If the living area sets the scene of an interior, the sofa is the undisputed star of the show. A subtle shift in seat or back height, arm thickness, sprung or loose cushion upholstery can change the tone of a home entirely. Consider your style carefully as this will be a piece you may live with for decades. Comfort is crucial, and fabric choice even more so if you share your home with children and pets.

Measure up your living space and try taping out your preferred dimensions on the floor; this will help you better understand the scale and proportions. You should look for longevity and luxury in this investment piece, and pair it with statement armchairs, coffee or side tables. Scatter cushions and throws are your go-to accessories – take colour cues from an artwork or an area rug in the room.

Left: The luxurious Lola hand-dyed leather 3-seater sofa, Freedom, is available as shown here in Taupe and five other earthy shades. Photography by Nathan Hendry.

Right: Estancia Leather Co’s ‘Mulberry’ leather 3-seater sofa in Chocolate Brown, Coco Republic, features narrow channel detailing. Photography courtesy of Coco Republic.

● Consider your home’s available access for delivery, including door widths, stairwell or lift dimensions. Need to squeeze a large sofa through? Some legs can be unscrewed and doors removed from their hinges.

● If your existing sofa suits your style and scale, you can replace cushion inserts and reupholster for a satisfying refresh. Consider foam-core seat cushions with a plush feather/down wrap and feather/fibre back cushions for softness and support.

● Outdoor fabrics can be a smart choice for indoor upholstery in high-traffic locations. Take sample swatches home to check against your wall and floor finishes.

● Where possible, try before you buy. A sofa is one piece of furniture well worth a showroom visit, to fully understand its comfort and quality.

● Look at your room’s layout and traffic flow, to determine if a standard or sectional style of sofa will suit it best.

Whether you have room to spread out or need a solution for a compact space, there’s a sofa that’s right for you.

1 Flexform ‘Asolo’ fabric 3-seater sofa in Emerald (255cm), (excludes accent cushions), Fanuli.

2 Kandos linen 3-seater sofa in Natural (270cm), Provincial Home Living.

3 Cypress fabric 3-seater sofa in Stone (225cm), Contents International Design.

4 Salsie French-seam 3-seater sofa in Dalton Natural (240cm), Freedom.

5 Mia leather 3-seater sofa with chaise in Glacier (320cm), Domayne.