Being the main piece of furniture in your living room, your sofa is an ideal choice for creating a stunning focal point. It’s the biggest piece of furniture you have, so it can easily anchor the room and make a statement. The right sofa will bring together the style and feel of your entire space. But with all the options out there, it can be confusing to select the right one for your home especially if this is your first time to buy one.

Here are some tips to help you choose the right one:

1. Size matters!

Make sure that your couch fits well in the space you want it to take up, and don’t forget about any other furniture that might be sharing that space (like a coffee table or end table). Keep in mind that sofas typically range in size from 72 to 96 inches, so a great way to ensure you don’t end up with something too small or too large, is to remember the 2:3 rule. Sofa should be about two thirds the size of the entire room (think about where your sofa will be located in relation to walls), and if you add in a coffee table, that should then be two thirds the size of your sofa (or one third or half its size for a chaise).

It also means that if you’re using this method, you may opt for a bigger couch size to accommodate more people by going just a little bit above two-thirds of the wall length.
However, If you don’t need the additional seating space, you may choose a sofa that fits you the best and is less than two-thirds the length of the wall. In either case, As a general guideline, when sizing a sofa for your living room, we prefer to make it half the size of the wall it will be placed against so there is space for adjustment (if you are putting side tables or lamps) and your sofa won’t look out of proportion.

2. What’s your style?

Do you prefer a sleek modern look? A more classic style? Or something in between? Are you starting over in a new home? If you’re starting from scratch, choosing a theme or decorating style for your home could be a good place to start.

However, if you are decorating an already decorated space, you must choose the appropriate color if you want your furniture to blend in with the rest of the design. You’ll need to decide whether your furniture will be a neutral or an accent piece for an existing color scheme.

3. Check out the construction!

Look at how well-made it is, how sturdy it feels when you sit on it, and whether or not the materials used will last over time.

Woven cotton fabric, Microfibre, Leather, Olefin, and Chenille are the most popular sofa fabric because of their durability. Remember that the more tightly woven the fabric, the more durable it is.

4. Choose one that suits your lifestyle.

Do you have kids? If so, look for a sofa that has easy-to-clean fabric and is stain-resistant. You’ll also want to make sure the cushions are removable and machine washable.

Are you more of a cat person than a dog person? If so, look for a sofa with sturdy fabric and no exposed metal parts that could snag your fur or scratch your skin.

If you plan on using your sofa as an extra bed from time to time, the sofa bed is exactly what you need! Aside from its space-saving features, sofa beds are both stylish and practical.

Once you’ve figured out what kind of sofa will fit in with your taste, your lifestyle and your budget, shop around! There are tons of different options out there at all kinds of price points—and if you don’t find anything right away, keep looking!