For large families, the living room tends to be the heart of the home; a place where you can all relax and play together, settle down for movie night or get competitive with a board game or two. Central to any living room is the sofa; it’s one of the first things that people notice when they walk in. There’s certainly lots to consider when choosing a sofa for a large family, and the size of the room will play a big part too.
Don’t worry, we’re here to help you make the best choice possible – after all, selecting a sofa is arguably one of the most crucial furnishing decisions you’ll likely make for your family home. We’ll make sure you make the most appropriate choice so that there’ll be no more arguments over who gets the best seat during movie night. Fortunately, we offer bespoke furniture that we can tailor specifically to your requirements so that you’ll be happy with your sofa for years to come.
Consider Your Lifestyle
In years gone by, choosing a sofa might have been a little easier as there’s less to consider. However, nowadays, you have to think about how the sofa will be used by everyone in the household, not just yourself. Rest assured, choosing a sofa that’s functional for the family doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style and sophistication. Beautiful design and functionality can work hand in hand if you’re clever with your decision. If space permits, a bigger corner sofa or L-shaped sofa might be a great option for a larger family as it will provide plenty of seating and will allow you to create different zones in the space to suit the needs of varying family members.
Think about your family’s lifestyle – are the children likely to spill drinks and food on the furniture or be a little too liberal with their colouring pens? Will they be building dens out of sofa cushions and jumping around on the furniture? How many people are likely to be using the sofa at any given time? Do you have pets that shed fur or tread muddy pawprints around? If there are no spare bedrooms for you to host guests in your home, you might want to consider a sofa bed so that you can still have extended family and friends around whenever you like. Considering your family’s lifestyle and how you plan to use the sofa will make it far easier to make the right decision in terms of things like size, style and colour.
If you don’t have space for a large sofa, it might be worth considering an armchair or two to add extra seating. You can even use the armchair to make a statement in the living room by choosing a contrasting colour or bold design.
Be Selective with Materials
Be sure to research the quality of the leather type or upholstery fabric for any sofa you’ve got your eye on, as well as things like cleaning codes and upkeep recommendations. With a large family, your sofa is likely to be faced with a lot of wear and tear so you’ll want to choose something that will last for years to come.
Durability is crucial when it comes to furniture, particularly when there are children and pets involved, and you’ll need to invest in a quality frame that will stand the test of time. Opting for a durable, high quality sofa will save you money in the long-run as you won’t have to replace it as soon. A good quality sofa is usually manufactured with a hardwood frame, as this is stronger than particleboard or plastic. It’s also wise to check the guarantee offered by the manufacturer before making your final decision. At Delcor, we are confident that we are providing the best quality furniture, which is why we guarantee all frames for 50 years and an additional complimentary 5 year fabric warranty.
The colour of the fabric is another important consideration , as you don’t want something light if there’s likely to be spillages and pawprints. However, you’ll want to make sure the colour complements the rest of your interior design so that it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. If a neutral colour isn’t really for you, try and pick out a recurring colour in the room – something that features in your soft furnishings, artwork, and other decor.
If you’re still unsure where to start with your pursuit, it would be wise to speak to one of our showroom experts who will be able to guide you in the right direction. Be sure to pay us a visit whenever is convenient and we can discuss your options and talk through your requirements, no matter how unique. We always go the extra mile to support those who have awkward living spaces with an on-site assembly service.