Arranging sofas in a new home

When you move into a new home, the sofa is one of the pieces you cannot do without. So how do you choose the right one? Here are three situations we see a lot.

The spare room dilemma

If your new home is on the larger side, you may have a spare room and be torn over whether to make it a study or a guest room. Without a guest room, overnight visitors are awkward; with a study, the home gains a quiet corner with some character. The answer is often a single good sofa. Choose the simplest design you can, without a fixed back, and on ordinary days you have somewhere to sit and read through an afternoon. It also trims the furnishing budget considerably. When guests come, the same sofa becomes a comfortable bed, and that is a lot of space saved. A large fabric sectional works too: good for conversation, and good for sleeping on when needed.

The attic loft

Many top-floor homes come with an attic or loft. Using it only for storage feels like a waste, so why not make it a small retreat? A sofa can be the centerpiece here. Go big; it does not matter if it takes up half the space. Add a lamp with a warm light, and do not forget curtains, so that in the evening you can sit and watch the stars and the moon from your own little world. Fabric sofa makers offer all kinds of styles, so pick a generous one for the loft and spend your evenings there looking out at the night and thinking things over.

A small first home

Many couples starting out can only afford a small place, but a small space can still look and feel good. Put an open, low-profile sofa in the middle of the living room so the room does not feel cramped. A compact fabric sofa is a good choice: it takes little space and makes the room look bigger. In that small space you can read, sip tea or nap, and feel that the place is truly yours.