Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Living Room

For most of us, a sofa is our key living room purchase and not worth scrimping on, the experts say.

“A sturdy, well-made sofa will last you years and, when you do get bored of it, you can always re-cover it,” says Natasha Burton of NB Interiors. “Cheap furniture is a false economy as you’ll be replacing it before you know it.”

And don’t forget your sofa’s main purpose. “Most importantly, you want your sofa to be comfortable,” says Caroline Nicholls of Slightly Quirky. “Plus, you want it to be hardwearing and easy to clean, especially if you have kids and/or pets.”

More expensive sofas often have jointed hardwood frames, built to withstand heavy loads. Cheaper sofas may have plastic or softer pine frames. Pricier sofas will also have coil springs or serpentine (zig-zag) springs, for that “sitting on air” feeling.

It really isn’t worth saving money if a too small, too big or awkwardly shaped sofa ruins those cozy evenings spent curled up.

How to Buy a Quality Sofa That Will Last