Size is probably the most important consideration when buying a new sofa, and its probably the first thing you think about: are you limited to a two- or three-seater, or do you have the space for a four-seater? Of course there are options to add footstools, corner pieces and extra seats too, to increase the amount of seating available to your family and guests, although of course you need to be careful to make sure that the amount of furniture doesn't end up being too imposing on the available space.
The next thing to cross your mind is probably colour. As the focal point of the room, the colour of your sofa will greatly influence the rest of the space and impact its surroundings. Of course, the colour must complement and reflect window dressings, floorings and wall colourings, but you can also think about bold colours and patterns to liven up the room.
Everybody has a different reason for the acquisition of a sofa, whether as a design feature, accessory or for purely practical reasons to seat guests and families, and as such the next most important decision to be made is probably the material that your sofa will be covered in. The fabric should reflect and complement our personal lifestyles, and ultimately our reason for purchase.
If it was obtained as a design feature, it will more likely be displayed rather than used on a regular basis and therefore the choice of fabrics will be more open to you, such as suedes, silky cotton velvets, brushed linen cotton or Belgian linen. Just take extra care in cleaning and make sure that your sofa is well positioned so these softer materials don't suffer from continued exposure to natural light as their colours or patterns may start to fade. The regular usage of a family with small children may find heavy durable top grain leathers or washable covers a much better option as any spills can be wiped or washed off. However, as tough and long-lasting as these leathers are, if you also have animals, leathers will ultimately succumb their good looks to scratches.
Sofas for larger groups of people, such as in shared housing for students, would benefit from hardwearing materials such as corduroy. Resilient and durable, it will give your sofa longevity and mean it keeps fresher looking for longer. However, if your sofa is just for you and your partner snuggling in front of the tv there is a lot more choice, as fabric sofas tend to come in a much larger range of colours and textures which means you can grab the swatches and get creative. You could choose the soft micro-fibres of Chenille or broad weave linens, or a good low-maintenance alternative is soft semi-aniline leathers.
You can use the choice of material for your sofa to reflect a particular style or atmosphere you wish to creature in your living room, whether it be suede or corduroy for a retro feel, vintage leather for a classic look, high gloss bi-cast leather for the more contemporary among us or even floral chintz, velvets or tapestries for a really traditional look - although these are usually only available now on custom-made sofas.
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Experiment for yourself with different fabrics for your sofa.
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