How to buy a sofa

In my family, I’m famous for sofa shopping. When we moved across Washington state, from Olympia to Spokane, I shopped in several dozen stores to find just the right sofa for our new home.

I found a beautiful navy sofa with a corduroy fabric that was comfy and soft. It also had two ottomans.

For a second sofa in the rec room, I found a rust colored sofa with a white pattern that folded down in to a circle shape.

Recently, I wanted to get a comfortable sleeper sofa for my grandson to sleep on in my rec room when my daughter and her family come to visit from Madrid in the summer.

I thought about buying a Murphy bed, which folds up into a cupboard. However, I read about one from a reputable company being recalled because people were injured when the beds detached from the wall so I decided against it.

Scan Design, my favorite place to buy furniture, announced it was having a going out of business sale. I purchased a teak table and chairs and a hutch from them years ago.

I called and asked a salesman if he’d send me some photos of smaller sleeper sofas. I didn’t want drive to Lynnwood, north of Seattle, unless they might have something that would work.

The two photos he sent looked good.

However, after the hour and a half drive, I found that both the sleeper sofas had been sold. There was a brown one, but that’s not a color I like.

I did see a blue, leather sofa. I’ve always wanted one. I saw one years ago at Costco, but I didn’t realize that you had to buy it right then, that the warehouse store often has items that come and go quickly.

I decided I could move the brown-and-blue sleeper sofa I have in the living room into the rec room. Some of my guests say it isn’t comfortable, but we could put a smaller mattress on top to make it more comfortable.

However, the problem was I hadn’t measured the spot in the living room where the beautiful, blue leather sofa would go.

When I wrote about how to buy a sofa during my sofa marathon years ago, measuring was the first tip.

Since Scan Design was having a going out of business sale, they wouldn’t take my information over the phone the next day, nor would they let me buy the sofa the day I was there and cancel the sale the next day.

I was stewing around on what to do. The salesman really wanted to make the sale. Another salesman asked if there was anyone who could take the measurement. At first I said no. Then, I thought about my neighbor who has a key. I called her. She measured the sofa in the living room. It was 83 inches, exactly the size of the new sofa.

In addition to measuring, here are tips for buying a sofa:

Type of sofa. Do you want a traditional three-seater? A larger sectional that’s so popular these days? A sleeper for guests? A love seat for two people that works for a small apartment? Be sure to operate the mechanism repeatedly for recliners and sleeper sofas to make sure they perform properly. For recliners, if they need to be plugged in to an electric socket to operate, ask if a battery option also is available.

Budget. A sofa that seats three people will cost from $800 to $3,000.

Material. Textured fabrics, microfibers, and leather are long-lasting. Patterns are lively, but solid fabric is often more timeless and versatile.

Comfort. Check out the feel of the sofa and see if it works for you.

Construction. Examine the frame, joints, suspensions, upholstery, and cushioning and filling. Foam cushions usually feel more firm than fiber fill.

Return policies and warranties. Find out what the store and the manufacturer’s policies are on what happens is something breaks, rips, or becomes stained. Don’t be tempted to buy an extended warranty. Consumers may overpay for extended warranties because they overestimate the likelihood that a product will need a repair.

Have fun with your sofa shopping. I’m happy that I found a blue leather sofa after wanting one for years. I also bought a white leather recliner, a bonus because my brown leather one is getting worn.