True, it doesn’t cure diseases or help us explore the universe. And yet, the sofa must be one of mankind’s greatest in­ventions and also one of the most flexible.

A good sofa is like a best friend – it’s always there, up for a bit of fun or some couch talk. It lends itself to anything from a spot of cuddling in front of a roaring fire and pre-drink gossip before a nice dinner to a pleasant summer afternoon siesta and some edge-of-the-seat drama while watching on TV. Quite simply, it entertains us.

And like a best friend, you need to choose a sofa carefully – it needs to be well-constructed and of the right style, size, colour and, of course, price.

Make yourself at home

When touring showrooms and trying out sofas, give them the at-home treatment. Don’t just sit on a sofa in a way that you would never do at home. Rather, lounge in it and pretend you’re watching TV or reading a newspaper. Try out different positions, like sitting back or crossing your legs. Act natural, because that’s the way you’ll be behaving on a sofa when you take it home with you.

Frame up

The most important element in a sofa is the frame. This should be solidly constructed and joined together by screws, brackets, wooden dowels or wooden corner blocks. Never buy a sofa that is only held together with staples, nails or glue.

Cheap frames made of low-cost materials will start wobbling after a few months. Stronger frames made of hardwood such as oak, ash or beech will last longer. To test the strength of a sofa’s frame, lift one front corner off the floor – if, having raised it six inches, the other end hasn’t risen yet, then the frame has too much give.

Spring support

Test a sofa’s springs by removing the sofa cushions and feeling them through the upholstery – they should be firm to the touch and close together. Sofas with just mesh or webbing tend to be flimsy and uncomfortable. If a sofa creaks, then the springs are either incorrectly placed or hitting the frame.

Arms and legs

When buying a sofa, choosing its arms and legs is very impor-tant. Arms are either traditional, curved or straight – whereas the former suit all settings, straight arms are for more contemporary contexts.

As for legs, there is a wide choice of either heavy square legs, bun feet, tapered legs, curved or simply invisible. It’s all a matter of taste.

Take your fill

A sofa’s filling can be either natural, artificial, or a mix of both. There are various options. Low-density foam feels very soft but will deteriorate and flatten very rapidly. On the other hand, high-resilient foam is more comfortable, although more expensive.

With regards to natural materials, goose and duck feather fillings are very comfortable, but they clump very quickly – you will have to turn them over and fluff them after every evening sitting.

One of the best combinations is goose down mixed with feathers – this is a very expensive option but it will repay you with plenty of comfort and joy.

Cover it up

Choosing the textile for your sofa depends on the usage you’re planning for it. If your sofa will be a conversation piece that will hardly see any action, then go for something sleek and expensive such as silk or velvet.

On the other hand, sofas for everyday use need fabrics that are tough and durable – cotton, linen, wool and leather are the more hardwearing options. Artificial fabrics such as synthetic microfiber are strong and stain-resistant – these are two important considerations, espe­c­ially if you have kids or pets.

A sofa’s cover should also be well tailored. Check that the seams and welting are straight and that the patterns on the fabric line up on all seams.

The colour question

When buying a sofa, most people go for neutral colours – it’s a safe choice because that way, it can survive living room restyling. On the other hand, if you want a bit of colour, then the sofa is the perfect way to introduce a bit of drama in your living room.

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