When shopping for new living room furniture, comfort is key. No one wants to sink into a sofa that feels like sitting on a brick after a long day of work. The most comfortable couches provide an ideal relaxation spot for you and your family, with their irresistibly cozy and soft feel tempting you to doze off right there.
Shopping for furniture online has become increasingly popular, but determining the comfort of the items can be challenging without an in-person experience. Interior designer Lauren Williams, founder of Lauren Jayne Design, emphasizes the significance of seat height and depth when selecting a couch online. These details play a crucial role in defining the overall comfort of the couch. “Room location and function of a sofa are also essential factors to consider,” she notes. “For example, in a media room, extra depth is important to curl up comfortably, which is a much different function compared to a couch located in a sitting room designed for entertaining.”
The materials used to make a couch play a big role in its comfort. Many of today’s best sofas offer dozens of upholstery options, so you’ll want to select one that’s comfortable and practical for your lifestyle. “I suggest choosing fabrics and materials based on where you live and your location’s climate,” says Williams. “For places with warmer weather year-round, a breathable fabric like linen or cotton are preferred. Wool or velvet couches that give a warm and cozy feel are best in areas with cooler weather as the seasons change.”
However, if you have children or pets, you might want to look for a performance fabric, which are generally more durable and easier to clean: “If you are looking for extra durability, opt for an outdoor-grade fabric that is more stain-resistant,” she explains. “However, these fabrics are blended with synthetic fibers and are not as soft to the touch as their natural counterparts.”
You’ll also want to look at the sofa’s seat height and depth, as these factors will both impact its comfort: “A seat height of 15 to 16 inches is a great starting point for a sofa, whereas contemporary sofas that are lower may make it more challenging to stand up,” explains Williams. “Similarly, with depth, if you choose a deeper sofa, consider adding extra throw pillows for lumbar support.”
In particular, deeper sofas are ideal for watching movies and lounging, but they’re generally not as practical for sitting areas where you plan to host company. “Less depth is ideal for sitting room sofas as they are more conducive for guests to sit up comfortably and easily reach for their cocktail or a snack from the coffee table,” says Williams.”