Port Stephens Examiner

Buying a new sofa? Take a look at these tips first to make sure you get the perfect one

Buying a new sofa? Take a look at these tips first to make sure you get the perfect one
Buying a new sofa? Take a look at these tips first to make sure you get the perfect one

This is branded content for King.

A new sofa is an investment. It's the centre of the home and the foundation of the living room where many of life's greatest moments take place. It's the place where you relax and unwind, entertain, and even work.

There are a lot of details to consider and decisions to be made. Naturally, you'll be thinking about size, style, colour, texture and finish, but other factors are equally as important. Comfort, quality and functionality are considerations that should be right at the top of your priority list.

To help you work through the decision making process, David Hardwick, head of product design at King, has put together the ultimate guide to buying your perfect sofa.

Size matters

Choose a sofa that will comfortably fill the space. Nothing makes a room look smaller than filling it with undersized furniture. And don't feel that all your sofa needs to sit against the wall. Pulling it off the wall will create the illusion of space and make the room look bigger.

If your space is on the smaller side, consider a sofa with slimmer profile arms to make the most of the seating. For example, the slender arms on Fleur and Zaza are a deliberate design choice made to maximise seating space.

Another way to maximise seating is to choose a modular sofa with a chaise element. Sofas like Delta III or Jasper II can be configured into multiple different arrangements. Adding a chaise allows you to have options for lounging and extra seating for entertaining.

Maximum use: Sofas like Jasper II can be configured into multiple different arrangements, including being transformed into a luxurious bed. (below). Pictures: Supplied
Maximum use: Sofas like Jasper II can be configured into multiple different arrangements, including being transformed into a luxurious bed. (below). Pictures: Supplied
Buying a new sofa? Take a look at these tips first to make sure you get the perfect one
Buying a new sofa? Take a look at these tips first to make sure you get the perfect one

Comfort comes first

Your sofa is often one of the most used pieces of furniture in your house. It's the place where you relax and unwind, so you don't want to compromise on comfort. The King design team combine over 40 years of comfort engineering into every sofa.

The first step when you start researching your sofa is to find out what's underneath the upholstery.

Every King sofa is built on a frame of high-grade steel that is precision cut for accuracy and welded for additional strength. The Postureflex® Seating System, similar to that used by leading European car manufacturers, works together with the steel frame to provide the ultimate support for your body and maintains the true lines of the furniture for many years.

Another consideration is cushioning. King uses an advanced memory foam that provides the same downy-soft feel of feather filled cushions and springs back into shape after use, while King Ultradown® feather overlay creates a cocoon of deep luxury.

Made for relaxing: King cushioning system creates a cocoon of deep luxury. Picture: Supplied.
Made for relaxing: King cushioning system creates a cocoon of deep luxury. Picture: Supplied.

Style to suit

Buying a new sofa? Take a look at these tips first to make sure you get the perfect one
Buying a new sofa? Take a look at these tips first to make sure you get the perfect one

When it comes to style, trust your instincts, but there are a few key points to keep top of mind. Firstly, prioritising comfort should never mean compromising on style.

Secondly, a timeless design will outlast trends and work well with different interiors if you move or renovate. Plaza's elegant silhouette works well in both traditional and contemporary spaces. At the same time, many designers love the simplicity of both Delta III and Concerto because they adapt easily to different interiors.

Functionality and flexibility

If you buy a sofa today, how do you know it will work for your lifestyle years into the future? The short answer is, you don't. But there is a solution. Modular designs easily reconfigure to suit your space and your lifestyle - futureproofing decision making.

Fully modular designs like Delta III and Jasper II have arms, back and platforms that can be arranged into an endless combination of settings, including a luxurious guest bed. You can also customise your comfort with a range of accessories that integrate seamlessly with Smart Pockets™, including side tables with optional wireless charging, a LED reading light and SONOS speaker brackets.

Change it up: Designs like Delta III can be customised with a range of accessories including side tables with optional wireless charging, a LED reading light and SONOS speaker brackets. Picture: Supplied.
Change it up: Designs like Delta III can be customised with a range of accessories including side tables with optional wireless charging, a LED reading light and SONOS speaker brackets. Picture: Supplied.

Finishes and fabric

Choosing the cover and finish for your sofa is a process. The best place to start is to consider how your sofa is going to be used. Buying for a busy family space with children and pets is very different from buying for a formal living space or a media room.

Identify a range of coverings that are fit for purpose and consider if you want to go with leather or fabric. Fabrics are graded from light domestic to heavy commercial, with the latter being the most hard-wearing. The King Leather Collection spans over six ranges in more than forty signature colours, so you can be sure to find one that works with your lifestyle.

It's also essential to think about how the cover will sit on the design. Consider how the texture and pattern will complement the lines of the sofa.

Once you have narrowed down your options, it's time to order swatches. Once you have them in the room, you can work through a process of elimination, choosing the colours and texture that most appeal to you.

The King design team lean toward a neutral palette for sofa covers as these classic colours tend to stand the test of time. But don't be afraid to go with a bold choice if it works for you. And remember, every King sofa features tailored removable covers for easy updates, so changing the look of your King sofa is easy and affordable compared to reupholstering.

From colour to sturdiness, choosing the cover and finish for your sofa is an important process to ensure your sofa's fabric suits its purpose in your home. Picture: Supplied
From colour to sturdiness, choosing the cover and finish for your sofa is an important process to ensure your sofa's fabric suits its purpose in your home. Picture: Supplied

A last word on quality

All the advice in the world can't replace experiencing the sofa for yourself. Get out and road test a few options, you'll be able to feel the King difference as soon as you sit back and relax, and that's the true test of quality.

King's newest showroom in Australia has opened in Newcastle offering more than 800 square metres of King's award-winning and iconic range of modular sofas, armchairs and recliners, bedroom, dining and home office furniture. Find out if your perfect sofa is waiting for you there.

This is branded content for King.