How Do I Choose a Sofa for My Living Room? (A Champion’s Guide)

When choosing a sofa for your living room, you need to consider its size, usage, color, material, style, cushions, and upholstery.

Imagine splurging thousands of dollars on a hot pink designer sofa only to find out it doesn’t go with your living room. It must have looked great in the showroom but does not quite live up to your expectations when you bring it home. The shame!

Whether you are moving into a new home or simply revamping your space, learning how to choose a sofa for your living room saves your time and money. The art is not as simple as it sounds and requires careful judgment.

So, to help you with the process, I have crafted this article to show you the several aspects of sofa shopping you might be missing. So keep reading!

Things to consider before buying a sofa for your living room

Ask yourself these questions before buying a sofa for your living room:

1. How much space does my living room have?

The size and bulk of your sofa largely depend on the amount of space you have. 

If your living room is vast and open, you can choose a massive sofa with a large headboard and chunky armrests. For instance, I’ve found the Cabot sofa by Gus pretty up to mark in spacious living rooms. 

On the other hand, cozy spaces pair well with sleek furniture with petite legs and minimal padding. The Rebecca Wire Sled Two Seater sofa by sohoConcept is perfect for such settings. It will occupy less space to leave room for other furnishing and accessories and give your room an open and modern look.

2. What materials suit me best?

Sofas come in all kinds of materials – from sleek leather to plush velvet upholstery. You can select the material that suits you best.

The material selection depends on three factors:

Use

Ask yourself this: what kind of use do I have for my sofa? Do I plan to be a couch potato and spend hours watching television? Or do I use my sofa sporadically only when I have guests over?

If you intend on using your sofa frequently, I suggest you go for heavy-duty cotton or linen as they are the most durable. However, if you are looking for a rather polished look, leather sofas look divine.

Ease of cleaning

Another important consideration while choosing the suitable upholstery material for your sofa is if it cleans easily. Velvet or other fabric-based materials can trap pet hair, and you cannot just wipe them clean. If you have pets or kids, a washable material like rexine, microfiber, or leather is your best bet.

3. How comfortable do I want my sofa to be?

The level of comfort you desire in a sofa again depends on how you intend to use it. 

If you often crash in your living room, how about investing in a sofa bed? Take a look at this Innovation Frode Dark Styletto Sofa Bed. It has upholstered arms and is incredibly comfortable and more spacious than a regular sofa.

On the other hand, if your sofa won’t be seeing much traffic, you could prioritize looks over comfort. For instance, Cane Line’s Nest 3-Seater rattan sofa looks surreal and compliments a vintage or nautical look but is not necessarily the most comfortable to spend the entire night in.

4. What kind of cushions do I want?

Depending on their size, depth, and filling, you can choose the kind of cushions.

Cushions can come in-built or are an essential accessory to your sofa. While choosing a couch, look into the following cushion characteristics:

Cushion depth

If your sofa is too deep, you cannot rest your back without your legs dangling in the air. You will be either too awkward to sit because of your legs or will soon have a sore back because of no support.

Always take into account the depth of the sofa. You can either choose one that has an appropriate measurement or add to your sofas’ back support with extra cushions.

Cushion inserts

What’s inside your cushions is quite essential. Feather inserts are plush and extra soft. But you will regularly need to fluff them up to maintain their shape.

On the contrary, foam cushions are more rigid but provide better support and last longer.

If you want the best of both worlds, a foam-feather variety is also available. These cushions have a foam core for support and an outer layer of duck feathers for softness.

5. What is my living room’s decor theme?

Figuring out the theme of the rest of your living room determines the style of sofa you put in it.

You’d naturally want to match the sofa with your interior design layout. If the rest of your room portrays a Scandinavian theme, a similar nordic sofa will look best.

Look at what’s already in the room. What kind is your living room rug? The art pieces hanging above the sofa, any media console, or center table determine your sofa’s style.

Sharp and straight lines of armrests are signature Scandinavian style sofas. For a modern look, opt for a sleek sofa with thin legs. Oversized sofas with wooden accents pair with rustic and vintage themes, while bright colors and bold patterns are best for eclectic settings.

6. What is the color palette of your room?

Consider a sofa’s accents and the color of cushions or its framework. You can use these details to maintain your desired color combination in the room.

Complimenting your room's color palette is vital in choosing the right sofa.

If you are yet to decide on your living room’s color theme, Vogue declared brown the best color for interiors in 2022. Here’s a handsome-looking brown sofa to brighten up your living room.

Tips for choosing the right sofa for your living room

Now, before you rush to buy the best sofa for your living room, keep in mind these handy tips and tricks:

1. Measure your room

Always note down the dimensions of your room before buying furniture for it. Measure the length and height of the walls. Also, look for any obstacles that could come in your sofa’s way, an exposed beam, for instance.

You can even make a 3D room plan using several interior designing apps online. Enter your room’s details, and they will give you a 3D projection. Now, you can virtually put any size of sofa in it to see how it looks.

2. Get the sofa first

If you are redecorating your living room, I suggest buying the sofa first and the complimenting accessories next. Since the couch is usually the most significant piece of furniture in a living room, building a theme is easier.

You can buy cushions, throws, and rugs afterward to complete the whole look.

3. Decide on its orientation

Before buying the right sofa, decide where you want to place one. If it needs to face your television, how about you go for a comfy couch plus a couple of single-seaters to make room for a family movie night.

If you often host your friends for drinks, consider getting an L-shaped sofa and two or three single-seaters or ottomans arranged in a circle.

4. Consider reupholstery

Reupholstery is an excellent way to repurpose your old sofa into entirely new furniture. When buying a couch for the first time, make sure it can be easily reupholstered whenever you are bored of the old one.

5. Accessorize

There are several ways you can turn your plain gray sofa into an eye-catching decor setting. All you need is the right accessories.

Look for cheerful sofa throws, rugs, and cushions to break the monotony. Also, an accent chair, complimenting side tables, funky ottomans, or a coffee table can bring the best out of your living room.

Don’t forget to add panache using indoor plants beside the main sofa, hang a few paintings above its headboard, and place a stylish vase on the center table.

6. Get a professional’s help

Shopping for the right sofa and the accessories for it might be daunting. There’s a lot of thinking that goes into the process. 

If you feel you are not quite up to the task or are preoccupied with other essential things in life, I recommend getting help from an interior designer to set the course straight for you.

Designers are excellent at making these tough choices, creating the best-looking space while keeping functionality in mind. They might even save a few of your bucks by getting you a professional’s discount or using their PR to connect you with the best retailers.

Conclusion

The sofa is the most crucial piece of furniture in your living room. Picking the right one can be challenging if you don’t know what to look for. Consider its size, design, color, material, use, and cleaning.

A wrong decision could ruin the entire mood of your space. Using my tips, picking the perfect one may not be such an uphill task. 

So what are you waiting for? Visit Viesso’s sofa collection to shop for an incredible sofa for your living room!