Sometimes it’s love at first sight when you spot what seems to be the perfect sofa while shopping in-store or online. But before you buy it and make arrangements for delivery, you need to know if it fits in your room. Fitting means a lot more than making it through the doorway. Once it's inside you don’t want the room so crowded that you constantly bump into furniture. So how can you tell if a sofa will work? Experts say to follow these guidelines:
Room to Walk
A sofa should not block doors and you should have room to walk. No one should need to turn sideways to get by the sofa. If there’s no spot in the room where you can place it and still walk around it, you probably don’t have room for it.
Experts suggest leaving a full 36” for areas that see a lot of foot traffic and at least 18” for less-trafficked areas.
Leave Wall and Floor Space
If the sofa is going up against a wall, it shouldn’t take up the whole space. At a minimum, leave 18” of space on either side of the sofa. Don’t put the sofa flat up against the wall. Leave about 5 inches.
If you choose a sofa with a chaise, the chaise should extend more than halfway across the floor space.
Measure Everything
Make sure to take complete measurements of your sofa. First, take the length side-to-side. Length not only matters for fitting in your space, but also for comfort. Do you like to stretch out on the sofa? Do you use it as a guest bed? Length matters.
Then measure depth back-to-front. Do you sit up straight on the sofa or do you like to lounge and get comfy? If you’re a champion couch potato, you’ll want enough space to relax.
Don’t forget the height - bottom-to-top. Measure the back and the cushion height. If you or someone in your household is on the short side, you may want lower seating. On the other hand, if you’re tall or have knee issues, a higher seat height may be just what you need.
Taller backed sofas are more comfortable if you're someone who likes to lean back. They also help balance a room with high ceilings.
Appliance Center Is Here To Help
Our furniture experts are here to help you find the perfect furniture for your home. Stop into our Superstores, contact us online, or give us a call.