Furniture for the New Home

Whether you need a sofa for the family room or living room, it will be a major investment. And, this is a decision you'll have to live with for years to come. To make the best choice, you need to consider some things before making the purchase.

Depending on the style and size of your apartment or house, you may decide to have a casual family room and a formal living room. This probably means that you'll have to buy two sofas. However, you may only be in the market for one couch at this time.

Before you buy modern sofas, make sure to take accurate measurements. You should do this for every new piece of furniture you plan on buying. You want to ensure it will fit into the specified place. You also need to make sure it can fit up the stairs and through the doorway. The stairs may be an issue, especially if there's a turn.

When looking for a sofa, start by deciding on the number of cushions. A single cushion sofa appears more formal than a two or three cushion sofa. While you're in the store, sit on the couch for several minutes. Do you like it?

Don't sit in one position. Move around on the cushion to see if they wedge up if you sit on the side. This should not happen. Have a family member sit on the sofa with you for a few minutes. Then you can assess hot comfortable the sofa is when more than one person sites on it.

The number of cushions is not the only consideration, you also need to determine the type of filling you prefer. The most expensive filling material is down. While it is one of the most comfortable fillings, it also requires patting and fluffing. The least expensive filling is low-density foam. However, this material is known to quickly deflate which diminishes your comfort level.

High-resilient foam is more durable than the low-density foam, but also more expensive. Many people consider it the best choice of filling when paired with a layer of conventional foam and down and wrapped in polyester batting. Before you buy look under the sofa cushions. There should only be fabric covering the couch's frame. If metal or wood is visible, look at another couch.

Consider the sofa's springs. The best sofas are made with an 8-way tied spring however, many sofas have serpentine springs. You want to avoid sofas that rely on mesh or webbing instead of springs.

Look at the arm's style to determine which one you like. Some people like rounded arms, while others prefer straight ones. You need to decide if the arms you choose are comfortable for napping or leaning against.

Before you buy a sofa, you should ask about the frame's construction. The frame should be screwed together or secured with wooden corner blocks and wooden dowels. Do not buy a sofa that is held together with glue and staples and does not have corner blocks.

Find out the type of wood used in the couch's construction. While pine is less expensive than kiln-dried oak, poplar, or maple, it is also weaker. That means it will be less durable. Avoid sofas mad from plastic, particle board or metal because they tend to warp.

A sofa that would be appropriate for a family room should be upholstered using a tougher fabric than a sofa that is in a separate living room. If you have pets or kids, you should consider a leather sofa or one that has a strong fabric, like chenille or microfiber.

Cotton is a great choice for a casual sofa. Silk, wool, and linen are lovely, however, they are expensive and do not wear as well as other types of fabric. After a year or so, many synthetic and cotton blend fabrics will pill.

It's advisable to stick to neutral colors when you buy a sofa. You'll be placing the sofa in a room that you may want to re-wallpaper or repaint in the future. If the sofa has strong colors, it may not be easy to work into your design scheme later.