Spotlight Magazines Spotlight on Mansfield South August 2015 | Page 12

Spotlight Magazine Choosing A New Sofa Buying a new sofa is a significant financial purchase. Here are a few pointers to help with your decision: or patterns. Cushions can be changed more easily if you decide the look needs updating in the future. Think about what size is most suitable. Proportions are important. For example if you have high ceilings a high backed sofa may look better than a low backed style. To aid longevity, choose a sturdy frame with good joinery and springs. You can often get a protective coating applied to your new sofa to help protect against spills too. A huge sofa in a small room can be overbearing and leave little room for other furniture. In some spaces two smaller sofas or a sofa and arm chair combination will be more aesthetically pleasing than one large one. Consider your comfort when deciding on the overall size too. The height and depth of the seat can make a vast difference. I am relatively short and often find I have to perch near the edge of the seat on some designs in order for my feet to touch the ground. So do try them out. Finally many new sofas have extra features such as recliner options or built in audio. Or you may want a sofa bed. There’s a lot to consider, so don’t make a hasty decision as most of us keep our sofas for many years. When considering shape and style you need to decide whether you want to create a relaxed style or a more formal look. Solid backs and styles such as Chesterfields’ are neater and more traditional, whereas loose-backed and corner sofa arrangements are more contemporary. Corner