Buying a Chesterfield Sofa
I find that people generally approach buying a chesterfield sofa from one of two perspectives. They are either very excited about the idea of having a new piece of furniture to enjoy, or they are distraught over having to spend the money on something to sit on and just want to get on with picking something. No matter how you reached the decision that it is time to buy a new sofa, if you are committed to making the purchase you should truly get into the moment and try to approach it with a positive perspective. Enjoy it a bit, take some time and remember that this purchase is going to be a part of your life for a long time to come. As you look through the stores you will naturally gravitate towards a style that appeals to you, that is normal and you should go with it, however there are some basic aspects of the sofa that you should keep in mind.
Give careful consideration to the size of the sofa. It seems that space within a home is always at a premium and trying to make the best use of available space is important. You also want to try not to overwhelm a room by placing a large sofa in a small space. You do need to keep in mind though how many people you would like to be able to seat. If you are working with truly limited space a sectional that fits into a corner may help you out a bit. Along with the size of the room, you should make sure that you can actually get the sofa into the room. Will it fit through the door, up the stairs, around that corner and whatever other obstacles you may have? The backs and arms of some sofas are removable to help with these issues.
What type of covering material would be best for you? Leather, once thought of as only an option for the very well heeled, has become much more affordable in recent years and should at least be considered as an option. Leather can last a lifetime if well cared for and often the look and feel of leather improves with age. Leather does come in different grades though so be sure to ask for details of the particular sofa you are interested in. Fabric covered sofas tend to be less durable than leather, offer less support, and lose their overall value more quickly. They do however tend to be more comfortable in the earlier part of their lifetime than new leather. If you do decide on a fabric covered sofa be sure that it is protected by a good stain retardant.
A few other things to keep in mind. Do you prefer to lie prone, or sit up and read? The design of the sofa will lend itself more readily to one than the other. What is the color scheme of the room the sofa is intended for? A neutral color lends itself to more options; patterns can seem dated rather quickly. And don’t forget about cost of ownership. If a $2000 sofa lasts ten years that works out to $3.85 per week. How much are you going to spend over the life of the sofa either cleaning or repairing it?
So remember, no matter how you came to the decision to buy that new chesterfield sofa, you should try to enjoy the shopping experience. Approach it with careful consideration, and prepare to enjoy a wonderful new addition to your home.