The sofa forms, together with the television, one of the best couples in the house. In it will be, whenever the tasks allow us, where we will spend countless hours.

In it, we will watch a movie, a soccer game, or our favorite series. In it, we will chat with friends, enjoy a little nap, or even eat. That is why, if we have to make a mistake when buying a piece of furniture, it should not be on the sofa.

First of all, our taste will be the starting point to decide on one sofa or another, but so will our uses and customs, the space available, the number of family members.

1- Manufacturers have several color charts and types of upholstery

When going to a store, the first thing we should do is try all the models they have, and thus select several and then discard.

Most models exist in various sizes and many are modular, which will allow us to assemble the sofa in the way we want, as well as to upholster it to our liking since most manufacturers have several color charts and types of upholstery. . It does not necessarily have to be as they have it in the store.

2- For the sofa to be comfortable, the backrest should support our kidneys

When testing a sofa what we have to check is the sitting; that is to say that it seems comfortable to us, as well as that it takes our entire back and head, and that our feet touch the ground.

The recommended seat depth is between 65 and 75 cm. It is important, also, that the backrest supports the kidneys.

3- A durable sofa should have a solid frame, a firm base, and quality padding

The fundamental key to a sofa that is durable and comfortable lies in a solid frame, a firm base, and quality padding. Most of the frames are made of wood, everything, and that the most resistant are the metallic ones.

The ideal base is a mix of steel springs and crossed elastic straps at the base of the seat. The most recommended padding is rigid for the seat (high-density foam with a top and bottom layer of goose down) and firm but soft for the backrest (goose or goose down).

4- The star sofa is the one with a chaise longue

In terms of shapes and distribution, there are different types of sofas. The current star sofa is the one with a chaise lounge. Due to the fact that the spaces often do not allow the main sofa to be accompanied by another sofa or an armchair, we opt for sofas with chaise longues, which at any given time allow two or more people to lie down, and in the case that we have visited at home, we can make the function of corner sofa and accommodate several people.

It is, without a doubt, the most advisable not to load space. It also serves in many cases, to separate spaces, and thus delimits the living area and the dining area. Some sofas of this type are built from a straight sofa, to which an independent pouf is incorporated, which allows it to be moved and thus have the chaise longue both on the left and on the right.

5- If you have space, the corner sofa is highly recommended

Another type of sofa, a bit more classic but highly recommended if you have space, is the corner sofa.Especially if the number of family members is high. Today, most manufacturers have modular models that allow mounting a corner sofa adapted to the measurements of our space.

One of the most used options, whenever space permits, is the 3 + 2, that is, a straight 3-seater sofa plus a straight 2-seater sofa, assembled in an L shape. Same as the corner, but in this, In case we lose the space between the two sofas. Many times this space between sofas is used to put a side table, a lamp, a magazine rack. One option that is growing strongly is sofa beds.

These pieces allow us, at the same time that we have a sofa, to have an extra room always ready for last-minute visits. These pieces, nowadays, are highly evolved and have high comfort thanks to the spring and memory foam mattresses they incorporate. There are also some models of sofa beds that incorporate a chaise longue.

6- Removable seats and reclining backrests are the most demanded features

Regardless of the type of sofa, there are features and details that can be applied to most models. Among the most demanded features are the removable seats, which can be both manual and electric, and that in some models are removed so much that it is almost possible to mount a bed.

The ideal complement to the removable seats is the reclining backrests, which are very useful when the sofa is in the center of the room and we want the sofa not to be a visual obstruction. Another option that some manufacturers of sofas offer is the elevating chests under the seats, especially under the chaise longue, which allows us to store a cushion or a blanket at any given moment.

7- If the sofa is made of fabric, it must be removable

In terms of materials, the most used have always been fabrics. There are both plain and with prints. The most used are the smooth ones, and mainly in neutral colors such as black, grays, stones, and browns.

We must always give color or patterned details to cushions, rugs, or some small armchair so that we do not get tired and in the event that it does, it can be replaced without a large outlay. The fabrics must be of quality and must allow us to wash them in the washing machine easily, which means that if the sofa is made of fabric, we must buy it removable.

It should be noted that recently outdoor fabrics have been introduced to upholster indoor sofas, which provides new textures and materials that are highly resistant to both wear and tear and sun wear. It is, without a doubt, a novelty to consider.

8- The fashionable upholstery in sofas is leather

In any case, the fashionable material in the upholstery of sofas is leather. Leather sofas should also be in neutral colors and with leather with a minimum of quality. In a leather sofa, we must look for quality above all in the thickness and in the stitching of the leather.

The skin should be a bit stiff to withstand wear and tear. Leather sofas provide elegance and quality, that is why it is preferable to put a good fabric before a low-quality leather. As long as the economy does not allow us to buy a leather sofa, we can buy both regenerated leather and synthetic leather, which are always cheaper, but also with a minimum of quality. Regarding leathers, there are those that are so similar to skin that they are difficult to distinguish even by professionals.

Whatever type of sofa it is, and whatever material it is, we must take advantage of the fact that we have high-quality national manufacturers and thus demand their products.

Harper Harrison

Harper Harrison is a reporter for The Hear UP. Harper got an internship at the NPR and worked as a reporter and producer. harper has also worked as a reporter for the Medium. Harper covers health and science for The Hear UP.