What Is Your Sofa Style?

The sofa is generally the largest piece of furniture in your home, next to the home entertainment center which houses the flat screen TV. The sofa is definitely the focal point of whatever room it is in, the living room or the family room and the sofa is for a lot of people the starting point from which their design style starts. Most people keep their sofas around for 5 to 8 years on average. It's a long time to have the same piece of furniture, but with just a bit of thought on your part before your purchase you can have a sofa you'll love for as long as you own it.

The first consideration is usually your budget. Then consider how long you plan to keep your sofa. If you're purchasing a sofa with the idea of holding onto it for 2 or 3 years then don't spend a lot of money. If you are looking to buy a sofa that you can keep for 5 or more years, you'll want to buy a quality sofa, so get ready to spend more. Another consideration is the usage the sofa will get. Where will this sofa be used, and who will be using it? Are you buying a sofa for a dorm room? For use in a family room? A living room?

Did you know that sofas come with options? Well, they do. Do you want the back pillows attached to the frame or do you prefer loose pillows? How about built in cup holders, or a built in coffee table? You can find these options in some contemporary sofas and sectional sofas. Do you entertain overnight guests? If yes, you may want to consider the option of a sleeper sofa.

From a design style sofas are broken down into two groups, contemporary and traditional, that's fairly standard. Within each of these two categories there are hundreds of styles. Some people like to mix it up a bit and put a more traditional sofa within a modern setting. There is no firm set rule.Of course it's you home and you should mix and match the sofa with furniture that suits you. Some people put two sofas in a living room or family room or use a sectional sofa.

Something that can really change the mood and unfortunately the price of a sofa is your choice of fabric. There are hundreds of different types of fabrics available on sofas. From simple duck cotton covers to jacquard and silk fabrics, the choices can be daunting. Also there is a huge variety of patterns and colors. Depending on the style of sofa you choose you may have two different fabrics used. The choice of a floral fabric and a striped fabric can make the same sofa look completely different.

So what type of fabric will go with your design? The options are endless. If you already have good furniture, say arms chairs or a recliner in your living room or family room that you are planning to keep you may want to go with a fabric for your new sofa that goes well with the furniture you have. Most people choose bright bold geometric fabric patterns to use on contemporary (modern) sofas. Floral fabrics are usually seen on more overstuffed casual sofas.

A leather sofa is always a consideration. Leather lasts like iron and needs minimal care. As with any sofa you'll find differences in prices of leather sofas based on the grade of leather used. Flawless leather is hard to find in nature, so premium flawless leather sofas tend to be more expensive than sofas made with scarred leather. Scarred leather wears as well as premium flawless leather.

The final consideration is comfort. Never purchase a sofa without sitting on it first. A sofa that feels too soft for one may be perfect for another. The seat depth and height of the back make a difference too, as does the density of foam used for cushions. Every sofa is different. Remember that a sleeper sofa will have a much firmer seat than a sofa without a sleeper.

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About the author: Catherine Olivia is a sofa expert. To learn about sofas and sleeper sofas visit the ultimate sofa site.