Before buying, know that sofa inside out
When buying a sofa, start with the inside, says design guru Susan Sargent. But when you get to the outside, have a little fun.
''You don't have to feel that you have to buy a beige sofa anymore," says Sargent, whose marketing slogan is ''the comfort of color."
Sargent, an artist and weaver, opened her Susan Sargent Store on Newbury Street in November 2003. Her home furnishings collection -- she sells everything from sofas to bedding, rugs, and dishes -- is marked by exuberant colors such as fuchsia, lime, violet, and paprika. Sargent has another store in Manchester, Vt., near her studio, and she expects to open two more stores in the Boston area before year-end.
When a customer comes in to buy a sofa, Sargent's staff tries to guide him or her through a process of self-discovery. It's important, Sargent says, to know your personal style, your budget, and what kind of quality you want. A quality sofa will cost from $1,500 to $2,500, although you can buy one for as little as $500 and as much as $10,000.
According to a 2005 survey by the trade publication Furniture/Today, consumers planned to pay a median price of $750 for a sofa.
Quality starts on the inside -- with the frame. A frame made of kiln-dried hardwood, such as oak, maple, or ash, is sturdier than one made of pine or composite wood. Also, the best sofas have eight-way hand-tied springs. Cheaper sofas have coils with metal connections. Ask a salesperson about the kind of wood and springs if you're not sure.
As for cushions, the cheapest kind are made of foam rubber; the most expensive are down. ''Down cushions are really comfortable, but you have to fluff them after someone sits on them," Sargent says. Many sofas now have foam core cushions with a down outer layer, which combines support and softness. Deciding on the number of cushions comes down to personal style. A one-cushion couch is generally more contemporary looking.
At her store, she said, ''We like a modern take on a traditional style." Most chain furniture stores, such as Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn, also sell sensible modern styles.
''Things have gotten less fussy all around," Sargent says. ''People have gotten used to cleaner lines."
When it comes to choosing fabric, it's important to think about your lifestyle. If you have kids or dogs, you probably want to pass on the creamy white sofa. But leather or tweed fabric can stand up to abuse.
One of the most important things to remember about buying a sofa is to sit on it. Do you like a firm seat or one you can sink into? Generally, formal living room sofas have more structured cushions, while family room sofas tend to be more casual.
Sargent believes in keeping furniture for a lifetime. So she advises investing a little more money in something that will last. ''With a sofa," she said, ''you get what you pay for."
