The Ultimate Checklist for Sofa Shopping

Buying a sofa shouldn't feel overwhelming. But walk into a showroom or scroll through a website, and suddenly you're drowning in options - configurations, fabrics, fill types, delivery windows. It's easy to lose sight of what actually matters.

At Furl, we've spent years helping people find the right sofa. Not the trendiest one, or the one that photographs well on Instagram. The right one - for their space, their life, the way they actually live.

Here's what to consider before you buy.

high quality London sofa bed by Furl

Measure Everything (Twice)

It sounds obvious, but most sofa regrets start with a tape measure left in the drawer.

Measure your doorways. Your hallway. The turn at the top of the stairs. That awkward corner where the ceiling slopes. If your sofa can't physically enter your home, nothing else matters.

Then measure the room itself. Not just the wall you're planning to put it against, but the space around it. Can you walk past comfortably? Will the coffee table still fit? Does it block the radiator, the plug sockets, the natural flow of the room?

We offer a free home measuring service for exactly this reason. Because a sofa that fits on paper doesn't always fit in practice, and we'd rather know before we build it.

Think About How You'll Actually Use It

A sofa isn't just for sitting. It's for reading, napping, working from home, hosting friends, and collapsing after a long day. It's for everything.

So think honestly about what you need. If you live alone in a studio, a sprawling corner unit makes no sense. If you host regularly, you'll want something that seats more than two. If overnight guests are common, a proper sofa bed changes everything.

Our sofa bed designs for modern spaces are built around this idea - furniture that adapts to how you live, not how you think you should live. They're not compromise pieces. They're double-duty by design.

Frame First, Fabric Second

Everyone starts with fabric. Velvet or linen? Neutral or bold? It's the visible part, so it feels like the most important decision.

But the frame is what determines whether your sofa lasts five years or fifty. And most people never ask about it.

Look for kiln-dried hardwood, properly jointed and corner-braced. Avoid particleboard, avoid anything described as "composite" without further detail. If a brand won't tell you what the frame is made from, that's usually a sign it's not something they're proud of.

We use beech hardwood in everything we make, because it's dense, stable, and built to outlast trends. It's more expensive. It's also why our sofas don't sag.

woman sitting on a sofa in a furniture store

Cushion Fill: Comfort vs. Longevity

Cushions look plump in the showroom. The question is how they'll look in three years.

Foam is the most common fill, but not all foam is equal. High-density foam holds its shape. Cheap foam flattens quickly, leaving you with that sad, sunken look that screams "student flat."

Feather and down feels luxurious, but it requires maintenance. You'll need to plump the cushions regularly, and they'll never have that taut, tailored look some people prefer.

Pocket springs - the kind you find in good mattresses - offer the best of both worlds. Supportive, long-lasting, and comfortable without feeling too soft. It's what we use in our sofa beds, because we design them to be slept on, not just sat on.

Seat Depth Matters More Than You Think

Sit on a sofa before you buy it. Not a quick perch - actually sit. Lean back. Cross your legs. See if your feet touch the floor.

Seat depth is one of those things people don't think about until it's too late. Too shallow, and you feel like you're sitting on a bench. Too deep, and your back never quite reaches the cushions.

If you're comparing a 2-seater vs 3-seater, remember that size isn't just about how many people fit. It's about how comfortable each person is when they do.

Fabric: Practical or Precious?

Linen looks beautiful. It also stains easily, wrinkles constantly, and shows every mark.

Velvet feels sumptuous. It also crushes, fades in sunlight, and isn't ideal if you have pets or children.

Performance fabrics - the kind designed to resist stains and wear - have come a long way. They no longer look or feel synthetic. Many are indistinguishable from natural textiles, but far more forgiving in daily life.

We offer a wide range of fabrics, from classic linens to hard-wearing blends, because there's no single right answer. It depends on your life, your tolerance for imperfection, and whether you want your sofa to stay pristine or develop character over time.

Delivery and Assembly

A sofa is only as good as your ability to get it into your home.

Ask how it's delivered. Will it arrive flat-packed? In sections? Fully assembled? And who's responsible for getting it up the stairs?

We deliver everything ourselves, in modular sections designed to fit through tight spaces. Our team handles the assembly, so you're not left wrestling with an instruction manual and a pile of screws. It's part of the service, not an afterthought.

Budget: What You're Really Paying For

Cheap sofas exist for a reason. They're made quickly, from inexpensive materials, in factories that prioritise volume over craft.

Expensive sofas also exist for a reason. You're paying for better materials, stronger construction, thoughtful design, and - if the brand is worth its price - longevity.

The hidden cost of cheap furniture is replacement. Buy a £400 sofa every five years, and you'll spend more over two decades than if you'd invested in something built to last.

At Furl, we're not the cheapest option. We're the considered one. Every piece is made to order, built by hand, designed to outlive trends and withstand real life. It's furniture as investment, not expense.

Trust Your Instincts

Ultimately, the best sofa is the one you'll still love in ten years.

Trends change. Your taste might evolve. But a well-made piece, in a shape and fabric that feels right for you, won't suddenly feel wrong just because a new style emerges.

Take your time. Sit on it. Ask questions. And if something feels off - too firm, too big, too trendy - keep looking. Because a sofa isn't just furniture. It's the place you come home to. And it should feel like it.

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David Norman

David Norman is the founder of Furl, a UK-based furniture brand known for redefining how people live with space-saving, design-led storage beds and sofa beds.

With almost two decades of hands-on experience in product design, manufacturing, and brand strategy, David has built Furl into a trusted name among urban professionals seeking calm, clutter-free homes. His work has been recognised for its innovation and craftsmanship, with features in publications such as Yahoo Finance and The Telegraph.

David continues to lead Furl’s creative direction, developing furniture that solves real-world problems without compromise.

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