Choosing a sofa can be tricky, and making the wrong choice can be expensive. Lisa Koehler, pictured above, is an educator at ISCD and the interior stylist on Inside Out magazine's expert panel. We asked her for advice on how to pick the perfect sofa for your space, and she shared 5 key tips.  

 

1. Style pick

When buying a sofa, it's important to consider both the functional needs and the aesthetics of your space, since both are equally as important when selecting a sofa to work with your lifestyle.

The sofa must first of all be comfortable, and it must function on all levels for how many people you want to seat. When thinking aesthetically, consider materials. Fabric is cooler in summer and warmer in winter than leather, but is less forgiving of stains and spills. That's why I prefer a textured fabric on a sofa.

 

2. Size matters

It's really important to understand the best size sofa that works for your space. Use newspaper to map out the size and layout that best suits your room. Ensure you allow enough space for circulation around the furniture - a minimum of 80cm is a good distance for main thoroughfare.

Also, don't forget to measure your front door or lift, you don't want to wait 8 week for a sofa then realise it doesn't fit!

 

3. Deep thoughts

Depth is also an important factor when selecting a sofa. If the sofa is for a family room, then a deep sofa works best to suit a range of ages and comfort needs. If it's for a formal area, you don't want the sofa to be too deep, as this area is more about conversation than curling up reading a book.

 

4. Leg it

When selecting a sofa, one of the first considerations is the leg! I look at the shape, size and height of the sofa leg in relation to the room it will be placed in. For example if it's a small apartment, a sofa with a leg about 10cm would work best as it creates the illusion of visual space and is not as heavy if the base of the sofa went straight to the ground.

In a larger space you can be more flexible with the scale of the leg. Sofas with no legs work best in open plan living and rooms with high ceilings to accommodate the visual heaviness. It's all about matching visual scale of the interior with furniture pieces.

 

5. Form and function

It important to consider how you're going to use the sofa. If you plan on lying down or snoozing on your sofa, it's important to select one with a lower arm. A petite arm profile also works well if you have a smaller space, as it's visually not as demanding as a wide arm. Also if you entertain a lot, a wide arm can also take up valuable seating space.

The concept of your interiors will help you select the style of sofa arm. Square edged arms work best in modern contemporary spaces while beautiful round arms work well in traditional interiors

Follow Lisa on Instagram @lisakoehlerstylist