How To Find The Perfect Sofa
Let's have some couch time
A sofa is a substantial purchase for anyone, regardless of wealth or status. I haven’t encountered anyone over the years who isn’t intimidated by the process of finding the perfect sofa. So, if you’re in the market for a new sofa, and unless you have no feeling in your back due to a bionic implant or spinal mutation, this guide is for you!
General Sofa Advice
The biggest piece of advice I can give you is to check the reviews!! This is so important. For example, the Reid Sofa has terrible reviews. Looks can be deceiving and had you not checked the reviews, you may have been out $11,000 on a mediocre sofa.
When it comes to price, try to use Google reverse image to check if the couch is sold for less from a different carrier. Only a handful of wholesalers manufacture sofas, so the products are widely dispersed and sold on a variety of websites.
If you wish to buy your sofa secondhand, you have to ensure that the sofa is clean and does not carry any residual stains, or worse, bugs.
Don’t wing it! When picking out a fabric for your sofa, have multiple fabric samples sent directly to you. This is a massive purchase and fabrics can look and feel much different in person. Try to avoid decisions on the fly, and be prepared.
Fabric Advice
Performance Fabric: This type of fabric is perfect if you have children or pets. Performance fabrics are typically made of synthetic fibers, such as polyester and acrylic.
The Rub Test: A method to test how durable the fabric is using a machine to rub the fabric in a small circles over and over to see how it wears. The higher the rub count, the more durable the fabric is. If the rub count is over 30,000, your fabric is very durable!
Stain Treated Fabric: A method to waterproof your fabric. The fabric is sprayed with a treatment that seals it, making it waterproof and more stain resistant. If you like a sofa that doesn’t have this treatment, you can get a company to come treat your sofa.
Natural Materials: Natural materials such as wool, cotton, and linen are great, but less stain resistant. Personally, I look for materials that are a mixture of both natural and synthetic fabrics. Alternatively, you could look for a sofa with a slipcover that you can remove and wash.
Leather: Leather wears pretty well! I think that the older the leather, the better it looks, but sometimes it is not great to sit on.
Low-Budget Sofas
These are some of my favorite sofas that won’t break the bank if you don’t have major savings allocated towards a new one.
Article Beta Sectional - $2,999 Article Riley Sectional - $2,899
Room & Board Metro Sofa - $3,300 Room & Board Hannah Sofa - $4,700
All Modern Ojai 3 Sectional - $2,799
Crate & Barrel Axis Sectional - $3,848
Mid-Budget Sofas
Mid-budget sofas are slightly pricier, but they are still reasonably priced and are generally higher quality.
Six Penny Devon Sectional - $5,799
Rove Concepts Milo Modular Sectional - $5,132
CB2 Deseo 4 Sectional - $5,096
ABC Home & Carpet Delancey 2-Piece Sectional - $6,495 (Currently on Sale for $5,196)
Pottery Barn Westwood Sectional - $3,348-$5,248
Soho Home Mossley Corner Sofa - $9,095
Higher-End Sofas
Here are a few high-end sofas if you really want to splurge.
Dmitriy & Co Koper Sectional - $30,000
Holly Hunt Studio Waterloo Sofa & Sectional - Custom
B&B Italia Dambodue - Custom
Funky Sofas
Funky sofas are for when you already have a comfortable sofa and just need a place to perch when guests are over.
Chairish Fabric 5-Seat Sofa with Radio, 1970s, Set of 2 - $2,394
R & Company Rogan Gregory Sofa - Custom
Etsy Mid-Century Sunrise 1960's 3pc Sectional Sofa - $7,800
Etsy Mid Century Walnut Trim Yellow Floral Sofa - $1,599
Etsy Wave Sofa - $4,550
Sofa Shapes and Styles
Arm Rests
Arm rests are a personal preference. Personally, I enjoy wider arm rests that I can fit my arm on comfortably. I think it’s even better if I can balance a plate. I also like arm rests that are wide enough to lean a pillow on for a rest.
Legs
Again, this is a personal preference! Personally, unless your sofa is actually from the middle of the century, I don’t like that style leg (the legs that flare out, such as this). To me, this is the trademark of a cheap sofa.
I also don’t love brass legs, they are a little glitzy.
My favorite legs are those that you can’t see at all. Legs that are very close to the ground and minimal are a close second.
Foam vs. Down or Down Alternative Fill
Sofas are either filled with feathers, aka “down”, fake feathers, aka “down alt”, or foam. These days, foam sofas can be just as comfy, if not comfier, than down or down alt sofas. Foam sofas hold their shape, even after you sit on them. Down or down alt deflate after a few months and consistently require fluffing. (The cloud sofa is the most glaring example of this).
Seat
When inspecting the seat, always check the depth. Usually, you’re trying to lounge and relax, but also still maintain a comfortable posture to converse.
In my first New York apartment, the sofa was too deep. Now, my sofa is too shallow. When thinking of depth, aim for around 25”deep to the back cushion.
Seat Back
It’s all about the angles on the seat back. You want a slight angle, but not too much of an angle. Additionally, you don’t want a back that is so low that you can’t lean on it.
Modular Construction
The modular construction refers to how the seat and the seat back are pieced together. Ensure that the seat back and seat are locked together instead of resting on one another. You don’t want to lean back and then fall off the chair.
Purchasing Advice
Buy a sofa on sale! There are always sales at every major holiday and frequently throughout the year. Just saving 10-20% on a sofa will save you a lot! Patience yields the best rewards, so you could find a perfect sofa and then sit on it until a sale pops up.
There are sales going on right now! Some of the couches that are on this list are on sale.
Other Oddities
My family has been telling me how much they love these ridiculously easy chocolate peppermint pots de creme that I made for Christmas dessert in 10 minutes using a blender. If you’re having people over for dinner any time of the year I recommend this; it doesn’t have to be peppermint.
I love the things people sell on Facebook Marketplace. Like this hand sofa and this high heel chair.
Thank you for reading the Odd Salon, we’ll see you back here in two weeks! :)