Choosing the Perfect Sofa: Things to Consider

Since the sofa is such an integral part of any living space, it’s vital that it meets every aspect of your expectations – and then some!

In this article, I have collected seven elements that should be taken into account when buying your dream living room seat. 

Sofa Types

We have a few basic combinations to choose from. We can opt for a corner, a couch, two sofas, a couch and two armchairs, a corner and an armchair, etc. There is a lot of it. It all depends on what space we have and what suits us best. In large living rooms, it may be a good idea to use a sofa consisting of modules that can be freely composed according to your preferences. An interesting solution is also placing two sofas opposite each other or instead of one of the sofas – two armchairs (not necessarily a complete set) or an armchair and pouffes. 

Size

Depending on the size, we can choose wide corners or tiny double sofas. It all depends on how big our living room is, and also on the number of people who will be using the sofa at one time. In my opinion, the larger the seat, the better, more comfortable and “social”. 

The Two C’s: Convenience & Comfort

The sofa must first and foremost be comfortable. During the day, and especially on winter evenings, we spend a lot of time on it. You should pay attention to its depth, the height of the seat and backrest, as well as its softness. The sofa should not be too deep, because then it will only be suitable for lying down (optimal depth is about 60-70 cm). Neither too soft when we want to receive guests on it (drinking coffee on a soft, collapsing sofa can be almost a miracle). The backrest cannot be too low, because it will be uncomfortable to lean against it (min.50cm). Some sofas come with large cushions that perfectly replace the high backrests. They will also work well when the armrest is located on one side only. Of course, all of the above elements are contractual, and which sofa you choose depends only on you and your needs. 

Who’s Corner are you in?

 Depending on the layout of the room, one corner will be more suitable for the left corner and the other corner for the right one (i.e. with the more protruding left and right parts, respectively). I do not know if in all of them, but I can certainly write that in most corners this choice is possible. You will probably ask: “How do I know which side to choose?” Well, it has been assumed that if the corner is to be placed in the corner of the room, the more protruding part should be adjacent to the wall. Otherwise, it will clutter the passage and visually look worse (I am preparing a separate entry about the arrangement of the sofa in the living room, so you will learn more about it soon). 

Style & Form

The style and form of the sofa should match the style of the living room. We can choose a simple Scandinavian corner sofa or a quilted sofa with glamor style legs. When choosing, it is also worth considering other furniture that will stand in the living room. 

Material

There are two types of materials – fabric and leather. The former are more affordable, the latter a little less. Many people have bad experiences with leather-like upholstery, but the producers assure that the quality of the artificial leather is very high now. It does not change the fact that the fabric is more pleasant to touch, warmer in winter and does not stick to the skin on hot days. There are several classes of fabrics. The highest one is a stain and scratch resistant one that is perfect for small children and animals. 

Colour

Colour is a very important point that we cannot forget. The sofa should have a universal colour (universal is not necessarily grey, it is rather one that we will not get bored of and will fit most of the arrangements we come up with). Of course, the grey sofa goes with everything, while the yellow sofa already obliges you to something and it is difficult to match it with all the colours of the rainbow. Although it can be compared to the aesthetic values, which is also an individual matter. In small interiors, contrasting colours should not be used (white wall – black sofa), because it optically reduces the room. 

 

 

Garden Furniture Ideas and Inspiration: What Colour Should I Choose?

The colour of your furniture is one of the most important things to consider when choosing your set. It can really make or break the look you want to achieve, and contributes greatly to the overall atmosphere of the garden. 

Things to Consider
When considering which colour of garden furniture to choose, you may be drawn to your favourite colours. This of course is justified! It’s no surprise that you want to create a garden arrangement that suits your tastes to a tee, but it is worth remembering that this should not be the only criteria. Very important for a harmonious effect is the colour of the furniture’s surroundings. The colours you choose may want to correspond with elements of space such as the ground stand on, the materials from which other garden equipment is made and, of course, with the vegetation. Additionally, if you do not want the colour of your garden furniture to change too quickly, you need to take into account the humidity and the degree of sunlight of the place where you put it. It is worth choosing furniture colours that will not appear unfashionable after one season – so it’s good to give up flashy colours and choose more subdued or classic shades that will match many garden arrangements.

Before choosing your dream equipment, think about the colour of the furniture that suits the space of your garden. A wide range of furniture made of various materials allows for a huge selection and satisfying many colour needs. Here we will outline a few popular garden furniture colours and what makes them unique!

Green is the essence of nature contained in the garden, so it’s no wonder that they are often chosen as the colour of furniture. Thanks to its array of deep shades to suit every mood, you can create a real oasis of peace – especially when you choose contrasting colours to your garden foliage. Lighter shades, in turn, will make the equipment stand out against the background of vegetation. Camouflaging furniture in the garden is also something you might want to try – we don’t see it very often, so it’s sure to be a talking point!

Brown as the colour of furniture, browns have the property of warming up space, and are also associated with the natural colour of wood. Their colour is universal and harmonizes beautifully with greenery, which makes it suitable for almost any garden. It is also a good choice if you have other wooden elements in your garden space, e.g. a tool house or a wooden platform.

Beiges and Greys – these are the colours of garden furniture in a modern style. Most if not all of our rattan sets are usually made of durable polyrattan and can successfully stand even in the sunniest places. They work well with various types of ground – they will look great both on the lawn and on the terrace or balcony made of natural boards. You can also choose them if you have paving stones or tiles in your garden on which you want to put your garden furniture. The colours of beige and graphite will beautifully display the purchased equipment.

White is a synonym of elegance. If you are wondering what colour of furniture suits a tastefully decorated garden, bright, pale colours are the way to go, to make each feature stand out – as well as the furniture itself. This colour naturally stands out from the greens and browns that we meet in the garden. It also beautifully emphasizes the shapes of the equipment and is an easy colour to refresh due to its availability. The white colour of the furniture will catch the eye and help to achieve colour harmony in the garden.

Pastels are a perfect fit for gardens with softer-coloured foliage. Furniture in these colours brings to mind summer and meets the need for colours that are slightly more quirky than standard palette colours. They look great on almost any surface, but it is worth avoiding placing them in places where it is quite damp, as it treads on their uplifting feel.

Arranging a Garden Space: What Role does Your Garden Furniture Need to Play?

Garden furniture is an indispensable element of garden architecture and terrace arrangement – but how do we choose a set that meets our needs?

 

Buying Fit for Purpose

First and foremost, we should consider what kind of furniture will not only express our taste but also meet our functional requirements. We must ask ourselves the question: what will be its primary purpose?

 

Perhaps it’s relaxing after a tiresome day at work with a cup of coffee (or wine!) in hand. Or, are you one prone to partying, living for the opportunity to host for multiple people at a time? Will the set just be for the two of you, or do you have up to eight people to entertain at once? At Homeflair, we’ve sets to suit all of these needs and more.

 

Storing it All Away

Another thing to consider is how you’ll store your furniture once you’ve finished with it for the season. A lot of our sets, such as our rattan range, can be left outside all year-round without damage caused by the elements, as the synthetic weave used in the products is weatherproof. If your furniture is made from wood or a material less hardwearing, though, you’ll want to store it away in a dry location – so ensure you have a set space for it before bringing it home!

 

Fitting your Garden Furniture – Size Matters!

Working with a small space? Not a problem. We’ve a great selection of chairs that would make their home quite comfortably on a more compact garden, or even a terrace or balcony. Take our Castello Hanging Tub Chair, for example – this chic, standalone design has elegance wherever it is placed, and can even be utilised indoors when it’s too cold to relax outside.

 

Garden loungers and recliners also make ideal sets for a balcony or terrace. Make a statement and soak up the sun – but not your garden space.

 

Garden Corner Sets

A classic crowd pleaser comes in the form of a corner sofa set, guaranteed to keep guests sitting comfortably the whole day and night through. They’re not only functional in terms of seating multiple guests, but they also fit snugly into gardens that have a generic square shape.

Plenty of our sets can also be arranged into different configurations. Spread each piece out or go as compact as you can to really make your furniture your own.

 

Garden Corner Sets

A classic crowd pleaser comes in the form of a corner sofa set, guaranteed to keep guests sitting comfortably the whole day and night through. They’re not only functional in terms of seating multiple guests, but they also fit snugly into gardens that have a generic square shape.

Plenty of our sets can also be arranged into different configurations. Spread each piece out or go as compact as you can to really make your furniture your own.

 

Always in Fashion – Wonderful Wood!

For a rustic, timeless appearance, why not opt for a set crafted from wood? We’ve in stock plenty of large unfolding tables and smaller sets for those who want to keep it compact. It’s a fantastic alternative to rattan that suits a background of lush greenery for a park-like feel.

Just be forewarned that you’ll be babying these sets a lot more than rattan… but you’ll soon find out that it’s sure worth it!

 

Inspired yet? Fantastic! Browse our huge range of Garden Furniture today and see if we have a set to suit you.