Purchasing the right sofa can be a long and drawn out process if you don’t have any idea where to begin. Hiring an interior designer often speeds up the process, allowing you to make the right decision using fact-based knowledge about interior design, especially your home’s design elements. Employing a professional can save you time and a headache you don’t want.
The first rule of thumb: a sofa should stand the test of time. Make your purchase legendary, even unforgettable. So unforgettable in fact, that you cannot see yourself living without the piece. How do you decide what makes a sofa purchase a smart purchase? Check the country it was manufactured in, and decide based on your own set of moral import laws whether or not you deem it quality, or not. Quality is the most important facet of purchasing a sofa, as you will be enjoying a sofa day in day out with your friends and family. How comfortable is the sofa? Do you have kids who rough house in the family room despite your rules against it? There are a variety of questions your designer may to ask to make sure he or she makes the right decision for you.
Shop for a sofa that will be the focal point of a space. If you have a better understanding of your preferred fabric choice, material and size you will have an easier time telling your designer ahead of time instead of scouring furniture stores for the right choice. We have multiple options when it comes to interior design, but at La Maison we suggest searching for the right luxury furniture based on the existing elements in your home, unless you’re doing a complete remodel—then create your aesthetic before purchasing furniture. A sofa should never contrast with an existing aesthetic, as it will be the focal point of a space.
Placement is often the most important aspect of implementing a new sofa to a space. Don’t be afraid to inquire with an interior designer to help you accentuate the existing elements of your home with the right sofa placement. Place artwork above your sofa if it rests against a wall or accessorize it with two end tables for visual interest and convenience for guests. Consult an interior designer if you’re interested in more unique placement among the other pieces in your family room. Create enough room to circle each piece of furniture and make sure the space does not feel too cramped. This is important to keep a good flow throughout a space, and into the next one if your home is an open floor plan.
Don’t let your instincts drive your design choice towards the “safe” choice! Go bold, vibrant or even outside of your comfort zone. Often, a new sofa can change the look and feel of any room in your home without trying. Your interior designer will guide you in which sofa would be too much of a change from the existing elements of your home so you won’t go too bold. Trust your interior designer to divert you from your comfort zone if you feel an itch for something new. The slightest alteration can change the way any space feels. A simple fabric change, new texture or additional accent color will do wonders if you’re in the market to update your space. Allow a designer to present the reasons why a style different from what you might ordinarily choose could be the pizazz you’ve needed!
The most important reason to hire a designer may be mediation between spouses. Often times, it may be hard to find common ground between two spouses with opposite design aesthetics, but a good designer will find a perfect medium. Allow a designer to offer ideas that lend to both of your tastes to allow for a new perspective. We get stuck in our design choices, but seeing a fresh idea can infuse a new sense of cooperation between two people.