Choosing a sofa for the living room: what to look for?

Upholstered furniture occupies an important place in the interior of the living room. The right sofa should add special comfort and coziness to any room.

The choice of sofa is primarily based on personal preferences, but it is also important to consider the size of the space available to you

Therefore, you should not buy the first sample you like. A sofa that will look great in the sales area of ​​a furniture center may not always fit organically with the design of your room. In this article we will tell you how to choose a sofa for the living room and avoid mistakes.

Many sofas are very beautiful and comfortable, but have an inconvenient folding design; in some models it is completely absent

Size and shape

Dimensions of sofas depending on type

When choosing the size of a sofa for the living room, you need to start from the number of people who will have to fit on it. The most common models are designed for three people and are about two meters long. For a company of 5-6 people, a corner sofa is suitable.

Dimensions of sofas depending on the number of seats

Corner sofas have the added bonus of easily converting into a large sleeping area. A semicircular sofa could be an interesting option. It allows you to comfortably sit with an impressive group in front of the TV screen.

The corner sofa has the largest dimensions due to its shape and is suitable only for a spacious room

When the room is small, a new piece of furniture can make it difficult to access cabinets or block doorways. In such cases, it is better to think through the placement in advance by drawing a plan of the room with all the furnishings.

Living room layout with corner sofa and separate armchair

Double upholstered furniture

A two-seat sofa can be a small compact model. The length varies from 150 to 250 cm, depth - from 90 cm. It should be noted that miniature models are most often not intended for proper rest. In the premium segment, these are beautiful sofas for offices, billiard rooms, halls, or for an additional soft area in the living room. In our model range you can choose compact sofas with a built-in full-fledged sleeping place. Furniture for lying down is at least 2 meters, and one-and-a-half sizes of increased comfort have a length of 220–250 cm and a depth of more than 100 cm.

Design

Types of sofas by type of transformation

If the sofa in the living room will be used as a bed, you should choose a folding model. They come in several varieties.

Mechanisms for folding sofas

The book is a classic version, very popular. The back and seat fold out into a single plane in one movement. The disadvantage of the system is the need to constantly move the sofa away from the wall.

Modern sofa book filled with spring block

Eurobook - unfolds in the same way, only it has 2-3 additional positions for fixing the backrest.

Straight Eurobook sofa with unusual decorative pillows

American or French folding bed - extra sections are hidden down. When unfolded, it provides a large and durable bed with a good mattress.

An American folding sofa is suitable for everyday use.

Roll-out mechanism - provides a large sleeping area, but can leave tracks from the wheels on the floor or carpet.

Roll-out mechanism that easily transforms into a full-fledged bed

Accordion - provides maximum bed area with its own minimum dimensions. Unfortunately, when unfolded, you have to do without a headboard, and this design is quite difficult to fold.

Folding sofa without armrests with accordion mechanism

Each design has its own advantages and disadvantages; one cannot say that one is better than the other. Some people need a large bed area, for others speed and ease of transformation are more important. The main thing is to make sure of the quality of the mechanism used in the sofa you like: made of metal with a thickness of at least 3 mm, no scratches or dents, evenly painted.

Three seater sofas

There are elite straight sofas with a length of 300 cm, but common sizes are 260–270 cm. Therefore, roomy two-seater models are more popular - they are almost as large and at the same time compact. But a three-seater sofa is most often modular. You can add a section, and this is an additional 50–70 cm in length. If you place a pouf on the side, you get a spacious canape.

Frame

Corner sofa frame made of chipboard

The durability of a sofa is largely determined by the material from which its base is assembled. The simplest and cheapest ones usually have a frame made of chipboard. You should not buy such a sofa on the market or from an unreliable seller - low-quality chipboard will not only shorten the life of your sofa, but can also emit harmful substances for years. But if the frame is made of high-quality material, then such a sofa should be considered as a good purchase for reasonable money. The most common wood frames are: pine, birch, ash, beech, oak and other species. The highest quality furniture has a frame made of oak beams, which are reinforced with metal elements. Such sofas belong to the highest price category, but their long service life makes the purchase profitable.

Sofas with wooden frames are durable

Sofas with a metal frame stand somewhat apart. Typically office furniture has such a frame. Elements made of chromed steel look good in rooms with high-tech interiors and have a serious margin of safety. The disadvantages of metal frames include their excess weight and high cost.

Sofa with comfortable seats and chrome-plated metal frame

What sizes are sofas depending on the type?

Most choose upholstered furniture, which can be turned into an additional sleeping place, because you can not only sit on it, but also accommodate guests or sleep yourself. There are several types of sofa products and each has its own characteristics that are worth considering.

Corner sofa: standard sizes

Typically, corner structures are quite large and occupy an entire corner of the room, using a minimum of usable space. This is an excellent choice for a small room, and the folding version ensures a comfortable sleep. Among its features are:

• The design consists of three parts - a pair of straight elements and an angle. The long part is usually 130–150 cm.
• Availability of designs without armrests, taking up less space.
• Different parameters of the sleeping place, the width of which can be 140–200 cm.
• The standard does not indicate what the width of the sofa should be, but most often it is 70 or 90 cm.
• An important element is the linen drawer, in which you can hide bed linen or other accessories.

Features of a straight sofa

This variety is considered the most common and it is the choice of most residential premises. It is often installed along the wall, but sometimes it is also used to divide a room into different zones. The depth and size of the sofa can be different, it all depends on the mechanisms that help them unfold. The seating comfort depends on the depth.

When purchasing a straight model, you must take into account its dimensions when it is unfolded. However, the folded state is no less important, because often such products are complemented by wide armrests.

Separately, it is worth highlighting a modular sofa; the sizes of such upholstered furniture can be very diverse, because it consists of different elements. If desired, you can always separate them by changing the order. The color, size, and number of parts depend on the buyer, so everyone can independently choose the size of the depth, width and length of the sofa, giving it the shape of an angle, semicircle or even a zigzag. The size of one module is usually 60–100 cm.

Filling and upholstery

The filler is one of the most important components of the sofa.

For seat cushions in sofas, either foam rubber or springs are used. Foam filling is cheaper, but loses its original shape after several years of use.

Furniture foam rubber or polyurethane foam is the main soft filler of upholstered furniture

Spring mattresses are more expensive and must rest on a more massive base.

Spring block of Bonnel dependent springs made of steel

Sofas are upholstered with a variety of materials. Leather upholstery has become the standard for office upholstered furniture. For the living room, upholstery made from tapestry, a semi-synthetic material with water-repellent impregnation, is well suited.

Classic brown leather sofa with ash frame

Sofa upholstered in tapestry fabric

Interior design experts unanimously recommend choosing neutral colors for upholstery in the living room that will not attract attention.

Beige corner sofa with brown inserts

One of the most common color options for a modern living room is many shades of gray.

If you want to add brightness, it is better to do this with the help of replaceable capes and decorative pillows.

Bright accents on pieces of furniture or decor are necessary to create a harmonious picture of the interior

By carefully considering the choice of the sofa model you need before purchasing it, you will avoid possible disappointments, and the new sofa in your living room will delight you and your guests for many years.

A corner sofa installed in the living room is good for its functionality and spaciousness

Optimal height and depth of sofas

The backrest is a support for the spine, so its height needs to be given special attention. The top line at 60 cm from the floor is suitable only for children's models. A sofa for a living room should have a back wall height of at least 70 cm. There is also taller furniture, from 90 to 100 cm. For the area near the window, you need a model with a height of no more than 80 cm or with lowering headrests, otherwise the back will overlap the window sill.

The depth of upholstered furniture varies from 100 to 150 cm. Narrow sofas are uncomfortable for relaxation, so premium upholstered furniture factories produce models with increased depth. A sunken seat is the best option for relaxation. Here the spine needs special support, so backrests with an anatomical curve (tilt angle of about 110°) or removable backrest cushions that can be moved to adjust a comfortable position are relevant.

Photo gallery of sofas of various shapes, types and colors in the interior of living rooms:

How to choose a sofa: tips on choosing a frame, transformation mechanism, filling

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Which sofa mechanism is best for daily use?

The design and principle of operation of the sofa folding mechanism Book

A sofa with a book mechanism is designed as simply as possible. The basis of the design is a lever and a plate. The elements are mounted so that they are fixed to both components of the sofa. The lever design determines the type of sofa.

There are 3 types:

• option with flat cheeks - without shelf. The design provides lower seat support;
• mechanism with a shelf - here an additional corner appears to support the seat, but the folding mechanism still provides only 2 positions;
• “click-clack” – the design of the levers involves 3 fixations, which is an additional advantage.

All types of fastenings are very easy to repair and replace.

Lay out the sofa like this: raise the seat until it is in a horizontal position. Press down on the seat until a characteristic click is heard - this locks the locking mechanism. The seat is also lowered to a horizontal position. A horizontal backrest takes up space, so the sofa cannot be placed next to a wall or must be moved away before unfolding. This is a design flaw.

Fold furniture in the same way. Raise the seat again until a click is heard, then lower the seat to its normal position. In this case, the back should rise and take a vertical position.

Based on the number of positions, there are 2 types:

• regular book – accepts only 2 provisions;
• “click-clack” is an improved version. Accepts 3 positions: in addition to “sitting” and “lying” there is a “half-sitting” position.

The advantage of any option is an extensive linen drawer. Not only bedding is stored here, but also blankets, pillows, and blankets.

The folding mechanism is very simple and reliable. Breakdowns are rare and can be easily fixed with your own hands.

Most often, the guide bar rivets break. The bolts that hold the lever and plate together wear out or wear out. In this case, a gap appears, due to which the mechanism begins to malfunction and the layout is difficult. The rivet is drilled out and a new one is put in its place, or simply replaced with a bolt and nut of the appropriate size.

Another disadvantage of the device is the lever. If there is too much pressure, it bends, making transformation impossible or difficult. This happens if the fittings are installed too weak and do not correspond to the weight of the sofa and the expected load. The same breakdown is possible with too sudden movements while folding and unfolding the sofa.

To extend the “life” of the sofa, it is recommended to periodically lubricate the transformation mechanism with machine oil and clean it from collected dust and dirt.

What can a folding sofa book be equipped with?

The book sofa is very compact. This means there is little room for additional modifications.

• A niche, or rather a box for storing linen, is located under the main seat and is part of the frame. Its dimensions correspond to the dimensions of the sofa. The box is quite deep. Folded blankets and pillows are left here.
• A niche for books appears in the wide armrests. Can be open or closed. The latter is often used to store dishes or alcohol.
• Another storage option is a corner module. There may also be a storage niche here. It opens when the seat is reclined.

The design does not include add-ons, so additions such as shelves or bars are not possible.

How to measure the standard height of a sofa from the floor

To determine the exact dimensions of the product you like, measurements must be taken directly from the floor. The beginning of the ruler or tape measure must be pressed to the floor surface next to the furniture, holding the measuring tool strictly perpendicular. Measure to the top edge of the seat if you are measuring the seating area, or to the top edge of the backrest if you need to determine the overall height. If the backrest includes pillows, then measurements need to be taken to their top.

Important! However, the armrests are measured from the top of the seat, from the middle of its depth - where it is pressed down the most

Material

Leather, both natural and artificial, including eco-leather, is definitely a bad choice. Although there are those who will argue with this, citing the main argument that patent leather reflects light well, this is not so. And there are three reasons at once:

• she scratches, and often severely. If in a large space constant rubbing and rubbing can be avoided, and for several years you can get by with conventional care products, then in a small room the sofa will need to be replaced or will require professional restoration, the cost of which can reach half of a new one;
• visually increases the size of the furniture. Even a small chair looks like a pompous armchair, let alone a full-fledged sofa;
• looks binding, visually weighing down the sofa. But individual elements, such as parts of the armrests or a contrasting leather insert along the entire bottom of the sofa, are always relevant solutions. At the same time, the same can be said about high-pile fabrics.

There are no restrictions on other upholstery fabrics, wood, metal inserts, etc. It all depends solely on the imagination of the designer developing the product.

Where will he stand

It is clear that it is in the room. It is clear that you are already imagining it in the interior, even if these are bare walls for now. But be sure to try everything on several times. Not only overall dimensions, but also protruding elements that at first glance seem insignificant, such as:

• skirting boards;
• window sills;
• heating risers;
• cabinet doors open;
• curtains hanging along the wall with a window;
• sockets, which are increasingly being made slightly above floor level;
• opening window sashes, platbands and, in fact, interior doors;
• other furniture elements that close, open and change in size during use, for example a folding table.

Be sure to take a normal tape measure for this, and not “grandmother’s clothing meter.” As unpleasant practice shows, he can simply lie by half a centimeter or a centimeter. It will be incredibly disappointing when a brand new, just purchased sofa rests on the windowsill or does not fit into its intended place due to the heating radiator.