How to choose the right sofa

The sofa is usually the largest piece of furniture in the living room, so sizing mistakes show immediately. A basic rule: the sofa shouldn't take more than 40–50% of the width of its wall, to leave visual and physical room for the rest of the furniture. Leave 35–45 cm between sofa and coffee table — enough for legs, but close enough to reach a cup comfortably.

Circulation paths around the sofa should have at least 70–80 cm clear, and on main routes (to the kitchen, balcony or hall) ideally 90–100 cm, especially with children or older people at home. Depth matters as much as width: a model that's too deep (over 95–100 cm) can look imposing in a small room and is uncomfortable for shorter people, who can't reach the backrest when sitting normally.

A straight sofa is the most flexible choice and the easiest to move or reconfigure — right for small living rooms or irregular rooms where a big corner unit would block circulation. A corner (sectional) sofa maximises seating in a given area and creates a more enclosed relaxing zone, but needs a generous free wall and, once placed, is hard to reconfigure — check before buying that the corner orientation (left or right) suits the room's circulation.

Modular sofas (independent pieces) offer the most flexibility: you can change the layout if you move or rearrange the room, and buy extra pieces over time. The price per seat is usually higher than a classic sofa, and the joints between modules can become weak points over time if the connectors are poor — check this before buying, especially if you plan to move the pieces often.

Genuine leather upholstery is more hard-wearing in the long run, doesn't hold odours and cleans easily with a damp cloth, but it can scratch (especially with pets), costs noticeably more and can feel cold in winter or sticky in summer. Faux leather (PU) is a cheaper option with a similar look, but it can crack or peel within a few years of heavy use, especially at contact points.

Fabric upholstery is more comfortable in any season and offers far more colours and textures, but holds dust, odours and stains more easily — check whether the cover is removable and washable, an essential criterion with children or pets. Performance fabrics (microfibre, stain-resistant weaves) are a good compromise: the look and feel of cotton or velvet with much better resistance to stains and wear.

The frame decides the sofa's real lifespan, even though you can't see it. Solid wood or good plywood frames last much better than chipboard ones, which can warp or loosen at the joints after a few years of daily use. A simple test in the shop: press on the arm — if you feel the structure give or creak, the frame is probably weak.

In the seat cushions, high-density foam recovers its shape better and for longer than cheap foam, which sags visibly within 6–12 months of daily use. Foam cores wrapped in feather or fibre feel softer but need regular plumping to keep their shape. Check how the cover fits the cushion too — a well-tailored cover with an accessible zip makes long-term care much easier.