The right couch will make your living room the perfect place to read, chat or watch your favorite media format. The wrong couch will stand out like a sore thumb or get in the way of living in your living room. Here’s how to choose the right couch for your space.
Create a Plan
We’re not talking about planning when you’re going to go to the furniture store. Create a floor plan for the room where you want to put the couch. How large is it? How large is the space where you want to install a couch? You can’t install a couch that’s one inch wider than the room, though you can always work with a couch that’s a few inches narrower than you expected. How big is the doorway and hallway? You don’t want to buy something so long or wide that you can’t install it unless you take out a window, if that’s even an option.
Decide What You Want and Need Before You Go Shopping
Decide what you need from the couch before you go shopping. Do you want a basic couch to sit on once in a while or a luxurious couch that you could read for hours on? Do you want something you’re comfortable gaming on, or do you want something that doubles as a bed? The couch may have a fold out sofa bed, or you may be able to get a matching footrest or divan that someone can sleep on. But you want to create a list of these must-haves and nice-to-have features before you buy it.
Consider How the Couch Will Be Used
Also take your daily use of the couch into account. Are the kids going to be sitting on it while watching movies? That might make stain resistant fabric a priority. Will your pets be sitting on it periodically? You may want fabric that’s easy to vacuum without damaging it. Is it going to sit under the window as a window seat? Don’t pick a couch made from material that fades on exposure to sunlight.
Find the Right Retailer
Once you have your shopping list of features, materials and dimensions, the hard part is finding the couch that fits the bill. One solution is going to a furniture store that allows you to look through their inventory for the right couch for you. The greatest benefit of this approach is that you can typically test drive the couch by sitting on it. On the other hand, buying a couch online means you have access to a much larger selection. Online retailers can have a massive inventory in their warehouse relative to what is on display at the retail outlet. They don’t have to pay a premium for the retail space, and they can more easily order a custom version of a couch you like if they don’t have it in stock. For example, you might like their beige L-shaped couch and choose the cream-colored corduroy instead. A side benefit of this approach is that you can choose a retailer known for providing a good overall value and service and know that you’ll be happy with both the product and its delivery.
