There are several things you need to consider before committing yourself to the perfect sofa. These are the function, the size, the shape and materials.

The function of the sofa

Think about your lifestyle and what would be the function of the sofa. Is it for a living room, a family room or a playroom? Do you have kids or pets, and how much effort can you put into maintaining it? How many people do you have to seat? What about a sofa bed for guests? Some sofas have built-in storage, so think about other uses the piece could have, too.

The size of the sofa

Measure up before you shop and work out the size of your sofa. Two smaller sofas and a couple of armchairs may be more flexible option than a large set. You can use newspaper on the floor to the size of your sofa and see roughly how much room it will take up. Any choice you make when buying your sofa or chairs will depend on the size of your room and how many people you want to seat at any one time. A rough rule of thumb is that a large sofa will seat 3 average size adults comfortably. Small sofas will accommodate 2, and we also have compact or "loveseat" sofas which provide an oversized chair for one or a cosy sofa for a couple. To gauge a safe distance between your leather sofa and a radiator to prevent cracking, move your hand away from the radiator until you can no longer feel its heat; at minimum, this should be about a foot (30cm). It's worth remembering that the arms of a sofa can make a big difference to the amount of seating capacity as well as ease of access to a room. If your room is small, narrower sofa arms give the illusion of a more compact piece. High backs on sofas and chairs may look best in rooms with higher ceilings. Lower backs in less open rooms can give the illusion of more space, but can also be used effectively in open-plan rooms to emphasise the sense of space. From a practical point of view, don’t forget to think about the access into your home. Some sofas ease the process by having detachable arms or coming in sections.

Shape & Style

If you’re someone who likes to lie down and relax, you may want a sofa with low arms and lots of loose cushions to get cosy on,’ advises Paul Staden, marketing director at Sofa Workshop. ‘However, if you prefer to be supported when you sit, more formal, upright shapes with back cushions may be better.’ You can also take advantage of the innovative recliner sofas available from different brands. Try out lots of styles and don’t be afraid to have a good lounge and really test a sofa. The shapes of a sofa and even the number of cushions can make a difference to the overall feel of the room. In a smaller space, narrower sofa arms give the illusion of a more compact piece, and whereas one or two cushions give a cleaner, more modern look, three feel more traditional.

Fabrik or Leather

Leather is robust, cool in summer and warm in winter and, if well-maintained, can last a lifetime. Different finishes are available at our stores, from distressed and antiqued to exceptionally smooth and soft, where the semi-aniline dyeing process removes most of the flaws. Grain leather will have most flaws covered up, but because leather is a natural product, markings will differ from piece to piece and dyes may not take identically throughout the hide. Unless you go for a very smooth, highly treated finish, your leather upholstery will age with use and for many people this adds to the character - it stands up to wear and tear very well. Leather sofas are easy to look after - just remove dust with a slightly damp cloth. Keep them at least 30cm away from direct heat sources to prevent it drying out, and remember that just like fabric it will fade on sunlight. Fabrics, on the other hand will wear the best and fabrics with woven patterns will retain their appearance better than printed designs. But unless you're going for loose covers, choose something classic, such as a smart stripe, as patterned sofas can date quickly. Wool is springy and resilient, with a natural stain resistance, chenille is soft and hard-wearing, and velvet is warm and textural with a luxurious feel. Linen is cool and crisp and one of the most durable fibres for sofas, while cotton is great for taking colour and blends well with other fabrics. Sofas with washable or dry cleanable loose covers are also available; otherwise we recommend the use of a specialist company to clean your furniture at home. Use an upholstery brush or crevice tool on your vacuum cleaner to remove dirt and dust, and always attend to spills immediately. Be sparing with the use of spot chemicals as they can cause a ring or fading - try plain water first. Think carefully about strong colours in a very sunny room in case of fading, but rotating cushions will help to slow the process. Alcantara is a man-made microfibre with a luxurious feel that's similar to suede. It's incredibly strong, with a contemporary look, but because it's easy to maintain, it's an excellent option for busy households. Ask for more details in one of our shops or through the contact page on this website.

The filling of the sofa

Foam has a firm and supportive feel and appearance and will hold its shape well. Over the years, the foam will compact and lose volume a little, though this process is much slower with high resilience foam. Fibre, or foam with a fibre wrap, will give a softer look and feel to sofas and chairs. Just plump and turn cushions occasionally to maintain comfort and wear. Feather-filled cushions are soft and comfy, and have a more casual look, but will need regular plumping. A combination of feather-wrapped foam seat cushions and serpentine springs makes for extremely soft and comfortable sofas. Plus, this type of filling will maintain its shape and reduce the need for continuous plumping.

Additions

• Co-ordinates

A matching armchair is the obvious accessory for your sofa, and it will usually be made in exactly the same way. You might also want to consider an accent chair to co-ordinate rather than match

• Extras

Armcaps are available to order in our shops to match some fabric sofas. These will help to preserve an area of heavy wear, and they're usually washable. You can also order an extra set of loose covers for a sofa so that you don't have to any inconvenience when removing the originals for cleaning.

• Cushions and Throws

Many of our sofas come with co-ordinating scatter cushions that will help you create a relaxed look and vary your decor - after all, your sofa should last for years, so changing the cushions and throws can help update it.

• Footstools

Many of our ranges come with matching footstools. Some of them also have a lift-up top, giving you a handy storage option.