The Science of a Great Sofa

Are you in the market for a new couch? Perhaps a sofa, or a chaise lounge, maybe an ottoman or a divan? With endless choices available, let us enlighten you with our knowledgeable experience and tips to help you choose the ideal piece to complement your home and lifestyle.

A well-chosen sofa may be in your family for years and years and even passed on to flatting teenagers or a friend who still loves it long after you don’t. It would have provided just the right perch for your lifestyle. Whether it be eating in front of the TV, chatting with friends, lying down in the afternoon with a good book or taking a nap after a hard day’s work.

“I've always loved great upholstery and think that a great sofa is one of the most important pieces of furniture in your home”- Bobby Berk.

A crucial member of your furniture arsenal, your sofa should balance with your existing home décor, whether it be in your loungeroom, patio, bedroom or sunroom. Its quality manufacturing will withstand the years of use and be loved for many years to come, in short, purchasing a sofa is significant, and deserves a thoughtful approach.

A question we often get asked is “What is the difference between a sofa and a couch, and does it really matter?” We will cover this at the end of the article because the actual starting point to choosing a sofa is to decide its function and then its form.

Do you want to sit or recline, perhaps both on your new sofa? If you like to recline, check that your feet and legs will be supported. Is your back and head supported at the right height? If you have your feet up, do you have enough room beside you, or if you like to lie down lengthways is it long enough?

When sitting upright, your feet are ideally flat on the ground, not hanging in the air. Check the seating area fits your body size in width and depth. Do you prefer a high back to support your head, or a low back for a more open feel?

With your personal comfort sorted, there are many other features to consider. Do you need to convert it into a bed? Do you want an arm at one end or both (important for ottomans and chaise lounges)?

Choosing locally manufactured sofas can allow for customisations such as solid timber or metal legs to more closely match the look or style you’re trying to achieve with many retailers providing fabric swatches you can take home.

Once you’ve decided the style, features and materials, you should also consider how it fits in with your current room. Consider what it will look like in place. One idea is to use masking tape to mark out the full-sized outline on the floor. Then you can see the size and scale in relation to doors, windows, shelves and other furniture.

Don’t neglect the frame. Solid wood, kiln dried and engineered from sustainable timber is ideal and many of our sofas include this quality construction. Alternatively, a well-made composite and steel frames will also give you long lasting performance.

Finally, your quality sofa should come with a warranty and delivery to your door, (if you live in the Waikato or Bay of Plenty areas, we delivery for free). Check you have good access, there’s nothing worse than purchasing a sofa that can’t fit through the door or damages walls.

Now, back to the question of when is a sofa not a sofa or rather a couch? Both are increasingly interchangeable though some would say a sofa is more formal, for sitting, with backs and arms. A couch is more casual, for lounging.

Here are our top 6 picks for exceptional sofas:

The sectional practicability of the Boxer suites allows you to locate the footbox at either end. It’s contemporary wide arm design and solid timber frame make it a popular choice.

Perfect for small spaces, the Jameson is available as a sofa bed using a high class bi-fold mechanism with a 120mm innerspring mattress. It’s also hand crafted here in New Zealand using excellent quality materials.

A Parklane is a traditional design featuring rolled-arms and all over piped detailing. When ordering this piece you get the option to customise the legs, fabric, foam and even a sofa-bed option.

The luxurious chesterfield styled Patchwork range with it’s rolled arm rests is a cacophony of colour. A true statement piece, it’s velvet fabric is bursting with texture and character.

The Patchwork chaise is an eclectic sofa but also a day bed, allowing you to rest your back and straighten your legs. It’s ideal for the lounge, sunroom or even as a bedroom centrepiece.

Van Dyks, turning houses into homes.