A sofa can be a risky investment - it may cost a fortune and keep note that it is going to stay around for a long time. So, you have to buy a sofa that is comfortable, stays trendy and does not require a replacement until a bulldozer runs it over. 

How will you do that? Well, we are not promising anything but we might have just what you need. Here are a few tips and tricks of buying a sofa to help the beginners decorate their living room and to make the experienced sofa buyers smile a little when they check off the tricks they already know.

GO WINDOW SHOPPING
Do not buy the first sofa that looks promising. Go around a few stores and make a short list of sofas that fit your requirements. There are clusters of furniture shops in Gulshan, Mirpur, and Panthapath that you can have a look at. Also if you feel a bit adventurous, look at the thrift store sofas as well.

Finding a second-hand sofa that is in good condition (or will be when re-upholstered) and speaks your style is very rare but that is the whole charm of this adventure. 

MEASURE THE SOFA
Furniture looks small compared to the showroom when in reality it might be too big for your house. Avoid this situation by measuring the sofa. A popular way to see if it will fit well in your room is using tape to trace the floor with the measurement of the sofa. Leave the tape marks for a few days and see if you want a sofa of that size.

CHOOSE A STRONG FRAME
Longevity of a sofa (or any furniture for that matter) depends largely on the frame. It has to be made of a strong material. If you are looking at wooden frames, ask the salesperson whether it's made of properly seasoned hardwood.

Teak, Mahogany, and Chapalish have good reputation as lasting wood. You can also choose cane frames which stay strong for a long time but needs good cleaning and regular painting.

LOOK CLOSELY INTO THE JOINTS
While they keep your furniture together in perfect unison, bad joints will turn out to be a nightmare. Look for wooden dowels and corner blocks in the joints. Also, check whether the frame is properly joined by lifting up one front leg of the sofa.

If the joints are strong and well-fitted, the other front leg will shortly follow. If it stays on the ground then it's a sign that the sofa is already wobbly and you should walk away from this one.

STAY IN TREND WITH NEUTRAL COLOURED FABRIC
If you want a sofa that will stay in style throughout the years, a synthetic fabric of a neutral colour could be your choice. Buy a darker shade of fabric to bear with stains if you have children and clumsy adults in the house. Throw in colourful cushions to make the neutral colour come alive. This way, change of trend in colours will mean only changing the cushions and thus will make your sofa impossible to go out of style.

SIT ON THE SOFA
As obvious as it sounds, a lot of people still buy a sofa that only looks comfortable. Do not be one of them. Sit on the sofa and feel if it is good for you. When you sit on a sofa that has a good depth for your physique, your feet will touch the ground, your thighs will be parallel to the ground, and your back will be comfortably straight. Also, check if your lower back gets support from the back. 

You have to take a lot into consideration while buying a sofa such as the use (whether it is for formal sitting or family reclining), number of people it will seat, and the style (traditional or modern). Considering all these, see if it will go well with the rest of your furniture and use your intuition to choose; for a good sofa will truly become your living room companion.

By Afsin Ahmed
Photo: LS Archive/ Sazzad Ibne Sayed