Sofas are an important part of everyday furnishings for living rooms, family rooms,
waiting rooms and offices. Sofas offer more than just a place to sit and visit,
they can also provide us with a place to sleep, relax or entertain. The information
presented in this sofa buying guide will help you to understand the different types
and styles of sofas available, the different options available, the price ranges
you will encounter in your search for a sofa, and help you select your sofa colors
and upholstery.
Sofa Styles
There are basically six major sofa styles: Traditional Sofa, Sleeper Sofa, Recliner
Sofa, Convertible Sofa, Home Theater Sofa, and Sectional Sofa.
Traditional Sofa
Traditional sofas are those sofas or couches that most
everyone thinks of as a sofa. This sofa does not have the added features of being
a sectional sofa, a recliner sofa, a sleeper sofa or a home theater sofa.
These sofas can often be purchased at a lower cost than sofas with additional functions.
Also, they will often be less heavy and more easily moved than sleeper sofas and
recliner sofas. |
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Popular brands include
Brookwood and
Hacienda Furniture.
Sleeper Sofa
Sleeper sofas usually look just like traditional sofas on the outside, but hiding
on the inside of each sleeper sofa is a bed frame and a mattress. The bed frame
and mattress can be pulled out or folded out to form a bed. Sleeper sofas the size
of traditional sofas normally pull out to a queen-sized bed. Love seat sleepers
normally pull out to a twin-sized bed.
Sleeper sofas are a perfect choice for someone that does not have extra bedroom
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A sleeper sofa's construction does not make it the optimum
choice for sleeping continually night-after-night, however. Also, when compared
to a traditional or convertible sofa, sleeper sofas tend to be very heavy or not
easily moved. Moving a sleeper sofa is often a two or three person job.
Before purchasing a sleeper sofa, make sure that its ultimate location has enough
clearance to accommodate the bed frame its extended position.
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Popular brands of sleeper sofas include:
Brentwood and
Stanton International.
Convertible Sofa
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Convertible sofas, like sleeper sofas, provide extra sleeping
space for your guests. Rather than pulling out the bed, as for a sleeper sofa, you
can "convert" the entire sofa into a bed and back again. Therefore, the cushions
you sit on while the sofa is in the sitting position will form the mattress that
you lay on when the sofa is in the bed position.
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The conversion between sofa and bed is quick and easy and some purchasers opt to
use convertible sofas as permanent bedding. If you are shopping for a convertible
sofa as permanent bedding, make sure that you "test-drive" the convertible sofa
in both the sitting and lying position.
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In addition to converting from a sofa to a bed, some convertible
sofas allow for a reclining position between the fully sitting and lying flat positions.
These types of convertible sofas can be desirable for people who like to read or
watch TV in bed or who have a medical condition (such as acid reflux) that requires
sleeping in a reclined position rather than lying flat.
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Convertible sofas tend to be less heavy and less expensive than sleeper sofas. Another
benefit is that convertible sofas are manufactured to be slept on every night rather
than just occasionally, as in the case of the sleeper sofa.
A popular brand of convertible sofa is
Lifestyle Solutions.
Recliner Sofas
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Recliner sofas look like traditional sofas except that
one or two seats of the sofa have a reclining mechanism. The mechanism may allow
for three positions: upright sitting, partially reclined position with legs up,
and fully reclined.
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Sectional Sofas
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Sectional sofas are built to be moved and placed together
in "sections" or modules. These modules allow the sofa to fit into corners in a
room and allow the sofa to seat a larger number of people than a traditional sofa.
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Sectional sofa modules can also perform different functions
such as: recliner, chaise lounge, heat and massage seating, traditional sofa, and
home theater seating for an all purpose sofa.
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A popular brand of sectional sofas is
Homelegance.
Home Theater Sofas
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Home theater sofas are usually similar to sectional sofas
and/or recliner sofas, but the home theater sofas have the added bonus of cup holders,
magazine hideaways, and command centers with remote control storage. Some home theater
sofas even include separate arm rests for each individual seating section.
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Available brands of home theater sofas are
Match and
Catnapper.
Sofa Features to Consider
Fabric or Upholstery Types
There are a few types of upholstery available today: Fabric, Leather, Leathermatch
and Microfiber.
If you are searching for a wide variety of color, patterns and easy cleaning options,
then fabric may be the best choice for you. Fabric upholstery for sofas and chairs
can be selected to match drapes and curtains in both formal living rooms and casual
family rooms and bedrooms. Fabric can be made from blends of cotton and man-made
materials such as polyester.
Leather upholstery is the best choice for durability. Leather will not tear along
seam lines and will be beautiful for years to come. Unfortunately, leather upholstery
is usually only available in the solid colors of white, black, brown, and tan and
can be more expensive than other upholstery choices.
Leathermatch upholstery uses leather on the front portions of the sofa that are
most visible and most prone to wear and then uses matching vinyl upholstery on the
sides and back of the sofa. This method of upholstering provides the benefits of
leather in a more economic manner.
Microfiber upholstery contains very fine fibers that are woven together to form
a light fabric with a soft feel similar to suede. Microfiber fabrics resist wrinkles,
resist moisture and keep their shape and form well.
Color Choices
When choosing a color or pattern for your sofa, keep in mind the existing decor
in your home or room that will receive the sofa. You may choose to match an existing
color or pattern with your new sofa upholstery. If this task becomes very difficult,
you may want to use a color wheel to determine colors that are complimentary to
your existing colors rather than try to duplicate the colors. Keep in mind, also,
that colors can evoke feelings such as: warmth, coolness, or peacefulness. Choose
colors that will help to attain the atmosphere that you are trying to achieve.
Construction
When selecting a sofa, consider materials of construction including: the type of
padding, the type of suspension system, and the type of frame.
Sofa padding or cushioning can come in the form of foam and natural materials like
down. Foam provides a very firm cushion and down provides a soft and even cushion.
Differing suspension systems are available to provide different types of support.
A suspension system called "8-Way Suspension" or "Hand-Tied" provides a soft, deep
sinking feeling when you sit down on the sofa. The "Sinuous Spring" system gives
firm support using S-shaped coils and no-sag nails and clips that hold the springs
firmly into place.
Sofa frames are normally manufactured from hardwoods like oak or maple on the exterior
to give the piece stability, durability and aesthetic appeal. Some sofas use plywood
and soft wood (like pine) for interior framing in order to reduce cost. Still other
sofas are framed with rattan and metal to provide a specific look or style for your
sofa.
Decorative Style
Choose your sofa to showcase your decorative flair or to enhance the function of
your room. Decorative sofa styles normally fall into the following four categories:
classic, transitional, modern, and casual.
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Classically styled sofas are orderly, conventional and
traditional. They normally are designed to be easily maintained and are a benefit
for busy households with children.
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Sofas with a transitional style incorporate elements of
the classical style and the modern style. A transitional style is both classic and
uncomplicated with geometrically balanced proportions and straight lines. Fabric
choices come in textured solids and graphic patterns.
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Modern sofas or contemporary sofas have bold and unique designs and usually
very clean lines. The upholstery can be in very basic colors, bold solids, or geometric
patterns.
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Casual sofas are designed to be warm and inviting and incorporate simple details
and neutral or soft colors. Some casual sofas are padded with plush cushions and
decorated with ruffles, buttons and pleats.
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Price Range
Sofas can range drastically in price depending on style, size, and materials of
construction.
Traditional Sofas
Simple traditional sofas with fabric or microfiber upholstery will range in price
from approximately $500 to $800. Sofas framed in hardwood with carved or molded
details will be in the more expensive end of the price range. Traditional sofas
with leather match upholstery will be approximately $800 to $900 and all-leather
upholstery will be priced from $1200 to $1600.
Sleeper Sofas
Queen-sized sleeper sofas can range in price from $1,000 for sleeper sofas with
microfiber upholstery to $3,000 for sleeper sofas with leather upholstery. Sectional
sleeper sofas with leathermatch upholstery are available at a price of approximately
$5,500.
Convertible Sofas
Convertible sofas that only allow for two positions (sitting and lying down) normally
range from $400 to $650. Convertible sofas that allow for two positions (sitting,
reclining, and lying down) typically range from $700 to $1,000.
Recliner Sofas
Recliner sofas with fabric and microfiber upholstery normally range in price from
$1,200 to $2,500. Recliner sofas with leathermatch upholstery range in price from
$2,000 to $2,500 and from $2,500 to $5,500 for all-leather upholstery.
Sectional Sofas
Sectional sofas range in price from $1,800 to $3,500. Sectional sofas with several
varying modules or leather upholstery will be priced at the higher end of the range.
Home Theater Sofas
Home theater sofas with microfiber upholstery range in price from $1,200 to $2,500.
If you prefer to have heat and massage in one or more of the seats, the price will
be $2,100 to $2,500. Large leather home theater sectional sofas normally range in
price from $2,500 to $3,000.
Top Manufacturers