The couch is one of the most versatile pieces of furniture you can own. It can be a place to sit and relax, a spot for guests to sleep when they come over, and a cozy refuge from the clichés of life.

Whether you live in a small apartment or a large house or have children or pets, there is a type of couch that will offer the comfort you’re looking for.

There are different couches, and the best couch depends on your budget, lifestyle, and personal preferences. This guide will help you find the perfect one. Keep reading to discover what type of couch to add to your decor.

Consider Your Needs

You may be looking for a couch to take naps on or a more stylish piece to put in your living room as a conversation starter. If you entertain often, you may be thinking about a sectional sofa, so you have plenty of seating for guests. On the other hand, maybe you live in a small space and are looking for a compact couch that won’t overwhelm your room.

Whatever your needs, there is a couch out there to suit them. Knowing what you’ll be using the couch for will help you find one that’s right.

Decide on Furniture Placement Before Buying a Couch

Think about where each piece will be used and how it will fit in with the rest of your decor. Will it feel comfortable? Will it look good?

If a couch doesn’t fit well into a room, then there’s no point in buying it.

It’s important not to be too attached to the idea that a couch has to go into the living room. You can also use them in offices, bedrooms, and dens.

Ultimately, though, comfort should take precedence during your placement. You’ll want to choose a spot where you can easily reach your couch without running into any obstacles. You should also ensure that there’s enough space around it so you can fully recline without worrying about hitting a wall or another piece of furniture.

Measure the Space

The most crucial step in your quest to find the perfect couch is to be prepared. Before you even start browsing, measure the spaces where your couch will go.

You want to be able to fit through doorways, so if you choose a larger couch (like a sectional), be sure that it can get through your front door. Don’t forget about doors from other rooms leading into the living room!

Be sure to also take the measurements of where you want your couch. For example, do you want it to float in the middle of your living room or be placed up against a wall? You’ll need to factor this into how big or small your couch should be.

Fabric vs. Leather Sofas

You’ll see a lot of it, so choosing the right upholstery for your sofa is important. You can easily spend thousands of dollars on a couch — and even more, if you have one custom-made. All the more reason to get it right the first time!

If you’re thinking about buying a couch, it’s important to consider what each of these materials has to offer:

Comfort

Fabrics are often more enjoyable than leather sofas. However, the feel of fabric couches depends on the specific material and frame support. Leather can feel too sticky in the summer and too cold in the winter. The fabric on a sofa will stay neutral temperature-wise for your comfort.

Care

Just like leather, some fabrics will withstand more wear and tear than others.

It’s a good idea to buy a fabric sofa with a stain-resistant finish, such as microfiber, so that spills can be easily cleaned. Leather sofas are also very easy to clean. Any traces of grime and dirt should disappear with a little dusting or polishing every couple of months.

Although leather may not require care as often, it must be treated with a conditioner to stop tears.

Color and Pattern Options

Although leather can be dyed in various colors, fabric patterns and textures are practically limitless. As a result, you’ll have an easier time finding a fabric couch that matches the decor of your living room.

Hypoallergenic

People with allergies fare better with leather couches. This is because leather sofas don’t collect pet hair and other allergens the same way as fabric ones.

Kids and Pets

Leather might be the best option if your living room is also a playroom. It’s easier to wipe off crumbs, spills, and stains from leather than from fabric. Pets can also do more minor damage to leather with their nails.

Woven Fabric

Prints can be fun, but they’re not as durable as woven fabrics. Woven fabrics typically last longer than printed varieties and can withstand the wear and tear of everyday life better.

Look for fabrics with tight weaves if you want your couch to stay in excellent condition for as long as possible. A tight weave is usually characterized by a tight crisscross pattern on the fabric's surface. That means less shedding and tearing.

Bonded Leather

Bonded leather is a mix of genuine and artificial leather. In most cases, the natural leather it contains is around 20% of its overall makeup. Bonded leather is significantly more affordable than genuine leather and has a smooth texture.

However, bonded leathers have their disadvantages as well. Some of these include:

• Easier to mark and scratch
• Shorter lifespan than authentic leather
• Color fades when exposed to sunlight for prolonged periods

Bonded leather would work best in furniture that doesn’t get a lot of use, such as an accent chair or a low-traffic area like a guest bedroom.

Mildew-Resistance

Okay, first things first: What exactly is mildew? Mildew is a fungus that can grow on fabric and is often found in high-humidity areas.

Mildew will make your couch look dirty and, if left untreated, can cause permanent damage to the fabric. Fortunately for you, mildew is removable with regular washing.

If you’re looking for a couch that won’t trap stains or require constant cleaning, consider choosing a mildew-resistant fabric. These fabrics are generally more expensive than standard upholstery options but may be worth the extra cost.

Harmony

Harmony is the key to an exquisite design. Without harmony, there would be no balance and your decor would look chaotic. To achieve good harmony, you must match colors, patterns, textures, and shapes together to create a cohesive look.

Suppose you have already chosen a dominant color theme for your room (such as black and white). In that case, it is best to stick with that theme when selecting your couch upholstery fabric.

While harmony is important, it does not mean that every piece of furniture must match perfectly. Instead, you should use your upholstery as an opportunity to add some color and texture to the room.

If you have white walls and black furniture, for example, then get red or orange upholstered sofas. These colors will contrast nicely with the rest of your decor.

How to Choose a Couch Color

A color wheel is a tool for choosing colors that work well together. For example, you can pick a couch color based on the color wheel's sections or color based on its complementary pairing.

If your room’s color scheme consists of analogous colors from the wheel, select one that is not as dominant for your sofa. For example:

• Abalone walls, gray doors, and a steel couch
• Walnut walls, espresso tables, and chocolate sofas
• Blue-green walls, blue light fixtures, and a blue-violet couch

To create a more harmonious color scheme, you can use one or more colors that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel, such as:

• Orange walls and a blue sofa
• Light blue walls and a chocolate sofa

Ask for Swatches

After you’ve narrowed down the sofa style you want and understand what fabrics look best with your home decor, it’s time to think about color. Swatches are small pieces of fabric you can take home to see how they look with your interior design. Swatches help you visualize the fabric and color before buying the sofa, so when it arrives at your door in Jacksonville, FL, it will be precisely what you had hoped for!

Swatch samples also indicate whether a particular material is durable enough for everyday use—and if it’s something you might be allergic to.

Think About Cushions

Feather cushions are the pinnacle of comfort. However, a feather cushion does require fluffing from time to time. This may be too much work for some people.

In that case, try foam cushions. Foam cushions remain fluffy over time, are less expensive than feather ones, and last longer.

Your cushion choice should be comfortable, simple to clean, and durable. They should also match your decor style and the rest of your furniture.

The Arm Style

The two most common arm styles are English rolled and track or square.

English rolled arms give off an air of grandiosity and sophistication while making it easier for guests to rest their heads on them. Plus, leather upholstery will add an element of luxury without being too showy or overpowering on these arms.

Track arms are defined by their straight lines, which makes them a brilliant choice for more modern or minimalist designs. The straight lines create a stark contrast against the curves of the sofa’s body and give it a strong sense of structure. In addition to being visually appealing, track arms also provide ample room to rest your arms while you’re lounging on the couch.

Try Before You Buy

The best way to see how a couch feels is by sitting on it. This way, you know what to expect when it arrives and there are no surprises once you get it set up.

And remember: ask another person what they think about the feel of the couch. There’s no reason to buy a couch unless you know your whole family will love it.

Invest in a Sturdy Sofa Frame

A sturdy sofa frame is important for a few reasons.

The first is that it will last longer, so you won’t have to replace your couch often. Second, a sturdy frame will make the entire piece more comfortable because it won’t wobble when sitting on it.

Third, having a stable structure means you’ll be able to move the sofa around with ease. This may seem trivial until you have to pick up an unsteady piece full of heavy pillows, and it falls apart.

Delivery and Assembly

Have the company deliver and assemble the sofa for you. Moving a couch is complicated enough, let alone trying to put one together.

If you’re fortunate, you’ll find a store that offers delivery as a complimentary service. If not, budget at least $95 to cover delivery costs.

Warranty

One last thing to remember when shopping for furniture is the warranty. Sometimes, even with all the research in the world, things just don’t work out with your new purchase. In these cases, having a solid warranty in place will save you a lot of headaches.

Different Types of Sofas

You might choose a modern-looking sofa with clean lines and sleek design elements, such as cushions made from leather or suede. Or maybe you prefer something more traditional, like a Victorian-style sofa with intricate carvings around the backrests? Whatever your preference may be, there are sofas available for every budget!

Love Seats

Love seats are a great option for those who want to maximize their space without compromising comfort and style. They’re smaller than couches but still offer plenty of seating room. And they provide a more affordable option than the cost of two separate sofas—especially if your living room is on the smaller side.

This type of sofa can be used alone or as part of a pair, making them versatile enough to suit any home’s needs.

Love seats are ideal for small living rooms that aren’t designed specifically for entertaining guests (or even large groups). They also work well in bedrooms as reading nooks.

Sectionals

If you have a large room to fill with a sofa, sectionals are the way to go. They comprise several pieces that can fit together in different ways to form many configurations. This makes them great for parents who need space for their kids and their friends or for big families who want to sit down together but still have some variety in how they do it.

Since sectionals are available in many shapes and sizes, there’s no excuse not to find one that works well with your home and lifestyle!

Sleeper Sofa

Sofa beds, called pull-out beds or sleeper sofas, are great for maximizing space. They can be used as a typical sofa during the day and converted into a bed at night. These two-in-one pieces of furniture are ideal for small living spaces requiring extra sleeping space for guests or family members who visit often.

Recliner

Recliners are a great way to relax after a long day at work or when you feel like you need to take a break. Of course, they’re also perfect for reading, napping, and even hours of movie-watching! Some recliners even have built-in massage and heat features, making them extra comfortable.

Accent Chairs

Accent chairs are a great way to add some extra seating to your home without going overboard. They come in all sorts of styles, from modern and sleek to traditional and comfy, so you can find the perfect one for any room.

These aren’t sofas, but you should still consider them if you need one extra place to sit that your sofa can’t provide.

How to Finance a New Couch

Making big purchases like furniture can be challenging to do all at once, which is why financing options are so helpful. Here are some great options for purchasing that perfect couch.

Average Couch Price

If you’re interested in buying a new couch, your first step is researching and finding out how much they cost. The average price of a couch is about $1,000. This doesn’t include delivery costs, up to another $100 or more.

Some stores will charge for delivery and installation, while others will offer free product delivery. Besides delivery charges, some retailers will also require you to pay to dispose of your old furniture. Be sure to factor these costs into your total financing plan.

Layaway Plans

Many stores offer a layaway plan, allowing you to make payments on your couch over time. This can be a great option if you don’t have the full amount upfront. Just be sure to read the terms and conditions of the layaway agreement before committing to it.

Consider Store Financing

If you’ve got good credit, consider store financing. Furniture stores offer furniture financing options with low interest rates. Remember, though, that store financing has a few caveats you should know before signing up for an account.

Some stores require customers to pay off their purchases within a year to avoid paying any late fees or additional interest.

Credit Card

Credit cards can be a convenient, costly, way to pay for large purchases that you might not otherwise be able to afford. Pay the balance in full each month (or at least try to) so that you aren’t adding to the debt you accrue.

Find Local Loans

When looking for the best loan for your new couch, it’s important to look at all your options. If you have a credit card or can tap into other sources of financing, that’s great! But if not, don’t worry. There are plenty of local institutions that can help you out.

Local banks and credit unions offer loans with low interest rates and repayment terms lasting for six months, though you may have to provide collateral.

Save Up

If you don’t have a lender in mind, the best option is to save your money for a new couch. Here are some ways to do that:

Set up an Automatic Savings Plan

This will force you to put money away every month, even if it’s just $5 or $10 at first. Once it’s out of sight, it will be out of mind, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly the money adds up.

Cut Out Unnecessary Expenses

Track where you’re spending your money for one month, then see where you can cut back. For example, if you’re spending $50/month on coffee, make your own.

Use a Cash-Back Credit Card

If you have good enough credit to be approved for a cash-back rewards card, use it and then put the money you earn into your savings account. This strategy won’t make you rich, but it will pile up a little extra cash for the new couch.

Find the Best Couch for Your Home

Overall, take your time when picking out a new couch. There’s no rush! Be patient in your search for the best couch, and you’ll be able to find one that’s well worth its price tag.

You can ensure that what you end up with is exactly right for your space by browsing our living room inventory. From sleek and modern to warm and inviting, JaxCo Furniture has a wide range of styles on sale now.