Buying a sofa is one of the most important investments you're likely to make for your home. In the living room it's a piece of furniture where we lounge, read, eat and drink, entertain family and friends, watch TV and even sleep, so it makes sense that we take the time to invest in one that's going to last for years to come, right? From taking measurements to choosing a good fabric, these are 3 things you should consider before buying a new sofa.

1. Try Before You Buy

You know when you're on the hunt for a new mattress and you do the age-old bottom test? Well, the same theory applies to a sofa. Seat depths on sofas can vary, as well as the firmness and feel, so we would always advise popping down to one of our pop-up stores to try out all our different styles of sofas. And a top tip, make sure to check the total width, excluding armrests, if you like to stretch out.

2. Focus On Fabric

Whether you go for a bold colour, pattern or a neutral, your choice of upholstery fabric will have a huge impact on the room, so choose carefully to ensure it fits with your colour scheme. Natural materials may fade in strong sunlight so go for a synthetic fabric if the sofa will be near a window. It's particularly important in a busy family home, and if you have a dog or cat, opt for a fabric that's easy to clean. In this case, loose covers are worth investigating, as they can be removed for cleaning.

3. Measure Up

There is honestly nothing worse than buying furniture that doesn't fit into your home (remember Ross's iconic 'pivot' sofa scene in Friends?!), so before you do anything, please measure up. Get out the tape measure and make sure you're certain of the maximum sofa dimensions that will fit, and suit, your space. Also, check the dimensions of any doors and stairways the sofa will have to pass through on delivery – your unscuffed walls will thank you.

Sofa Club X