Sofa Shopping 101

by David Erwin

If you’re like most people, choosing a sofa can be daunting. You want one that looks great, works well for its purpose, sits comfortably, and fits within your budget. With thousands of choices on the market, where do you begin? Right here!

Let’s break down the process to end up with a design you’ll love at a price that makes sense for you. Think about how your new sofa will be used. Is it going to be a place for teenagers to crash? Are your guests going to be eating and drinking on it? All sofas are not created equal: one designed for casual lounging in your pajamas is going to be very different than one designed for a formal social occasion. You’re going to want something big and cushy to lie around on watching TV or browsing our website on your laptop, and something with a firmer, shallower seat for entertaining. Your guests sipping martinis and nibbling canapés don’t want to sink into their seat. Whether you’re reading, napping, or entertaining, your sofa should match its purpose. Zero in on the ones that best fit your needs.

One of the first decisions to make is the overall shape. There are some basic styles to consider:

Lawson

This is a popular choice for those seeking a traditional oriented comfy living room sofa. The Lawson’s arms are lower than the back. It’s a versatile design with arm-rests that are a good height for napping, and the well-proportioned seat makes it a good choice for entertaining too, if the cushions are firm.

Rolled Arm

A classic design. The rolled arms on this style give people an extra place to perch, making it a good choice for entertaining. It’s also nap-friendly, since it provides a place to rest your weary head. If space is a factor, keep the extra inches that a rolled arm creates in mind.

Tuxedo

This style has clean, simple lines with flat arms that are the same height as the back (cushions might be higher). It’s a good choice for reading or entertaining. Because of its contemporary feel, it tends to look best in solid fabrics.

English Arm

This is a good choice for smaller spaces (and parties), because its arms are recessed from the front edge of the seat. Its low profile makes it good for napping. Plush fabrics like velvet, mohair, and chenille look great on this style of sofa.

Camelback or Chippendale

This is a more formal choice best for living rooms. It has graceful traditional lines with an arched back (sometimes with a double arch) and tall, curving arms. It will have a tight back, meaning no separate back cushions or pillows. It’s great for entertaining, but not the best choice for dozing.

Sectional

There are many more configurations in this category than you might realize, such as a simple loveseat and chaise combination, or one with many modular components in a complex arrangement. Big multifunctional sectionals can easily swallow a room. To minimize the bulky feel of a large sectional arrangement, use neutral fabrics and place the sectional close to a wall. Conversely, if you have a very large space to fill, float the sectional in the room and use bolder fabrics.

Some basic things to keep in mind when figuring out which style works best for you:

Exposed legs often give a sofa a more contemporary feel; skirted styles can seem cozier; and metal legs can give the sofa a more modern European look.
Shapely curves on a sofa give it a more feminine feel.
Traditional styles typically have three back cushions, while two look more updated. One long bench cushion makes a strong design statement.
Squared-off box-border back cushions look more contemporary than those with sloping shoulders or rounded edges.
Loose back cushions or scattered pillow backs often look the most inviting, while attached back cushions give a more tailored look.
Tight-backs are the most formal.

Click here to read Part II of Sofa Shopping 101

Click here to read Part III of Sofa Shopping 101

David says about his work, “My background of decorating sets in the film industry taught me about developing a character’s personality through their environment. I like to partner with my clients to help them create a look that says who they are, what they’re about, where they’re going. Their interior decor should express a personal mythology. It should have meaning.” He adds, “I’m enjoying a wonderful life. Over the years, I have worked with Hollywood celebrities, famous New Yorkers, and opinionated Parisians. But someone named Melba Jean living in a doublewide down a dirt road can be just as interesting - you never know.” This inclusive approach to life comes through in his interior design. Whether it’s a single room or an entire residence, his clients end up with a uniquely personal style. “I have my own preferences, which I try to fuse with my clients’, but mainly I just want to show them how to get where they want to go.”

To contact David, call 866.436.8056 ext. 2618 or email daviderwin@furniturelandsouth.com.

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testimonials

2/2 - SHEILA H.

Jennifer Caldwell was extremely attentive and patient, returning calls, emails and answering questions. She was the “ultimate” Design Consultant, had time and patience for me but was not aggressive, and did not urge me to make a quick decision. This is the type of consultant a buyer wants! I intend to continue to use Jennifer and give her name to friends and family. It is a new way of furniture shopping for me but in this day and age, the way to go.

1/27 - NIKKI D.

I was recommended by a friend and I’ve already passed the word on. Love this place ... just wish I had unlimited money to shop! Tabatha Thomas was wonderful. We were hesitant about having someone walk around with us, but it turned out we couldn’t have done it without her. She was so knowledgeable, patient and helpful.

1/25 - CHERYL B.

I would give FLS a huge endorsement to friends and family. Kaitlyn Carpenter deserves kudos for her handling of this sale. She answered each and every question, gave us the quick turnaround we expected for all our questions and reqeusts for quotes. She was patient and worked well with our group which had more than one decision maker. Her overall professionalism is an asset to your organization.

1/22 - DAVID & NANCY N.

We spent an entire Saturday in your store three years ago, working with Debbie Pegram to refurnish our family room. She was so gracious and helpful - even pointing us toward paint and granite styles to use in the whole house renovation that we would be undertaking. After selecting a chair to order for our bedroom this month from a store here in Charlotte, I called Debbie and asked her to quote us a price. Was very pleased that her price came in $300 less than the sale price at the store here. I was more than happy to return our business to Debbie, who processed the order very efficiently over the phone and with online approval through email. Thanks, Debbie and Furnitureland South!

1/20 - SUSAN V.

Sherri Austin was a wonderful and caring Design Consultant. I felt it was truly important to her that we selected the perfect furniture that would fit our needs. She was patient and took time to understand who I was so she could point me in the direction to the perfect selection.

1/17 - ANGIE & TIM B.

Our Design Consultant, Chris Fox was extremely helpful. She spent a great deal of time with us and we came to realize that our preference of design was not what we thought it was. She was very knowledgeable and worked with us to meet not only our desires in the quality and look for our furniture, but also what would be the best buy for us. We greatly appreciate her concern for her clients. Your selection of products is absolutely wonderful! We enjoyed the experience and do highly recommend your company.

1/16 - BOB & CORINNE H.

We were met at the door by Stephanie Portaro and were treated throughout several hours over two days with the utmost professionalism, kindness, and enthusiasm. Her vision of what we wanted to purchase meshed exactly with our style which made the entire experience fun and rewarding. We will most definitely recommend FLS and Ms. Portaro to our friends and neighbors. She should be recognized for her expertise, interpersonal skills, and professionalism. She is an excellent representative of your company.

1/16 - JENNIFER B.

You have a lifetime customer - I will never buy furniture anywhere else. Susan Gilbreth made it a wonderful experience, completely removed fear of ordering fabrics, honored my budget, extremely professional, really knew the products, pros/cons of each manufacturer - really, really pleased. Can’t wait to see the furniture!

1/16 - LARRY & DAPHNE K.

When I began to match my existing loveseat, I really had no hope that it could be done. However, with Tim Shepard’s help, it was done quickly and efficiently - and I never left my house. Tim was so patient, so knowledgable, so kind. I will definitely start with Tim for any further furniture purchases. I loved his attention to detail. And the thank you note: it is the first I have ever received from a furniture store!

1/12 - JEFF D.

We have made just about all of our furniture purchases from FLS in the past 2 yrs. We really appreciate the selection, pricing, and working directly with Greg Hughes. Greg is very knowledgeable of all the products and provides accurate suggestions. He is very responsive and we would recommend not only FLS to friends and family, but to work with Greg as well.

1/11 - LAURA H.

I used to be in interior design and I think the world of Lynn Gibson. She is extremely knowledgable, extremely responsive and a true pleasure to work with. I'm planning to come see her in a few weeks for accessories and more furniture!

1/3 - ELIZABETH J.

My Design Consultant, Paige Harrington, went out of her way to find out whether we could do a custom table with a company. She did this without prompting and provided us with all the relevant information quickly. We have always found that the furniture we buy from FLS is high quality and of high value.

1/2 - MITZI A.

Richard O’Hair was great to work with. He was quick to respond with the information I needed. I haven’t shopped this way before, but I will definitely be coming back again and contacting Richard. He also kept in touch with me about my inquiry. I felt this was a solid business after experiencing Richard’s professionalism.

1/2 - PATRICK G.

Raymond Pendry made our furniture learning and buying experience stress-free. He was extremely knowledgeable about his product and streamlined our search based on our budget and specific needs, saving us lots of time on the floor. He was never pushy for a sale and made us feel like his #1 priority, even staying late to show us around on the evening of Dec 23rd. Once we found the bedroom, entertainment and office suits we wanted, Raymond worked with us to come to a fair deal that fit our budget. Overall we had a wonderful first experience at FLS.

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