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Knowing your living room measurements before purchasing a new sofa is vital.

When purchasing new sofas, the most important consideration should be how comfortably it will fit in with items already installed. Before calling at stores to admire different fabrics and seating arrangements, carefully measure the room where the furniture is intended. Note down where doors are situated and whether they open inwards, possibly catching the intended furniture. Check where other items are placed, the fireplace, TV and stand, bureau, tables etc. Ask yourself how well the sofa you are replacing has fitted within the room, or how it could have been improved.

It is advised to only shop for new furniture when you have the room measurements and a clear picture of how you would like the room to turn out in your mind. The first shopping expedition should be to check the large collection of seating arrangements available. Check fabrics, prices and gather as much information as possible. The traditional 3-piece sofa suite with matching fabric has been replaced by many differing variations. For example, two twin seat sofa arrangements; one long seat, with single armchair, corner groups. There is something available for every home.

When in a large showroom it can be difficult to judge the amount of space new furniture will take up at home, in a much smaller area. Check measurements carefully, including whether the chairs have high or shorter backs. High backed seating fits better in older houses, while shorter backed chairs are more appropriate in modern homes, letting in more light. Many modern homes are compact in size and buying furniture which is too large can be a costly mistake.

If shopping for a box room or very small bedroom, a futon or sofa bed may be wiser choices than a full size bed. Futons and sofa beds are the modern choices as they can be either folded away or used for seating during the day, making them great space savers. Depending on who will be using the bedroom there are many different types of futons and sofa beds available.

If buying for a child’s room there are foam beds which fold out from the wall and are perfectly comfortable, while for weekend visitors or occasional use, metal action sofa beds might be a better choice. Also available are large ranges of airbeds and folding beds which can be stored in the loft when not needed. Before deciding on any new purchase, check carefully whether you will be able to get the new bed up the stairs and through the bedroom door. Some styles will dismantle but others may be much too large.

Sofas can be expensive to buy so it is essential to make the right choice. There are many differing sofa arrangements available, but by being prepared with the exact measurements beforehand you can prevent any unwanted fitting mishaps.