Overview
If you want to buy a new sofa, you should be well prepared. We help you with 15 tips to keep track of the upholstery jungle.
The day has come: a new sofa must come. Often this decision arises while browsing through home magazines, due to the change of life situation or because the old sofa qualitatively passes away.
First basic rule in advance: keep a cool head and avoid impulse buying. Since a sofa purchase is a major investment, it should be well thought out. Many questions should be clarified. What size should the sofa be? How do you recognize quality? Are additional features needed? Which cover is the right one? Does it have to be expensive or will a cheap sofa do?
Don’t be taken for a fool!
Hardly any other industry is as opaque as the furniture trade. Many furniture stores advertise with sometimes drastic discounts. The goal is always the same: The customer is to be lured to the area. Supposed bargains can turn out with more exact view however then nevertheless no more than inexpensive. Discounts are often subject to restrictions. Thus an advertisement such as 30% anniversary offer on everything does not apply then evenly nevertheless to mark commodity and already reduced commodity. Because even furniture retailers have nothing to give away.
Another trick to “cheapen” the dream sofa is to increase the list price to increase the discount. Buying the sofa through zero percent financing makes it seem affordable for any budget. Also, pay attention to how the discount changes when you change the trim details. Even a slight visual adjustment to the sofa can prove to reduce the discount.
Often furniture retailers do a lot to make their offered goods not comparable. Even if it is sometimes difficult, try to get different price quotes and look carefully.
The tricks of furniture stores
Buy a sofa together
Even if it sounds banal: go buy a sofa in pairs. Four ears hear better and four eyes see more. Lie down and sit down on the sofa. Take different positions and discuss the new piece of furniture on the spot.
Employees in furniture stores are often good salespeople and subject to closing pressure. This means that they often receive a basic salary and are otherwise paid via commission. So check together critically the statements of the salesman and ask questions. He may be getting a higher commission for “the supposed best sofa” than for “the actual best sofa.
How big do you want your new sofa to be?
Large sofas and seating areas offer a lot of space. But note the following: A large sofa looks much smaller in a furniture store than it does in your own home. In a small apartment, it can often seem oppressive.
So a sofa should be chosen to fit the size of the room. Ask yourself if you still have enough room to move all around. Do drawers and cupboards still open? Will you fall on the sofa with the door? It will help you if you have the measurements of the room with you when buying a sofa. The expert in the store can also give you better advice with the help of photos on your smartphone and quick sketches.
Tip: Plan space for your dog when he is allowed to lie on your sofa. If you do not want this for understandable reasons, then buy him his own dog sofa.
Can your dream sofa be delivered to your home?
Sofas can be big and heavy. You need to be aware of that. After all, at some point the upholstered furniture will have to enter your apartment or house. Check in the furniture store how the sofa is delivered. Is it modular and can be put together on the spot? Or will the huge Chesterfield sofa not fit through the door or window? If in doubt, use the measuring service of the furniture store. That way you’re on the safe side.
Large and noble – The Chesterfield Sofa
Sofa seat height and depth
Your age and height play an important role when buying a sofa. If you are tall, you need more seating depth, perhaps a slightly higher sofa. If you are a little older, you may be glad to have an easier way to get up. Be sure to ask the seller for suitable measurements. You can find out about the ideal seat height and seat depth of a sofa here.
Think about the type of sofa!
In addition to the visual considerations, your living circumstances also play a role. If the family planning is completed, you will probably buy the sofa or the living landscape completely. If children are planned or the purchase of a house is pending, you should inform yourself about the period over which the sofa program will certainly be available. So you can adapt your sofa relaxed to your living situation and add suitable seating elements. Questions about furnishing with different sofa types
Pay attention to the inner values of your sofa
Take a close look at the sofa. Start with the frame. In the best case, it is made of solid wood. Composite panels such as multiplex are also suitable. The frame should be equipped with Nosag springs. The flat springs in wave form have similarity with the pattern in the chocolate layer of the Danube wave. Above the springing is usually a foam core, upholstery wadding and a fleece. The cover wraps the structure.
It’s better to stay away from a molded sofa. Even sofa frames made of the simplest wood fiber, polystyrene or cardboard will not give you pleasure in the long term.
Listen for strange noises when trying out the seat. Let yourself plop down in the sofa. If the salesman screams or throws his hands up in horror, you’ll know about the quality by now. A high-quality sofa can withstand that.
Ask the seller for a warranty. High-quality springs and foams retain their shape even after years. But you should also be aware that your sofa will give a little. No spring or foam in the world stays exactly the same as on the first day.
Not only a question of appearance: the sofa cover
Besides the shape, the cover is also responsible for the appearance of the sofa. There are a few things to consider when choosing one. Which advantages and disadvantages fabric covers have and how you find the right sofa fabric, you will learn here. If leather is the cover of your choice, you should read here to find the best leather for your sofa.
By the way, the appearance of the stitching can also give an indication of the quality of the sofa and the sofa cover. Look at the seams over a longer distance and judge the course and precision of the stitches.
The type of upholstery and the appearance of the cover has changed over the years. Now, in addition to the sofa with firm upholstery, there is also the sofa with casual upholstery and the typical wave.
What functions should the sofa have?
Does the sofa have to do something more than just be a comfortable piece of seating furniture? With many sofa manufacturers you can expand your sofa functionally. For example, a sofa can become a bed. Fold-out elements can provide even more seating or reclining space. Adjustable headrests and armrests are designed to increase comfort. A tray for the armrest will not let you be tempted to balance the hot coffee on it.
Think carefully about what you really need, what is nice-to-have or just a gimmick. Most of the additional functions cost extra and are then perhaps rarely used.
Ask the seller what configuration options are available. It’s often annoying to find out after the fact that you were denied additional features. Many sofa manufacturers and online retailers offer tools to configure a sofa online. The operation is often simple and intuitive. The result is often visualized so that a good impression of the dream sofa is created.
Heavy stand: choose suitable feet for your sofa
The feet of your sofa play a supporting role. They should give a stable impression and match the sofa and floor. Ask yourself which color of sofa feet will visually create the best connection between flooring and sofa cover? Think about whether you want wooden or metal feet.
When the feet are mounted slightly backward creates the impression of a floating sofa. Metal runners give a stable impression, but at the same time can give the sofa a certain lightness.
If the sofa is very large and long you should make sure that it has support feet in addition to the feet at the corners. These are usually mounted out of sight and give the sofa important stability. It would be annoying if you have to buy a new sofa after a short time because the feet could not support the heavy sofa.
Look for seals of approval
If you want to buy a sofa you will inevitably come into contact with seals of approval, testing and test labels. Some are well known, others less so. Here we give you an overview of the most important seals of approval in the furniture trade.
Do the smell test
Do not be afraid to hold your nose to the sofa. Also, opening the cover with the help of the zipper can not hurt. If you get a pungent smell in your nose, then do not think further about buying the sofa. Also, you should ignore the seller’s hints that the sofa is just new on the surface and the smell will go away. There are serious health risks here.
Ask your wallet: can a cheap sofa compete in quality?
Of course, buying a sofa is just like other buying decisions: What can I afford? Where do I get the best value for money. Even cheaper sofas can last a long time, and even expensive sofas can break quickly. Make sure the frame and upholstery are of high quality and that the sofa cover is good.
By the way, there are various furniture manufacturers that produce for different dealers. It is quite possible that you can buy a sofa at dealer A much cheaper than at dealer B. And that even though the goods are from the same producer. And that even though it is goods from the same producer. The positioning of the furniture dealer can play a big role here. Poco and Möbel Boss, for example, probably stand more for sofas in the low-budget segment. Furniture stores like Höffner, XXXL Lutz or Otto with its online store for sofas stand for higher quality.
Services
Find out what services are offered when you want to buy a sofa. Is delivery and professional assembly included in the total price? Or will you have to pay extra for this?
Ask the seller for free fabric samples if you are unsure about the color choice. You may also be able to take home a fabric matching stool for a day or two to be on the safe side.
