Upholstered furniture in the living room is the “center of the universe”. There we rest, communicate, do our favorite things, often even sleep. When choosing which sofa to buy in the hall, pay attention to the trendy practical varieties in the Pufetto catalog.

What is important to know about the sofa

Before you buy a sofa in the living room, answer a few questions:

• how much space is available in the sofa room;
• whether the sofa will only be used for daytime recreation or for sleeping, too;
• what style and color the room is/will be decorated in.

Answers to these questions will determine whether the sofa will be used for daytime use only or sleep only; what style and color the room will be decorated in:

1. The shape of the sofa. Sofas can be straight, corner, U-shaped, curved.
2. Size. Sofas are different lengths, widths, with a different number of seats – from 2 to 7.
3. Style. Popular styles in which furniture is made – art nouveau, loft, Scandinavian, eco, classic, grunge, art deco, eclectic.
4. Coloring. The sofa can complement the interior, “merging” into it, or become a bright color spot.
5. Materials. Leather, eco leather, fabrics, wood, MDF, chipboard, synthetic, foam rubber, springs – the choice depends on preferences and budget.
6. Structure. Folding, modular, transformer? For a small apartment it is better to choose a model with a transformation mechanism.

Think over in advance, which sofa to put in the living room, and how to place it there – then you will not have to send an unsuccessful purchase to the store.

Size and shape: where and how to put it

Before going to the store, calculate the length and width of the space that you allocate for the installation of upholstered furniture. Measurements will help you understand how to place a sofa in the living room.

There are sofas by size:

• double sofas (2-2.5 m long and 0.8-1 m wide),
• three-seater (2-2.5 m long and 0.8-1 m wide),
• Four-seat (1 place accounts for an area of 80 cm).

These are the main dimensions of upholstered furniture. Consider its size in decomposed state. 2-3-seater model will require a space of approximately 2.2 x 1.5 m.

The back height is equal to the back depth – take this into account, deciding which sofa to choose in the living room. High backrest (under the back of the head) fixes the sitting evenly, low (at waist level) allows you to relax half a bed.

The choice of shape of the sofa for the living room is influenced by the size of the room, its type, the task to be solved with furniture.

• Straight sofa is a classic option. It is used for rest day and night, unfolded in any known way. It is placed in the center, under the wall.
• Corner sofa – saves space, divides the space into zones, there are right and left-handed. There are fewer mechanisms of transformation, more seats.
• U-shaped – a choice for large rooms, you can put anywhere.
  Curvilinear – has a variety of forms (from a circle to a “snake”). Original design element, a means of zoning. Shortcomings – does not transform, requires a lot of space.

Popular also couch – a hybrid sofa with a chair, without armrests and backrest. The optimal option for studio and small apartments, small rooms. There is a fold-out (single), fold-out (for two people).

Important: a correctly selected sofa without problems passes through the elevator doors, apartments, entrances.

Design: the best way to sleep

Are you going to use the sofa only during the day or will you sleep like on the bed? The design of the upholstered furniture depends on it.

1. The sofa, which will not be a sleeping place, is called non-sleeping (monolithic). It is reliable, stable, it rests on its legs.
2. The sofa-bed is unfolded out, creating a comfortable “bridgehead” for sleeping for two, less than one person. It is completed with drawers for linen.
3. Modular sofa, like a puzzle, consists of combinable sections. The sections can be used separately as seats/beds.

Transformation mechanisms are divided into guest (irregular use) and daily (for night rest of the owners). Popular:

• Books / Click-dog. Lift the seat to a click, put it down. The pros are reliability, simplicity. Minus – need a place for lowering the back.
• E-book/Pantograph. Roll out or pull out the seat on yourself, put the backrest down. Pros – strength, simplicity. Minuses – can damage the floor.
• Roll out. Pull the strap under the seat – the mechanism will “pull” forward. Pluses – reliability, spacious space. Minuses – low position of the surface, you need a place to roll out.
• Dolphin. Corner mechanism. Pull the strap and pull out the section from under the seat. Pluses – simplicity, even space. Minus – no underwear drawer.
• American/French cot. Double and triple folding systems. Plus – simplicity, durability. Minus – unfolded “Frenchwoman” is not smooth.
• Accordion. Lift and pull out the seat all the way to the end. The back rest will fall automatically. The advantages – a spacious, durable option for a small room. Minus – need a free space in front of the seat.

Before buying, check the quality of the transformation mechanism, a few fold-down the sofa.

Materials and colors of sofas: beauty plus strength

The materials used to make living room sofas combine practicality with elegance. For example, beautiful upholstery fabrics jacquard, chenille, velour are resistant to dust, moisture, dirt. And the antibody fabrics are not afraid even of pet games. The frame of modern MDF and chipboard is as strong as wood. Fillers of polyurethane foam, spring blocks give comfort to the body, and the sofa long life.

Upholstered furniture doesn’t have to correspond to the color and style of the living room. The sofa can:

• coincide with the general color scheme,
• combine with individual elements (wallpaper, curtains);
• contrast with the general tone.

When deciding how to choose the color of the sofa for the living room, consider the style of the room:

• White, gray or black sofa is good in minimalism, hi-tech, loft styles.
• Brown, beige, blue, and white shades are a sign of classic, rustic, and provanza. Add some greenery and you get eco and country.
• Dark red, dark blue, black colors – a tribute to the aesthetics of techno and constructivism.
• Pastel shades – white, beige, gray, golden – are used in the Scandinavian style, art nouveau.
• Art Deco “likes” catchy colors – black, blue, yellow, red.

The choice of shade of upholstered furniture depends on the size of the room. How to choose a sofa for a small living room and not to miss? A small room will visually become bigger and lighter with a 2- or 3-seater straight sofa in light colors. Avoid mottling, acidic and dark colors, large prints. For spacious rooms, all design restrictions are removed.

Choose a sofa for the living room, following the appropriate color scheme:

• monochrome – walls and a sofa in different shades of the same color;
• Neutral – a minimalist design in neutral tones;
• neutral sofa plus bright walls/ curtains;
• a bright sofa on a common neutral background;
• combi – a catchy sofa surrounded by bright walls.

The last scheme will be successful only if you think through the combination well.