Buying a sofa is a big decision – once it takes pride of place in your living room, there’s every chance that it will spend the next decade there, propping up behinds with a modicum of style, and ideally a healthy dash of comfort. The problem comes when you’re just not sure where to start with your search. Do you want a traditional or modern look? Two or three seater? Leather or fabric? Before you even set foot in a showroom, the sheer amount of choice is dizzying.
Even when you have a rough idea of the look or style you want, there’s a whole wealth of other things to consider. How can you ensure the quality of the construction? Will it offer the kind of comfort and support you’re after? Will the upholstery look as good five years down the line?
Our bite-size guide aims to make the process a little easier by breaking down all the key things you need to know before splashing out. And if you just want to start window shopping right away, you’ll find a list of the sofas we think are the very best on the market a little further down the page – with choices that cater for every budget and every style.
How to buy the best sofa for you
What size and shape should I choose?
The first thing to think about is where your sofa is going to fit. It’s worth working out whether you are better off having only sofas or a mix of sofas and chairs, taking into consideration how many people you want seating for altogether and how much space you’ll have left (a room overcrowded with furniture is never a good look). Think about whether the shape works with the style of your home. For example, high backs go well in rooms with high ceilings, while corner sofas look good in larger living spaces and make for a good divider in open-plan homes. Also consider if you’ll need your sofa to double up as a bed – if so, go and have a look at our dedicated sofa bed guide by clicking the link alongside.
How important is the frame?
Without a robust and durable frame, your sofa will have much a shorter lifespan than it should. Hard woods such as oak and ash are best. Soft woods like pine, as well as plastic or metal, can buckle and bend or even snap. Ideally, legs should either be part of the frame or screwed or pegged in, not glued.
What filling is best?
This can make a massive difference to comfort, support, aesthetics, maintenance and longevity. Foam is the most common synthetic filling. It’s low maintenance and feels supportive – but make sure it’s not too hard (uncomfortable) or soft (doesn’t last) and expect it to lose volume a little over time. If you prefer a more casual, softer sofa, go for a feather or fibre filling, but expect to pay more and you’ll need to plump it up regularly. Increasingly, manufacturers use a layer of foam with a fibre wrap – this gives you the best of both worlds by being supportive with a soft and relaxed top layer.
What about the springs?
This isn’t something most people think about, but different kinds of springs make for a different kind of feel, just as they do with a mattress. If you can, feel the springs through the upholstery to check they’re close together and strong because if they are flimsy or there’s not many of them, the sofa is more likely to sag over time. And remember that sofas with webbing or mesh instead of springs may not be as comfortable.
What kind of fabric should I go for?
If your sofa is going to be used daily, go for a durable fabric like cotton, linen, microfibre, leather or wool. If you’re going for a pattern, your best bet is to get one weaved in rather than printed and try to get a fabric that’s been treated for stain resistance. When it comes to colour, remember all fabrics fade in direct sunlight. Once you’ve found the fabric you like, get a swatch to check it goes with the décor of your room and looks the same in natural daylight as it did under the synthetic light in the shop.
What about getting the sofa into my living room?
Take note of the height and width of any doorways, hallways or staircases that your sofa has to fit through when delivered. It’s amazing how many people don’t. Some companies may be understanding about any dimension-related snags – but others may not, so be sure to discuss any access difficulties with the company in question if you’re concerned that it may be a very tight squeeze.
The best sofas to buy from £500
1. Loaf Atticus: The best corner sofa
Price: From £2,595 – Buy now from Loaf
Corner sofas first took off in the 1970s when open-plan living became popular. Now they’re back in vogue, with this British-made option from Loaf a fabulous option for sprawling across and sinking into. Named after a puppy that used to visit Loaf’s headquarters because he was so snuggly and squidgy, it certainly lives up to its namesake thanks to the foam cushions with outer feather layer. It has a durable beech frame and there’s five combinations to choose from (large left hand and right hand, XL large left hand and right hand, as well as even sided), plus seemingly infinite fabric choices included linen, velvets and leathers (plus their special spill-resistant range – great for families). Fear not if you have some access issues as the sofa arrives in two parts with detachable arms.
Key specs – Size options: 5 combinations; Fabrics available: 140+; Delivery time: Within 6-8 weeks; Warranty: 5 years
2. Halo Groucho Aniline Leather Sofa: The best sofa for small living rooms
Price: From £1,299 – Buy now from John Lewis
We love the straight lines and low back of this contemporary looking old saddle leather sofa, and while it’s available in three sizes (plus an armchair and footstool), it’s the smallest one that stands out as the ideal compact seating solution for smaller spaces like hallways, landings, alcoves and narrow rooms. It’s modern and angular, yet just the kind of sofa in which you can kick back and unwind comfortably. Handily, the side cushions are attached to the frame, but although that helps keep it looking neat, this is not a sofa for perfectionists as it is prone to character-building scratching and scuffing. Unusually, the legs are made of leather not wood, so be careful when vacuuming.
Key specs – Size options: 3 sizes; Fabrics available: 4; Delivery time: Within 3 weeks; Warranty: 10 years for frame
3. Swoon Editions Mimi: The best classic sofa – while stock lasts
Price: From £649 – Buy now from Swoon Editions
The classic Poet sofa has been replicated umpteen times since it was originally designed in the 1940s. We love this one from Swoon, which is available as a two or three seater, because it’s both great value and very comfortable. It’s more elongated than the original, but you still get the striking mid-century tapered wood legs and buttoned back. The mellow pastel blue hue brings a fresh feel and the wool-blend upholstery is durable. The footstool and armchair look gorgeous too, but hurry up as this range is limited and they’ve already run out of the grey and plum colours.
Key specs – Size options: 2 sizes; Fabrics available: 1; Delivery time: Within 4 months; Warranty: None
4. French Connection Zinc: Versatile, affordable, and with designs to fit any room
Price: From £829 – Buy now from DFS
The Zinc has a buttoned back, flared wooden legs and bolster pillows that give a clear nod to the 1950s. But this sofa is also very much on-trend, as is all the French Connection range, which has certainly helped give DFS a more fashionable reputation than it’s traditionally had. Available in either fabric or leather, it’s not as firm as you might expect, which keeps comfort levels high and the four cushions are thrown in the price tag too. Available as a cuddler, two seater, three seater, four seater, corner sofa left-hand or corner sofa right-hand, it’s highly versatile and is British made, using only British fabrics.
Key specs – Size options: 6 sizes; Fabrics available: 2; Delivery time: Within 3 weeks; Warranty: 15 years
5. Furniture Village New England Newport: The best Chesterfield sofa
Price:£1,495 – Buy now from Furniture Village
The iconic scrolling arms and deep buttoned back make this a timeless piece. And while the classic Chesterfield often doesn’t work as a two-seater, this has been scaled down perfectly (as well as also being available as a three or rather magnificent four seater). The supportive back, sprung seat and feather wrapped fibre seating all make for the kind of sofa that will help you relax at the end of a hard day’s work, especially if you bung a cushion or two at the back. No wonder it’s been a bestseller since it was launched by the retailer.
Key specs – Size options: 3 sizes; Fabrics available: 4, various leather grade options; Delivery time: Within 28 days; Warranty: 10 years
6. IKEA Stocksund: The best budget sofa
Price: From £529 – Buy now from Ikea
This traditional style sofa, which is available as a two or three seater, looks and feels a lot more expensive than it is. The seating cushions have a core of pocket springs which are wrapped with foam and polyester for a supportive, but relaxed feel. And you can choose from black or brown legs and a number of colours for the removable, washable fabric covers. Plus, you can buy spares separately, which means you can chop and change the look of your room anytime. There are some gorgeous other pieces in the range too, including armchair, chaise lunge, footstool and bench. Like most IKEA products, it’s self-assembly, but it took two of us under 15 minutes.
Key specs – Size options: 2 sizes; Fabrics available: 6; Delivery time: 4-10 working days; Warranty: 10 years
7. Saba Italia New York: The best sofa for Italian style
Price:£2,480 – Buy now from Go Modern
A sofa to fall in love with. Ridiculously comfortable and stylish, it’s the kind of couch that particularly lends itself to contemporary spaces. The deep upholstered seat, arm and back cushions provide a sink-into sumptuousness, while the curved wire legs and frame (both available in various colour options) and neat silhouette keep it minimalist and modern. And because the covers (of which there are oodles of fabrics to choose from – or you can use your own) can be removed to clean, it’s practical too. The footrest is a great accompaniment if you have the space and can afford it - and the manufacturer has recently launched an outdoor version of both too.
Key specs – Size options: 4 sizes; Fabrics available: 14 (or your own); Delivery time: Within 8 weeks; Warranty: 2 years