A Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the right sofa for you

Published on May 4, 2021 by RB.Twelve in Design Advice

A guide to buying the right sofa for you

Are you looking to purchase a new sofa but unsure where to start and what you need to consider before purchasing? Fear not. At RB12, we have considered every consideration point you could need to ponder before purchasing. We will walk you through each point to ensure you find the sofa of your dreams.

Types of sofas to choose from

There are several types of sofas to choose from, and which one you opt for will entirely depend on your needs and the space you’re looking to fill. Here is a breakdown of each type and where they’re best placed.

Two-seater sofas

A two-seater sofa is a great option if you’re working with a smaller space but still want a cosy nook to curl up in. Typically featuring two seat cushions and back cushions, this sofa style is ideal for two people to be seated comfortably (or one person to lounge extremely comfortably). They can also make a perfect accent piece when placed next to a larger sofa.

Three-seater sofas

If you like your space to laze and loll, then why not consider a three-seater sofa? They’re a fantastic choice for families or couples, offering a much more spacious lounging set-up than their two-seater counterparts without taking up too much more space in the room. They usually feature three back cushions and three separate or one long seat cushion.

Four-seater sofas

A four-seater sofa is a no-brainer if you’re boasting plenty of space in your lounge and have many people to entertain. Four-seaters are perfect for comfortably perching four people and even better for two people to kick back and relax with minimal disturbance.

Normally, they have four seat cushions and four back cushions, but they can sometimes come with one long seat and one long back cushion as an alternative setup.

Modular sofas

Modular sofas are versatile and can be configured to suit your space. A modular sofa usually has three seats but can boast more, so it is best for larger spaces, big families or homeowners who like rearranging their spaces regularly to refresh them. They also help overcome access issues, which larger single piece sofas sometimes present; particularly useful for passing tight corners or narrow doorways.

Corner sofas

A corner sofa has two seating areas perpendicular to each other – usually in an L-shape or symmetrical formation. This option is great for rooms where you want to save space, as they are designed to tuck into corners and open up the centre of the room to give you more floor space.

Chaise lounge

An occasional chair that is perfect for reclining or lounging, as the back scoops around to make a corner. Some chaise longues have arms along the extended seat and are often used in homes as a statement or accent piece for bedrooms or home offices.

Sofa bed

As the name suggests, this type of sofa is just that by day and a bed by night. They come in many styles – compact versions for smaller spaces and more traditional sofa formats. Some styles of sofa beds are more suited for occasional use than fit for every day. They are also often used in smaller additional bedrooms with multifunctional space, using the sofa bed for guests when they come to stay. The brand Saba Italia makes some of our favourite, high-quality sofa beds, perfect for all needs, thanks to their advanced research into new materials that offer maximum comfort with optimum robustness.

How to measure for your sofa

Now you’ve decided which sofa style you want, you must measure the space you want to position your sofa before purchasing to ensure it will fit in your chosen area.

Clear the space in your room where you want your new sofa or sofa bed to go. You should measure this space’s maximum width and length to show you the biggest sofa you can fit.

Top tip! Don’t forget to measure your doorways and ceiling height, plus any narrow walkways your new sofa may have to pass through. We can provide you with packing dimensions and delivery assistance with every order.

You can also lay a newspaper out to the correct size of the sofa. This will help to visualise what the volume would look like in the space to help you decide whether the fit is what you had in mind.

What is the best fabric for a sofa?

Here at RB12, we offer a huge range of fabric swatches for our range of sofas so you can colour-match them to your current decor before you commit to buying. But before considering colour, you should think about what material will work best for your home.

Cotton

Cotton is a natural fibre, which makes it breathable and soft. Generally, cotton upholstered sofas are comfortable and relaxed.

Wool

Wool is made from the woven fibres of a sheep’s coat – again, it’s natural but often blended with synthetic materials. Wool comes in many colours, so it suits every interior taste. The wool pile adds a sense of cosiness to your living space but keeps cool in the summer.

Polyester

Polyester is a synthetic fibre, so it’s manufactured to be super durable and easy to clean and maintain – great for families and pets. It comes in many colours, makes a great base material for many cushions and throws in different textures and textiles.

Velvet

Velvet is known for its deep pile, adding luxury and warmth to your space. This type of material has risen in popularity over recent years, but it can be a high-maintenance material to opt for. Spillages and stains aren’t as easily cleaned when they occur on some velvet sofas, so make sure you consider this before you spend.

Finally, you could have a durable, long-lasting leather sofa that is easy to look after. Leather is a great option for those with young children and pets. Spillages are easily cleaned and can withstand high usage levels, meaning you get a better cost per use out of them, too.

Top tip! – If you’re looking for an easy-to-clean and maintainable option, ask our experts for Aqua Clean on Scotchguard fabrics

Sofa Fillings

When deciding which filling would work for you, consider how often you use your sofa and how much upkeep you’re willing to put in. Foam-filled sofas offer a firmer seat and look more structured, and feather-down-filled sofas are a luxe option and offer a more relaxed and comfortable seat.

Many of our sofas have a mixture of feather down and foam to suit the usability of the sofa – The Loll collection by Gervasoni is no exception. It is upholstered with variable-density polyurethane foam, seat cushions in goose down, and a core insert of highly resilient foam and independent pocket springs. The backrest cushions are also goose down and polyester fibres.

Discover beautiful sofas at RB12.

Here at RB12, we’re incredibly proud to present an eclectic range of high-quality sofas from some of the most trusted manufacturers, including Bolia, Saba Italia, SITS and more. We’ve hand-selected each sofa in our collection, so you can rest assured you’re receiving only the best quality seating available, and you’ll be able to find something to suit your tastes with ease.

If you want to see more of our sofa collections, don’t hesitate to contact us here, pop by the showroom or call us at +44 (0) 2071 352 246 – we would love to hear from you.

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