The Best Couches

Buying Guide

The average person spends at least 18 years of their life sitting down. That means if you’re in the market for a new couch, you’ll want to take care when picking one out. You’ll likely be spending a great deal of time on the sofa and you want it to withstand many years of daily use.

Review the couch’s construction first. You want a model with a solid hardwood frame for stability and durable woven fabric that won’t come apart. It’s also important that the feet have padding underneath. Otherwise, the feet may scratch the surface of your flooring.

MORE: The Best Accent Chair

Consider a couch that doubles as a bed. This is especially helpful if you enjoy having friends or family spend the night. There are models that convert into futons. Many of them can even be used in smaller apartments and condos, should space be an issue where you live.

Determine which couch style best fits your personality. There are couches with a vintage look that have vertical stitching and a button tufted design, as well as sofas with a contemporary flair that offer supportive foam cushions and clean lines.

Look for extra padding, as you want the couch to be a relaxing place to watch television or read a good book. High-density foam is always nice. In addition to the cushions, you want to make sure the armrests are padded.

• Always consider how much assembly is involved when choosing a couch. Some models come fully assemble, while others can be put together in 20 minutes without the need for any special tools. Then there are also models that can be quite complicated to put together and would require the help of a friend or family member.
• Keeping your couch clean is important if you want it to continue to look like new. All of the sofas can be vacuumed using the upholstery attachment. Some have cushion covers that can be removed and tossed in the washing machine. Those that don’t have removable covers can be wiped down with a damp cloth that has a bit of a gentle detergent on it. 
• Add style to your living space by tossing a few decorative accent pillows on the couch. You can go with a few pillows that feature a solid contrasting color or a set of pillows with a fun design.
• No matter what your budget, you’re sure to find a sofa in a price range that you can afford. You’ll find the Serta Rane Convertible Sofa Couch is the most affordable options. The Zinus Ricardo Sofa Couch has a more moderate price tag.