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5 Essentials for Choosing the Right Sofa for Your Living Space
Discover how to create the best sofa set-up for your living room to suit different layouts, sizes and styles
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Far from being a humble place to perch, today’s sofas serve many different roles. As well as catering to your individual wish list, a sofa should also suit your lifestyle and the size and flow of your space – and deliver style in spades, of course. Not sure where to start? We spoke with Castlery to find out five questions to ask yourself before you buy, which will help you choose a functional and fashion-forward sofa you’ll love for a lifetime.
Castlery Owen Three-Seater Sofa in Pearl Beige
1. What’s Your Design Style?
The first step is to draw up a sofa shortlist and take note of the styles you love, which complement your interior. Contemporary sofas in neutral tones enjoy a timeless popularity and harmonise with almost all homes, while luscious velvets in rich hues continue to gain momentum, fuelled by their strong style statement that suits most interiors.
When browsing different designs, look to the frame and legs as well as the fabric components. If mid-century modern is your flavour, seek out sofas with timber legs such as this new Owen three-seater from Castlery. The design channels mid-century modern with its walnut-stained solid timber frame, yet adds a contemporary twist with subtle Japandi style.
Many sofas are available in different colours, such as Castlery’s popular Adams collection, which is available in Pearl Beige, Indigo Blue, and Jet Black Velvet. It also comes with a choice of black, brass or silver metal legs, so if you like a sofa design but want to add a touch of glamour or industrial style, look into whether the fabric colours or legs are interchangeable, as this can put a different twist on any design aesthetic.
1. What’s Your Design Style?
The first step is to draw up a sofa shortlist and take note of the styles you love, which complement your interior. Contemporary sofas in neutral tones enjoy a timeless popularity and harmonise with almost all homes, while luscious velvets in rich hues continue to gain momentum, fuelled by their strong style statement that suits most interiors.
When browsing different designs, look to the frame and legs as well as the fabric components. If mid-century modern is your flavour, seek out sofas with timber legs such as this new Owen three-seater from Castlery. The design channels mid-century modern with its walnut-stained solid timber frame, yet adds a contemporary twist with subtle Japandi style.
Many sofas are available in different colours, such as Castlery’s popular Adams collection, which is available in Pearl Beige, Indigo Blue, and Jet Black Velvet. It also comes with a choice of black, brass or silver metal legs, so if you like a sofa design but want to add a touch of glamour or industrial style, look into whether the fabric colours or legs are interchangeable, as this can put a different twist on any design aesthetic.
Castlery Madison Sofa Sectional in Antique Gold Velvet
2. How Do You Use Your Sofa?
We are now spending more time at home than ever, so before you click ‘add to cart’ think about what requirements your sofa needs to fulfil beyond simple seating. Do you need a comfortable place to work and spread your papers and laptop on weekdays, or do you crave a relaxing retreat for weekend movie nights or siestas?
Bookworms will want a sofa with plenty of arm support to help hold those treasured tomes, so seek out designs with adjustable cushions, such as the loose bolsters on this newly released Madison sofa sectional three-seater chaise from Castlery.
Prefer to rest your feet? Take a look at matching ottomans or shop for L-shaped sectionals rather than traditional two- or three-seater sofas.
2. How Do You Use Your Sofa?
We are now spending more time at home than ever, so before you click ‘add to cart’ think about what requirements your sofa needs to fulfil beyond simple seating. Do you need a comfortable place to work and spread your papers and laptop on weekdays, or do you crave a relaxing retreat for weekend movie nights or siestas?
Bookworms will want a sofa with plenty of arm support to help hold those treasured tomes, so seek out designs with adjustable cushions, such as the loose bolsters on this newly released Madison sofa sectional three-seater chaise from Castlery.
Prefer to rest your feet? Take a look at matching ottomans or shop for L-shaped sectionals rather than traditional two- or three-seater sofas.
Castlery Adams Three-Seater Sofa, Armchair and Ottoman in Pearl Beige with brass legs
3. Which Sofa Configuration Is Best for Your Living Room?
If your sofa needs to accommodate one outstretched adult or a family of three or more, a three-seater is the minimum recommended size. Two-seater sofas can be brilliant for single-adult households and couples – unless you like your personal space or enjoy reclining on your sofa at the end of the day.
Larger rooms may fit two three-seater designs, while compact living areas are often better suited to a two-seater sofa and armchair combination. If your living space is narrow, extended L-shaped sectional sofas are great for providing maximum seating that takes up minimum space. Conversely, an open-plan living area might call for a sofa to be paired with an ottoman or armchair to divide the room into different zones.
That is the case with this space, which uses a timeless trio of seating from Castlery’s popular Adams collection in the form of a three-seater sofa, an armchair angled for sociability and an ottoman that can easily be moved around to form a footrest or provide extra seating.
The size, spatial arrangement and circulation areas of your living room will reveal the ideal proportions of your sofa, so grab your measuring tape to work out the maximum dimensions, and remember to leave at least 70 centimetres of space around your sofa for ease of movement – more if you can.
3. Which Sofa Configuration Is Best for Your Living Room?
If your sofa needs to accommodate one outstretched adult or a family of three or more, a three-seater is the minimum recommended size. Two-seater sofas can be brilliant for single-adult households and couples – unless you like your personal space or enjoy reclining on your sofa at the end of the day.
Larger rooms may fit two three-seater designs, while compact living areas are often better suited to a two-seater sofa and armchair combination. If your living space is narrow, extended L-shaped sectional sofas are great for providing maximum seating that takes up minimum space. Conversely, an open-plan living area might call for a sofa to be paired with an ottoman or armchair to divide the room into different zones.
That is the case with this space, which uses a timeless trio of seating from Castlery’s popular Adams collection in the form of a three-seater sofa, an armchair angled for sociability and an ottoman that can easily be moved around to form a footrest or provide extra seating.
The size, spatial arrangement and circulation areas of your living room will reveal the ideal proportions of your sofa, so grab your measuring tape to work out the maximum dimensions, and remember to leave at least 70 centimetres of space around your sofa for ease of movement – more if you can.
Castlery Pebble Chaise Sectional Sofa in Ocean Blue with matt-black legs
4. How Should You Position Your Sofa?
Ideally, seating should face inwards to encourage social interaction – this is why L-shaped sectionals or a pair of armchairs facing a sofa are conducive to conversation. Position the front two legs of your sofa (and armchairs or ottoman) on your rug, which should be longer than your sofa.
You’ll also want a clear view of what you enjoy watching – the TV, a fireplace or a vista of the landscape – so site your sofa accordingly.
Should you push your sofa against the wall? You may have to if your living room is small, though aim to position your seating closer to the centre of the room, or near the periphery leaving some circulation space around it. This layout works particularly well in interiors with multiple entrance points to other rooms or outdoors, such as the space above.
Here, the streamlined, space-saving profile of Castlery’s contemporary Pebble sofa differentiates the circulation zones from the living space with its slim back and armrests – a clever strategy that is often required in today’s open-plan homes. Likewise, by opting for a left-facing chaise, the path to the staircase on the right is kept clear.
If you’re leaning towards a sectional sofa, map out both left- and right-facing options in your living room before you buy to determine which configuration best suits your space.
4. How Should You Position Your Sofa?
Ideally, seating should face inwards to encourage social interaction – this is why L-shaped sectionals or a pair of armchairs facing a sofa are conducive to conversation. Position the front two legs of your sofa (and armchairs or ottoman) on your rug, which should be longer than your sofa.
You’ll also want a clear view of what you enjoy watching – the TV, a fireplace or a vista of the landscape – so site your sofa accordingly.
Should you push your sofa against the wall? You may have to if your living room is small, though aim to position your seating closer to the centre of the room, or near the periphery leaving some circulation space around it. This layout works particularly well in interiors with multiple entrance points to other rooms or outdoors, such as the space above.
Here, the streamlined, space-saving profile of Castlery’s contemporary Pebble sofa differentiates the circulation zones from the living space with its slim back and armrests – a clever strategy that is often required in today’s open-plan homes. Likewise, by opting for a left-facing chaise, the path to the staircase on the right is kept clear.
If you’re leaning towards a sectional sofa, map out both left- and right-facing options in your living room before you buy to determine which configuration best suits your space.
Castlery Isaac Reversible Sectional Sofa in Ivory Beige
5. High-Armed Sofas or Low-Profile Lines?
If you have a small living area, consider selecting a sofa with low-profile arms to retain sightlines in your interior. This will let the eye travel through your space, rather than blocking the room view.
Here, the low lines of a new Scandi-style Castlery Isaac sofa invite the eye to take in the view through the window from any vantage point in the room, giving it a sense of openness.
Low-profile arms also make it easier to reach books on a side table next to your sofa or, in this case, a styled window ledge. Sofas and armchairs with high arms offer a comforting, cocooning feel though they’re visually better suited to larger living areas. If the proportions of your room can take a high-armed sofa, you’ll want to position your coffee table or nesting tables no more than 50 centimetres in front of it so you can reach your cuppa with ease.
More: To find out more about Castlery’s new sofa collections, visit Castlery’s website.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
5. High-Armed Sofas or Low-Profile Lines?
If you have a small living area, consider selecting a sofa with low-profile arms to retain sightlines in your interior. This will let the eye travel through your space, rather than blocking the room view.
Here, the low lines of a new Scandi-style Castlery Isaac sofa invite the eye to take in the view through the window from any vantage point in the room, giving it a sense of openness.
Low-profile arms also make it easier to reach books on a side table next to your sofa or, in this case, a styled window ledge. Sofas and armchairs with high arms offer a comforting, cocooning feel though they’re visually better suited to larger living areas. If the proportions of your room can take a high-armed sofa, you’ll want to position your coffee table or nesting tables no more than 50 centimetres in front of it so you can reach your cuppa with ease.
More: To find out more about Castlery’s new sofa collections, visit Castlery’s website.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Castlery is the modern furniture company that puts life into every product, and a story in every room. With... Read More
Castlery is the modern furniture company that puts life into every product, and a story in every room. With... Read More