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The choice of a new sofa has heralded a period of introspection

The choice of a new sofa has heralded a period of introspection for one US columnist - with her decision forcing her to 'thoroughly search' who she is, and 'more importantly', who she isn't.

Wendi Thomas freely admits that she has owned only one couch in her life - given to her for free by her cousin in the mid-90s. She describes it as 'functional, if embarrassingly shabby' - adding that it is 'long enough for me to stretch out, with just enough room at the end for my dog to curl up on my feet'.

Following sofa-centric abuse from visitors, friends and family-members alike, Ms Thomas decided it was time to invest in a new couch.

Her decision became increasingly difficult for her, as she realised that she wanted her choice to reflect 'who my friends and family think I can be'.

Deciding that it was important that her designer knew what kind of sofa u ser she really was, she gave herself the following description: 'My name is Wendi, and I enjoy long naps on my sofa, as does my Rottweiler.

'I read on my sofa, write there, practically live there. I cannot promise not to drool on the upholstery during a siesta. I will not vow to eat only at the dinner table.'

In the end she opted for something long enough for her to stretch out on, and dark enough to withstand some idly scattered crumbs - a sofa that might not 'wow' her family and friends, but something that she describes as 'me' and says she is 'comfortable with'.