Settees and sofas are an integral centerpiece of any home, and the right one is vital to be sure you get the most from relaxing in the living room.

The very first point you need to consider is the shape of your settee or sofa, what shape would work for your room. If your living room is a strange shapehowever, you have a corner that you can work with, think about corner settees and sofas. It is crucial that the measurements are exact, you don’t want to end up having settees or sofas that look awkward or even worse don’t fit into the room you have available.

Many modern sofa designs will include a low back. While this is a very good way to increase the sense of space in a small room, a low backed sofa won’t offer much support, so make sure you take this into consideration. If it’s comfort you’re after and you have no concerns over space, you will probably find a high backed sofa your best option, a high backed sofa can work especially well in a room with high ceilings.

With regards to choosing settees and sofas many individuals pay little attention to the filling of such furniture. If the cushions are containing foam then they would be the most supportive option and spring back to their original shape, a feather filled cushion provides a soft alternative. However, feather cushions can prove to be a minor annoyance, as they will need regular plumping to be sure the cushions keep their shape. A feather filled sofa may also cost you that little bit more. Therefore, cushions made out of a combination of foam and feathers tend to be your best option.

Another point to consider is the material you will want sofa to be made from, are you wanting a fabric sofa or a leather one. Fabric is often more versatile when it comes to colour and design, but on the flipside leather will offer a more classic look that won’t go out of style.

Quality leather is a very hardwearing material, and like a fine wine, it’ll improve with age. You will have to make sure that leather is kept at the least 30cm away from radiators or other types of heat, or the material could become scorched or cracked.

If you live in a particularly small home, or regularly have more guests than you have beds, you might like to look at a sofa bed. In times gone by the generalisation was that sofa beds were ugly and uncomfortable, not managing to serve very well as either a bed, or sofa. But over recent years there’s been considerable developments in the design of sofa beds and a few may even include a mattress. So it can definately be worthwhile to shop around, and just ensure you have the space to extend it into a bed.

If you are looking to furnish a property for rental you might have other requirements to meet. Whilst you need your tenants to be comfortable and happy, you have to consider that wear and tear is part and parcel of renting. Therefore, you’re best off choosing a hardwearing fabric, ideally one that is easy to clean or replace. You also need to ensure that all furniture in the rental home complies with the Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations, which means that you’ll need fire retardant sofa fillings and coverings.

This post was written on behalf of The Suite Company, experts in settees and sofas and sofas Leicester. For more info on settees and sofas and sofas Leicester please visit the Suite-Company.co.uk