Before choosing and buying a new sofa, several criteria must be taken into account. From structure to coating, including cushion moss and springs, here is a small checklist of everything you need to check when choosing a beautiful sofa and selections of the most beautiful comfortable seats.
First criterion of choice: size. It would be a shame to end up with a sofa that does not go to your lounge area … So ask yourself the right questions:
- What place do you have in your living room For your sofa? Make your measurement carefully and compare them to the sofa of your dreams in store. In store, well -highlighted in space, furniture tends to appear less large than in reality.
- How many places Do you want him to have: two, three or six?
- Finally, think of the form: wish you a corner sofa or a straight sofa ?
- Tip: Remember to check that your sofa passes the door of your accommodation, and manages to turn on the stairs or enter the elevator if you plan to put it upstairs! It’s stupid, but we saw sofas staying stranded on the ground floor without hope to go to their owner one day …
Second criterion of choice: the use you will make of your sofa. Again, ask yourself about your lifestyle and your desires …
- Will you need additional sleeping? In this case, think about taking a convertible sofa, In one way or another, in bed.
- Do you have young children or animals? Remember that the furniture wears out much faster in this case, and be careful to choose resistant, durable and anticache materials accordingly.
- Also think about space gain: Some sofas have armrests that can be used as storage for beanbags on casters. Corner sofas can also have a meridian that turns into a trunk to store, for example, plaids, sheets or pillows.
Define the budget that you are ready to spend on your sofa well, and relate to the quality, lifespan and comfort you demand:
- Know that for some very beautiful modelswe can hardly hope to descend below 1,500 euros, or even more; And be aware that a “good deal” is not necessarily one if the sofa, five years later, is good for the sidewalk.
- The first prices of a click-click Start at 300 euros.
- THE Convertible sofa beds cost 1,400 euros for entry levels.
Of course, The price will also depend on the coating:
- A fabric sofa will oscillate between 600 and 1,000 euros,
- for leatherit takes a minimum of 2,000 euros.
Leather, fabric or synthetic sofa? Dilemma. Each coating has its advantages and disadvantages, and the choice is as guided by the aesthetic as well as practical. For aesthetics, everyone will have their preferences; On the practical side, this is what you need to know.
- Cotton has the advantage of not being expensive. In addition, it does not attract dust. On the other hand, offer him an antic Whole treatment (Scotchgard or Teflon). It can sometimes be mixed with wool for a warm appearance.
- Leather, well treated, is still what ages besttaking a nice patina. The most beautiful quality: the full flower. On the leather are applied different finishing, to choose according to the degree of resistance and the desired style: aniline, pigmented, printed … Its disadvantages: its price, and its fragility to certain kinds of aggressions such as the claws of our four -legged friends. Finally, don’t forget to feed it regularly. Alternative: the imitation leather which, thanks to technological progress, escapes the “cheap” spirit. It is easier to maintain.
- Velvet, very soft And with its wide range of colors, wins the heart of the public thanks to its noble and cozy spirit. Special mention for the iconic Togo sofa.
- THE nubuck And the suede, extremely resistance since a stain is pumped with sandpaper, are a little less expensive than velvet and much appreciated for their vintage-chic appearance.
- Finally, the synthetic fabrics are the kings of the market in recent years. Less easily stained and more resistant, they are sometimes softer, with a “peach skin” touch like the Alcantara. Check if the microfiber that caught your attention washes in the machine.
Whatever the coating, The ideal is of course the removable sofawhich allows you to remove the coating to clean it apart, or even change it entirely if it is too worn or simply if you want to vary the decor.
Before taking out your wallet, take a quick tour of the following points:
- THE structures The most resistant are plywood or beech. The crosspieces must also be in woodnot only stapled but also glued for more solidity.
- As for the suspensionknow that the springs, and in particular those called “no-sags”, are better elasticity than the straps. If however you opt for the latter (cheaper), prefer them very long (they must descend as low as possible) and intertwined.
- Side cushionsFinally, “High resilience” foam (HR) is recommended as the most comfortable. Check its density, which must be around 30 kg/m3. The light and resistant Bull-Tex also has its supporters. For the down and semi-divest, it will be the choice of the cozy people who like to sink with an incomparable sweetness in the bottom of their sofa. But, do not believe that a flexible seat will deteriorate faster.
The brand “NF furnishings”, for French standard, is a quality label awarded by a jury of professionals testing furniture under the conditions of a real life, subjecting them to repeated pressures and wear. His mention on the technical sheet is therefore a guarantee of safety. The NF mention is available in Three quality levels ::
- The standard “reference“, 3 years warranty, certifies” security, solidity and sustainability “.
- “”Requirement“, 5 years warranty, adds the” choice of materials, care given to finishes, quality of execution “.
- “”Prestige“, also 5 years warranty, rewards” execution in the rules of the art, the nobility of materials and assemblies, the authenticity of a style “. With such references, you are ready!
That’s it, you are in the store, you finally visualize the model of your dreams, its technical sheet satisfies you. There remains a capital step: the seat test. You should feel goodit goes without saying, but not only:
- Your legs must rest well on the ground (sofas sometimes have so large foundations than being very large, they become uncomfortable).
- The sofa must “reassemble” you With gentle and firmness to the top: if you sink too much without feeling back, it’s a bad sign. Sit up not in the middle, but at the edge: you must sink and go up “right”, otherwise it is a sign that the springs are poorly adjusted … and may deregulate more and more.
- Finally, Pay attention to cushions : You must rely on it pleasantly, without feeling too hard, or hearing a “pschitt” indicating that the air is empty anarchically. That’s it? Good nap!
> Need help to choose, accessorize or maintain your sofa? Go to our decorative forum to ask your questions.
Wondering what are the trends on the sofa side before investing in yours? Know that lines are rather modern And thoughts timely so that your purchase suits you over time. We can nevertheless note the return of the corner sofa as well as more organic forms as well as a real search for comfort in recent seasons. The Scandinavian sofa remains a must. On the color side, beige becomes as popular as gray!
