Sofa Buying Guide
Congratulations! You’ve taken the first step and decided to put your old sofa out to pasture. Now you can welcome a new sofa into your home and enjoy many years of happiness together.
As you’re likely to be living with your new sofa for some time, it’s important to choose a sofa with the right seating arrangement for your household and room size. You’ll also need to match the colour, style and fabric of the sofa with your décor.
Luckily, the Furniture Choice experts are here to help, with our step-by-step buyers’ guide for sofas.
Our step-by-step guide
Seating plan
Work out which sofa combination will work best for your household. Young children might be happy sharing a sofa but teenagers are renowned for wanting their own space, so a couple of two-seater sofas or additional armchairs could be the best option. A three-seater sofa gives space to stretch out and a modular or corner sofa is a flexible option to make the best use of your available space. If you regularly have guests, consider a sofa bed; and for the ultimate in relaxation, treat yourself to a recliner sofa or armchair.
The perfect fit
Before you buy, measure the area and check that your new sofa will fit. Don’t forget to measure door frames, bearing in mind the door may have restricted opening, and hallway corridors, especially if your new sofa needs manoeuvring round a bend. If in doubt, check with our sales team to avoid disappointment on delivery day.
Are you sitting comfortably?
Over time, sofa cushion fillings tend to lose their bounce, so think about comfort levels when choosing your new sofa. Foam or fibre-filled sofa cushions are great to sink into but will need plumping up regularly, whereas pocket-sprung cushions will retain their shape and offer a good level of support.
True colours
Sofas are the focal point of a living room and colour is important. Will your new sofa go with your current décor or is this an opportunity to freshen up the paintwork? A sofa can provide the accent colour to complement your chosen colour scheme or make a bold statement: for example, a crimson leather sofa in a contemporary setting.
Practicality
If you have young children (or a messy partner!), leather sofas are both hardwearing and easy to wipe clean. If you decide on a fabric sofa, make sure it has detachable, machine-washable covers.
We’re here to help
Our expert advisors are always happy to help you find the best sofa to suit your needs. After all, if our customers are happy then we’re happy.
Our Frequently Asked Questions should cover most issues, but if there’s anything else you’d like to know, our helpful team is on hand to advise. Call free on 0800 035 0070, Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat & Sun 10am-4pm.
FAQs
Q. What is bonded leather?
Bonded leather is an affordable way to enjoy the luxury of a leather sofa. Leather fibres are bonded with latex to a polyurethane top coat, making your sofa both durable and easy to clean.
Q. I like to lie down on my sofa, which one would you recommend?
A three-seater sofa will give you plenty of space to stretch out, as will an L-shaped corner unit or module sofa. Another good alternative would be a recliner sofa, which offers a range of seated and reclining positions.
Q. I have kids – which sofas are hardwearing and easy to clean?
Leather sofas are durable and easy to clean, just make sure you use the correct leather cleaning products. If you are looking at fabric sofas, choose one with detachable, machine-washable covers.
Q. Can I have this sofa, but in a different size?
Many of our suites come both as two-seater sofas or three-seater sofas (with either three or two large cushions). We also offer matching armchairs and footstools. If you can’t see the size you’re looking for, contact our sales team on 0800 035 0070 and they’ll be happy to help.
Q. Do you have sofas with a tall back I can rest my head on?
A recliner sofa is probably your best bet as they are designed to support your whole body from seated to lying down.
Q. Will your sofa fit in my house?
When choosing your sofa it’s important to measure not only the space it’s going into but also the doorways and corridors it has to fit through and the height of your hallway if the sofa needs to be upended. Don’t forget awkward bends too. Any concerns, call our team for advice.
Q. I have a rental property, which sofa would you recommend?
One option would be to go for a bonded leather sofa, which is affordable and easy for your tenants to keep in good condition. If you are looking longer term, you may want to invest in a leather sofa with pocket-sprung seats. A fabric sofa should be in a dark colour with detachable, machine-washable covers.
Q. What guarantees do you give?
All our sofas come with a manufacturer’s guarantee of at least a year. On top of this, we offer a variety of five-year Staingard warranties for different sofas and armchairs.
Q. How much do you charge for delivery and how long does it take?
Delivery is free to most of the UK. Many items are kept in stock at our warehouse, which means that you can be enjoying your new sofa 7-10 days after ordering, just choose your preferred delivery date at checkout. For a small fee you can plump for our Premium Delivery Service, which offers more flexibility on delivery times and an additional unpacking service. If you live close to our warehouse (we are based in Mirfield, West Yorkshire), you are welcome to visit our showrooms and collect your furniture during our working hours.
Remember, any further questions you have can be answered by our friendly team: call free on 0800 035 0070.