The perfect sofa doesn’t just happen – but a few well-chosen tips will help you make the decision that’s right for you! Follow our guide below to see which things you should be thinking about as couch designs, both inside and out, for an investment you’ll be happy to sit on for years to come.

Looks may be important, but sofa beauty is more than skin deep. The best place to start a wonderful relationship with this major item of furniture is to know how you’re going to use it. Will it be:

• A fashion centrepiece in your living room?
• A cosy get-together place for you, your spouse and your kids?
• A place for lying down, taking a nap and maybe putting a friend up for the night?
• All of the above?

When you’ve decided this, you can then pick and choose couch designs according to the following factors.

Size

It may sound obvious, but you need to be able to get your sofa in through the door. After that, couch designs should also be correctly proportioned compared to the room you put it in. So measure up! And then see if a two-seater or three-seater will work better for you, or if you also want to have matching single-seater arm chair and puffees.

Construction

Look for couches with hardwood frames and good suspension for a model that will last for years. Cheaper sofas rely on particleboard and low-density foam to keep costs down, but soon sag. Frames should be solidly anchored, screwed and glued together. Individual coil or zigzag springs and Contour-Cut polyurethane foam are components of quality suspension, designed to evenly support the weights of several adults at the same time.

Covering

While also a matter of personal preference, there can be no denying that leather couches have substantial advantages over kinds. Quality Italian leather for example is hardwearing yet comfortable and in time acquires the subtle shine or patina that makes a high-class sofa even more inviting.

Arms and Legs!

Sofa arms are important too in couch designs. Choose high rise sofa arms for intimacy or relaxing snuggled up in a corner. Lower sofa arms or no arms give a more open look and make it easier to lie down full length. Legs are as much a question of style as anything. Choose between hidden or visible, according to how you want your sofa and your other furnishings to match.