Moving to a new home, or redecorating your old one, means one thing: hours of figuring out the best way to maximize space and style while not sacrificing on comfort. In the living room, the most important part of that will be finding a sofa that is just perfect for the space. While you wrestle with this problem for the ages, consider these tips on how to buy the right size furniture:
Don’t Forget the Doorway
Most people measure the space they have in their living room, and have a good idea of what will fit into the area that is available. However, most people also fail to measure their doorways and entrance ways. There are times when the perfect sofa simply will not fit into your home, and that can be frustrating. If your home is particularly tricky to enter, with a narrow hallway, you may want to consider a sectional instead, as that can be a lot easier to get into your house!
Scale Is Important
When choosing a sofa, consider the other furniture you plan to have in the room. Remember that an over-sized sofa will look out of place with delicate furniture, and if your existing furniture is rugged and over-sized, you probably can’t make a delicate historic inspired piece work. Take stock of the furniture that will be staying in your living room, and make sure you shop accordingly, so that the scale and style of the pieces work.
Plot It Out
Trying to imagine dimensions doesn’t work too well for most people, so it’s usually best avoided. Rather measure the dimensions of the room, and then use graph paper to plot it out to scale. Once you’ve done this, you can try different layouts with paper cutouts of existing and potential new furniture, and find the ideal one without ever having to move a piece of furniture.
Another good idea is to take the dimensions of several couches you’re considering, and mark them out on the floor with masking tape. This lets you get a much more realistic idea of how they will fit in the space.There are also many free online tools you can utilize to map out your living room prior to making any final decisions.
Remember Standard Living Room Layout Dimensions
There’s a part of design called ergonomics, which is basically the science of comfort. There are certain dimensions and layouts that are just more comfortable to live in and with. When you’re planning your furniture layout and finding the perfect size sofa, remember these numbers:
- 2 feet is the minimum you want to go for furniture that will stand in the middle of the room, such as a sofa that’s also a divider. This allows for the flow of traffic around the piece without being cramped or uncomfortable.
- 18 inches is the recommended room between sofa and coffee table. This allows for enough room to move between the sofa and the coffee table, but it’s still in comfortable reach.
- 3.5 to 10 feet is the ideal distance between sofas. Any less than that, and you’d be too far away from people, and any closer, and the space will feel claustrophobic.
- 7 feet is the ideal distance between your television and sofa, although more space is okay between your sofa and larger screens.
- Sofas are typically 32 to 40 inches wide, while love seats are 28 to 30 inches wide. If you’ve got a narrow space to furnish, a love seat and chairs may be a better choice than a large sofa.
Those figures and tips should help you to find the right size sofa for your space. While you’re at it though, don’t forget ceiling height. If you have low ceilings, combine all of these tips with a low backed design, and vice versa for tall ceilings. It’s all about proportions, and since your sofa is likely to be the largest single piece of furniture in your living room, it will have a big impact on the look and feel of the space.
If in doubt, bring the room dimensions and snaps of your other furniture along with you when you shop. Most furniture stores have knowledgeable sales people who can help you find the right sofa for the space.