How to choose a sofa: size, shape and seat depth

A sofa is usually the largest piece in a living room and the one you sit on every day, so it is worth choosing slowly. Start with the room and the way you use it, then decide on the size and the shape, and leave the fabric and the colour for last.

Start with how you will use it

Think about who will sit on the sofa and how. A family that watches films together needs deep seats and room to stretch out. A sofa that is mainly for guests and conversation can be more upright and more compact. If you like to lie down on it, compare your height with the length between the arms, not with the overall length. If the sofa will also be a guest bed, look at sofa beds and check how much floor they need when they are opened.

Get the size right

Measure the wall or the area where the sofa will go; our guide to measuring a room explains how. Then check four things:

Length. Leave some space at each end for a side table, a lamp or simply room to pass. A sofa that runs from corner to corner tends to make a room feel smaller.
Depth. The overall depth decides how far the sofa comes into the room. Keep a clear path of about 75 to 90 cm in front of it, or about 40 to 45 cm to a coffee table.
Height. A low back looks lighter and keeps a window or a picture behind it visible; a high back supports your head.
The way in. Compare the depth and the height of the sofa with your doors and your lift. Sofas are often carried through a doorway on their side or on one end, so the smallest measurements of the sofa matter as much as the largest.

Seat depth, seat height and arms

These details decide comfort more than the overall size does.

Seat depth is the distance from the front edge of the seat to the back cushion. Shallower seats suit upright sitting and shorter people; deeper seats suit lounging with your legs up. On a deep seat, extra back cushions make upright sitting comfortable too.
Seat height is the distance from the floor to the top of the seat cushion. Lower seats feel relaxed, while higher seats are easier to get up from, which matters for older family members.
Arms. Wide, padded arms are comfortable to lean on but take width away from the seat. Slim arms, or no arms at all, give more seat in the same length, which helps in a small room.

Not every listing gives these details. When a product page shows only the overall size, ask the seller for the seat depth and the seat height before you decide.

Choose a shape

Straight sofas with two or three seats are the most flexible. They fit against a wall, under a window or floating in the middle of a room.
Loveseats and compact sofas suit small living rooms and bedrooms, and pair well with one or two armchairs.
L-shaped and corner sofas seat more people in a corner and mark out a seating area in an open-plan room. Check which side the chaise or the corner is on: sellers describe it as left-hand or right-hand facing, usually as seen when you stand facing the sofa, but confirm it with the seller before you order.
U-shaped and modular sofas suit large rooms and big families. Modular sections can be rearranged later, and they often get through doors more easily than one large piece.
Sofa beds and recliners need extra space when they are opened or reclined. When a product page shows two sets of dimensions, closed and open, plan the room for the larger one.

Fabric, filling and frame

Fabric. Strong sunlight fades many fabrics over time, so in a sunny room keep the sofa out of direct sun or choose a fabric described as fade-resistant. Tightly woven and performance fabrics are easier to clean, and removable, washable covers help with children and pets. Leather needs occasional conditioning, especially where the air conditioning runs for long hours and the air is dry.
Filling. Foam cushions keep their shape and feel firmer; cushions wrapped in fibre or feathers feel softer but need regular plumping.
Frame and support. A solid wood or good engineered wood frame, with springs or strong webbing under the seat, lasts longer than a frame that flexes. Sellers can tell you what their sofas are made of, so ask when the listing does not say.

See it in your room first

Many sofas on FurnitureOnGo have a 3D model. Open a sofa and tap View in AR to place it on your floor at its real size, then walk around it and check the space in front of it. In the AR Room Composer you can add a coffee table or an armchair next to it and look at the whole seating area before you choose.

Quick checklist

The sofa fits the wall, with space at the ends and a clear path in front.
The seat depth and height suit the people who will use it most.
The shape, and the side of any chaise, suit the room.
It fits through every door and lift on the way in.
The fabric suits the light in the room and the way your family lives.