Sofa Styling Guide

  Choosing a sofa seems like a simple task on surface, but can turn complex when factoring in all the attributes a sofa has. Which size is best? What color matches the room? What material is best for me? This simple guide can help make this process a little easier, and less stressful, for you.

Size

Length

   When choosing the length of a sofa, a safe rule of thumb is the 2/3 rule. It's best to have your sofa be about 2/3 the length of the wall it is going up against or is sitting in front of. This loose rule allows a perfect combination for allowing the sofa to fill an ample amount of space, while also allowing room for movement. It is also best to leave about 5 inches between the sofa and the wall.

Movement

   Another key to remember is that your sofa needs to allow space for you and your guests to walk around. You want to leave about 36 inches between all pieces of furniture for walking paths. One thing that many people forget to take into account is reclining furniture and its size when reclined. Make sure you are looking at the size when reclined to get a better idea of the amount of space it takes up. 

Seating Capacity

   One final thing to consider is the amount of people you think will use the sofa at a time. If you think there will be times when 3 or more people will be using it together, it would be best to look for a standard sofa. Standard sofas usually seat 3 people, where sectionals can seat more people depending on the sectional.  Large sofas are great, but if you don't need the increased seating space, don't be afraid to make a loveseat your main seating option. Sacrificing seating capacity can allow more room for adding accent pieces and creating your ideal room.

Color

Airy and Open or Warm and Cozy?

   Color all depends on the vibe you are trying to create. Lighter colors tend to make rooms feel more open and spacious. Small rooms can feel bigger if they are complemented with lighter furniture tones. Darker colors tend to create warmer, closer feelings. If you have a room that you feel is too large, you can use darker tones to make the room feel smaller. Color is the key factor in creating the "feel" of a room.

Stand Out or Blend In?

   This is truly a "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" situation. Do you want your sofa to be the centerpiece of your room, or do you want a sofa that fits with other furniture? If you are a person that wants your sofa to really stand out, you can look into getting a sofa that has a contrasting color with your walls. Contrasting colors are colors on the opposite ends of a color wheel. Common contrasting pairs are red-green, blue-orange, and yellow-purple. 

   Those looking for their furniture to be more low-key will look for matching, or analogous, colors. Remember, if you have a room that is the exact same color as the furniture, the room can feel stale if you don't have other furniture pieces with accent colors. 

Lighting

   Lighting is commonly underestimated when it comes to choosing your colors. Rooms that have a lot of natural sunlight make warmer colors look lighter. Incandescent light bulbs make rooms feel warmer, while fluorescent bulbs make rooms feel brighter. This may not be a huge factor for everybody, but it's something to keep in mind when choosing sofa colors. 

Upholstery

    Upholstery material is arguably the most important factor in determining the price of a sofa. Each material is different, and a material that is ideal for one person may not be ideal for another. Common upholstery materials are:

Synthetic (Viscose/Rayon, Velvet, Polyester, Sherpa, Faux Leather)

Viscose/Rayon: Created from cellulose found in plants (yes, literal plants). While the original material is found in plants, this is considered semi-synthetic due to the manufacturing process. Viscose has a silky feel, but comes at only a fraction of the cost of actual silk. Downsides to using this material is that it's prone to wrinkle, and liquids (including water) can cause the material to turn yellow or brown if not absorbed promptly after spills. Take this into account if you have a busy, or populated, household. 

Velvet: A common luxury material, velvet is known for feel and durability. While silk is more expensive, velvet is still viewed as a great alternative due to its softness, and it's cheaper. While more expensive than most other materials, the quality you get when buying velvet furniture is well worth the cost. A few downsides of velvet are that they can get dusty, so vacuum cleaning regularly is recommended. Also, direct sunlight can cause velvet to fade quicker than normal. Velvet also naturally will begin to bruise, but some may view this as a positive because some believe it adds character to the piece. 

Polyester: Made from oil, this material is durable and doesn't wrinkle easily. Polyester is also very easy to clean. One of the negatives is the environmental impact polyester has due to polyester being made from oil. Polyester does not decompose properly when it is thrown away. Using recycled polyester is better for the environment and is becoming more common. 

Sherpa: Sherpa is faux sheepskin commonly made from polyester, acrylic, or cotton. This material is extremely soft and warm. Sherpa is also considered a quick drying material that is better at resisting stains. A downside is sherpa does wear down quicker than some other materials and it can be prone to pilling. Sherpa is a great alternative to those that don't want real sheepskin, whether that's because of ethical choices or if it's due to price.

Faux Leather: Used as a cheaper alternative to real leather, faux leather is commonly made from oil-based materials. It is a great material for those looking to have a similar look to real leather, without having real leather. A few disadvantages are that faux leather can peel and crack after some time. It is not as durable as real leather and has some environmental disadvantages as well. It is still viewed as a great upholstery material.

Natural Fabrics (Leather, Silk, Cotton, Linen)

Leather:  Leather is commonly viewed as the most luxurious upholstery material. With 4 different types, the different types of leather are (in order from highest to lowest quality): Full Grain, Top Grain, Genuine, and Bonded Leather. Full Grain leather is taken from the top layer of hide, and goes through minimal processing. it also develops a unique patina over time. This is the most expensive leather due to it being the most "natural". Top Grain is almost completely indistinguishable from Full Grain but is taken from the second layer instead of the top layer. This type is sanded and buffed to remove flaws which actually makes it more comfortable than Full Grain leather for most people. Top Grain isn't as water resistant and does wear faster than Full Grain. While not the "highest" quality, Top Grain is still extremely high quality. Genuine leather is sanded and buffed which gives it a uniform color. This type is still very soft and can be dyed and treated to create handbags, shoes, belts, and more. This leather is not as durable as Full and Top-Grain. Bonded leather is made from the scraps of other leather and is the least durable, and also is not water resistant.

Silk: Made from silkworms, and webs from other insects, silk is often viewed as the softest material available. While soft, this material is not very durable, so it may not be best to use on furniture that is made for everyday sitting. Many have silk furniture in rooms that are not the main entertaining area. Also, silk stains easily and is not good in sunlight. While a luxury for its softness, it is not a very practical material for everyday furniture. 

Cotton: Cotton is extremely soft and durable. Cotton sofas become softer the more you use them. The big downside to cotton is it can stain easily. This is a great upholstery for those looking for feel and durability, while not breaking the bank.

Linen: A classic, durable, upholstery material. It does not easily cause pilling, but can wrinkle and crease easily. Many slip covers are machine washable. This is a great material for busy, and frequently used furniture. While more expensive than cotton, the price is often viewed as worth it. 

Hopefully this small guide helps give you a better idea of what your ideal sofa is!