Sofa Shopping Checklist: 10 Things to Check Before Buying

Most sofa regrets come down to skipping one or two checks before buying. This checklist covers everything that actually matters - not the things that sound important in showrooms but have no real impact on how you live with the sofa.

1. Measure your space including doorways

Your sofa needs to physically enter your home. Measure the narrowest doorway, hallway and staircase on the delivery route. Minimum clearance needed: sofa depth + 10 cm. Modular sofas solve this - they come in individual modules that fit through any standard door.

2. Check the foam density

Ask for it, always. HR35 (35 kg/m3) is what you want for long-term comfort. Budget sofas use 18-22 kg/m3 foam that compresses permanently within 2-3 years. Furni uses HR35 as standard.

3. Check the seat height

Sit down in the store. Your feet should rest flat on the floor with your hips slightly above knee level. Standard seat height: 44-48 cm. Low profile sofas: 37-42 cm - great aesthetically but check they are right for everyone in your household, particularly older family members.

4. Check the seat depth

55-60 cm: compact, good for sitting upright. 60-70 cm: standard, versatile. 70+ cm: deep, great for lounging, harder to sit upright without cushions at the back.

5. Test the fabric resistance

Ask for the Martindale rating. Under 25,000: light use only. 30,000-40,000: family use. 50,000+: heavy use, pets. The higher the number, the more abrasion cycles before wear shows.

6. Check the frame

Kiln-dried hardwood frames do not warp. Ask whether the frame is hardwood or softwood. Hardwood (beech, oak) lasts decades. Softwood or engineered wood - ask about the warranty.

7. Check the warranty

Frame: minimum 5 years for quality sofas. Foam: should be covered for at least 3-5 years against premature compression. Fabric: check what voids the warranty (most commercial cleaning agents do).

8. Understand delivery and returns

White-glove delivery (into your room, assembled) vs. kerbside delivery (at the door, you carry it). 30-day return policy should be standard. Check whether returns are free or at your cost.

9. Order fabric samples first

Screen colours lie. The same fabric looks completely different in showroom lighting vs your home lighting. Order physical samples - most quality manufacturers offer them free.

10. Ask about configurability

A modular sofa can be reconfigured when you move or your needs change. A fixed sofa cannot. For a piece you expect to keep for 10+ years, modularity is a meaningful long-term advantage.

Free fabric samples - EU delivery - 30-day returns - 5-year guarantee - Made in Poland