What to Look for When Purchasing a Sofa

Cost

• A new sofa can cost between a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Before shopping for a couch, determine your budget. Less expensive couches may not be as sturdy or well crafted as more expensive models. When looking at couches, check for sturdy couch legs and a frame made out of a durable hardwood.

Size of Sofa

• Before shopping, measure the area where the new couch will be placed to determine the ideal size for a new sofa. If you have an old sofa in the area that is the right size, measure that so you have an idea of what works well in that space. Also measure the doorways in your home to ensure that a new sofa can fit through doorways on the way in.

Color

• Determine what color would work best in the room the sofa will be placed in. Some people like to make their couch the focal point of the room. In that case, you may want to choose a bolder color like red or blue while others want the sofa to blend in with the rest of the room. Tans, browns or a black sofa may be the best choice for that situation.

Practicality

• Examine your lifestyle and the makeup of your household when choosing a sofa. For example, leather sofas are attractive, but for families with young children or pets, leather may be too easily scuffed and difficult to clean to make sense. By the same token, parents may like couches that have pillows that detach better than those that don't as these will be easier to clean in case of spills or mess. If you do have young children or animals, get fabric protection put on whatever sofa you buy. Although it adds to the cost, it will also give you peace of mind.

Personal Needs and Preferences

• A wide variety of options are available for sofas. For example, some sofas open up to pull-out beds. Others feature recliners at the ends of the couch or have built-in trays to hold drinks or snacks. Consider what features would be the most useful for members of your family.