Sofa Brands

When you consider a home, every room serves a distinct purpose. The kitchen is for cooking and eating, the dining room for eating, the bathroom (enough said), the bedroom is all about sleeping, and the living or family room, relaxing. It's a long-standing joke that for parents, the most relaxing place in the home is the bathroom because the kids can't bother you. Take it from your scribe; this is true!

But the real lounging, relaxing, kicking your shoes off, and doing nothing happens in the living/family room. The key to a good living/family room is the right sofa. It's the principal lounging mechanism, and one that should not be purchased willy-nilly (a great saying from parents in the 70s). Before running out and picking up the first sofa that catches your eye, focus in on the frame. Bottom line – you want a sturdy frame. Go for something made of hardwood construction, like ash, beech, or even kiln-dried oak. These will cost you more, but the payoff over the long-run is proven.

Next, we're going to dive into the joinery. What in the "wide world of sports" are we talking about here? Joinery is the method used to join the frame at the corners. Two sides need to come together, and that corner (and how it's constructed) is super important. Many corners are joined with wooden dowels, metal screws, brackets, etc. Whatever the instrument, do make sure it is solidly constructed. Avoid glue, nails, or staple gun corners.

Third, hand-tied springs are the best springs you can purchase. Serpentine springs are less expensive, and while not terrible, they will wear out quicker. Fourth, make sure the filling of the sofa is of good quality. Foam that is too dense will end up feeling overly hard. High-resilient foam is the right choice as it's lush and plump. And finally, keep an eye out for durable fabrics. Leather, linen, or cotton are excellent choices in this department. Now on to some brands!

If you're looking for a brand that does a great job in manufacturing sofas that can double as sleepers, the Wayfair Custom Upholstery Sarah Sleeper Sofa is a phenomenal choice. Online reviews are through the roof and the sheer variety of colors (100 plus) is really impressive. It's hard for a sofa to be a great bed and a great sofa. Typically one of the two areas falls short. Not so with this brand, however, highly recommended.

A classic in the sofa game, the Pottery Barn Pearce 3-Piece Sectional, is just like it sounds. Three pieces, all mashed together, to form an L shape. However, the corner between the small line in the "L" and the big line is also a seat. So what you have with this sofa is 5 seats, all comfortably spread apart and great for a family setting. No social distancing with this number from the Pottery Barn, so make sure you know who you're sitting next to.

Lastly, we'd be remiss if we didn't tell you about a classic leather sofa. They're expensive, but they also look fabulous, and the West Elm Hamilton Sofa is a superb choice. This model is a modern take on a classic design from the 1940s. It comes in six shades of leather and is kiln-dried, which prevents warping.

Make a sofa addition to your home more than merely an addition. It's a centerpiece item, never forget it!