A Guide to Choosing the Right Sofa

For many homes up and down the country, the sofa becomes the centrepiece of family life at home and a gateway to relaxation. Whether you’re snuggled up on a cold winter’s day, unwinding at the end of a working day in front of the TV, or enjoying a casual catch up with friends and loved ones in the comfort of your home, the sofa is there for it all.

Since we spend a lot of time sitting on the sofa, it’s important to choose one that will suit your style and offer you the right amount of comfort each time you sit down. To help you on your search for the perfect sofa, we’ve shared our advice and considerations so you can find the right one at Andersons of Inverurie…
 

Size and type

It may seem obvious, but before you get carried away with colours and designs, the first consideration you need to make when finding a new sofa is how big you need it to be.

The size and layout of your room will dictate how large your new sofa can be, so take measurements of your space and keep that in mind when deciding on the type of sofa you want. Remember, you don’t want the sofa to completely dominate the room and leave little room for anything else, but you also don’t want it to be too small to tie every element of your space together either.

Another factor that the size of your sofa will depend on is your lifestyle and how you plan on using this piece of furniture. If you have a large family or often have guests over, then a corner group can be a great choice, otherwise a more modest 2 seater and armchair might be a better option.

Material  

Once you’ve decided on the size of your sofa, you want to choose a material that will suit not just your taste, but also your lifestyle. For example, a leather sofa is great for easily wiping up spills made by the little ones, but not if you have a pet who could leave scratch marks. Bear in mind who will be using your sofa and choose a fabric accordingly.

When you consider the material of your new sofa, think about what sort of look you want to achieve in the room overall. Upholstery fabrics such as chenille, linen or velvet are great for a minimal yet inviting look and pair well with most interior aesthetics. Leather sofas can create an elegant and timeless statement, while velvet finishes can be a real showstopper if you’re hoping to create a luxurious look.

Don’t forget: You can visit us in-store at Andersons of Inverurie to take a closer look at our brands’ fabric swatches, with samples available so you can see how it compares to your existing furniture and decor.

Style

With so many styles and models to choose from, it’s understandable if you feel spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing your new sofa. These are just a few key styles to help you narrow down your search:

• Traditional sofas - Think elegant scroll arms, high backs, curved legs and wingback chairs. These are great for a classic interior, or if you want to pair it with modern decor.
• Mid-century sofas - This iconic style features simple designs, tapered legs and a minimal aesthetic - ideal for a contemporary, Scandi interior.
• Modern sofas - With straight lines, eye-catching shapes and sculptural legs, modern sofas are ideas for making an artistic statement in your home.

Top tip: Trends will come and go, so it’s important to choose a style and colour based on your preferences, not what’s popular at the time.

Colour 

The sofa is the centrepiece of any lounge or living room, with your eyes immediately drawn to it as soon as you enter the room, so it’s important to choose the right colour as well as the size, fabric and style.

Decide whether you want your sofa to be the star of the show with an accent colour, or a more muted neutral that blends more seamlessly with the rest of the room, then, consider whether a neutral or dark sofa will complement your room better. The colour of your floor will have a big impact on this decision - a dark sofa on a dark floor will make your space quite bland unless you’re placing it on top of a lighter coloured rug, for example.

A light sofa, on the other hand, could look a little washed out in a light space, and it will be more vulnerable to staining and wear, so think about whether this will be best suited for your lifestyle.

The finishing touches

Of course, your seating area doesn’t stop with just the sofa - there are plenty of additions you can bring to the space in making it cosy, comfortable and stylish! A set of upholstered accent chairs or a footstool can offer an extra couple of seating options and give you the opportunity to play with colour or pattern if you haven’t felt brave enough to do this with the sofa!

Scatter cushions and throw blankets are also great for adding little pops of colour and making your sofa look even more inviting. They also work well to coordinate your sofa with the rest of your decor - for example, if you’ve chosen a dark coloured sofa to contrast with light walls and flooring, a combination of pale and mid-tone cushions will help to bring each element of the space together.

Ready to find your brand new sofa? Browse our website or pop into our store to discover a huge range of from leading furniture brands such as Alexander James sofas…

https://andersonsofinverurie.co.uk/pages/sofa-ranges