Your sofa is one of the largest and most expensive items you’ll buy for your home, plus, aside from your bed, it’s the piece of furniture you’ll spend the most time on.

A sofa is an investment piece and, due to its sheer size, it’ll likely be the focal point in the room, as well as the item which will end up dictating the look and the feel of the entire space.

So if you’re looking for a new sofa, it’s key you get it right. You want it to last and you want to enjoy lounging on it as much as you love looking at it. From size and shape to materials, fabric, design and quality, there is a lot to think about.

To ensure you end up with the sofa of your dreams, here are my eight dos and don’ts when sofa shopping…

DO firstly think about the purpose of your sofa.

How do you live? How do you use the room? Who will be using the sofa and will they be lounging watching TV, reading, having a cuppa, sitting and chatting? How many people does the piece need to accommodate, for example, does it need to be used as a sofa bed too? Thinking about the function of the sofa first and foremost will help with the rest of the decisions.

DON’T compromise on the quality of your sofa.

Check what material the frame is made from. Paying a little more for a sofa with a strong, solid timber frame will ensure it lasts, and can withstand the wear and tear of family life. Avoid particleboard, mdf or metal construction as they wear over time. Check on the sofa’s guarantee too - 15 years is advisable.

A chesterfield with a twist, image from Loaf

DO always try your sofa out before you buy.

This is key to ensure you’re happy from a comfort point of view, as it’s such a personal thing. You can get away with buying online if it’s a secondary sofa that you’ll be spending less time on, or an armchair which doesn’t have to be ultra comfortable. (if you do buy online make sure it’s from a reputable supplier - I am going to list my top ten at the end of this piece).

There’s no standard size when it comes to sofas, and many suppliers offer modular or even bespoke options to allow you to choose your depth, seat height, armrest height and back height to suit.

The dimensions are a very personal choice - some people prefer to sit with their legs up on the sofa in front of them, some prefer their feet to be resting on the floor. Or if you’re tall you might feel you need extra back height behind you. Make sure you have a sit down and try out different levels of ‘firmness’ before you buy - you want to feel as comfy as possible.

DON’T follow trends when picking your sofa

You want to still love your sofa in ten to fifteen years time so choosing a classic, timeless style is much safer than following the latest trends which you’ll likely grow bored of a few years down the line.

Pick a fabric you love, a style you love and go with your gut instinct. Remember, you’re buying this for you and your family, not anyone else. Don’t over-think it!

Curvy, comfy modern style sofa from daals

DO research the cushion fillings in your new sofa.

There are three types you can choose from and often a combination of two or three of these works well, as you benefit from the comfiness of the feather, alongside the support of foam.

Feather cushions are luxurious, natural and ultra comfy. They are super soft and squishy, allowing you to sink right in. They are less structured than foam and will require lots of plumping to retain a neat, rounded look and enough support.

Fibre cushions are made from polyester material and act like feathers in that they have a soft, relaxed feel. They also require a fair amount of plumping to maintain a full, rounded appearance.

Foam cushions are much firmer and structured in feel and appearance. They will bounce back once sat on and keep their shape, no reshaping required. You can choose the density of your foam - the higher the density, the firmer and more supportive the cushion will be, and it’ll better maintain its shape. Foam filled cushions will lose around 15% of their hardness within the first six months of use, so worth bearing this in mind when purchasing.

DON’T forget to measure the space for your sofa

Sofas always look and feel so much larger when you bring them home, as you’ll have only seen them in the huge showroom. This is fine, as long as you’ve measured carefully and aren’t trying to cram something into a too small space. Always measure at least twice to be sure!

The sofa should fill the room, not overwhelm it. Pay attention to the back height in relation to the ceiling height, and the number of cushions for the number of people you’d like to accommodate. Give the sofa enough space for your side tables, footstool, with enough space for the furniture to ‘breathe’. A useful rule of thumb is that your sofa should take up around two thirds of your living space.

A great way to visualise where the sofa will go and how it will fill the space is to tape out the outline of the piece. You could even fill the outline with paper or some fabric to block out exactly where it will sit.

Don’t forget to check your sofa will fit through your front door, up any stairs and down any narrow hallways.

Do consider your choice of sofa fabric carefully

Picking a fabric which will withstand plenty of wear and tear is important. There are a whole host of fabric types to choose from, it’s down to you to decide based on how you’ll be using the sofa and your personal preference when it comes to the look and feel.

Always order swatches of the fabrics you like, so you can see how they look in your home. It’s always best if you can take a look at the scale of the pattern in real life, and to see the fabric in the light of the room it’s going to end up in. It’s a great idea to create a moodboard, either physically or digitally, to bring the whole scheme to life and help you to visualise how all the fabrics and finishes in the room will look like together.

The majority of suppliers will offer a protection plan for the first five years, which means you can spill whatever you like on your sofa and you can have it cleaned as many times as you need.

A few points on the fabric options out there:

Leather is a great choice for children and dogs as it’s highly durable, wipe clean, softens with age and any marks or scuffs just add to its character. However, it can feel chilly to the touch in winter and can get hot and sticky in summer.

Cotton and wool blends are easy to clean and feel lovely and comfortable to the touch. What’s more, they are super durable and naturally warm fabrics. A very popular fabric at the moment is boucle - often made from wool, you are likely to see a lot of that around. Not great for pets as it’s easily scratched due to its very textured weave, but it will be durable and if stain protected, it will last.

Synthetics are a great option, particularly for busy family homes with children and animals. These materials include polyester and microfibre (a very fine poleyster), acetate (imitation silk), chenille (cotton like), faux leather, and microfiber (an extremely fine polyester). These fabrics are manufactured or treated to prevent stains and are typically water and oil resistant.

Velvet is a soft, luxurious fabric which is super popular due to its elegance in terms of look and feel. However, it is not easily washable and shows up marks easily. The synthetic version is however, a brilliant choice as it wipes clean easily and lasts well.

DON’T forget to consider your sofa style and shape

Deciding on your sofa style is a fine balance between comfort and aesthetics. It needs to tick both boxes.

If your sofa is going in a relatively small space, with low ceiling, go for a style with visible bare legs and a decent gap between the bottom of the sofa and the floor. This will give the illusion of more space as you’ll be able to see the floor.

If it’s for a period property and you prefer a more traditional style, choose a more classic style - an ‘English rolled arm,’ ‘Chesterfield’, ‘tuxedo’ or a ‘camelback’ are the more traditional types. Or your decor might suit a more retro mid century modern or ‘cabroile’; style. If you’re going for a contemporary look, the ‘lawson’ is more of a modern, streamlined style and the chaise and corner, or sectional, sofas tend to be more minimal and contemporary too.

Sofa from Arlo & Jacob in a boucle fabric

My top sofa suppliers:

Sofa.com - a reliable mid range supplier with a great range of options. Showrooms are few and far between but they are scattered around the country.

DFS - known for their sales but good quality and not as super cheap as you’d think.

Barker & Stonehouse - some gorgeous styles here, and lovely showrooms.

Furniture Village - great price and something for everyone.

West Elm - slightly higher end and very stylish.

Loaf - lovely range and great quality.

Sweetpea & Willow - A luxury option full of beautiful, unusual pieces.

Sofology - on the lower budget end but some great options here.

Eight dos and don'ts when sofa shopping from a luxury interior designer