Try before you buy
Before buying your sofa, decide on how often this will be used and exactly what purpose it will serve - whether it’s for long relaxing evenings, a place for visitors to sit or to double up as a sofa bed for guests.
This will determine how you want your sofa to look and feel in your space
Once you’re sure of exactly what you want, it’s time to select the dimensions.
Your average sofa has a seat depth of at least 60cm, which gives plenty of room to manoeuvre if you have long legs, and allows you to tuck them under if you’re shorter. However, seat depths do vary, so try out different styles to ensure you have good back support.
Ultimately, the main function of your sofa is to provide comfort, so it’s important that you have a seat which feels as relaxing as possible, and best fits its purpose.
To really tailor your seat to your needs, you should also try out the seat height. Most designs are between 45cm and 50cm high, so it’s worth a test to make sure it suits the whole family. Some major things to bear in mind are if the sofa offers head support, and fits your lower back to provide the ultimate source of comfort.
Finally, remember to check the total length, excluding armrests if you like to stretch out your legs!