Tips for buying the perfect sofa and getting it right!

How to buy a sofa?

Buying a sofa can be one of the most difficult purchases you make. It is also likely to be among your more expensive pieces, and with so many choices out there, it may seem like a minefield when choosing what would best suit you. I am partnering with DFS in this post, and they have helped me find my perfect new DFS sofa for my living room! Let me share my top sofa buying tips with you. 

Not long ago, I went to buy a new set of sofas for the first time. I didn’t know where to start. I also didn’t want to make an expensive mistake as I know some people can get the measurements wrong. 

As you guys know, I am a huge fan of upcycling furniture for my home. I have had a set of second-hand couches in my living room for the past five years. I want to upgrade them as they are too large for my living room. 

I wanted to get new sofas that will better fit my space. So, the lovely Lisa, a sofa expert in the DFS store in Blanchardstown, kindly let me pick her brains and answered all my sofa buying questions. 

Below I have some tips for picking the perfect sofa, so whether you are a sofa buying newbie or you want to upgrade then I hope you will find these tips useful.

* This post is a sponsored collaboration with DFS and was updated Jan 2022

DFS Joules Sofa. How to buy a DFS sofa.

Think of functionality when sofa buying

I knew I wanted a sofa that is built for comfort and will fit my lifestyle. Whether it’s snuggling in the evening or making an impact with style, this should be something you think about before buying your couch. You’ll also have to consider how easy they are to clean as well when picking out your sofa furniture – not just their look!

Also, I wanted something that is pet-friendly and relatively easy to keep clean. Think of your lifestyle when picking your sofa. A gorgeous white sofa might look amazing, but is it practical for your lifestyle?

There are lots of fabrics, and styles on the market, and a lot of the sofas can be modified to your needs.

DFS sofa buying guide.

The Perfect Fit

For me, this was the most important part of buying a sofa. You know the phrase, “Measure twice cut once”. Well, it’s the same for picking furniture.

You need to be realistic with your space and measure correctly. As I have a three and a two-seater in my room that are too big, I was conscious of not making that same mistake of having too big sofas again. 

When measuring out your room, consider your windows and radiators. Will the sofa block a window? Will you be able to open the doors? Also, make sure to add extra space if the sofa is going to sit in front of a radiator.

As I have a small living room, I chose from the Joules Cambridge range

I liked that it has lower arms rests, and it has petite legs that gave it some height. 

A little tip for making a room look bigger is to get a sofa that you can see under, as it gives the illusion of a larger space. 

Measure twice before ordering

There was a huge range of sofas at DFS, so many shapes and sizes to choose from. Initially, I loved the Joules Windsor collection. However, when I measured my room and compared the measurements to the Windsor collection, it just wasn’t practical for my small space. 

Even though you might fall in love with a piece in the shop. Make sure you go home and measure as it might not be the best fit for your space. 

You also need to make sure you can get the piece into your home. When placing your order, if you have any restrictions, you must let the team in the store know, so that they don’t have any surprises come delivery day. 

Measuring might seem a little overwhelming, but you can use the DFS app to help you. You can also bring your measurements in-store where the team will be happy to help you find a sofa to fit your needs. 

All measurements for each sofa can be found on the DFS website. 

As you can see, one of my existing sofas is too wide for the space that it is in. Instead, I have chosen to go for a slightly smaller cuddler option. 

I used the guide from the website to measure it against my existing sofa. The cuddler will sit much neater into this space, leaving some breathing room beside the armrests and around the sofa and door.

 

DFS sofa buying guide.

Fabric, Fillings and Style

This is where you get to get creative and pick a sofa in a style and fabric that will suit both your lifestyle and your decor.

I have always loved fabric sofas, probably because, growing up we had fabric sofas with lots of cushions and throws. I loved the cosy and warm feeling that I get from a fabric sofa. 

I was amazed at all the different fabrics available when picking a sofa. Your sofa can make a statement in your room, it can be a focal point, and it can also be a talking point in your home. I went for something bold. I chose to mix my sofas, and I picked the two-seater Cambridge in pink and the Cambridge cuddler in grey

I also got the Cambridge mini floral footstool which doubles up as storage. This footstool is perfect for storing the crafting materials that you might do whilst watching TV. 

I wanted to add a pop of colour to my living room. The Cambridge also has a fun floral print which can be easily flipped if you fancy a change from the floral. 

I chose the velvet fabric for my sofas, as I loved the luxurious feel of this fabric. I imagine coming home from work, taking off my shoes and curling up with Blondie for a cosy cat nap. This fabric is also easy to remove pet hair, a quick hoover, and it will remove any pet hair. 

Something I didn’t realise was that you could pick your filling. Whether you like your sofa to be squishy and soft or firm and supportive, you can choose from foam to soft fibre fillings. 

I love to sink into a soft and squishy sofa, so I went for the soft fibre filling.

 

DFS sofa buying guide.

How long will it take for my DFS sofa to arrive?

Now, I will hold my hands up and admit that I thought your sofa would arrive asap. I didn’t realise that you had to wait, which is quite common for first-time sofa buyers. 

If you are in the process of buying a home or renting, then do consider that when ordering your DFS sofas. Also, a popular time for people to upgrade their sofas is for family events. If you want a new sofa for communions season or if there is an upcoming wedding and you want to impress the in-laws then make sure you leave enough time to order. 

Each sofa will have a different lead-time depending on which one you pick. The sofas I have chosen have a 6-week wait, but I can track their progress online which is exciting. 

This also gives me time to arrange my old sofas to be collected and make space for my new ones. Most of the sofas are handmade in one of the DFS factories. DFS are the only UK retailer to be awarded the Kitemark for upholstered furniture, and this means each product by DFS goes above and beyond standard levels of quality and can be trusted to meet the highest levels of safety and reliability.

A fun fact! Did you know those cute animated characters in the DFS adverts on tv are based on real people who work in the DFS factories? 

They were created by the talented Aardman studios the people behind Wallace and Gromit. Now, I wonder can we get them to make an animation of Blondie!

I hope you found today’s post informative, and it has given you some clarity and tips for your sofa shopping experience. 

Update – Click here to see my new sofas in their new space

You can also check out my Youtube video below, where I chatted to Lisa in DFS in Blanchardstown. She gave me loads of sofa buying tips that I think you will find helpful.

Don’t forget to give it a thumbs up and subscribe to my channel if you enjoy it.

Chat soon, Catherine.

Follow:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.