Ready for a New Couch? Here’s Everything You Need to Know Before Buying One

Buying a new couch is a big commitment. They tend to come with a hefty price tag, yes, but more importantly, they’re such a crucial element to your home. A sofa is where you lounge, watch TV, play video games, nap, hang out with friends, and more. Buying the right couch for you and your family can feel like a daunting feat, but with this guide, you’ll know just what to look for and where to get started:

The Color and Material

The next thing that will make a huge difference is the color and the material. A couch takes up a huge amount of what you see in a living room and what you touch. The material, then, needs to hold the color you want very well while also being comfortable for the most sensitive parts of your body, like your hands and feet.

To help, here are a few fan-favorite combinations:

Green and Velvet

Green couches are a big hit because they’re stunning to look at and hide the dirt and wear from everyday living. You can, of course, get a couch in any material, but one of the best for comfort and color is velvet. Velvet is how you’ll get those jewel tones to stand out. Other good options include corduroy or boucle.

White and Polycotton

White couches are beautiful, and they do work wonders to make small spaces feel so much larger. If you have a family, however, then it’s only a matter of time before someone spills something. That’s why you need to pair white sofas with a polyester (or similar man-made material) or poly blend. Polyester is a hard-wearing material that can mimic others, and, most importantly, it’s easy to clean. Ramp up that natural stain resistance with a fabric treatment, and it will actually be easy to keep your white couch, white.

Leather and Brown

Leather is a living material, which means it can crack and rip or stay smooth and well-worn for generations. The difference is in how you care for it. So long as you go in and condition your couch twice a year, it can and will hold up to a whole family sitting on it for a generation. Conditioned, leather is also very stain-resistant and buttery soft, making it a very comfortable choice.

The Size

Finally, the size. Ideally, you will have a sofa that naturally fits everyone living comfortably in your household. This, of course, isn’t always possible. For example, your living room may be very small, limiting your space. Then, of course, there’s the fact that just because everyone can technically sit on it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily comfortable.

To help, look for these sofa types:

• A sectional L-shaped sofa: these let more people stretch out and relax than a traditional straight sofa.
• Rounded edges: You want a sofa with relaxed armrests so that people can comfortably lean right over them, giving those in the middle more room.

You can also add to the comfort of your couch by adding a matching ottoman or footrest since this lets more people kick out their feet and relax.