Choosing a sofa for your living room

A sofa lasts 10 to 15 years. The choice you make now has longer consequences than most other decisions in your home. It's also the purchase people regret most often — too big, too deep, too cold in colour, or just not right with everything else. Here are the seven steps that make the difference.

Step 1 — Measure your space (not just floor area)

Most people only measure the corner or wall where the sofa goes. Not enough. Also measure: • Walkway space between sofa and the opposite piece of furniture: minimum 60 cm, 80 cm if two people often pass at once. • Doorway and stairwell the sofa has to come through — top-floor flats are notorious for this. • Windowsill height if the back will sit in front of a window. • Distance to the TV : rule of thumb, 2 to 2.5 times the TV diagonal.

Step 2 — Define how you sit

How do you actually sit? Really — think about it. • Upright, feet on the floor : shallow seat (50–55 cm), firm cushions. • Slouchy, legs up : deep seat (60–70 cm), softer cushions. • Often lying down, laptop on lap : chaise longue or 2.5-seater with loose cushions you can move. • Mix, often with guests : modular sofa you can rearrange.

A sofa that doesn't suit your posture feels wrong within three weeks.

Step 3 — Pick a shape that fits your room

Not every shape works in every room: • Narrow, long : 2.5- or 3-seater along the long wall. Corner sofas rarely work here. • Square : corner sofa is ideal, or two sofas facing each other. • Open room with no clear wall : a freestanding sofa with a finished back is essential. • Small : a light, low sofa on legs — visually more spacious than a heavy block.

Step 4 — Pick a colour that works in your light

This is where most online purchases go wrong. The product photo was taken under showroom lighting, not your window light. • North-facing window (cool light) : warm colours (terracotta, cognac, ochre) look warmer than in the photo. • South-facing window (warm light) : beige tones can shift toward yellow or mustard. Be careful. • Low daylight (back room) : stick to lighter colours — dark will absorb what little light you have.

• Lots of evening artificial light : warm white light makes grey look warmer, cool white makes it look bluish.

Instead of guessing: use a tool like Veyra to see how a sofa looks in your light, before you buy.

Step 5 — Pick a material that suits your life

• Pets or kids : microfibre, leather, or removable washable covers. Avoid velvet or bouclé unless you accept the wear. • Adult household, low traffic : bouclé, fine linen, velvet — all fair game. • Allergies : leather is by far the easiest to keep dust-free. • Move often : loose covers you can replace save you a fortune long-term.

Step 6 — Start early

The average delivery time in the Netherlands is 6 to 12 weeks . Standard models from Wehkamp or Westwing often 2–4 weeks; bespoke or imported can take four months. Don't start your search when your old sofa already has to go.

Step 7 — Try it virtually first

Even with perfect measurements, you don't really know how a sofa looks in your room until you see it. Tools like Veyra (free) let you upload a photo of your living room and see how specific sofas — real models, from real shops — look in your space. Ten minutes of clarity that beats half an hour in a showroom. Without buyer's remorse two weeks later.

Frequently asked

How much does a good sofa cost in the Netherlands? €800 to €2,500 for a solid 2.5- to 3-seater. Under €600 you're usually buying something that wears out in 3–5 years. How long does a sofa last? Well-built: 10–15 years. Cheap: often 3–5. Leather with proper care: 20+ years. Online or in-store? Combine. Test in-store what kind of sofa (deep/shallow, fabric/leather) suits you. Buy online for more choice and better prices. Always visualise in your room before ordering.