How to choose a sofa: a buying guide

Measure the doorway before you measure the room

More sofas are returned for failing to get into the flat than for any other reason. Before anything else, measure the narrowest point on the route in: the lift, the stairwell turn, the front door, and the corridor.

A sofa can go in diagonally, so the number that matters is the diagonal depth: measure from the top of the backrest to the front edge of the base. If that is smaller than your doorway width, it will almost certainly go in. If you live above the second floor without a service lift, ask about knock-down models where the legs and arms detach.

Sizing the sofa to the room

The common mistake is buying too big. A sofa should take up no more than about two-thirds of the wall it sits against, otherwise the room reads as furniture with some floor around it.

• Two-seater (150–180 cm): apartments, second seating, small living rooms
• Three-seater (200–230 cm): the default for most Indian living rooms
• L-shaped or sectional (from 260 cm): needs a room at least 3.5 m wide to avoid blocking a walkway

Leave 45 cm between the sofa and the coffee table. Closer and you cannot get past; further and you cannot reach your cup.

The frame is the thing you are actually buying

Upholstery hides everything, which is why frame quality is where corners get cut. A good frame is kiln-dried hardwood, joined with dowels or mortise-and-tenon and reinforced with corner blocks. Avoid particle board and stapled softwood; they loosen within a few years and cannot be repaired economically.

The showroom test: lift one front corner about 15 cm off the floor. If the other front leg stays planted, the frame is rigid. If it twists or lifts late, the frame is flexing, and it will only get worse.

Suspension, cushions, and why sofas sag

Under the cushions sits either eight-way hand-tied springs (best, expensive, rare at most price points), sinuous serpentine springs (the sensible standard), or elastic webbing (lightest and cheapest, fine for occasional use). For a sofa the family uses daily, serpentine springs are the realistic target.

For the cushions themselves, high-resilience foam wrapped in a polyester or feather layer gives you support that lasts with a soft surface. Pure foam flattens; pure feather needs plumping every single day. Ask for the foam density: 32 kg/m³ or above holds its shape.

Fabric or leather

Fabric

Warmer to sit on and available in far more colours. Check the Martindale rub count: under 15,000 is decorative only, 25,000 is fine for a family sofa, and 40,000 or above is contract grade. Removable covers are worth paying for.

Leather

Wipes clean in seconds, survives pets better than most people expect, and develops a patina rather than looking worn. Full-grain and top-grain are real leather that will age well; bonded leather is scraps glued to a backing and will peel within a few years. Our Chesterfield two-seater in tan is a good example of a full-grain build.

In humid coastal cities, leather can feel sticky in summer without air conditioning. In dry climates like Rajasthan it is close to ideal.

Seat height and depth

Seat height of 42–45 cm suits most adults; anyone with knee trouble should go higher rather than lower, because a low seat is hard to rise from. Deep seats of 60 cm and above are wonderful if you like to curl up and uncomfortable if you are under about 5’4″, since your feet will not reach the floor while your back touches the cushion.

Sit properly when you test one. Feet flat, back against the cushion, for at least a minute.

What to spend

A sofa is the single most-used piece of furniture in most homes, and the one worth over-buying rather than under-buying. Below ₹30,000 expect plywood frames and webbing. From ₹30,000 to ₹90,000 you get hardwood frames and serpentine springs, which is where most people should land. Above ₹90,000 you are paying for leather, eight-way springs, or design.

Whatever you spend, check what the warranty actually covers. Frame warranties are common; a warranty that also covers the springs and foam is the useful one.

See the full range of sofas, or order free fabric swatches before you commit to a colour.