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SOFA SHOPPING GUIDE
"Top Tips for Sofa Shopping"


 

It can be a bit daunting searching for the right sofa to suit your lifestyle and space. There are so many colours, materials and styles to choose from, not to mention the various levels of quality and pricing. Here are a few tips to take the stress out of the process of buying your new sofa.

1. SIZE & PROPORTIONS

It is crucial that you measure your space and work out the ideal size that your sofa needs to be. Think about how many people you need to seat regularly and where the best placement in the room would be (keeping in mind doorways and other furniture pieces). It’s a great idea to measure your current sofa to get an idea or alternatively, measure out on the ground with masking tape or newspaper different sizes. This will help you visualise the item in the room and how you move around it. Secondly, even though it may fit within your required space the overall proportion will impact the look within the room. A sofa with chunkier or heavier overall proportions, like the Fiori will appear larger in the room (great if you have the space), whilst a sofa that is raised from the floor and has slim arms and seat proportions will appear lighter and visually consume less space, check out the Olvia if this is what you are after. Use this to your advantage, look for heavier styles if you are looking to fill a large room and vice versa, and be aware of the impact the showroom has on the look of the sofa; in general, showrooms will be very open with high ceilings making all sofas look smaller than they are.

2. LOOKS & COMFORT

You may come across the ‘perfect’ sofa – the one you’ve been searching for – but if it is not comfortable, you will wish you went for something cosier. Although it may look great, is it deep enough if you’re tall or too deep so your feet can’t touch the floor? Is it too firm or so soft that you have trouble getting up? If you like to lie down on your sofa, are the arms at a comfortable height? Think about your requirements for the sofa prior to purchasing, if it is for use in the television room or multi-purpose space, look for something that is comfortable and flexible for the family like the Dese. Also think about durability; if people are going to have their feet on the sofa or it is high use, for a formal living room the look of the sofa will have greater importance so select something that is comfortable but maintains its great look like the Pradi-2.

3. CONFIGURATION & STYLE

The style of your sofa should complement the style of your house and your existing furniture. It should also function in a way that suits your lifestyle and functions for you. Buying a low-line, sleek sofa like the Arsizio, looks great in the showroom amongst contemporary furniture and is great if you have a modern home. But if you really prefer a comfy, cushioned seat that you can sink into and will suit you and your home, check out the Pradi-1. For configurations, will a simple 2 or 3 seater work in your space or can it take a larger corner or chaise lounge? Do you move house regularly? Chaise lounges are a great solution for many modern apartments, but if you move around a lot, the chaise is fixed on that side, so it may not work in your next home, a 3 seater & an ottoman would be a better choice. Or do you have an unusual space that requires a unique shaped sofa like the Rusco? It’s best to decide before hitting the shops and narrow down the search. In most cases, every sofa design is available in a range of various sizes and configurations to suit your needs.

4. COLOUR & MATERIAL

One main decision is whether you are going to go for a leather or a fabric sofa. A few questions to ask yourself are; how much use will this sofa get? What kind of area is it in and therefore what kind of spills is it going to be prone to? If it is a high-use area, leather is durable, easy to clean and non- absorbent for spills and smells. With professional help, minor tears or scratches can be repaired with great results. Fabric, on the other hand, takes a bit more maintenance. It can be protected with a Scotchgard to protect from spills and can be vacuumed to keep clean. If you have small children and it is going to be used in a busy area, consider a darker colour to hide some of the sins and keep your sofa looking pristine for longer. It is generally best to select a neutral colour for your sofa then add colour in the way of cushions, rugs and throws like the Rimini sofa. The sofa will be the biggest piece of furniture in the room and can overwhelm everything else if it is a bold colour or print. If you would really like a feature piece in a bright colour, look to get an ottoman, feature chair or recliner like our Preci, then have some co-ordinating cushions on the sofa to tie the look together.

5. QUALITY & LONGEVITY

When you buy a sofa, you expect it to last a number of years. In order for this to happen, you must make sure you are purchasing a good quality product. This will also save you money in the long run as you won’t need to replace parts or the whole sofa. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about a sofa’s quality when shopping. Make sure every part of it (internal and external) has a warranty and that there are no shortcuts such as real leather on the seats but artificial leather on the back of the sofa. If they are taking shortcuts on the outside, you don’t know what shortcuts they’ve taken on the inside.

QUICK TIPS FOR SOFA SHOPPING: 

> Know the sort of use the sofa will receive, now and in the future.
> Measure out the space and write your ideal dimensions down, take a tape measure shopping with you.
> Know the style you are looking for and what will work with your current furniture
> Take samples of the wall/floor colours if you have them, or take some photos with your phone and take them along so you can refer to them whilst looking at colour samples.
> Expect that the shop most likely will not have your perfect size or colour on display, it is not possible to display everything in all the different colours. Do however ask if they have any photos of a sofa in your preferred colour, or size, often stores will keep a database of photos from previous orders.
> Test out the sofa properly, many people sit on the sofa and judge it from that, but is that how you sit at home? If you mostly lie down, then lie down, the sofas are there to be tested so don’t feel like you can’t lie down or kick your feet up!
> The sales assistants can be fantastic resources, often they may have design backgrounds, and at the very least they have sold & seen many sofas, they can recommend styles, colours and sizes for you.


 

WALL UNIT SHOPPING GUIDE
"Top Tips to Help You Know What to Look For"


 

When on the hunt for a wall unit, in order to keep the experience simple, be sure of what you need the unit for, where it needs to go and what needs to go into it. If you stick to your guns and keep a mental checklist of these requirements, you will be able to eliminate unsuitable options and find your perfect unit.

1. PURPOSE & PRACTICALITY

What is the unit for? Do you need it to house your TV and media equipment, or is it more for display items and books? Is it needed mainly for practical reasons or for a feature in your space? Do you need to be able to hide certain sections with doors or cupboards? Or is it a combination of these?

> FEATURE & STORAGE: If you are after a feature piece, look for something that has a combination of display and storage sections. Taking full advantage of the height of a room will also make your feature wall unit stand out. The Bronte for example is available in 2.6m high and incorporates matt polyurethane shelving with stylish colour-backed glass sliding door panels. Combining different materials adds interest and dimension to a wall unit and allows you to choose complementary colours or a pop of colour for a bit of fun.

> TV & DISPLAY: If you want something that is all about the TV with some display items and storage to hide away DVDs, take a look at the Genova Wall Unit. This makes a feature of the TV by wall- mounting it and surrounding it with a panel with simple floating shelves for display. It is anchored by low line TV benches and balanced by wall-mounted hanging cabinets. This look if for fuss-free, contemporary homes.

>TV & STORAGE & DISPLAY: If you are after a wall unit that does a bit of everything, the Vedi is the one for you. Incorporating generous TV and media component storage with great book and display storage, the Vedi also has the option to hide it all away behind sliding glass doors. This option is particularly great for lounge rooms that are multi-purpose as it can change the look of the room just by sliding one or more doors.


2. WALL-MOUNTED & FREE-STANDING

A lot of wall units are wall-mounted so it is important to decide if this is something you want to do or if you are renting or like to have the flexibility to move your furniture around, look for free standing options. If you do find a wall-mounted design that you love but you need it to be free standing, always ask if there are other similar options as there usually are. The Viano Unit is a great wall- mounted option that uses backboards and floating shelves to create a unique design. We also have a free-standing option that offers a similar look using some of the same components for those who don’t want to drill into their walls.

QUICK TIPS FOR WALL UNIT SHOPPING:

> Make a list of features the wall-unit must have to work in your space.
> Be sure of your dimensions; measure out your wall and jot down the largest and the smallest you are willing to work with to give yourself some flexibility with different designs.
> Know the style you are looking for and what will work with your current furniture
> If you are incorporating your TV into the wall-unit, make sure you have its dimensions with you.
> Work out how much storage vs. display area you need.
> Decide whether you want your wall-unit to be wall-mounted or free-standing. And remember, if you find something that is wall-mounted, don’t forget to ask if there is a similar free-standing option.
> Always ask if a professional installation of the wall unit is available as it is well worth it.
> Take colour samples of the wall, and photographs of the room with you when you go, so you can match up colours right away.
 

TV UNIT SIZE GUIDE
"Tips on selecting the right size unit for your TV"
 

Consider the height of your TV Unit; when you are sitting on your sofa, you want your eyes to line up with half to two thirds up the screen. For example, for 40”+ TV’s, it is best to look for units that range in height from approximately 300 – 550mm. There are, however, exceptions to every rule; if you have a very specific space or need for your TV then there are many options for higher or very low units.

> PRACTICALITY & STYLE

You will need to decide how much storage you will need for your components and DVD’s etc. Make sure you measure your components before going shopping. Also think about what kind of look you want; do you mind if your components are on show or do you want them to all be hidden behind doors or glass? If they are going to be hidden, it’s important to make sure that your remotes will work through the glass/ doors.

Are you planning to have your TV sitting on top of a TV unit or are you going to have it mounted to the wall? These are good questions to ask yourself in order to be able to narrow down your search. This will also help you to decide on what style you are after for your space.

> SPACE & PROPORTION
 

If you have a large sitting room with a large sofa, balance it out with a long, narrow TV Unit. If you have the space, a wall unit can be a great way to incorporate your TV and media equipment neatly while becoming a feature for your home.

If you have a small space to fill, a simple unit with practical drawers and media storage will do the job nicely. Look for designs that are fuss-free with no handles as to allow it to blend with your room and other existing furniture.

The key to displaying your TV is to either centre it on a slightly longer unit or display it off-centre and balance it out with tall accessories or a floating shelf. These two options ensure the TV will look proportionate, no matter what size you decide to go with.

> 42" TELEVISIONS:
 

42” TV’s look great centred on smaller units to balance out the proportions of the TV. With smaller TV’s, you also have the option to place it off-centre on a longer unit and balance it out with floating shelves, an artwork or tall decorative items.

• 1.0 – 1.5m wide units.
• Compact, practical and simple style to accommodate components.

See:

• Small Basso, $1100- perfect under a wall mounted TV.
• Sola, $1390 - good storage in a compact unit.
• Small Mezzi, $1195 - at just 1m the small Mezzi is perfect when wall space is tight.

>46" TELEVISIONS:
 

46” TV’s are best suited to TV units that range from 1.8 – 2.2m. This allows enough space either side to look visually balanced in a space. Slightly larger TV units also offer more storage for media and accessories like DVD’s and CD’s.

• 1.8 – 2.2m wide units.
• Sleek, proportionate and great storage for DVD’s and extra components if required.

See:

• Prima 1.8, $1375 - plenty of room for components & spacious drawers.
• Mezzi, $1595- a sleek design at an ideal height with well laid out storage.
• Quadrato, $1585- clever pivoting doors to control the components, perfect for those who do not want glass.
• Moby, $1995 - a beautifully finished TV unit with bi-fold doors.
• Basso, $1395 - perfect underneath wall mounted TV's for a sleek, modern look.

> 55" TELEVISIONS:

When you have a larger TV to accommodate and you have the space, you can choose between a long, low unit or a wall-unit. It’s a great idea to balance such a large TV out with hanging cabinets or shelves.

• 2.2 – 3.6m wide units
• Compact, practical and simple style to accommodate components.
• Wall Units that incorporate media, decorative display and practical storage.

See:

• Prima 2.4, $1995 - a sleek unit that incorporates generous storage.
• Moby, $1995 - a beautifully finished TV unit with bi-fold doors.
• Puma, $4995 - a spectacular unit, the large size will anchor a large living room, it is a little higher then others, perfect for open plan rooms, where you may want to watch the TV from other areas.

Or Wall Units:

• Viano, prices starting from $3148 - the various modular components integrate the TV into a wall system blending storage with display.
• Genova, prices starting from $3835 - consisting of a plasma board that is mounted around the TV and various modular components to introduce storage and display.

FABRIC OR LEATHER?
"The on-going debate, read some of the pro's & con's here"


 

Some people love leather, and after having a leather lounge they never to look back, others are firmly fabric, many after horrifying childhood experiences of a relatives pleather (imitation leather of leather with a plastic cover) sofa which you had to peel yourself off in melting hot summers.  Whichever way you go, both have their merits, read about the pro’s and con’s of each here, with a little bit of myth-busting thrown in!

FABRIC

PRO'S

- Available in an enormous range, including patterns, textures and prints, for those who like to introduce pattens or texture with their sofa, fabric is a good choice
- Many styles can easily be reupholstered in a few years, so you can completely change the look rather then buying a whole new sofa.
- The choice of fabric can completely alter the style of the sofa, simply by choosing a traditional print, or a modern graphic you can turn something old into something modern, meaning you can essentially create exactly what you are looking for.
- There is a wide choice of fabric qualities available, from difficult to care for like silks, right though to commercial grade fabrics suitable for high traffic use.
- Fabric has a lovely inviting & warm sense to it, although the style of sofa will impact this also.

CON'S

- Despite the various grades of quality available, fabric does show the dirt more and due to this tends to look tired and worn out faster.
- It can be a tricky choice when presented with loads of options!
- Fabric can be harder to care for, it absorbs spills more readily and once certain spills soak in, very little can be done about them, leather is more resistant to liquid spills and easier to clean when one does occur.
 - Fabric will fade, if the sofa receives uneven sunlight, it can fade in patches, use window treatments if this is the case.  If they receive equal sunlight they will also fade, although it will be even and less noticeable.

LEATHER

(This list refers to genuine cow-hide leather, but excludes some aniline options as they require different care)

PRO'S
- Genuine leather is hard wearing, durable and easy to care for; you can simply wipe spills off, and dust with a cloth.  
 - Leather has a timeless quality to it, and always remains current, as the leather gets older it ages and gains more unique characteristics (think old leather wingbacks)
- Leather is a popular choice for families with small children who are likely to deal with spills, and families with pets, as it is more resistant then fabric to chewing & clawing.
- Leather is low maintenance and has a long life span, an application of conditioner 1 to 3 times a year, depending on where you live will ensure the sofa remains in top condition and not dry out.
- Despite what many think, leather will reflect its surrounding room temperature, it will be warm in a very hot room (as will fabric) and cold in a very cold room, it normally does not reach such extremes, if your room is a comfortable temperature it will be too.  If you consider leather car interiors and desk chairs this will make sense.
- Leather comes in a range of qualities, and price points, look for a sofa that is upholstered entirely in top grade cow hide leather to get the full benefits of leather.
- Leather is now available in a full range of colours, and various detailing features and textures are being used to further stylise different models.
- Leather has the ability to look newer for longer.  Look for models with darted stitching or non removable pillows, they are designed to hold their shape.

CON'S
- Not as much choice in terms of colours textures or prints.
- Most styles have a limited ability to be re-upholstered, or would be extremely expensive to do so (and not viable when compared to the price of a new sofa)
- Leather can be harder to dress up with cushions and soft furnishings
- Leather can fade, like fabric, use window treatments to avoid this.  Depending on the treatment of the leather, some leathers will fade faster (for example aniline options).
- It can be more expensive to buy a sofa in good quality leather.
- There is generally less options for sofa beds or ‘mix and match’ style modular options finished in leather.