The array of designs and price points makes selecting the right sofa difficult. However, putting some time and thought into the decision will leave you sitting pretty in the long run. There are numerous areas to consider from frames to fabrics.

Size matters

Size does matter, says Laurent Billet, director of La Maison Chic which has showrooms in Dublin, Galway and Paris. As anyone who has had problems squeezing their sofa through their front doors or up the stairs will agree.

A small sofa can make a small room look bigger, so it's a balance of how many seats you need in a room. Similarly, a sofa that's too big for a room doesn't look right either. The key is to measure the room and door frame, to make sure the sofa you want can fit through the door. Map out the size of the sofa in the room with paper or recreate the sofa size and shape with boxes, so you'll know exactly how it will look.

Upholstery Fabric versus leather is another thing to think about. Billet, a member of the Interiors Association, says that while a lot of young families opt for leather sofas on the basis that they are more hardwearing than fabric and more easily cleaned, there are pros and cons of both possibilities. "On the one hand, leather is easy to clean but can be scratched very easily by nails, jeans' metal studs as well as animals. It can also be quite cold to touch.

"On the other hand, fabrics are easily cleaned if tackled straight away or have washable removable covers. They do not scratch and the choice of colours and patterns is limitless."

While leather is long-lasting and attractive, chenille is soft and durable, says Billet. "Velvets and other fabrics look lovely but may wear out with heavy use over the years." The solution is to use a velvet contract fabric, designed to be used in hotels, which can also be treated to be stain-resistant.

Leather lovers should ask about types, treatments and grades of leather before committing to a sofa. Some leathers have surfaces finishes to protect against wear and tear.

Comfort

Whether you have a longing for leather or find fabric more appealing, Billet's advice is to choose with comfort in mind and how the sofa will look in your living space.

If the structure of your sofa is good, removable covers will allow you to change the covers after a few years or even just to clean them. They generally prove worthwhile where there are children or pets. If the covers are fixed, reupholstery can be almost as expensive as a new suite.

Frame quality varies enormously, Billet says. "The best frames are made from kilndried hardwoods such as oak, maple and poplar while inexpensive furniture is made from softer pine lumbar.

"Interior construction is important as well. Cheap furniture is stapled together and has haphazardly constructed corner bracing. Better frames are securely screwed together. A well constructed sofa with removable covers can be used over 25 years at least."

Cushion and pillow filling are also important to the overall feel of the sofa. "Upholstery foam is inexpensive and comes in several thicknesses and weights. However, the best cushions have down fillings, which must be fluffed daily. Another option uses down pads wrapped around a core of foam."

Try before you buy

Before buying your sofa, it's important to try it out in the shop, and sit or lie on it as you would at home.

Seating support is important. "Eight-way hand-tied springs have long been considered the premium choice for sofa construction. With this method, a craftsman hand-ties each coil spring to the other springs and to the sofa frame with twine. The twine crosses the frame from front to back, from side to side, and across both diagonals, thus creating the 'eight ways', " says Billet.

Other forms of spring construction can provide good quality support as well, he adds. "Sinuous springs are two-dimensional S-shaped wires that run from the front rail to the back of the seat, spaced every few inches. Web suspension is a form of seating support that may be used alone or with coil springs.

Bands of webbing two to three inches wide cross the seat and back and are tacked to the sofa to create a hammock-like platform for cushions." Webbing may be made of natural fibres such as jute or manmade materials such as polypropylene. Anyone with young children should avoid sofas with springs as jumping will break the springs fairly quickly.

Trend alert

The latest trends, according to Billet, are for upholstered sofas in luxurious colourful fabrics. Damasks and patterns are big, with piping matching curtains and blinds.

Aubergine, cherry, English green and deep sea blue are very popular.

The latest looks in leather are embossed crocodile, python, lizard, ostrich looks in natural leathers.

The newly opened Roche Bobois showroom in Dublin's Beacon South Quarter is brimful of colourful creations including the sectional 'Mah Jong'. It is covered in fabric from the 'Gardens' collection, with triple density quilted cushions in Bultex foam and acrylic fibre.

HOW TO BUY A SOFA
>> Be clear on your budget. Sofas vary hugely in price so set out your budget before you start looking
>> Think carefully about use before you choose the fabric. If you have young children or pets, it might be worth getting armcaps which can be machine washed
>> Decide how many cushions you want and think about fillings. Having one or two seat cushions gives a cleaner, more modern look while three cushions are more traditional. Cushion fillings vary widely. Some have special foams for long-lasting shape while others may have feather casings for greater comfort.
>> Try out lots of styles before making your mind up. Decide whether you prefer soft or firm, high or low back. Think about arm height and style. If you like to snooze on the sofa, a lower, wider arm is better, while a higher arm height is more supportive for reading or sitting for long periods

Information supplied by Marks & Spencer

USEFUL CONTACTS
>> Habitat Dublin, Galway and Belfast; www. habitat. ie
>> House of Fraser Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin 14, 01-299 1400
>> La Maison Chic showrooms in Oranmore, Galway and Rathfarnham, Dublin. By appointment only. www. lamaisonchic. ie
>> Marks & Spencer www. marksandspencer. com
>> Roche Bobois Beacon South Quarter, Sandyford, Dublin 18, 01653 1650; www. rochebobois. com