How to choose a sofa?

It would seem that there is nothing easier than to pick up a new sofa. The main thing would be soft, and the rest will follow. But everything is not so simple. Even among upholstered furniture, including sofas, there are certain selection criteria that affect its quality and comfort.

Currently, sofa models are striking in their diversity. For convenience, manufacturers distinguish several categories, the knowledge of the features of which greatly simplifies the choice. The first classification is the division of sofas in form.

Corner models of sofas are now at the peak of popularity, as they have several types of folding. Most common right or left extension. But it’s quite possible to find such a model, in which the central part will be transformed. However, before buying such a sample, you need to carefully consider its placement in the apartment. This is done in order to provide the sofa with the space necessary for a full folding.

Another plus of corner sofas - their elements can be interchanged, creating the perfect option for one-sided space. Corner models are preferable to place in spacious rooms - in a small room they can only interfere. In the room where there is enough space, as well as in the one where there is too much of it, the corner sofa will create a zone accentuated by itself, which will give the room more harmony and comfort.

Very original form of a sofa. They look like angular, but differ in that they have two protruding sides. It can be installed in any room: both in the living room, and in the kitchen or in the nursery. Well zoned space, but not suitable for small rooms, as they require a lot of free space. The large room will draw attention to itself, creating an emphasis on the relaxation area. In a small room they will create a crushing impression of something bulky and clumsy. Not suitable for constant sleep, as they are too soft.

Direct sofas are considered classics in the furniture industry. In this regard, over many years of production, a huge number of options for shapes, colors and sizes have accumulated. Like the corners, they are often placed near the walls, creating a kind of functional combination of a sofa, table, pouf, additional shelves and so on.

Round sofas are often referred to as premium upholstered furniture. This is connected not only with the materials and sizes, but with their purpose. Such models are not designed for sleeping. They are created for relaxation. In the interior, like corner ones, they play the role of zoning space and creating a relaxation zone. Of particular difficulty is the selection of a place for such a model - care must be taken to ensure that access to the recreation area is on all sides.

The folding mechanism is another important point when choosing a sofa. Some models are suitable for sleeping, but some turn into a hard cot, daily sleep on which can lead to health problems. But each transformation mechanism has both its advantages and disadvantages.

Book and its subspecies eurobook relate to folding mechanisms. However, this is where their similarities end. If additional space is needed to transform the sofa-book, that is, it must be at least moved away from the wall by a sufficient distance, then the eurobook does not need this. The sofa is equipped with a special mechanism that facilitates the forward movement of the product.

The sliding subspecies also includes click-gag. It looks like a book, but differs in that it has two additional options. The increased flexibility of the structure implies some fragility of the mechanism, so this view is better not to use for permanent sleep. The mechanism of transformation of litas belongs to the same. But it does not have additional provisions and is not displayed in its entirety. He only transforms the side armrests.

Folding mechanism telescope got its name because of a similar method of transformation. First, the lower part is rolled out, and the upper part is rolled onto it (in the assembled state they lay on top of each other). Its disadvantages are both in the use of an additional mattress, and in the requirement of additional space. Also, the frequent use of such a mechanism threatens to damage the floor covering.

Accordion also got its name because of a styling method similar to this tool. Its disadvantages are that it is better not to lay out models with a wooden frame at all, metal samples are also not intended for frequent extension. In addition, such a transformation requires a large amount of free space.

Pantograph - This is an improved version of the Eurobook. Its advantages are that its folding parts are inside and extend upward, not forward. That is, such a sofa will not damage the floor, requires much less space for transformation and is suitable for daily, or rather, nightly use.

Micro lift most often used in corner models. The lower platform rolls out and rises up, forming a place for sleeping with the upper part and the corner of the sofa.Depending on the reliability of the design, it can be suitable for both daily use and for the location of guests.

Clamshell options also quite common. The most uncomfortable is French. American and Italian are a bit more comfortable. Belgian is a very rare species, it transforms along with the soft parts of the sofa.

It's no secret that you need to choose upholstered furniture so that it harmonizes with the rest of the environment. It is more difficult to fit it into a ready-made, established interior. So when choosing sofas, you need to pay attention to a few points described below.

There is an unwritten rule according to which the color of the sofa should be in harmony with the color of the walls in the interior. Design should be chosen so that the sofa does not merge with the wall. If the tone of the finish is very calm and even cold, then an emphasis on upholstered furniture will be acceptable.

If the whole room is made in any particular style, then the sofa must be selected in accordance with it. Bright option suitable for style hi-tech or modern. Concerning hopscotchIt’s worth stopping at soft, pastel shades. Since currently gaining popularity Scandinavian style, then look at the monophonic models of soothing colors. Or, if you are a supporter of Provence, opt for models with a picture of flowers.

If there is no clear style in the interior, and you don’t know which color model to choose, then buy a plain sofa in standard shapes - if necessary, it can always be decorated with bright accent items and turned into a real interior decoration.

On such a parameter as the size of upholstered furniture, you need to look when the sofa is in the unfolded state. This will help to more accurately choose a place for its placement. For example, you get a sofa for a room, and when folded, it fits perfectly, but it is worth spreading it out, as it turns out to be blocked balcony, door or other important places. Well, you should not buy a sofa immediately, as soon as you saw it in the store. First you need to clarify its parameters and think about whether it fits where you want.

For the living room it is better to purchase a model of a large or even gigantic size, since the main purpose of such a sofa is to accommodate guests. Corner patterns are well suited for these purposes. For a children's room it is better to choose a small but very functional sofa with drawers for linen and a solid surface that acts as a table. If you are looking for a sofa for kitchen, then pay attention to special kitchen corners - they are often made of materials that are easy to clean.

It is easy to get confused in the variety of forms, fillers, manufacturers, upholstery and frames, especially to a person who has nothing to do with this, but just wants to get a comfortable sofa for evenings in front of the TV. Let's try to figure out which material is better and for what purpose.

It depends on him how long your furniture will last. It is in your interests that the sofa "lasts" as long as possible. The most durable frame is metal. Also a very reliable, but more expensive option is a mahogany, oak or other tree frame. The most budgetary, but at the same time quite durable frame - made of chipboard sheets. But such sheets can also be different, and for a longer operation it is necessary to choose those that are covered with a special layer of protective material, while the frame parts must be bolted together.

A sofa with a suitable filler should be selected depending on what it is intended for, since with daily use some materials very quickly lose their shape and “flatten”.For sleep, models with special spring blocks are suitable for every day. Very comfortable and soft sofas with foambut if you sleep on them every day, they will very quickly sink.

The best upholstery material is considered leather. It is very durable, practically does not wear out and is resistant to moisture, that is, such a sofa can be washed. However, it also has disadvantages - this is a high cost and the fact that the skin of specially killed animals is used for the production of this material. Currently, environmental issues and wildlife conservation are very acute, so sofas with leather upholstery can be simply unpleasant for someone.

They have similar properties and models. made of artificial leather. For people who care about animal welfare issues, this is a great option to get all the benefits of leather sofas without the suffering of living things.

The most common materials are tapestry, jacquard and chenille. They are most acceptable in terms of price and quality, and therefore are used for upholstery sofas, operated every day. When choosing samples from such materials, pay particular attention to the seams: they should be even and without protruding threads.

Pet owners, especially cats, should pay attention to the upholstery from jacquard. She will suffer much less from their claws. But the upholstery from velor, matting and chenille do not buy in such houses.

To choose the right sofa, you need to pay attention to all of the above. These few rules will help you to get a durable sofa that will harmoniously fit into the room you want. Very often, the sofa in the house is the gathering place of the whole family in the evenings, so it is worth taking the choice of a quality model seriously. So, we repeat all of the above.

Prepare a place in advance for a new piece of furniture and measure the amount of free space. Write down the sizes and go to the store. Feel free to ask the sellers for the parameters of the model you are interested in. remember, that a sofa in a one-room apartment should not eat up the entire space of the room. For your convenience, at least a small passage should remain.

In order for the sofa to serve you as long as possible, decide whether it will be a guest or for daily sleep. Get the model in accordance with its purpose. From the whole variety of transformation mechanisms, choose the category that suits you. Try the mechanism in the store: is it convenient for you to use? In addition, all parts of the folding structure should be thicker than 3 millimeters, well bonded to each other and easy to move.

Warranty is a must. You do not know whether this filler is suitable for you, whether it is comfortable to sleep on it and many other details. Therefore, it is important that the sofa can always be returned or replaced with another model. But the warranty is less than 18 months - an occasion to think about the durability of the model and choose another manufacturer with a longer warranty period.

Perhaps the most serious choice. Incorrect selection of a filler for daily sleep can even lead to back problems or to constant pain in the back, which is quite unpleasant and significantly reduces the quality of life. Spring blocks are the best choice for sleeping. They not only retain their shape well, but also have orthopedic properties. Latex foam also works well, but such a filler lasts longer and costs higher.

The minus of the spring blocks - over time, they will begin to creak, and if the sofa is poorly executed, then over time they will crawl closer to the surface and will interfere during sleep. So if you decide to purchase a model with such a filler, then you should not save. The best option is a spring unit with independent springs. It is desirable that the sofa has armrests, so bed linen will not roll. The Eurobook, like the accordion, is the most convenient transformation option, which is suitable for everyday sleep.

A guest sofa has fewer requirements than a sofa for sleeping. It is better to choose a large sample, for example, angular. The ideal option for the filler is also a spring block, but since it may seem too rigid to some, it is necessary that it be covered with a layer of foam rubber.

Elderly fit orthopedic sofas. These include models with an independent spring unit or latex foam. But it is better to purchase a furniture product based on medical indications.

The following companies are considered the most popular in Russia: “Rival”, “Slavic furniture”, “Pegasus”, “Sapsan” and “Lerroy”. These factories produce quality products of all shapes and sizes. Firms KRISTIE AND ANDERSSEN produce corner sofas, which are recognized as the best in this category. This list contains brands of various price categories, so when choosing a sofa it is also worth considering the amount that you are willing to spend on its purchase.

See how to choose the right sofa in the next video.