10 common mistakes when buying a sofa (2024)

Buying a large piece of furniture is always an investment, but when it’s something as pivotal to your domestic life as a comfy sofa, there is the added pressure for it to be perfect because you use it every day.

Morgan modular 5-seat corner sofa |@homely_rose

Size, shape, number of seats, upholstery, quality and colour: what should you look for when buying a high-quality sofa? Well, here are 10 mistakes to avoid.

1. Impulse buying

No matter how good a sofa looks online, try to see it in person before making a commitment if possible. It may be a different size than you thought, have more of an unusual shape than you’d imagined or not be very comfortable at all. Even if you aren’t able to visit the store in person, you can arrange a video appointment to see it in a real-life setting or request some fabric swatches to compare to the rest of your living room furniture.

2. Not considering your lifestyle

If this sofa is for decorative purposes and perhaps sits in a room that you don’t use too much, then comfort might not be as important a factor as its look and aesthetic. However, if it sits in front of the TV, you’ll want one that is completely sinkable and optimised for lounging. Tall people, in particular, need to consider factors like the length of a settee and whether it leaves enough room for them to stretch out and relax.

Jensen 3-seater sofa |Jensen footstool |Hercules console table | @jcgathome

3. Ignoring sofa construction

There are many pros and cons to consider for a couch that goes way beyond its placement in the room layout or the cushion colour. Before you begin to browse, think about whether you have a preference for foam or feather pillows and make a list of pros and cons based on your home life. For instance, you may have an allergy to feather fillings or require the orthopaedic benefits of foam technology. Either way, do your research about how your new sofa design is built, and you’ll never have a point of complaint.

4. Selecting the wrong upholstery material

Much like the way the settee is constructed, the upholstery material it’s made from will also need to suit your lifestyle and family needs. For example, if you have young children, you may want to avoid fabric sofas as they tend to soak up stains easier than the smooth finish of a leather sofa. Or, if your living room can get hot and humid, avoid materials that lack airiness and tend to get sticky and unbreathable.

Linden 3-seater sofa | @angela_oxtoby

5. Not thinking about longevity

Ask yourself, how long will you need your couch for? If you think you’re likely to shake up your style in five years, opt for something ultra-trendy, like a modern sofa. However, if you think this will likely be a long-lasting investment, you might want to choose a more traditional sofa style that won’t look outdated over time

6. Failing to measure properly

Measure, measure and measure again! It’s all well and good if you think a sofa will look great in your home, but if it swallows up your space, it’ll leave you feeling claustrophobic and uncomfortable. Scale is key here. Width, depth and height are all really important measurements. To give you an idea of how a large or small sofa is going to look in your home, use tape to map out the exact dimensions on the floor, so you know what it’ll be like proportionately.

Take a look through our full living room measurement guide.

Gainsborough 3-seater sofa |Gainsborough storage footstool |Seattle floor lamp | @home_made_with_l0ve

7. It can’t get through the door

You’ve done it: you’ve found the luxury sofa of your dreams and it fits your home layout! But wait, it arrives and can’t fit through your front door – nightmare! Always account for the access points of your home: your front door, hallway and any doorways or staircases that lead to your lounge. This is why the depth measurement is particularly key, it can help you work out if the settee needs to be tipped on its side to get through these access points. Alternatively, enquire which sofas are sold in compartments and can be assembled in your living room. Find out more about our sofa sizes.

8. You haven’t sized up your space

So you’ve ticked the boxes of floor space, height and the depth of the doorway, but will this sofa be right for your living room layout? Have you read the fine print – is the corner sofa that’s arriving left-handed or right-handed? Is there an alcove that needs to be accounted for (i.e. can a tall person sit there without knocking their head)? Will the coffee table fit in front of it while leaving space to walk around it? It pays to be ultra-precise and very picky about every detail.

9. The colour is all wrong

Due to the prominence of the sofa in a living room scene, the colour you choose for your couch will depend on whether you want an understated or statement interior scheme. Go for a complementary colour for a blended look, something that pops in an otherwise neutral scene, or a loud shade in a more eclectic home. As mentioned, we recommend getting hold of fabric swatches because what looks great in the showroom might look completely different when immersed in your home setting.

10. It’s bad quality

High-quality sofas are worth the investment for three reasons: they look fantastic, they feel fantastic and they will keep looking and feeling fantastic for years to come. Go for a brand you trust that puts care into its product design. For example, all our settees are built with hardwood in the frame, which not only makes for a more comfortable spot for our plump-free pillows to rest on, but also means they are built to last. Luxury sofas may seem more expensive initially, but they end up costing less in the long run.

Evie corner sofa |@insideeightyone

Want to know more about choosing a sofa for your home? Read our post on finding the right sofa for your living room, then start shopping for our full range of high-quality and comfy sofas. Tag us in your new seating styles on Instagram with #OakFurnitureland #GrowYourHome.

Related Topics

• Classic sofa
• Corner Sofas
• cosy sofas
• Couch
• Living Room
• Sofas
• top tips