything in between!

A: Plinth Sofa
The plinth sofa is a great choice for any design aesthetic, it is a simple and timeless style.

If you like the plinth style check out the Rubin or the Soren 

B: Mid-Century 
Although this style is commonly thought of as the mid-century modern style sofa, we think this style could easily fit into any design style!

If you like this style check out the Hutton or Kinsley

C. Curved or Rolled Arm Sofa
Both the Curved and Rolled arm sofa add a softness to any space.  

If you love this style check out the Stirling or Haze

Put this guide into action!

Now that you know how to pick the right sofa, come visit us to put these steps in action! Or you can contact us and we’ll help you go through the process online.