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Choosing a new sofa can be really challenging! There are simply so many options out there, and it can be quite overwhelming when it comes to finally deciding on that new sofa for your home. With that in mind, I have asked the sofa experts at Robinson of England, who produce handmade Chesterfield sofas, to share some tips if you’re looking to get a new sofa this spring.
Size
It can be tempting to go for the biggest sofa you can find. Having something you can fully stretch out on is great, but you have to keep in mind the space limitations of the room you’re putting the sofa in. Not only do you want the sofa to look in proportion with the room, but it’s vital for delivery that the sofa can fit into the room. Depending on where you buy your sofa from will impact the delivery options and T&Cs. It’s essential to check before you buy anything that the sofa can be delivered into your home. If it can’t, you may find yourself having to pay extra for another delivery or even having windows or doors removed just to get the sofa in!
Style
Your sofa, as with all your furniture, should be a reflection of your taste and style. It can be very easy when you’re in a showroom to fall in love with a sofa you see and think it will look great in your home. What you need to remember is that the display spaces in a shop have been designed around the sofa to make it look as good as possible. Spending the time to look at a range of options and trying your best to visualise how it will look at home is always important. Often, you’ll be able to take some fabric samples home to see how the colour will work with your walls or other furniture, so it’s worth asking if you can.
Material
Choosing the right material is a big part of choosing a new sofa. Because everyone has different tastes and requirements, the material you choose needs to fit yours. Leather and fabric both have pros and cons, so it’s about taking the time to go and look at sofas in person, if possible, and work out what is right for you. The other key thing to remember, and anyone selling you a sofa should point this out, is that the material may look different on the display sofa to the one that arrives in your living room. There are several reasons for this, but primarily it’s because with leather, in particular, it’s not possible to guarantee one batch of material will look exactly the same as another.
New or vintage
With second hand or vintage furniture becoming increasingly popular there are more options available if this is something you’re interested in. While you can get some great vintage sofas, there are things to look out for and keep in mind. It’s unlikely, depending on the seller, that you’ll get a guarantee for the sofa so if anything breaks you could be left looking for another sofa sooner than you’d hoped. Guarantees are also important to check on new sofas as well. Making sure you know exactly what is covered and what isn’t is important before you buy in case anything goes wrong. This is all information a good salesperson should be giving you.
Budget
As with anything, keeping your budget in mind is really important. It can be easy to quickly lose sight of your budget as you discover more and more sofa options but try and stick to your budget. You don’t want one of the pieces of furniture you use most in your home to become a source of regret that you spend too much money on it. Your sofa should be something you can enjoy for years. Depending on where you’re buying your sofa, there may be finance options available. If this is something you’re open to it could open up a few more options.
Choosing a new sofa should be an exciting time, but it can also be stressful. If you keep the above points in mind, it should make the process easier, and you can end up with a new sofa that you love!