It's important to choose a sofa that best fits you and your loved ones’ needs, as nobody wants a lumpy sofa with a creaking frame that groans every time we inch forward to grab the remote or a drink. – Photos courtesy of Harvey Norman
Home is where peace, quiet, contentment and happiness live, the place of rest and respite; our sanctuary where we can breathe easy and feel safe.
In any home, the first pit stop upon returning from a tough day is the living room. Flop down onto our sofa, and revel in the comfort of our private space.
Which is why choosing the sofa that best fits you and your loved ones’ needs, is so important. Nobody wants a lumpy sofa with a creaking frame that groans every time we inch forward to grab the remote or a drink.
We want function, style, comfort and also a piece that makes our home feel uniquely ours.
My space, my way
This becomes more important when you’re months away from owning your first home. The loan’s approved and you can almost hear the jangling of the house keys.
Now, you just need the best furniture that reflects your taste and will provide years of comfort and durability, without draining your bank account.
Harvey Norman has been in the business of taking care of our homes’ and furnishing needs since 2003, with their wide range of solutions in the form of furniture, including numerous types of sofas for every type of homeowner and home space-dweller.
Whether you’re a young newlywed on the verge of buying your first home, thinking about your budget; or perhaps you’ve been a homeowner for decades now, the children have grown up and left the nest, and you’re thinking your living room could do with some refreshing. Or maybe you’re the sole occupier of your living room, but you’ve adopted Fluffy and Spot, and they seem to think your sofa is their scratching post. Time for an upgrade, you think.
The solution to living better comes with Harvey Norman, as they share valuable tips on what to look out for when sofa-shopping.
Photo courtesy of Harvey Norman
Sofa-r, so good
Of course, we’re talking about the size of your living room! Before we talk about the important aspects of the ideal sofa, we need to talk about how much space you have in your casa.
If you have a living space smaller than most, the best solution in terms of sofa buying is to get a compact two-seater which is less bulky than a roomier three-seater. However, to make the most of your cosy space, you could also think about buying a modular/sectional sofa.
The great thing about a modular/sectional sofa is how the separate pieces can be moved around when you have relatives or friends over.
The size of the living room is one consideration, but you should also think about what shape of sofa best fits your living space. Before heading out on your sofa shopping outing, bring along a measuring tape. You may feel like you want to get a recliner for the man of the house, or an extra armchair for the bookworm in the house, but living rooms are shaped differently from one abode to another, and some may want more space, while others may want more furniture. The choice is yours.
Consider the Lifestyle Plus Verna L-Shape Fabric Sofa which comprises a simple design with an adjustable headrest, while the high-density foam provides comfortable sitting. It is also customisable if you want the extras, such as the option to have it in full leather with a power recliner.
The Lifestyle Plus Verna L-Shape Fabric Sofa
The Lifestyle Plus Avatar Modular Power Recliner Full Leather Sofa comes in full leather, with optional added features such as a USB plug-in point, adjustable headrest and a choice of fabric covering.
The Lifestyle Plus Avatar Modular Power Recliner Full Leather Sofa
More than a marriage of functionality, durability and comfort, a sofa and its colour scheme can do much for your living space. Are you the sort of homeowner that likes a racy red or a sunny orange, or are you more inclined to the neutral sandstone beige and buff tones?
Consider if your sofa of choice will integrate well with the chosen colour scheme of your home.
Maybe you want to add a pop of colour against the backdrop of the living room, to make the sofa the central, stand-out piece. Perhaps the colour palette of your living space requires a pop of colour.
The Lifestyle Burges Fabric Sofa
The slim-cut green Lifestyle Burges Fabric Sofa comes as either a two- or three-seater in with gold legs brings life and colour.
The Lifestyle Burges Three-Seater Fabric Sofa
If you’re more inclined to muted or classic tones, consider the muted blue of the Lifestyle Zoli 3+2 seater washable fabric sofa with Scandinavian legs.
The Lifestyle Zoli washable fabric sofa
Staying with muted, neutral tones, if you’re looking for the added feature of easy-clean fabric, the Lifestyle Plus Jiven L-shape Push Back Sofa is worth considering, as it comes with a 10-year Structure Warranty and can be customised multiple ways, as an armless sofa, as a two-, three- or four-seater or upholstered in leather.
The Lifestyle Plus Jiven L-Shape Push Back Sofa
Features and functions play an important role in your sofa of choice after you’ve determined what size and shape you want and in what colour.
For instance, you could be a neat freak living in a studio apartment who doesn’t like clutter lying around. In this case, a sofa that comes with hidden storage compartments serves two purposes: you get storage space that is out of sight, and it doesn’t take up more space.
More than a piece of furniture to relax on, increasingly, sofas come with a multitude of features such as adjustable head and backrests, with manual or power mechanisms or even with a USB hub for mobile devices and reading lamps.
All these features are designed to maximise your comfort, so think about what’s really important to you, as your sofa will be with you for a long time.
Consider the Merlino-Capri Nappa Fabric Corner Sofabed that comes with a storage compartment. Not only does the Nappa fabric come with a smooth touch and is easy to clean, there is an additional Ottoman and pull-out sofa bed and the option for a left or right chaise.
The Merlino-Capri Nappa Fabric Corner Sofabed
The Lifestyle Plus Cabbian collection allows sofa-lovers to opt for a full leather or fabric version, and one of its features includes the option of a power recliner with a USB port, or a high back with leather or fabric covering.
The Lifestyle Plus Cabbian Collection
The Lifestyle Plus Marini Washable Fabric Sofa has the added feature of a storage compartment.
The Lifestyle Plus Marini Washable Fabric Sofa
Support plays a big role in maximising your comfort – do your legs fall just the right way when you sit on the sofa; do you prefer to sit cross-legged or is the height of the armrests perfect for you when streaming movies or reading?
How much head and neck support is best for you and your loved ones will determine whether you choose a high back or low back sofa, or one where the armrests taller and broader for greater support (also great for supporting your food tray with those munchies and that cold drink). Rounded armrests are better for those who like to snooze on the couch, while sofas with straight arms that are just a little higher than the height of the seats look more modern.
The Lifestyle Pasco and Lifestyle Plus Pasco Deluxe Washable Fabric Sofa, in a retro-modern design, comes in a variety of seating options, high-back cushions, high-density foam and high support – it is especially suitable for tall people as the sofa is made with four-inch wooden legs.
The Lifestyle Pasco and Lifestyle Plus Pasco Deluxe Washable Fabric Sofa
5. We’ve got you covered
The type of upholstery or covering you choose for your sofa can influence both the look and feel of your chosen sofa as much as the colour and the design.
Pets and parties – whether you have them – can determine if you want an easy-clean and durable fabric sofa covering.
Fabric upholstery provides a certain cosiness, while Italian fabric coverings with a suede finish provide a touch of glam.
The Merlino-Lara three-seater Nappa Fabric Sofa is designed with slim arms and comfortable, soft seating, providing a modern addition to any space, whether you choose the pale brown or navy blue edition.
At the other end of the spectrum of choice is good quality leather which is not only timeless and easy to clean, but also incredibly durable.
With Harvey Norman’s vast range of grades of leather-covered sofas to suit your tastes and budget, there is the added three-year Guardsman Product Warranty for leather sofas for that added peace of mind.
The Lifestyle Cassia 3-seater full leather sofa, with its low back, embodies a modern yet simple look. There is the option to have the same sofa in a fabric upholstered version.
Whether lush fabrics and comfort-boosting cushions are essential, you need a good sturdy frame to hold it all together for years to come.
The durability of your chosen sofa will depend on your choice of frame, and one way to check if a sofa frame is sturdy is to lift one sofa leg and see if the other leg is raised simultaneously. If the two legs do not lift in synchrony, it could be a sign of weakness in a part of the sofa’s frame.
Harvey Norman’s sofas are made with frames of meranti wood, a well-known medium hardwood that’s perfect for indoor and outdoor use; that this wood is chosen for outdoor furniture is testament to its long-term use durability against all elements.
What’s more, sofas from Harvey Norman come with a two-year warranty on fabric, foam or motor features (where applicable, such as recliners) and an impressive 10-year warranty for wooden frames on its furniture offerings.
Moving into a new home is a big step and an equally big lifelong financial commitment, so we understand that what’s left over in your budget for furnishing your home might be a bit of a challenge.
The great thing is that fabric sofas are easier on the budget and they often come in such a wide range of colours, designs and styles.
If, however, you are blessed with slightly more deeper reserves of resources (deep pockets), then consider a more luxurious, high-quality thicker leather sofa that will bring the rewards on its investment with its timeless, classic style.
Always here for you
Choosing the best sofa for you is all part of living better, and with Harvey Norman, the choice to live better becomes easier as Harvey Norman offers a wide range of products at unbeatable prices that can suit both upmarket or more economical tastes and preferences.
Shop with confidence at Harvey Norman as the retailer offers the flexibility to reserve your item for seven days if you can’t decide immediately if you want to purchase that sofa today or later. Furthermore, all sofas purchased at Harvey Norman come with warranty and basic furniture installation services.
Visit a Harvey Norman store near you or go to www.harveynorman.com.my today.
