Cindy Aplanalp.... By Design Interiors

How to Buy a Sofa

Without a doubt, it’s way better to ‘Own Your Stuff, than for Your Stuff Own You.’ You’re probably wondering what I’m talking about; of course you own your stuff, you bought it. But what I’ve learned and what I design by is that something should be just as functional as it is beautiful.

Here's my mohair sofa.....Beautiful? Yes!  Comfortable? Not so much.

For example, what good is a sofa no one likes to sit on? I personally own such a sofa. Oh it’s beautiful alright- dark green mohair, loads of beaded pillows from across the globe, wood frame, nail head detailing, and of course, pricey. But it’s uncomfortable. The mass of pillows is in constant need of fluffing and the mohair is itchy.

I learned a very expensive and good lesson that has well served my clients with this particular piece of furniture-
If you don’t enjoy sitting on the sofa, no matter how good it looks- DON’T BUY IT. No one else will like sitting on it either.

After experiencing this for myself, I have created some tips for choosing the perfect sofa.

Things to consider when buying a sofa.

1. The size. Sofas always look smaller in a show room. That’s why I do a scaled floor plan and to show how furniture will fit in a room. Taking the time to take measurements of the space and the furnishings in it will help you choose the perfect sofa size.

2. The type of fabric. Who is going to sit on this sofa? Kids? Dog, Dogs? Husband? How’s it gonna hold up? Fabric has come a long way and now there are fabrics that can literally be washed with 409! Commercial grade fabrics for high wear items now have the luxe of residential fabrics.

Look for the cleanablity codes and a rub test with a high number. Wyzenbeck is a standard test; the higher the rubs, the more wear you'll enjoy. A good minimum for a sofa is 40,000 double rubs. That means you can rub a piece of fabric 40,000 times before it begins to show wear.

3. Comfort. Don’t be afraid to test out your sofa. Head to a showroom to sit, lay, bounce, roll on a sofa. If a sofa is going to be used on a daily basis, it not only has to be durable but comfortable.   Every year I head to High Point and Dallas Market to test out sofas.  I sit, lay, kneel, and bounce of hundreds of different sofas so that I can point clients in the perfect direction.

4. How it looks. On top of all of the other considerations, we would all like our sofas to look good. For most people, the sofa is one of the largest items in a room and therefore, a focal point. It can set the tone of the room and compliment the style of all the other furnishings. It can have a big bang, or it can be neutral and spiced up with a throw and pillows.