Christine Schwalm Design

I received an email the other day looking for some advice about choosing a sofa for a new apartment.  This is a pretty common quandry for homeowners so I thought I'd share with you.

Here's my response:
The good news is, because you're working with a palatte of neutrals, you can't really pick the wrong color.  I would think more about how the sofa is going to be used- ie, are you going to be snacking while watching TV.  I'm going to go with yes, since most everyone does.  With lighter walls and flooring, I agree that darker is the way to go.  It will be a nicer contrast in the room setting.  Where were you planning to put the sofa?  Against the window wall or floating, facing the long wall, to serve as a divider between the living and dining area?

A quick note on fabrics, try to go with something that has varying color and texture--it's going to be a lot more forgiving.  If you decide to go with Micro Fiber, try to get something that is a blend of natural and synthetic (a cotton/poly blend).  This is going to be the most resistant to stains.  Everyone thinks that polyester is indestructible--and it is for water based stains.  But for oil based stains, it's bad news.  Ever try to get oil out of a polyester blouse?  Nearly impossible.  Polyester is made from oil so it holds oil.  The varying texture will give dirt a place to hide. 

Before you buy anything, have an idea about the size of the building elevator (if you're certain it's 8' then no worries.  I doubt you'll buy a sofa over 90" long), check any turns on the route the sofa would take during delivery.  If you find a sofa with legs, find out if they are removeable for delivery (those extra 4 inches can make a difference)