How to pick the perfect sofa A low, deep, seat sofa adds a modern vibe to this living room space. Photo courtesy Scott Gabriel Morris/ Handout/TNS
An oversized neutral sofa helps to add an expansive seating area in this narrow living space. Photos courtesy Handout/TNS
Cathy Hobbs
Tribune News Service Long or short, chaise or sectional‚ what are the best options when it comes to a sofa? One general rule of thumb is to pick your larger pieces first such as your sofa before making smaller selections such as chairs and accents. A sofa is really the foundation for the room and can make or break a room when it comes to floor plan and layout. When selecting a sofa for your space, here are some general rules of thumb.
A low leather sofa adds the right feel in this family room space. Photo courtesy Scott Gabriel Morris/ Handout/TNS
DO’S 1. Choose your sofa once you have a chance to understand how you wish a space to function. 2. Choose a neutral-colored sofa if you are looking for a pieces that are timeless and can be used in different parts of the home and move with you from home to home. 3. Consider a sectional, especially for corner spaces. 4. Use longer sofas along long walls to help fill a space. 5. Look for style, feel, function and comfort.
DON’TS 1. Don’t purchase a sofa without measuring the space where the sofa will go in advance. Be sure to allocate room on either side of where the sofa will sit for circulation and flow. 2. Don’t overlook hospitality-grade fabrics. Many designers solely choose hospitality-grade fabrics because of durability. 3. Don’t forget to consider using lower-profile sections of a sofa to form a single unit such as pairing two chaises, a left and a right side together. 4. Don’t dismiss the beauty of leather and faux leather. Once considered outdated, these materials are still considered to be modern and on trend. 5. Don’t purchase sofas in fabrics or colors that are considered trendy or won’t last the test of time. Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at cathyhobbs. com. ©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS REAL ESTATE
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2021
