When I purchased my couch, I had some requirements for what I was looking for. For the longest time, I was stuck with a large couch that was not my favorite, although it was functional for my family.
Having such a huge piece of furniture that I disliked was a daily reminder because it was at the center of where my family and I often hung out. When the time was up for me to purchase a new couch, I knew what I was looking for in a couch for my family and me to all be happy.
When my middle daughter moved out, I was happy to give her the couch. As a replacement, I received a hand-me-down couch from my girlfriend. My other daughters, who lived at home, complained frequently about the switch. It was a lot smaller and not comfortable. However, I was saving to purchase a better couch that I wouldn’t regret.
The problem with the old couch I gave away was, the fabric was not easy to clean, the cushions were not detachable, and it was an L-shape couch that took up a lot of space in my small living room. Plus, it was just an ugly brown faux suede fabric. You can check out pictures of my living room with my current couch by clicking here.
If you want to find out my criteria on how to choose a couch, keep reading.
This post is all about how to choose a couch.
Size (Width and Depth)
The first thing I determined was where I wanted to place my couch, which was against the main wall in my living room. I also wanted it to be functional even if I changed my mind on placement.
Now that I had a starting point (against the main wall), I measured the wall and decided where I wanted the couch to sit. I knew I didn’t want the couch to be centered. And, I wanted to make sure I had enough space on the sides for end tables. However, I wanted something long enough to fit my family and guests.
Here are things to take into consideration when determining the size of the couch you need:
-Main placement of the couch
-Do you want to move it around? If so, will it fit in other areas of your home?
-How many people do you want to accommodate? If not a lot, then a smaller couch, like a loveseat, might suffice. Plus, loveseats are cheaper.
What best fits my home and lifestyle would be a couch that’s at minimum 89″ wide. I came to that conclusion based on the most popular widths available.
I also wanted a deep-seated couch. Whenever I have guests over or all my kids at home, the couch is where we like to chill and hang out. I wanted everyone who comes over to feel relaxed and comfortable.
My brother had a deep-seated couch. My girls loved it. It was so easy to fall asleep on even if other people were sitting on it. For my girls, the most important thing was how comfortable the couch would be. They didn’t think too much about the aesthetics of it, like I did. The couch I got, the seat was 42″ deep. Keep in mind if this fits in your home functionally as well.
Material
Another important factor for me on how to choose a couch was the material. Because my house has a lot of traffic, this meant a lot of people would be sitting or sleeping on it. I wanted something durable, yet easy to clean.
Nowadays, there are so many great fabrics that are durable, easy to clean, and offer removable washable covers.
However, I found that those special materials are a bit more expensive. Although machine washable, sometimes I don’t have the time to take the covers off and wash them.
I opted for leather. Before, I had leather couches when the girls were young, and I loved them! I used to clean them with baby wipes after every party. It was so easy to clean and so durable for my active kids. I know there are special leather cleaners. At the time, that worked best for me.
Features
One feature I wanted was a sofa bed. However, this was something I was willing to sacrifice due to price.
Is there a feature you need for your couch when purchasing? I even thought about a couch that had a built-in recliner. Be sure to think about what it is you need or want in your couch before purchasing. This way, it can narrow down your search on how to choose a couch.
Arm Rest Style
Another feature on how to choose a couch I considered was the armrest. I didn’t realize there were so many armrest styles. The best armrest style that worked best for me and my family was an armrest that was flat and wide. I like using the armrest to sit things on it, like drinks, my laptop, and more.
If you don’t use your armrest like I do, you can pick something round and prettier.
Cushion Type (size and fill)
I prefer one long cushion. I think it looks sleeker, and I feel like it would be less cleaning. After all, there are fewer cracks for things to fall through.
Another thing to consider on how to choose a couch is the kind of fill you want. There are so many choices out there now. The ugly couch I gave my daughter, the springs were starting to surface.
Now, I don’t think springs are as popular. There are so many choices, like foam-filled, feather-filled, and a mix of both or all three.
Price
I had a budget. This was a huge determining factor for me. My budget at the time, to some, may not be that much or may be a lot. It worked for me. I wanted to find a couch that was less than $2000 with a majority of the criteria I was looking for.
My non-negotiables were to have flat and wide armrests, between 89″ to 120″ long, leather, deep-seated, and less than $2000.
I didn’t realize Quince sold couches. If I were to purchase a couch again, you can click here to check out which one I’d get now.
Check out some of my picks below:
