One of the biggest furniture investments you will make is a sofa. It's also one of the most permanent. Therefore, it is important that you give it some careful thought before you take the plunge and buy.

Style

It's important that you choose a sofa that blends well with the style of your home. Only if you are planning a complete makeover do you really have a blank canvas. Otherwise, if your interior is traditional then a sofa with a contoured back or rolled arms is probably more appropriate. Contemporary interiors work well with modern designs of sofas as they have cleaner lines and more understated overall looks.

Room size

Think carefully about the proportions of the room and work out what dimensions of sofa would look best in the space you have. Consider height and depth as well as the length. Bear in mind that it's very difficult to imagine just how a sofa will look in a room with a tape measure alone. If in doubt, using empty boxes and stacking them up to recreate the footprint of a sofa will give you a better idea of how a sofa will look.

Seating space

If you are planning to lie down on the sofa a lot, make sure that it is wide enough between the arms. Remember that the actual space you have will be affected by how wide the sofa arms are, so don't go on the overall length alone.

Fabric

As sofas are such a big investment, and one you'll have for years, you’ll want it to remain in fashion for as long as possible. For that reason, choosing neutral fabrics and colours makes a lot of sense.  It's easy enough to inject a bit of colour or patterns by adding cushions or throws - and these are inexpensive to refresh if you decide to redecorate at any time.

Because it is such a long-term investment, it makes good economic sense to purchase the best-quality sofa that you can realistically afford. This is why shopping for ex display sofas makes such good sense. You can buy top quality furniture at fantastic prices.