Sofas
How to Choose a Sofa or Couch
A sofa is sized against the room it sits in, starting with the space available for its footprint and the circulation around it. A coffee table usually sits 14 to 18 inches away, while a walkway needs about 30 inches where people pass. Whether the sofa sits against a wall or floats in the room, the dimensions have to work with the space around it.
The sofa also has to get into the room. A size that works on the floor plan can still be ruled out by a doorway, stair turn, or elevator. A sleeper sofa or sofa bed adds another measurement, since its full footprint needs room once it is opened.
A modern sofa can be a loveseat, a 3 seater sofa, an apartment sofa, or a large sofa with a deep seat and low back. A sofa with chaise changes the footprint, while a modular sofa allows the arrangement to change over time. For larger spaces that turn a corner, a sectional may be the better choice. Fabric, leather, seat depth, and construction all matter, but the dimensions usually settle the first question.
What size sofa fits a living room?
Start with the part of the room the sofa will occupy, including the space around it. In a 12 by 12 room, a sofa between 72 and 84 inches often leaves enough room for a coffee table and circulation, although doors, windows, and the rest of the seating arrangement can change that.
A loveseat commonly runs 48 to 72 inches, while a standard sofa is usually 78 to 88 inches. Long sofas start around 90 inches. For a small living room, an apartment sofa or other small sofa can leave more room around the seating area.
How much space do you need around a sofa?
Leave 14 to 18 inches between the sofa and the coffee table. Where people need to walk past the sofa, allow about 30 inches. A main route through the room may need more.
Two sofas facing each other generally need 6 to 8 feet between them. The same upper limit applies to a sofa and chair arranged for conversation. For a television, allow 1.5 to 2.5 times the screen's diagonal, which is roughly 7 to 11 feet for a 55-inch screen.
How many people does a sofa actually seat?
The usable seat width matters more than the overall length. Sofa arms commonly take up 5 to 10 inches on each side, and each adult needs about 22 to 30 inches of actual seating.
An 80-inch couch with 8-inch arms leaves 64 inches of seat, enough for two adults comfortably or three sitting close together. A 96-inch sofa with the same arms leaves 80 inches, giving three adults more room. The number of seat cushions does not determine how many people fit.
What is the best fabric for a sofa, especially with pets or kids?
Performance fabric is often the practical choice for a sofa used by kids or pets because these fabrics are made to handle stains and water-based cleaning. A tight weave also stands up better to claws and rough use than an open or looped surface.
Leather wipes clean and wears well with dogs, although cats can leave claw marks. Boucle and chenille can catch and pull. Velvet shows pressure marks because of its pile. Wool resists soiling, linen wrinkles and can snag, while microfiber is easy to clean but has a flatter look.
What makes a sofa last, and how long should one last?
A kiln-dried hardwood frame is the durable standard. Corner-blocked, glued, and screwed joints help keep the frame from loosening over time. Sinuous steel springs are common, while eight-way hand-tied suspension is the older and more labor-intensive construction. Webbing alone is lighter and offers less support.
High-resiliency foam holds its shape better than lower-density foam, while down and feather wraps need regular plumping. A well-made sofa is generally expected to last 10 to 15 years. The frame often outlasts the upholstery and cushions.
How deep should the seat be, and what does that change?
Sofa seat depth commonly runs 21 to 24 inches. Past 25 inches, the sofa starts to favor lounging, and a shorter person may need a pillow behind their back to sit comfortably.
Seat height usually falls between 17 and 19 inches. A shallower seat with an upright back is easier to get out of and works better for sitting upright over a longer period. A deep seat sofa leaves more room to stretch out. A tight back keeps its shape, while a loose back needs occasional plumping.
How do you care for a sofa?
Vacuum the seat and crevices, and blot spills rather than rubbing them in. Upholstery carries a cleaning code: W allows water-based cleaning, S requires solvent, WS allows either, and X means vacuum only. Check the code before using anything wet on the fabric.
Leather needs a dry cloth and occasional conditioner, not solvent. Prolonged direct sun can fade indoor fabric and dry leather unevenly. Rotating and flipping loose cushions also helps spread wear rather than concentrating it in the seat used most often.