Buying a New Sofa:

Size Matters

By: Stephanie Tallman Smith

Anyone who has been furniture shopping lately can attest to the fact that sofas keep getting bigger. Whereas just a few years ago there were somewhat standard sizes and shapes, today there are reclining sofas, sleeper sofas, chaise lounger sofas, modular sofas and the ridiculously big corner unit sofa. Even if you know approximately how much space you have to work with, arriving at the store with just your ideas and debit card in hand can lead to costly mistakes you may regret for a long time. Too often buyers will fall in love with the style or color of a sofa only to bring it home and discover it is too big (or in some cases too small) for the space they had in mind.

Fortunately, planning for your next sofa purchase is easy work. It boils down to three simple measurements: length, width, and height. The key thing to remember however is it isn’t the sofa’s measurements you should be concerned about; it is the space you are working with.

How long is the space? If going against a wall, are there fixed pieces of furniture or casework that can’t be moved? Measure the space at both the ground level and farther up the wall where you estimate the top of the sofa to rest. Sometimes walls are not square and the space at the floor might be different from three feet off the ground, especially if working off a wall or in a corner. Write down the smaller of the two measurements. If “floating” a sofa in an open area of floor space, put a piece of painter’s tape on the floor where you would like the ends of the sofa to rest and measure from there.

How high can the sofa go? Are there windows on the wall you are contemplating? If so, measure from the floor to the window sill. Subtract an inch to account for the curving of the sofa rest and write that number down. If you have end tables you will be keeping, measure their height and record that information as well. When you get to the furniture store, compare the arms of the sofa to your table height and determine if it will be comfortable for placing cups, books or the television remote.

Measuring width can be the most challenging. How far into the room can the sofa sit? Take into consideration the natural flow of foot traffic through the room and around any other pieces of furniture. If you are thinking about a reclining sofa, start your measurement as much as six inches from the wall to account for the change in position when the recliner is fully extended. Use your painter’s tape marks to do the same thing with the floating sofa.

Once you have your basic measurements there are some other things to consider. Do you have floor vents you don’t want to cover up? What about wiring and telephone cabling? If there is a fireplace in the room how close can you place the sofa without worrying about embers or too much heat?

Now you are ready to shop. Remember, even the most beautiful sofa in the world will be a wasted purchase if it doesn’t fit in the room. Taking just a few minutes to plan your next sofa purchase will help you return home excited with a piece of furniture that will last for years.

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