Choosing a sofa is easier with the right measurements and a clear idea of what matters to you. Start with the guide that answers your question, or use the sofa finder to see options for your room.
Choosing a sofa
- How to Choose a Sofa: 8 Things to CheckHow to choose a sofa in eight steps: room size, getting it through the door, how you use it, seat depth, shape, construction, fabric and returns.
- Types of Couches and Sofas: Shapes and Styles ExplainedTypes of couches and sofas explained: sectionals, loveseats, sleepers, modular and cloud couches, plus Chesterfield, Lawson, tuxedo and mid-century styles.
- Sofa vs Couch: What Is the Difference?Sofa vs couch: today the two words mean the same piece of furniture. Where each word comes from, how they were once different, and settee, loveseat and divan.
- How to Choose a Sectional (and Get the Orientation Right)L-shaped, U-shaped or chaise sectional? How to choose, what left-facing and right-facing mean, fixed vs modular, and how to measure the footprint.
- How to Choose a Sleeper SofaPull-out, fold-flat or ottoman sleeper? How to choose a sleeper sofa: bed sizes, mattress types, measuring it open, and everyday seat comfort.
- Futon vs Sleeper Sofa vs Sofa Bed: Which Should You Buy?Futon or sleeper sofa? How futons, pull-out sleeper sofas and fold-flat sofa beds differ in comfort, size, price and durability, and which suits your room.
- What Is a Boneless Couch? Pros, Cons and Who It SuitsA boneless couch is a frameless sofa made of shaped foam in a fabric cover. How it feels, how long it lasts, the pros and cons, and who should buy one.
- Loveseat vs Sofa: Size, Seating and Which One to BuyA loveseat seats two and is usually 48 to 72 inches wide; a sofa seats three or more and is about 72 to 96 inches wide. How to choose between them.
- Sectional vs Sofa: Which Is Better for Your Living Room?Sectional vs sofa: a sectional seats more and suits lounging and corners; a sofa is easier to place, move and rearrange. How to choose for your room.
- The Most Comfortable Couch: How to Find YoursWhat makes a couch comfortable: seat depth, cushion fill and height, the best couch for tall or short people, and which couch suits sitting, lounging or napping.
- How to Choose a Couch With Good Back SupportWhat makes a couch supportive: seat depth, seat height, cushion firmness, back height and lumbar support, plus easy fixes for a couch that leaves your back sore.
- Sofa Cushion Firmness and Fill: A GuideFoam, feather and fiber sofa cushions compared: what foam density means, and which cushion firmness suits the way you sit.
- Sofa Glossary: Upholstery and Furniture Terms ExplainedA plain-English sofa glossary: what upholstered means, what an ottoman, chaise, settee and sectional are, plus frame, cushion, fabric and leather terms.
- What Is a Davenport? Davenport, Settee, Divan and Other Names for a SofaA davenport is an old American word for a sofa, taken from a furniture maker’s name. Here is what davenport, settee, divan, chesterfield and chaise mean.
Buying and delivery
- How Much Does a Couch Cost?How much a couch costs: typical price ranges for budget, mid-range and high-end sofas, sectionals and sleepers, what drives the price, and extra costs to plan for.
- When Is the Best Time to Buy a Couch?The best time to buy a couch: holiday weekend sales, the late-winter and late-summer clearance periods, and when buying now makes more sense than waiting.
- Sofa Delivery Explained: Curbside, Threshold and White GloveWhat curbside, threshold, room-of-choice and white glove delivery mean for a sofa, what each includes, and how to get ready for a curbside delivery.
- How to Move a Couch Safely (Doors, Stairs and Trucks)How to move a couch without damage: measure, take it apart, wrap it, lift it safely, get it through doorways and up stairs, and load it in a truck.
- How to Get Rid of a Couch: Donation, Pickup and Disposal OptionsHow to get rid of an old couch: donate it, sell or give it away, book a bulk pickup, hire junk removal, take it to a transfer station or break it down.
Size and fit
- How to Measure Your Room and Doorways for a SofaHow to measure a couch, your room, doorways, hallways and stairs before you buy, including the diagonal depth that decides whether a sofa fits through a door.
- Standard Sofa Sizes: A Sofa Size GuideStandard couch dimensions in inches and feet: loveseat, sofa, sleeper and sectional sizes, seat height, and what size fits your room.
- Living Room Layout: Sofa Placement, Rug Size and TV DistanceLiving room layout rules: where to put the sofa, what size rug to use, how far the couch should be from the TV, and coffee table and walkway spacing.
- Small Living Room Layout: How to Arrange a Sofa in a Small SpaceSmall living room layouts that work: where to put the sofa, when a sectional fits, how to arrange two couches and how to plan a long, narrow room.
- What Size Rug for a Living Room? Rug Sizes for Sofas and SectionalsWhat size rug for a living room: 8×10 suits most rooms, 5×8 fits small ones, 9×12 or larger suits sectionals. Rules for rug size under a sofa.
- Coffee Table Size and Height: Coffee, End and Console Tables for Your SofaCoffee table size rules: about two-thirds the sofa’s length, level with the seat or 1-2 inches lower, 14-18 inches away. Plus end and console table heights.
- TV Viewing Distance and Height: How Far the Couch Should Be From the TVHow far a couch should be from the TV by screen size, and how high to mount a TV: the center of the screen at seated eye level, about 42 inches from the floor.
Fabrics and materials
- Fabric vs Leather Sofa: Choosing UpholsteryFabric vs leather sofa: how leather, faux leather, chenille, velvet, corduroy and performance fabrics compare for durability, pets and children.
- Types of Couch Material: Sofa Fabrics ComparedTypes of couch material compared: polyester, chenille, velvet, corduroy, bouclé, linen, cotton, microfiber, performance fabric, leather and faux leather.
- Types of Leather for Sofas: Full-Grain, Top-Grain, Bonded, PU and VeganWhat PU leather, vegan leather, bonded leather, genuine leather, top-grain and full-grain leather mean on a sofa label, and how each one wears.
- What Is PU Leather? PU, Vegan and Faux Leather ExplainedPU leather is a fabric coated with polyurethane to look like leather. It contains no animal hide. How it compares with vegan, bonded and real leather.
- What Is Performance Fabric? Stain-Resistant Sofa Fabrics ExplainedPerformance fabric is upholstery made to resist stains, wear and fading, through its fibers or a finish. What it is made of and whether it is worth it.
- What Is Chenille Fabric? Chenille Sofas ExplainedChenille is a soft, fuzzy fabric woven from pile yarn; the name is French for caterpillar. How it is made, how it wears on a sofa and how to clean it.
- What Is Bouclé? Bouclé, Teddy and Sherpa Fabric ExplainedBouclé is a fabric woven from looped yarn that gives a soft, curly texture. How it differs from teddy and sherpa fabric, and how it wears on a sofa.
- What Is Corduroy? Corduroy as a Sofa FabricCorduroy is a fabric with raised parallel ridges called wales. How it is made, what wide-wale corduroy means on a sofa, how it wears and how to clean it.
- Best Couch Fabric for Dogs and CatsThe best couch fabric for dogs and cats: microfiber, performance fabric and protected leather compared for claws, hair and stains, plus fabrics to avoid.
- Upholstery Cleaning Codes: W, S, W/S and X ExplainedWhat the cleaning codes on a couch tag mean: W (water-based), S (solvent only), W/S (either) and X (vacuum only), what to clean each with, and what to avoid.
Cleaning and care
- How to Clean a Sofa: Cleaning Codes, Stains and CareHow to clean a fabric couch and cushions: what cleaning codes W, S, W/S and X mean, removing stains and odors, washing covers and getting pet hair off.
- How to Deep Clean a Couch: Steam Clean, Shampoo and DisinfectHow to deep clean a couch step by step: check the cleaning code, vacuum, deodorize, shampoo or steam clean the fabric, disinfect safely and dry it fast.
- How to Check and Clean a Used Couch (Including Bed Bugs)Before you bring home a secondhand couch: how to check it for bed bugs, damage and smells, then how to clean and sanitize a used couch step by step.
- How to Clean Couch Cushions and Wash Cushion CoversHow to clean couch cushions: wash removable covers the right way, clean foam inserts and cushions without zippers, dry them fully and fluff them back up.
- Pets and Your Couch: Removing Dog Hair and Smell, and Stopping Cat ScratchingHow to get dog hair and dog smell out of a couch, and how to stop a cat from scratching it: quick methods that work, plus fabrics that stand up to pets.
- How to Get Stains Out of a Couch: Blood, Wine, Ink, Gum and MoreHow to get stains out of a couch, stain by stain: blood, red wine, coffee, ink, grease, gum, wax, slime, vomit and water marks, matched to your sofa’s cleaning code.
- How to Get a Smell Out of a CouchHow to get smells out of a couch: find the source, deodorize with baking soda, treat pet urine with an enzyme cleaner, and fix musty, smoke and food odors safely.
- How to Get Pee Out of a Couch (Stain and Smell)How to get pee out of a couch: blot, treat with an enzyme cleaner, deodorize and dry. Covers cat, dog and human urine, old stains, cushions and leather.
- How to Clean a Leather Couch: Genuine and Faux LeatherHow to clean a leather couch or sofa safely: identify your leather type, routine cleaning, removing ink, grease and water spots, conditioning, and faux leather care.
- How to Clean a Faux Leather Couch (and Stop It Peeling)How to clean a faux leather or pleather couch with mild soap and water, remove stains and smells, and slow down cracking and peeling.
- How to Clean a Microfiber or Suede CouchHow to clean a microfiber couch with rubbing alcohol or mild soap depending on its code, how to restore the nap, and how to care for genuine suede.
- How to Clean a Suede Couch (Real Suede and Microsuede)How to clean a suede couch: brush the nap, lift marks with a suede eraser, treat stains with white vinegar, and tell real suede from microsuede first.
- How to Clean a Velvet Couch (and Keep It Looking New)How to clean a velvet couch: vacuuming and brushing the pile, blotting spills by cleaning code, lifting crush marks with steam, and daily care for velvet sofas.
- Couch Pilling: Why It Happens and How to Remove ItWhy couches pill, how to remove pilling safely with a fabric shaver or sweater comb, and how to prevent it, plus which fabrics pill least.
Lifespan and repair
- How Long Does a Couch Last? Lifespan and When to ReplaceHow long a couch lasts by quality, frame, cushions and upholstery, the signs it is time to replace it, and how to make your sofa last longer.
- The Most Durable Couch: What Makes a Sofa LastWhat makes a couch durable: the frame, joints, suspension, cushion foam and fabric to look for, plus the best choices for kids and pets.
- How a Sofa Is Made: Frames, Springs and Cushion Foam ExplainedHow a sofa is built and what to look for: kiln-dried hardwood frames, sinuous springs vs eight-way hand-tied, pocket coils, and cushion foam density.
- How to Fix a Sagging Couch (and Stop Cushions Sliding)How to fix a sagging couch: find whether the cushions, springs or frame are the cause, then fix it with flipping, new foam, a support board or spring clips.
- How to Make a Couch More Comfortable: Firmer, Softer or DeeperHow to make a couch more comfortable: fluff and restuff cushions, make them firmer or softer, fix a seat that is too deep, and add back support.
- How to Fix a Ripped Couch: Seams, Tears, Holes and ZippersHow to fix a ripped fabric couch: sew a split seam with a curved needle, patch a tear or hole from behind, and repair a broken cushion zipper.
- How to Keep a Couch From Sliding (and Cushions From Slipping)Stop a couch sliding on hardwood, tile or laminate with rubber grippers or a rug pad, keep seat cushions in place and keep sectional pieces together.
- How to Repair a Leather Couch: Scratches, Cracks, Peeling and TearsHow to repair a leather couch: buff out light scratches, fill cracks and cat scratches, patch tears, and what to do when bonded or faux leather peels.
- Reupholster or Replace a Couch? Costs and How to DecideWhat it typically costs to reupholster a sofa, what the price includes, how much fabric you need, and how to decide between reupholstering and buying new.
Color and styling
- Best Couch Colors: Timeless Colors and Colors That Date FastThe best couch colors for living rooms: timeless neutrals, practical colors for kids and pets, and the couch colors that tend to look dated fastest.
- What Colors Go With a Gray Couch? (Plus Green, Beige, Brown and White)What colors go with a gray couch: wall, rug, pillow and accent colors for light and dark gray, plus pairings for green, beige, brown and white couches.
- How to Style a Couch With Pillows and ThrowsThrow pillow size chart with insert sizes, how many pillows on a couch, the 2-2-1 arrangement, pillow ideas for sofas and sectionals, and how to style a throw.