Buying a new sofa is a big decision and one you should think about carefully. You should take your time and get expert advice. The January Sales provide the opportunity to pick up a bargain, so why not start looking now.
Our talented sales team has put together a Sofa Buyer’s Guide to help you.
Our advice is to start asking yourself some questions. We think there are five main points you should consider.
1. What’s Your Style?
What sort of person are you and what is your house like? Do you have contemporary taste, or do you like classic style that stands the test of time? Is your new sofa for your living room, garden room or conservatory?
Chiswick corner sofa, large footstool and armchair. Woven abaca furniture is perfect for a bright garden room or conservatory. 10% off during our Winter Sale.
A garden room or conservatory gives you the opportunity to try a different style to the other rooms in your house. Woven natural materials such as rattan, willow and abaca (twisted banana leaf) can transport you to warmer climates. Plus they are a more practical choice for a sun-filled room – and they often have cushion covers that are easily removed for cleaning.
Fabulous fabrics
Your new sofa can be transformed by the fabric you choose. There are so many beautiful fabrics – cool linens, cosy wool, textured plains, jacquard weaves, printed cottons… The choices are endless and fabric can be your most difficult decision. There is so much to think about – colour, texture, and suitability, how to keep it clean, fading, wear, etc. It is best to talk to an expert – and our fabric experts are standing by to help.
Wool is a cosy choice for a living room.
2. Invest in Quality
I know you will have heard this a million times, but pay as much as you can afford to. Poor quality in a key piece of furniture like this will soon become obvious. So we have put a collection together of superb quality at amazing prices. Our upholstered sofas are mainly British made with predominately hardwood frames, and sprung seats and backs. They are subjected to tough testing, well beyond normal domestic use. The cushion interiors are made from superior grade, branded fibre and / or foam, with pocketed hollow-fibre, or de-quilled duck feather, for the back cushions and scatters.
Each and every order is hand-finished and the upholstery shows great attention to detail, including piping, buttoning and pattern matching.
Malvern sofa and armchair in Zeta, Mineral.
3. Comfort and Joy
When you are choosing a new sofa, think about how you usually sit. Are you upright, or are you a sloucher? Choose a higher back if you want to support your head and neck, and a firm seat can be more comfortable if you sit upright. If you like soft cushions bear in mind that feather cushions require more maintenance – plumping must become part of your routine. A cushion with a foam interior needs only occasional turning to ensure even fading and wear. If you can, always try a sofa out in person – then you will know for sure.
The Woodstock Sofa
4. Keep it Clean
Aqua Clean
Is it impossible to have a cream sofa with a young family? Not any more! We have a wide selection of fabrics treated with a miracle new fabric protection, Aqua Clean. Stains and spills can be washed off with only water. This includes tea and coffee, red wine, felt pen, coke and chocolate! The treatment is invisible and does not affect texture, colour, or smell.
In a family home keeping your sofa clean can be an important factor in your choice. Most cushion covers have zips, so they can be removed for cleaning. You can choose from a vast range of washable fabrics, and many more are dry cleanable.
Somerset Sofa in Aquaclean fabrics
5. Design your own sofa
Most sofas have a variety of sizes to suit every room. Some have corner units and can be ordered as modular pieces, so you can design your sofa to fit the available space.
This flexibility is seen at its best in our fabulous Hampton sofa – there are so many sizes of units that you will be able to design a sofa just the shape and size you need. Choose the fabric, add scatters, and you can even decide on the colour of the feet.
Help is at hand - Holloways free Interior Design service.
Remember, we don’t only sell sofas, we offer help and guidance for accessorising the whole room – from paint colours to new curtains. We’ll produce a mood board that will help you visualise everything together. Pay us a visit and sit on all our sofas, feel the fabrics, choose scatter cushions, rugs, lamps and curtains, and find the inspirational details that make a house into a home. This service is free of charge, because your choices make our job more interesting!
Interior Design Service
