Eight Questions to Ask Before Buying a Sofa

The sofa is one of the most essential pieces of furniture that a homeowner is likely to purchase. It is often the focal point of most living rooms, and its style will greatly influence how the rest of the room's aesthetic is designed. It will usually be the central hub for entertainment while also serving as a source of comfort and relaxation.

If you are a new homeowner or do not have experience purchasing a sofa, it can be a little challenging to know exactly what you should be looking for and what you should consider when choosing the right one for you. Do you want a traditional or recliner sofa? Should you invest in a modular sofa? How will you get it into the living room?

A new sofa is generally an expensive commitment, so it is vital that you have a firm understanding of what you need to know before purchasing. That is why we've put together this list of eight questions you should ask yourself as you progress through the buying process.

You should first establish precisely what you will be working with regarding sofa size and dimensions. The last thing you want is to secure your dream sofa, only to find later that there is no possible way of getting it into your living room.

You will need to memorize the dimensions of the most suitable entry points within your living space and be aware of any immovable fixtures that might cause an issue when transporting your sofa. Once you have established the maximum scope of your living space, you will know how large your sofa could be.

Keep in mind that many furniture factories may be able to build for custom dimensions. If space is tight, you could always opt for a sectional sofa style, such as our Hollywood Medium sectional sofa, as these can be assembled once each module is safely in your living room.

As mentioned, a traditional sofa will serve many purposes, though, for most people, some are higher priority than others. It could be used as seating for formal entertainment nights or rowdy evenings with close friends. It could be used as a makeshift sleeping area. You might even be happy for it to be used as a fort for your young children.

Take stock of your circumstances and decide which purpose most closely fits your lifestyle. For example, if you have young children, you may not want to explore very high-end sofas with expensive back and seat cushions. If your sofa will need to accommodate elderly relatives, you may require something sturdy or a piece that will sit upright.

As with almost everything, it is very easy to purchase sofas via online specialists, with practically all major furniture stores now having the option to buy their products online.

There are many advantages to this. It removes the need for laborious trudging throughout unwieldy furniture stores. You can take as much time as you want to explore all your options without feeling pressured by those around you who also want to take a look.

However, a benefit to in-person stores is that you can see the objects you will be purchasing. You will have the option to physically measure for dimensions and even go through the awkward testing of the product to see how it feels.

Ultimately, both methods have their advantages. As long as you are purchasing from a reputable store, you can generally rely on the products being high-quality and as they appear on the website, as well as the critical information being accurate.

While you may be successful in finding the ideal sofa in terms of its appearance, you will want to be sure that it has been built to a high-quality standard using the most effective materials.

When it comes to the sofa's structure, you will want a solid hardwood frame for maximum strength and resistance. Authentic memory foam ensures durability, so this might be another feature that you can inquire about.

Never be afraid to ask for further details on a sofa's design. It is best to be too knowledgeable about a sofa rather than uninformed.

Cushions are another key component of a sofa and should be given due attention. Foam-filled seat cushions and back cushions are likely to last a long time but can make the sofa feel slightly more rigid than if the sofa was assembled with feather-down cushions. Leather upholstered sofas with leather cushions provide further durability, though they are generally more expensive.

This is a consideration often overlooked when choosing your ideal sofa, as the answer can differ depending on your chosen materials.

As a general rule, most standard upholstery can be cleaned with water and a cloth and will not leave a visible mark. However, it should be clearly stated whether some components of the sofa require a solvent instead or if they should not come into content with either water or solvents. For these instances, a vacuum is all that will be required.

You are going to want your sofa to fit in with the general aesthetic of your living room. If neutral tones and simplicity dominate your home, then bold colors and complex patterns for your cushions may look out of place.

If you find a quality sofa that fits your dimensions and appears to have everything you want but is shown in an unsuitable color or finish, then inquire as to whether it can be manufactured to fit your personal preferences.

While you will undoubtedly do everything you can to keep your sofa in top condition, accidents can happen. If something unexpected happens, you will want to know the warranty period for your chosen sofa.

Each manufacturer or designer will likely have its own standards when detailing what is valid within the warranty period.

Securing your ideal sofa can be frustrating, particularly if you are not well-practiced in what to look out for. Most reputable furniture companies and manufacturers will offer detailed information on the features of the sofa and will provide you with the vital information you need to know.

However, it is still prudent to conduct your own due diligence to guarantee all angles are covered and to ensure that you do not find yourself in a tricky position if something was to end up not matching your expectations.

At Viesso, we have been selling high-quality sofas since our founding in 2005 and have accumulated vast experience in matching our customers with their ideal pieces. Each sofa we curate has been created with renewable materials, and our partners each share in our vision of manufacturing furniture using sustainable, eco-friendly practices.

If you would like guidance on which of our sofas could be right for you, or if you have any other questions or queries, do not hesitate to contact us. You could also check out our beginner's guide on how to ensure your sofa and curtain designs match.