Eight Things To Remember When Shopping For A New Couch

Buying a new couch is an endeavor that’s filled with mixed emotions. It’s exciting, daunting, and nerve-wracking all at once. A new couch is a major investment, with many top brands charging thousands of dollars for a quality piece of furniture, and that’s before delivery. Since a couch is a significant and long-lasting investment, it’s essential to take the time to consider all the key factors involved in selecting the perfect one. 

When you shop for a couch, measure the space in the room where you plan to keep it, as well as all entryways leading to the space. Establish a budget to keep your search focused. Always read reviews when buying a couch online, and test couches for comfort, fabric quality, and durability when buying in person. Understand the warranty and any delivery and assembly fees before finalizing your purchase. 

Shopping for a new couch should be a joyous experience, but it’s not something you should do on a whim. Instead, you must take a moment to consider all the variables involved in buying the right couch for your home. Before choosing your next couch, read the comprehensive list of tips below, as well as common mistakes to avoid in the process.

Top Tips To Remember When Shopping For A New Couch

1. Set A Budget Before Shopping

A new couch can cost anywhere from under $200 to more than $2,000, depending on the type of couch, the brand, design, and materials. This is a vast price difference. Instead of diving into your search blindly, without considering price, you should establish a rough budget for this purchase.

Setting a budget helps narrow your search. This also ensures you look only at realistic purchase options. A budget will also help guide you towards brands and companies that suit both your needs and desired price point, and steer you away from unnecessarily expensive couches.

2. Choose The Right Size For The Space

Don’t be lured into buying a plush giant sectional just because it’s comfortable and luxurious. While sectionals work great in large spaces, they can swallow up smaller rooms. 

Instead, choose the right size couch for the room where you intend to keep this piece of furniture. Ideally, you should map out the space and decide the ideal dimensions for your couch before you start shopping. 

3. Establish The Primary Function Of The Couch

Couches can serve many purposes. Some people use a couch to veg out and watch TV. Others like having the option to use a couch as an additional bed. You need to also think about how many people the couch should seat.

Know exactly what you want to use your couch for before you start shopping. This will help prevent you from being lured into buying a beautiful couch that won’t serve your specific needs.

4. Read The Warranty

Many couches, especially more expensive models purchased from a reputable manufacturer, come with a warranty. It’s smart to read this warranty thoroughly before you finalize your purchase. If you invest more than $1,000 on a single piece of furniture, it’s important you know you have a guarantee that this product will function flawlessly, at least for a certain period of time.

5. Understand Your Desired Style And Aesthetic

While function should play a major role in your final decision, you must also think about the aesthetic you are trying to achieve with your new couch. As you shop for a couch, consider the room where it will live.

Buy a couch that will elevate the overall vibe of the room. This means choosing a style, shape, and color scheme that matches what you already have. Pay particular attention to how the couch will match the floors and wall color.

6. Know The Measurements Of Your Entryway 

In addition to knowing your desired couch size, you also need to know if this large piece of furniture will fit into your home. To avoid any frustrating installation issues, take a moment to measure all the entryways your couch will need to fit through.

Also, understand if your couch will come assembled or not. While couch assembly can be a headache, it may allow you to fit a larger model through narrow doorways.

7. Read Reviews Or Test It Out Before Buying

Don’t be fooled by pretty colors and hip designs. When you buy a couch, you want to ensure it is sturdy and stays comfortable for a long time. To avoid purchasing an uncomfortable couch or one that will break quickly, you must read as many user reviews as possible. Reviews posted by verified purchasers are a great tool when shopping for a new couch, and they can be very enlightening. 

8. Consider The Ease And Cost Of Delivery And Assembly 

One last key factor to ponder as you shop around for the perfect couch is the assembly and delivery process. When you purchase a couch, the sticker price may not be the final price. Some companies charge high delivery fees, while others deliver for free.

Assembly is another consideration. While assembling furniture yourself can help it fit through doorways, it can also be an overwhelming pain in the neck. Know the delivery and assembly procedures before you make your purchase.

Six Big Mistakes To Avoid When Shopping For A Couch

1. Choosing Style Over Function

One of the easiest mistakes to make when shopping for a new couch for your home is to choose a beautiful couch rather than a functional one. This is a particularly easy mistake to make when shopping online.

Don’t be fooled by style and sleek designs. Always read reviews, and remember your primary functions for the couch. All too often, stylish couches (especially cheaper ones) lack the comfort and functionality you desire.

2. Buying A Couch Without Measuring

A perfect couch is useless if you can’t fit it through a doorway or in the room where you want it. Always measure your room and the doorways that lead to the room before buying a couch. This can save you money and heartache. It will also ensure you buy the correct-sized couch for the space.

3. Impulse Purchasing

Some impulse purchases, like the kind you make at the grocery store, have no lasting impact. Impulse purchasing a couch, however, can have negative ramifications for a decade or longer

When you make the decision to buy a new couch, never rush the purchase. Instead, remember the tips above, and take your time to buy a couch that checks all the boxes.

4. Choosing A Problematic Fabric

Some upholstery fabric can look deceiving. A couch can look plush and soft, but when you rub your hands on it, it may feel scratchy or cheap. Don’t be fooled by the way fabric looks. Always test it out with your hands to ensure it’s soft and inviting. 

When shopping online, use reviews to confirm the upholstery is durable and comfortable. This will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises.

5. Buying A Couch Without Considering The Space It Will Live In

Always think about the room where your couch will live. If you don’t think about this space, there’s a chance you may select a perfectly comfortable couch that completely clashes with the rest of your room. 

Instead, have an aesthetic, style, and color scheme in mind when shopping for the couch. This ensures the new piece of furniture will add, rather than detract, from the space it inhabits.  

6. Selecting A Couch Based Solely On Photos

One of the easiest mistakes to make when shopping for a couch online is to choose a couch based on the provided stock photos. These photos can be misleading. They can make couches look bigger, sturdier, and more comfortable than they actually are.

Instead, look at photos purchased by verified reviewers, look at the exact dimensions, and read all available product reviews.

Wrapping Up Tips To Remember When Shopping For A Couch

A new couch is a big investment, both financially and literally. This means it’s a purchase you shouldn’t rush into. To ensure you choose the perfect couch for your home, measure the dimensions of your doorways and the room it will inhabit to help decide on the perfect couch size. 

Test out the couch or read as many reviews as possible before making your purchase, and read the fine print of any warranty. Choose a couch that will add, rather than detract, from the space you are adding it to, and go into your search knowing your budget and the function you want the couch to serve.

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