Sofas

A sofa is the seat you build the room around, so it needs to work for your space as well as your downtime. Start with how many people usually sit there, then think about how you use the room day-to-day.

A modern, two seater sofa works well in smaller living rooms, snug corners or spare rooms, while a three seater sofa gives you more room for stretching out. Corner sofas are great for making the most of a larger layout, and sofa beds give you somewhere for guests to sleep without needing a full spare room.

Fabric, chenille, velvet and boucle finishes all bring a different feel. Chenille and fabric are easy to style for everyday homes, velvet adds a richer look, and boucle brings softness and texture. If you like to change things up, cushions and blankets are the easiest way to refresh your sofa and give it a brand new look.

Think about the living room furniture around it, too. A coffee table gives drinks and remotes somewhere to call home, while side tables keep books and newspapers within reach. Leave enough room to walk around the sofa, open nearby doors and pull out any storage without a shuffle.

Remember to measure the sofa and the route into your home before you order, though. Check doorways, stairs and tight corners, because the perfect sofa still needs to make it into the room.