A GUIDE TO FINDING YOUR PERFECT SOFA

A new sofa can impact your home more than you might first think. Comfort aside, the fabric it's made from, its colour, and its design all help to set the tone for your surroundings. A centrepiece for any lounge or sitting room, a well-chosen sofa lets your guests, friends, or family know a little bit about you and your lifestyle choices without dominating. Poorly chosen, and it can stick out like a sore thumb.

How to choose the sofa that’s best for you

The problem for many people is that there are so many styles out there that choosing the right one can feel daunting. However, with a few little tricks and insider knowledge up your sleeve, you can make the right choice the first time around. Here's the CB2 guide to finding your perfect sofa.

Space – the final frontier

The first thing you'll need to consider is the space you've got to play with. To a degree, this will virtually decide the size of the sofa you go for. If you live somewhere that's got plenty of room, then you don't have to worry too hard. Instead, you can think about how many people are likely to be sitting on it at any one time. Bigger is always better for larger families or those who love to entertain. Think beyond the traditional three-seater and look at those that boast four, five, or even six seats.

If your home is a little less forgiving when it comes to space, it's time to get creative. While you could plump for a two or, at a push, a three-seater, modular sofas allow you to make the most of what's available to you. With a modular sofa, you can break up the seating arrangements and use corners that might otherwise remain empty. While these are ideal for smaller rooms, they're also incredibly practical for larger spaces that might otherwise require two sofas to fill.

Using your sofa

The next step is to consider how the sofa will be used. If your living room tends to be where you chill out and relax, then sofas with lower backrests offer optimum space for some good old-fashioned lounging around. However, if your front room is a space for welcoming guests and chatting over a drink or two, then look for something with a higher back. These offer greater degrees of support for sitting upright but, once everyone's gone, can still be used for a cheeky sprawl. 

True colours

With your new sofa's size and use decided, it's time to think about colours. Because a sofa is possibly the largest piece of furniture in your lounge, its size means it's likely to have the most presence. Your choice of colour can either enhance that or turn the volume down. You can embrace a bright and bold sofa if you live in bright and bold surroundings. Similarly, if your home décor is more muted, look for something that will blend in. A good rule of thumb for either is to choose a colour in your room, such as on the curtains, the carpet, or even in a piece of wall art, and select a colour that either matches or complements it. This ensures that the ‘flow’ of the room remains uninterrupted and that there is a connection between the most prominent pieces of furniture in the room.

Which style is for you?

Once you’ve got colours in mind, the style of sofa is next on the list. Typically, there are five different designs, and each one comes with its own visual appeal:

• Contemporary – Contemporary sofas are best suited to homes where minimalism and a modern feel are the backbone of the living room. These tend to be divided into definite seating sections with removable cushions, arms that are straight and arms that are lower in height than the backrest. 
• Country – Chunkier than their contemporary counterparts, country-style sofas are designed to communicate comfort. These are best suited to homes with quirks and décor where the focus is on creating a comforting and relaxing environment.
• Mid-century – These sofas cheerfully straddle the line between the modern and yesteryear. Often described as ‘retro’ in their appearance, they’re a superb choice for homes that cheerfully embrace old-school furniture with a modern twist. If your home is the kind that houses items such as Sixties-style food mixers, lava lamps, or your wall is peppered with pictures of music icons from the past, mid-century sofas are well worth investigating.
• Classic – Combining comfort with elegance, classic sofas are well suited to homes where wood is a feature. Because these are timeless pieces, often with legs made from the likes of oak and mahogany, they are the perfect addition to homes that favour a more refined feel. If your home décor references the grace of the 18th or 19th Century, then classic sofas could be just what you’re looking for. Many of these sofas sport patterns, which can give you extra choices when choosing which tone in your surroundings you want to link them with.
• Chesterfield – Despite their grand, luxurious design, Chesterfield-style sofas can lend themselves to various backdrops. Often finished in leather, they are typified by rollover arms and backs and are often detailed with buttons set deep into the backrests. While they’re easily at home in more stately surroundings, they can also add a touch of grandness to smaller homes. These sofas are often more suited to décor that has its roots in darker and richer tones and materials.

Don’t forget the fabric

The colour and pattern of the fabric can also have a considerable effect on the room in which your sofa lives. For country sofas, look for comforting materials with either simple designs or uniform colours. When it comes to the contemporary look, you're slightly freer to experiment with bold patterns or those that set off what surrounds them. For classic and mid-century sofas, patterns are perfectly in-keeping with how they're designed to look, particularly if yours has wooden or ornate legs. For Chesterfield-style sofas, it's best to trust the timeless appeal of leather and let the couch do the talking for you.

If you’re stuck for inspiration, check out the CB2 sofa collection. While there’s an extensive selection of styles, colours, and designs, our guide should help you make the right decision and enable you to choose a piece of furniture that everyone can enjoy.