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How to Find The Right Size Couch for Your Home in Phoenix

Style and functionality are the two cornerstones of any living space and knowing how to choose the right size sofa for a room is essential.

Style and functionality are the two cornerstones of any living space and knowing how to choose the right size sofa for a room is essential. After all, you want to create a look that's cohesive, pleasing to the eye, and most importantly, one that meets the needs of your household. Not every sofa is perfect for every room, and that's okay. However, finding the perfect seating space brings an area together like never before, fostering a sense of inviting warmth, coziness, and comfortability. Choosing the right furniture piece can truly transform your house into a home.
Additionally, it can be beneficial to step outside the box and look at areas in your home aside from the living room that may be the right spot for a couch or sofa. A small loveseat, for example, can make a home office feel more luxurious. A sectional can add much-needed seating in a finished basement, and some people even choose to put a small seating area in their bedroom. However, knowing how to choose the right size sofa for a room becomes even more important when designing a space that's slightly unconventional. Pick a furniture piece that's too big and it can take over the entire area, pick one that's too small and you're just taking up space without meeting the proper needs of your family.
Here are 3 tips to help you learn how to choose the right size sofa for a room, any room.

1) Measure Your Space before You Shop

We've all been there. You're browsing furniture stores online or taking an unexpected stroll through the aisles at a showroom, and you instantly fall in love with a sofa, loveseat, or couch. The fabric is exactly what you imagine for your room, the style is unique and perfectly complements the rest of your decor, and the price is right. But there's just one problem. You didn't measure the space and now you're either a) wondering if this new couch will fit or b) you've made the jump, bought the piece, and now you're stuck with furniture that's not size appropriate.
Measuring before you begin shopping is the single most important tip you will receive when learning how to choose the right size sofa for a room. You must measure the length, width, depth, and diagonal depth of both the space you have to fit the furniture in as well as the piece of furniture itself. Keep in mind you'll need at least an extra few inches on each side to serve as a buffer for electric cords, room to reach the manual recline lever, and more. As a general rule, keep 30 to 36 inches of room clear for people to walk between furniture pieces, as well as 3 to 5 inches between your sofa and the wall.

Additional Room Considerations

The physical space available in a room isn't the only thing you should consider when learning how to choose the right size sofa. Additionally, take into account architectural features such as windows, doorways, fireplaces, bookshelves, and even ornamental exposed piping or stone that you want to draw attention to. While the space may physically offer enough room for a larger couch, try to avoid blocking the view of these focal points and situate your furniture in a way that gives guests a complete view of the space.
Other considerations to take into account include the shape of the space, where lighting comes into the room, air vents, and more. Remember that the goal of a sofa or couch is to help elevate the space and never to hinder any of the functions of the room.

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2) Know How Big Your Doorway Is

Another mistake that people often make when shopping for furniture is failing to take into account their doorways, as well as their hallways and the tight corners in the home. Realistically, a sofa is going to have to fit through and around these areas to make its way to its final home in your living room or other space.
Unfortunately, if you buy a piece of furniture that won't fit through the door, there's often no way to make it work. You can't shrink the sofa and you can't expand the door–many consumers find themselves at an impasse. Ask the furniture retailer whether the sofa can be broken down into pieces, such as with a sectional, to make it easier to fit. Also, ask the minimum space requirements needed by the delivery people for entry.

3) Inventory Your Seating Needs

Everyone loves the look and feel of a huge, luxurious leather sectional. Complete with many seats, cup holders, recliners, and more, they're often the end-all-be-all of sofa seating. But do you really need so much seating space, or is that sectional going to take up valuable square footage in your living room?
Take a mental inventory of your household's true seating needs. How many people use the sofa or couch, and what is the highest number of guests you ever have at one time? How often are these guests over? Is it once a year, where other makeshift seating can be arranged, or is it every weekend and having ample room for them to relax is absolutely necessary? Answering these questions can help you pick the right size sofa for a room.

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Shop Sofas Today

Looking for local Phoenix furniture to help transform your house into a home? There are plenty of local showrooms, retailers, and online options that will help you find the style and piece that completes your space at a price you're sure to love. Schedule a private concierge appointment with an expert design associate to get advice on choosing the perfect dimensions and styles for your needs, either virtually or in person today. When it comes to knowing how to choose the right size sofa for a room, keep in mind our 3 simple tricks and get ready to hit the stores looking today.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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