Choosing a Sofa

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Choosing a Sofa

Measuring the route in, frame and filling, fabric durability and delivery

A sofa is bought for a decade and is the single most common piece of furniture that cannot be got into the room. That problem is entirely avoidable.

Measure the route, not just the room

Doorways, hallway turns, stairwells, the landing and any low ceiling. Measure the sofa's diagonal depth, since that is how it goes through a door on its side.

Ask whether the feet come off and whether the back detaches, since modular and knock-down designs solve houses that nothing else fits.

The frame

Kiln-dried hardwood with jointed and glued corners lasts decades. Softwood, stapled joints and particleboard do not. Ask what the frame is and what the guarantee on it is, since that tells you what the maker believes.

Seat filling

Foam holds shape and feels firm. Feather and down are soft and need plumping constantly. A foam core wrapped in feather is the usual compromise and is the most comfortable for most people.

Sprung seats support better than a solid platform under the cushions.

Fabric durability

Upholstery fabric is rated by a rub test — a Martindale figure. Around 20,000 suits general domestic use and 30,000 or more suits heavy use, which includes children and pets.

Check whether covers are removable and washable, and whether spare fabric can be bought for later repairs.

Sitting in it properly

Sit for at least ten minutes in the position you actually use, including lying along it. Check the seat depth against your leg length, since a very deep sofa forces most people to perch or slump.

Buying second-hand

Well-made sofas hold up for decades and the used market is full of them. Check the frame for any movement, the seats for sag, and that the fire safety label is still present, since it is required for resale in the UK.

Reupholstery costs real money and only makes sense on a genuinely good frame.

Living with it

Plump and rotate the cushions weekly, vacuum into the crevices, and keep it out of direct sunlight, which fades upholstery fabric unevenly.

Sofa beds and modular designs

A sofa bed is a compromise at both jobs, and the mattress quality varies enormously — try lying on it rather than assuming. Modular systems go through difficult doorways and can be reconfigured later.

Check how heavy the mechanism is to open and close on your own.

Delivery

Made-to-order upholstery routinely takes eight to twelve weeks. Confirm whether delivery is into the room and whether packaging is taken away.

Check for the fire safety label, which charities require in order to accept it later.

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