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Advice on how to find the right sofa for you and your home

For the majority of people purchasing a new sofa for their home is a major investment, not just of money but of time. There are some very basic but essential items that must be considered before making any sofa investment:

• Size of room;
• Number of people to be seated;
• Amount of usage the sofa will have;
• Does it need to be dual purpose?
• Material – fabric or leather;
• Style, colour, room decoration.

In order to make an informed purchase it is essential to stand back and look at the proportions of the room and space the sofa is going to inhabit, consider the size and shape of the room. It is very important to take accurate measurements of the room, write these down and take them when shopping for the sofa. If there is an old sofa in the room look at the shape and proportion of this in relation to the room and then decide if a new shape or style would fit in the room.

Once the measurements have been recorded careful consideration should be given to how durable the sofa needs to be. No one wants to buy an item that will have to be replaced in a short space of time but if the sofa is only going to get occasional usage then a less durable style could be purchased. Reliability should be considered, perhaps do a bit of research into different manufacturers and suppliers and consider any product reviews, check for product warranties and guarantees. It might also be useful to consider if there are any treatments that the sofa can have to give added protection to the fabric.

In the present economic climate most people are unable to move to bigger properties so very often space in the home is at a premium and it can be useful to have a sofa that is versatile and may also be used as a bed. Sofabeds can really make a difference if extra space is required, they are also very useful if guests stay over or children have sleepovers.

Once due consideration has been given to size, purpose, reliability it is essential to choose a sofa that is aesthetically pleasing. A sofa can enhance a room and be a focal point for other furniture. We all want comfort and reliability but also want a sofa that is attractive and pleasing to the eye.