The Easy Way To Know If You're Choosing A Comfortable Sofa

It happens to all of us. You go to the furniture store to shop for a new sofa for your living room and find one that you absolutely love. You get it home, live with it for a few months, but then something just feels off. It's stiff, too shallow, and just really uncomfortable. Cuddling with your partner feels like a game of human Tetris. On top of that, it's too big for your living room and you're constantly banging into it as you navigate your space. Now you're stuck with a sofa you can't stand. All of this could have been avoided with two simple in-store tests: Sit on the sofa like you would at home, and make sure your selection is two-thirds the width of your room. It sounds basic, but skipping these tests is how many of us end up with a sofa that looks great but feels wrong.

Sofa buyers' remorse is extremely common. Just because it looks good in the showroom doesn't mean it's a good fit for your home. Most often we try to make our room fit the sofa, but what we should be doing instead is making sure the sofa fits our room. Doing so will make it easier to avoid the biggest sofa mistake that's ruining your small living room.

The first thing you should absolutely do before heading to the furniture store is, measure! It seems like common sense, but you'd be surprised how many people go to the store with just a vague idea about their room space and no measurements. One of the easiest ways to make a small living room feel bigger is to get the right size sofa. The rule of thumb is that your sofa should be two-thirds the width of your room. This should make it possible to leave at least a foot between your sofa and your coffee table, chairs, and other furnishings. That way, you'll have plenty of walking space and your living room won't feel cramped.

Once you have the dimensions you need, you should make a list of the features you want in a sofa before heading to the store — this will help you avoid choosing a sofa on impulse. Do you need a deep sofa for cuddling? What material do you prefer? Does it need to stand up to kids and pets? Does it suit your budget? These are the types of questions you should be answering with your list of needs. Luckily, there are plenty of expensive looking couches that are surprisingly affordable for you to choose from. And lastly, don't forget to sit or lie on your potential sofa like you would at home. This simple test will ensure that you get a sofa you absolutely love.