Home advice: Sofa, so good

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Sunday naps will be even more comfortable with the right sofa.

Everybody loves a nice, comfy sofa but how do you find one that looks fabulous in your living room, doesn't cost the earth and will last more than a couple of years? It's not easy, given the many sofa brands and styles out there so we've come up with a quick checklist to get you on the right track.

What style?

Whether you prefer an elegant chaise lounge, a mid-century Hans Wegner or a contemporary sectional sofa, think long and hard about how it will look in your house. Will it work with the rest of the furniture? Don't be afraid of mixing your styles. For instance, a Victorian Chesterfield can look amazing in a contemporary living space. Neutral colours or those in the same colour family as the walls and curtains are a safe option. Brights or patterns will turn your sofa into a statement piece. Instead of that, why not use bold fabrics just for cushions? They're much easier and cheaper to change.

Size counts

In the showroom, your dream sofa can look smaller than it actually is. Back home it may dwarf everything else in the room. To get an idea of the space it will take up, mask out a footprint with tape on the floor or cut a paper template and position where you want the sofa to be. Take a tape measure when sofa-hunting to make sure it's the right size for the space and for you. If Sunday afternoon naps on the couch are a priority, it needs to be 155cm minimum in length. Don't buy anything too shallow; the seat should be around 100cm deep to be comfortable and at least 50cm high to make it easy to get up from.

What's the frame made of?

The sturdier it is, the longer it will last. Avoid soft woods such as pine that can warp within a few years and frames made of particleboard, plastic or metal. Kiln-dried hardwoods or marine plywood will give you more longevity. Look for legs that are part of the frame or fixed with screws or dowels, not glued. Often a weak frame will make the sofa creak or wobble. A well-known test for a good-quality frame is to lift one corner about 15cm off the floor and see if the other corner or leg lifts too. If not the frame is weak.

How are its joints?

Well-constructed sofas use wooden dowels and/or corner blocks or metal screws and brackets. If it's only held together by staples, nails or glue it's a short-term option.

And its springs?

Springs vary significantly in quality and cost. At the very least, check through the upholstery to make sure they're close together and firm. If you sit on a corner and hear a squeak the springs may be pressing on the frame, not ideal for durability. Nor are sofas with webbing or mesh instead of springs.

What type of filling?

Polyester is one of the cheapest but can easily flatten (to test, press down, if it stays down, forget it). Polyurethane foam may vary in quality and comfort depending on its density. High-resilient (HR) foam, if possible wrapped in a layer of down or batting, is a better option, though more costly. Goose down mixed with feathers is high end but needs constant fluffing.

Fabric facts

For durability go for cotton, linen or synthetic microfibres. The latter have best stain resistance and are more colour fast. You risk pilling with blends of natural and synthetic fibres. If the budget can stretch to it, wool and leather are robust and always look good. With patterned fabrics, choose those that are woven in not printed for better wearing. To make sure you're absolutely happy with the fabric, take a piece home to see how it looks in your living room.

Test drive

Last but not least, try out your sofa. Sit or lie on it as you would at home. And go for the best quality you can afford.