Choosing the Perfect Living Room Sofa
If comfort is your number one priority:
The living room functions as a quiet relaxation space for family, as well as a conversational and entertainment area when guests arrive. Appropriate seating is the most important part of creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.
Choosing the right sofa can be daunting. With a myriad of sofa shapes, arm styles, cushion sizes, and pillow fillings, as well as unlimited fabric and trim choices, how do you know where to begin? To ensure that the seating is comfortable and safe, follow a few guidelines. 
Select a sofa with a seat height of at least 17 inches for easiest sitting and standing, putting less strain on knees and back. The depth of the seat will also affect your ability to stand up without effort. Choose a sofa with a maximum depth of 18 inches. If an existing sofa has a deeper seat, add pillows or cushions to the back to shorten it.
While softer sofas may seem more luxurious, they require additional effort for standing. If anyone in your family has trouble standing, opt for a firm seat and add soft throw pillows for softness as desired.
Leave 12 to 18 inches between the sofa and the coffee table. This allows sufficient room for slipping in and out, while keeping the table close enough for comfortable use.
If you are going to invest in a comfortable sofa that is also durable, check out the springs and the padding. "Eight-way hand-tied" is the spring system used in better quality upholstered pieces. Polyurethane foam and polyester fiber fillings may not stand up to constant use. High-resilient foam is more expensive, but is also longer lasting.
Back to top
|