� PROPERTY SECTION
Best seat in the house
By Gabrielle Fagan
Sofas are one of the hearts of the home – where we slouch, lounge, surf and even snooze – and choosing the right one is all-important
A ROYAL TOUCH The Bailey velvet maxi sofa, royal blue, £1599, available from DFS
Size
Matters
MATCHING a sofa to a room can be as tricky as choosing a new partner – and it’s crucial to get it right, as you’ll have to live with your choice (or mismatch) for years. “If you’re trying to style a small space, don’t chose an oversized sofa, no matter how comfortable it looks,” advises Rick Petini, creative director at Delcor. “Slim, high legs and plenty of space between the floor and sofa base will allow light to flow around the room, and give the illusion of more space. If you have a larger space, opt for a medium or three-seater rather than a smaller sofa which may
be dwarfed by the room’s dimensions.”
£998, in a white combination which would blend into any decor scheme, but would particularly match a paredback rural or Skandi style.
SOFA SMART: Consider
SUPER SEATS: Hunker Sofa
how a sofa will be used and pick upholstery accordingly – is it a sanctuary space for adults, or will it have to cope with sticky hands and muddy paw prints? Leather’s easier to clean, but fabric adds depth and texture to a room. Stretch out in style on a Boxer Corner Sofa, from £2,982, or opt for a modern take on Seventies style with The Monaco, from £1,670, Delcor, which has bold lines and chic contrast piping. Similarly, DFS has a French Connection Slate Sofa, from
TAKE A SEAT DELCOR: 0191 237 1303/delcor.co.uk DFS: 0808 1595 535/dfs.co.uk FURNITURE CHOICE: 0800 035 0070/furniturechoice.co.uk HABITAT: 0344 499 4686/habitat.co.uk LOAF: 0845 468 0527/loaf.com SOFA.COM: 0345 400 2222/sofa.com SOFA WORKSHOP: 0808 278 8379/sofaworkshop.co.uk SOFOLOGY: 0800 140 4040/sofology.co.uk WILLOW & HALL: 0845 468 0577/willowandhall.co.uk Wednesday 9th March 2016
Willow & Hall has a classic collection, and a favourite is an Alderton Chaise Sofa which, upholstered in the gentle Dove linen cotton, from £1,572, would suit any setting.
(available March), from £1,245, and scatter cushions from £20 each, Loaf.
Buttons
& Blooms
CATWALK trends impact on decor and seating, too, and it’s important to avoid choosing a sofa that will date quickly. “Botanicals – floral patterns – continue to dominate and are in tune with our desire to ‘bring the outside in’. We’re also seeing interiors take a darker turn, with inky blue set to be one of this year’s most popular colours, and blushing pink for those who want a more feminine look,” says Philip Watkin, director at DFS. “Classic designs are set to make a comeback and the most coveted pieces are embracing button detail, which we’ve interpreted in Chesterfieldinspired silhouettes with a modern twist. “Velvet, a classic material, is still riding high in the style stakes, and to update your look be bold with vibrant colour-blocking hues, or introduce linear panels in plush velvet or high-definition devore.”
SOFA SMART: Make sure your sofa will fit into your
Mix&Match
Sofas come in an array of shapes, from curvy to boxy – and even ones that can change their form. “For me, modular sofas are probably re good for the best of all worlds, as they’re any size of home and any room within it,” says Arianne Keeler, upholstery buyer re an excellent option at Habitat. “They’re for those starting small, who want a sofa which can change and grow as their home or family expands. “For a bit of fun, you can mix up modules in different colour options to create an edgy, individual look, or go for a unified colour option but use different module styles to create a truly bespoke feature.”
SOFA SMART: Always order a fabric swatch and ‘live’ with it for a few days before confirming your choice, so you can view it in different lights and also, if it has a pile, check ve sat on it. If you’re its look after you’ve looking for a hard-wearing fabric to withstand the punishment of a family, polyester Accor fabric is particularly
LEATHER LOVERS Hendricks dark grey luxury leather 3 seat sofa, £3300, available from Habitat
durable. Several Jakob Modular Single Units, £400 each, in red or charcoal, could build into a sofa layout you desire. Or opt for a leather look; a Newman Tan Leather Corner Unit, £1,600. Alternatively, invest in a Kasha Right-arm Corner Sofa, available in a variety of upholstery colours, £1,700, all from Habitat.
home by measuring every access point – doorway, stairwell and lift that it has to pass. A template made from newspaper, or masking tape on the floor marking out the amount of space it requires, will give you a good idea of how a sofa will fit a particular room. A two-seater Pompeii Sofa, £1,299, and matching Armchair, £998, is a deepseated generous take on a Chesterfield. Fancy florals – a Chiltern Floral Grand Sofa, £1,549, available in five floral colours, could suit a cosy country cottage style interior. For a rich luxury feel, try a Bailey Velvet Maxi Sofa, in fashionable Royal Blue or Dusty Pink, £1,599, all from DFS.
SUPER SEATS: Loaf’s new
range includes a fabulous Butterbump Sofa, upholstered in velvet, from £1,495 (available March). Furniture Choice has a Rio Fabric Corner Sofa in slate, a bargain at £449.99.
SUPER SEATS: Sofa Workshop
seems to have taken inspiration from Downton Abbey with some of their sofa names – and these could certainly sit easily in a grand country pile. A Grande Dame Sofa, from £1,989, can be upholstered in an on-trend blue Moon Earth Airforce, or if you want to make a statement, plump for the Lady May three-seater, from £1,699, upholstered in the rich gold Dusky Mustard.
MELLOW YELLOW Lady May 3 seater sofa, from £1699, upholstered in Dusky Mustard, available from Sofa Workshop