The Sofa Buying Guide: How to Choose the Perfect Sofa

How to measure for a sofa (and why the tape comes out first)

Before you fall for a fabric, get out the masking tape. Or old newspaper. Mark the floor where the sofa will live, at its full width and depth, and live with the outline for a day or two.

• Depth matters as much as width. Our sofas are 87 to 124cm deep, and corners and chaises reach much further into the room.
• Leave room to walk. Keep about 40 to 50cm of walkway around the sofa, and 30 to 45cm between the sofa and a coffee table.
• Think about everything else. Is there still space for the coffee table, the reading lamp, and floor for the kids' toys?

It's not about the biggest sofa that seats the most people. It's about a stylish room that works the way you want it to.

Will it fit? Doorways, hallways and stairs

You've picked a size. Now, can it get into the room? Measure the narrowest point of the route: front door, hallway, stair turns, any lift, and the door of the room itself.

Narrow hallways are where big sofas get stuck. To turn into a room off a hallway, a sofa usually has to be stood on its end, so it can't be taller than the doorway. That's why sofas over 200cm can be a problem when the room is off to the left or right of a narrow hall. If the room is straight ahead, you're fine.

Want something bigger? Go modular. A modular sofa arrives as separate pieces, and as long as the biggest piece is under 200cm it gets through like a much smaller sofa. And if there's a back garden, bringing a sofa round and in through the patio doors is always a good option.

What size sofa do I need?

Sofa names don't tell you much: our Goodman Small Sofa is 228cm wide, our Caro Medium Sofa 170cm. So here's how ours break down by width.

• Compact sofasup to 180cmFlats, snugs, studies, or extra seats in a bigger room. Just as comfortable, you just can't lie flat out.Try Senia Small, Caro Medium, Stanley Small, Oli Small
• Medium sofas180–220cmThe sweet spot between room space and relaxing. In a smaller room, choose a slimmer arm.Try Rhodes Medium, Lotus Small, Oli Large, Goodman Mini Small
• Large sofas220cm+Larger rooms, or medium rooms if the arm is slim. Big, deep statement pieces.Try Stanley Large, Lotus Large, Jasmine, Goodman
• Corner and modularyour callOpen plan spaces and entertaining. Built from pieces, so the size is whatever you make it.Try Goodman, Goodman Mini, Jasmine, Oli Modular, Fred, Elo, Milo

Small sofas in tight spaces tend to have shallower seats and slimmer arms. Ours are always as comfortable as their bigger siblings. A medium sofa with a deeper seat can still work well, and a chaise sofa is a smart way to lounge in a smaller room.

Types of sofa, explained in plain English

First, the question everyone secretly wonders: what's the difference between a sofa and a couch? Nothing. In the UK we use the words interchangeably. Here are the shapes that matter.

• 2 and 3-seater sofas. The classic. The default for most living rooms.
• Chaise sofas. A sofa with one long seat to put your feet up. Lounging without a full corner.
• L-shaped corner sofas. Seats along two walls. A family favourite.
• U-shaped sofas. Three sides of seating. Big rooms, big gatherings.
• Modular and sectional. A sectional sofa is built from sections in a fixed shape. A modular sofa is made of separate pieces you can rearrange, add to and reshape whenever life changes. Ours join with crocodile connectors.

Planning a modular?

Every SUPERBA modular sofa is built from the same five pieces: a left armchair, a right armchair, a corner chair, an armless chair and a footstool. They join with crocodile connectors, so you can add pieces or change the shape whenever life changes. The best way to plan one is to build it.

Straight, L-shape, U-shape or a family pit with footstools pushed into the gap: the pieces mix freely. Need a layout you can't build? Ask us and we'll help you plan it. More ideas in our guide to choosing a modular configuration, or see how families build a pit for a cosy night in.

Choosing your style

Find the look in our collections

Pick a detail and see which SUPERBA sofas have it.

Back heightBack cushionsArmsLegs and base

CushionedTrack and slimRolled and bandagedWide and generous

Soft, padded arms made for leaning and napping.

OliShop Oli →OliverShop Oliver →LotusShop Lotus →

Backs

Back height comes down to style and comfort. High backs look good in rooms with high ceilings, while a low back makes a room feel bigger. Designer sofas tend to sit lower because the proportions look better; traditional sofas sit higher. If you like to sit upright with support for your neck, a higher back is for you.

Then there's formal versus scatter. A formal back cushion is neat, very comfortable and needs less plumping. A pile of scatter cushions lets you put the comfort exactly where you want it.

Arms

Arms give a sofa its character, and give the cat somewhere to sleep. Wide arms suit big rooms. Slim arms make a small room feel bigger and give you more seat within the same width. Cushioned arms are soft enough to lean on (see Oli), bandaged arms bring a tailored, traditional look (see Senia), and track arms are clean and crisp (see Theo).

Legs

Wide-armed sofas tend to sit close to the floor; sofas on taller legs tend to have slimmer arms. Leggy sofas show more floor, so the room feels lighter. Our Stanley goes one better: its solid European oak base is tucked out of sight, so the sofa looks like it's floating. Short on space and need bums on seats? Pick the slimmest arm you can.

Seat comfort: sofas are not park benches

Firm, soft or in between, every sofa is designed for comfort, so choose the feel that suits you. Over time any cushion relaxes and takes your shape. That's character: your impression on your sofa. Embrace it. If you don't, buy a park bench.

We build every SUPERBA seat in one of three ways. None is better than another, they just feel different. Tap a cushion to look inside.

Sink-in ComfortFeather and fibre over foam Soft Support ComfortFibre-wrapped foam over pocket coils Rich Feel ComfortFeather and fibre over foam and pocket coils

Sink-in Comfort

Feather and fibre in a quilted lining, over a foam base. You sink in, the cushion hugs you, and it takes your shape over time. Relaxed and lived-in.

Found on: Goodman Goodman Mini Stanley Oliver Lotus Senia Rhodes

Want the full story? Read our sofa comfort guide.

Foam, fibre or feather? What's inside counts

• Foam gives comfort with support. The denser the foam, the firmer the seat, and dense foam allows slimmer, sleeker cushions.
• Fibre is softer and gives that full, overstuffed look, but on its own it needs regular plumping. That's why we pair it with foam or springs: support underneath, a layer of softness on top.
• Feather is the luxury choice: a sink-in feel and a relaxed look that's still supportive. Ours is half duck feather, half fibre.

The bit you never see

Every SUPERBA sofa is built on a solid, reinforced hardwood frame, made at the SUPERBA factory from FSC-certified wood, and every frame comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Leather vs fabric sofa: which suits your life?

Colour, comfort, durability, family life and pets all play a part. Tick what applies to your home and we'll tip the scales.

Our fabrics

Choose from Roni, Fresco, Corsica velvet and Mosquito, our linen sofa favourite with a relaxed, natural texture. Fabric feels warm and inviting from the first sit. On Goodman the covers come off, and you can order an extra or a replacement cover, which makes it a great sofa with removable covers for busy homes. Browse all fabric sofas.

Our leathers

Four Italian leathers: Momo (top grain), Marfa, Dante and Felix. Felix is full aniline with an embossed nubuck finish, made for homes with pets and children. Momo is the easiest to wipe clean, and leather gets better with age. See our luxury leather sofas.

A few covers belong to one family only: Celine leather is exclusive to the Oli collections, Bouclé to Milo and Remi to Lotus. Colour on a screen is never quite colour in your room, so order free swatches and see them in daylight and lamplight. Still torn? Read leather vs fabric.

Our tips for choosing the right sofa

A simple sofa care guide

• Every week: vacuum or brush off crumbs and hair, and plump the cushions.
• Every few days: plump and turn feather cushions so they stay full and even.
• Spills: blot, never rub. On fabric, use a dry stain remover if a mark stays; on leather, only water and a mild, colourless soap.
• Leather: dust it now and then with a clean, dry, soft cloth.
• Sunlight: keep sofas out of strong direct sun and away from radiators, which fade fabric and dry leather.

Stain SOS

• Coffee or teaFabric: blot fast with a clean white cloth or kitchen paper.Leather: lift it fast with a white cloth, then dab with a clean cloth and water, and dry.
• Red wineFabric: blot from the outside in; never rub it deeper.Leather: wipe straight away; don't let it sit.
• Muddy pawsFabric: let it dry, then brush and vacuum away.Leather: let it dry, then brush off gently with soft bristles.
• Grease or inkFabric: call a specialist upholstery cleaner.Leather: call a leather specialist.

Always follow the care label first. For the full routine by cover, see our sofa care guide (PDF) and our wood and stone care guide. A well-made sofa should last many years, and our frames are guaranteed for life.

Budget, and buying well

Spend where it counts

The frame and the seat are what you pay for over the years, so those are where a sofa should never cut corners. We make every sofa at our own factory and sell it direct, with no middlemen, so you get a solid hardwood frame and a properly built seat at a price that surprises people. You can pay in full, put down a deposit and pay the rest before delivery, or spread the cost with Klarna.

The ethical side of buying a sofa

• Made to order. We make your sofa when you order it, so nothing sits in a warehouse or gets thrown away unsold.
• Responsible timber. Frames made from FSC-certified wood.
• Built to last. A lifetime frame guarantee, and removable covers on Goodman, so a sofa can keep going for years.
• Grows with you. A modular sofa adds pieces or changes shape instead of being replaced when you move.

All our sofa buying guides

Everything we've written to help you choose, in one place.

• MeasureHow to measure a room for a sofaRoom, doorways, stairs and turns, step by step.→
• ComfortSofa comfort guideFeather, foam or pocket coils: our three seats explained.→
• ModularBest modular sofas: choosing your configurationThe five pieces and the layouts they make.→
• CoversLeather vs fabric: which survives family life?Kids, pets and spills, put to the test.→
• CoversLeather vs fabric sofas: the full comparisonLook, feel, care and lifespan side by side.→
• VelvetThe Corsica VelvetOur new short-pile velvet in 14 colours.→
• IdeasThe perfect set-up for a cosy night inTurn a Goodman corner into a family pit.→
• DesignThe floating sofa: meet StanleyHow a hidden oak base makes a sofa float.→
• InsideAnatomy of a sofaWhat goes into a SUPERBA, layer by layer.→
• ValueFactory direct sofas: one sofa, two journeysWhy buying direct from the factory costs less.→
• CareSofa care bookletEveryday care for every SUPERBA cover (PDF).→
• CareWood and stone care guideKeep tables and bases looking their best.→

Your questions, answered