How to Choose a Sofa
Choosing a new sofa isn’t just a case of finding something you like the look of and saying ‘I’ll take that one!’ A quality sofa is a big-ticket item that is likely to be with you for at least ten years, so it pays to spend a little time making the right choice.
Choosing a Sofa
You don’t want to rush into anything and make a spur of the moment decision that you end up regretting. The more you know, the better able you will be to make an informed decision. Of course, the staff at the Darlings of Chelsea showrooms will be happy to tell you everything you need to know about any of our sofas, but they will be better able to help you make the right choice if you have already asked yourself these questions.
Where will the sofa be placed?
Knowing where the sofa will go will help you to decide not only on the style of the sofa you are looking for but also on the best width, depth and height. A well-placed sofa will always be in perfect proportion with its surroundings, neither too large nor too small. Naturally, you will also want to choose a sofa whose style complements the room’s decor. Darlings of Chelsea has a wide range of traditional and contemporary sofas in leather and fabric.
Each range is available in multiple size options, and there is also a bespoke service so that we can help you to find the precise style and size of sofa that will match your room. Don’t forget to measure the area you will placing the sofa (see our FAQs), as well as the entryways, before visiting a showroom.
Who will be using the sofa?
The people who will be using the sofa should have an effect on the type of sofa you choose. A sofa that is likely to be jumped on by hoards of children for hours at a time will need to be tougher than a sofa that is used by the occasional well-behaved guest. It goes without saying that durability is an essential requisite of any luxury piece of furniture, and Darlings of Chelsea’s sofas are made with hardwood frames that are resistant to warping and cracking. All of the frame’s corners and stress points are reinforced with corner blocks and stapled and glued at the joints.
How will the sofa be used?
Are you looking for a sofa to lounge in while watching TV or do you need something that will mostly be used for entertaining? This question can affect the style of sofa you choose, i.e. low back or high back, and will also have a bearing on the kind of cushioning you require. Contemporary sofas for sale at Darlings of Chelsea come with either foam or fibre top seat cushions. Foam is the firmer of the two, but the fabric is great for more relaxed seating requirements. Another important factor is the suspension. This determines the nature of the sofa’s ‘ride’, or how much support the sofa gives you when you are sitting on it.
Our sofas are made with what’s known as zig-zag suspension, in which high tensile steel wires are attached to the frame and stretched from front to back and top to bottom. It makes sure that your ‘ride’ is firm, and cuts down on sagging, even after many years’ use.
Providing you have thought about each of these questions, and have taken measurements of the area the sofa is to be placed (not forgetting the entryways as well) you are well equipped to make an informed decision about the perfect sofa for you.
When you visit one of our showrooms, please feel free to try out the sofas yourself, and to ask our staff any questions you may have.
