And while the upholstery options may be somewhat limited compared to other options, with just 16 fabrics to choose from, this sofa offers some great alternative ways to tailor the seating to your tastes. Chaise sofas, corner sofas or modular sofas in an L-shaped or U-shaped layout can be particularly useful here, or - if you have the space - you might want to switch up the usual layout of the sofa facing the fire or TV, and have two similar-sized sofas facing each other to create a space that works better for socialising and entertaining.

It may sound obvious, but size is one of the most important aspects to consider before falling in love with your dream couch. Pet damage – three claims per duration of your cover, but there’s no limit to claims made for stains. We may be slightly biased, but it's hard not to be impressed by this affordable sofa that was designed by the Ideal Home team in collaboration with ScS. Plus, once you start the search for the best sofa for your home, you'll soon discover there are a whole lot of options to choose from. There are classic two and three-seater sofas, chaise sofas for putting your feet up, multifunctional sofa beds that allow you to offer guests overnight sleeping space (find more of those in our guide to the best sofa beds), modular sofas that come in sections so you can configure your own seating layout, and spacious corner sofas that have plenty of room for friends and family.

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velvets we’ve seen. And if you prefer a sofa with a more retro twist, the Hermione range has all the buttoning

Seat comfort can also be tailored to your preference with a choice of fibre-wrapped foam or feather-wrapped foam seat cushions for low-maintenance squish-factor, and there are a whopping 175+ upholstery options to choose from. We asked multiple furniture maker’s how you can tell if a sofa is good quality, and their answers were unanimous; it’s all about the frame first and foremost. When does my cover start? Your cover begins on the date your product is delivered to your home and lasts for five years. Generally speaking, the happy place is with the best of both worlds, and many sofa manufacturers now offer foam cushion cores that are wrapped in a layer of soft feathers - providing comfort and retaining the sofa shape. Francesca Hadland, styling expert for furniture retailer Bridgman, is of a similar opinion, stating ‘Although cheaper furniture may appear the same on the surface, cheaper pieces will show signs of wear and tear much faster and within just a couple of years, you’ll have the hassle of replacing the furniture and re-spending your money.”Mixing retro design with modern styling, the contemporary sofa is available intwo-seater,three-seater, and four-seater options, with a matching armchair, twister, and swivel chair, plus coordinating footstools available. There are generously proportioned 2, 3, and 4-seater sofa options, plus a 3 or 4-seater chaise and two corner sofa configurations to choose from, all in Habitat's luxe-look velvet upholstery. And while the colour choices may be limited, all are great shades that lend statement style to this contemporary design.

So why does the Julien still score so highly with us? Well, for the price, this is one comfortable sofa. The fixed fibre-wrapped foam seats are on the slightly firmer side but the model we tested still had a good amount of squish, and we loved the seat depth, which with the foam-filled seat cushions offering good comfort and support was perfect for sitting or curling up on. Plus the low armrests are well-padded and the perfect head height for naps. Whilst nothing can beat going to test out a sofa for yourself –after all, one person's 'too soft' can be another person's 'just right' –not all sofa showrooms are within easy reach, and you can easily lose multiple weekends traipsing around the shops sitting on sofa after sofa. If you have the space to work with then you're unlikely to regret opting for more sofa to stretch out on, especially if you have multiple housemates, family, or friends to seat comfortably. John Darling, founder of sofa manufacturer Darlings of Chelsea recommends looking for ‘hardwoods like beech or birch’ for the sofa frame, and agrees ‘a 10 year frame guarantee is a must-have’. Once you've chosen your favourite sofa shape, then it's time to choose colour and fabric. Most sofa retailers offer models in a range of fabrics, generally including more affordable polyester and cotton mixes (which often have better stain resistance so are useful for homes with young families), and more expensive linens, velvets, and leathers. Take advantage of fabric samples to view colours and textures in your own home, as lighting can often look very different to that in showrooms or online representations, and bear in mind that the more luxurious fabrics are also likely to increase the sofa price quite considerably. As much as you might love pale colours, for family living a darker or marl shade is likely to prove more stress-free, helping to disguise any mishaps!

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Generally speaking, you're going to want the most spacious settee your room and budget will allow, but it's also important to make sure you measure carefully to ensure your sofa is going to work in your space. Adding this trend-setting piece to your home is easy. There's minimum assembly; it's just a case of fixing the legs into position. If you want a multifunctional sofa that can provide extra sleeping space for hosting guests, then, although it's an investment, this sofa bed achieves the rare mix of being comfortable enough to use as your everyday seating as well as providing overnight guests with a decent night's sleep.

If you prefer the elegance of traditional British sofas, take a look at the Bronwnyn. We’re in love with its graceful

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The modular units don't come cheap, and you're going to need a modern home and quite a bit of space to suit this contemporary design, but we love its boxy shape.It works particularly well in an open-plan layout, where the low-to-the-ground design can be used to zone and anchor a spacious room. Upholstery options are also limited, but all are versatile and on-trend shades. Sofa cushions come in a range of materials and constructions, but the two most commonly found are foam and feathers. The Barbican collection is one of John Lewis & Partners bestselling sofa ranges, and with its on-trend mid-Century-modern meets Scandinavian-cool good looks, it's easy to see why. If you want to get even more comfortable, then this model is also available with an unobtrusive and easy-to-operate footrest so you can really recline in style.