Sofa Selection Guide

Style & Color

Pick a sofa that best suits your decor style. If your interiors are traditional, look at sofas with rolled arms, a contoured back, or tufted cushions. Modern rooms will need sofas with clean-lined profiles, fewer embellishments, and understated upholstery.

When it comes to color, pick something that will match the color palette of your existing furniture and walls. For instance, if your walls are light-colored then dark sofas and vibrant sofas would be ideal choices. For dark-colored walls, lean toward sofas with mellow or muted tones.

Eclectic

Eclectic style is a melange of periods and styles and is brought together through the use of colors, texture, shape, and finish.

Distinct Characteristics:

• Solid colors
• Clean lines
• Textured or patterned fabric

*Colors can vary but neutrals best tie all the elements together.

 Industrial

Industrial style is stripped-back architectural details like bare bricks, metals, and wood, as well as salvaged and recycled materials.

Distinct Characteristics:

• Black, gray, or brown colors.
• Vintage/distressed finish
• Exposed wood or metal

*Industrial style furnishings are usually hardwearing and often obtained from reclaimed yards.

Mid- Century Modern

Mid-century modern broadly describes the architecture, furniture, and graphic design from the middle of the 20th century, i.e. 1933 to 1965.

Distinct Characteristics:

• Deep, bold colors
• Natural wood finish
• Clean lines & soft curves

*Some consider the period to be specifically limited to 1947 to 1957. 

Transitional

Transitional style refers to a contemporary style mixing traditional and modern styles, incorporating old world traditional and the world of chrome and glass contemporary.

Distinct Characteristics:

• Clean lines & soft curves
• Textured upholstery
• Neutral, solid colors

*Color palettes are typically subtle and may be monochromatic.

Modern and Contemporary

Contemporary style encompasses a range of styles developed in the latter half of the 20th century. It often features softened and rounded lines. Interiors contain neutral elements and bold color, and they focus on the basics of line, shape, and form.

Distinct Characteristics:

• Clean lines & geometric designs
• Exposed metal or wood
• Minimal embellishments

Rustic

Rustic is an all-encompassing term for several design styles. In its most basic definition, rustic describes a design that's natural, rough, aged, and casual.

Distinct Characteristics:

• Natural elements and colors
• Distressed finish
• Handmade detailing

Traditional

Traditional style offers a combination of comfortable furniture, classic design, and casual decor. It is a term that includes several design elements, including warm colors and symmetrical lines.

Distinct Characteristics:

• Elaborate design with intricate details
• Dark wood finish
• Elegant curves

Seating Capacity

What do you want your sofa’s main purpose to be? Is it to sprawl out on with a good book, to entertain small gatherings, or to be a place to gather for group discussions that will last into the night?

Space Requirement

A sofa is a sizable piece of furniture, which is why it’s important to measure, measure, measure. Make sure you consider the following before choosing the sofa you bring home.

• Room size and shape
• Entryways, door frames, walkways, and other clearances
• Lifts and stairways
• Walk-around space in the room
• Space available for the sofa (maximum depth and length)

When picking a place for your sofa, make sure there is sufficient room to walk around and for doors to open and close easily. Do not let the sofa block entryways and keep it a safe distance from other furniture to prevent stubbing your toe.

If the sofa is going to be carried up stairs, ensure you measure the width of the stairway along with the landings since sharp corners could be hard to maneuver through when carrying large furniture. Ideally, the width of stairways and corners will be more than the diagonal depth of the proposed sofa.

Elevators will need to have their width and height measured along with the space inside (depth) to make sure the sofa will fit.

TIP: If you have narrow doors or stairs, shop for models with removable legs.

Choosing the right sofa size 

When it comes to sofa dimensions, height, width, and depth play an important role in placement decisions. Diagonal depth and diagonal length are vital if the sofa is to be brought through tight or compact entryways.

#1: Measure Your Space

Note the length and width of your room to get a feel for the sofa sizes your space can accommodate. Sofas with higher backs look good in rooms with high ceilings while loveseats and low-profile sofas work better in rooms with lower ceilings.

Note: Do not forget to measure the width and height of all entry doorways and hallways that your sofa will have to be carried through upon delivery.

#2: Tape the Area

Decide where you'd like to place your new sofa. If you are planning on pairing your sofa with a coffee table, ensure there is at least 12"-18" between the two pieces of furniture to move around.

Using masking tape, make a rough rectangle on the floor where you'd like to place your sofa to get an idea of how much space you have to work with.

#3: Measure the Taped Area

Once your tape is in place and you're happy with the size of the rectangle you've created, measure its width and length. This will be the dimensions of your ideal sofa. 

Moving In

When it comes to sofa dimensions, height, width, and depth play an important role in placement decisions. Diagonal depth and diagonal length are vital if the sofa is to be brought through tight or compact entryways.

Through the door