Smart Shopper Sofas

a new sofa is a big-ticket purchase, so it pays to look beyond aesthetics to what lies beneath: construction, fabric and filling

- Georgia Madden

The sofa is arguably the hardest-working piece of furniture in your home because it can be so many things: a spot to relax, to eat dinner, to accommodate an overnight guest or even a place to work. It can also be one of the most expensive, so you need to know that the sofa you buy is not just good-looking and comfortable but will last the distance.

Buy the best you can afford, says Melissa Bonney, director at Sydney interiors firm The Designory. “With sofas, you get what you pay for,” she says. “If you want a style that will stand the test of time and look great for years, expect to pay more for it.” Shannon Baker, interior designer at Max Sparrow, concurs: “When you consider the cost per use, a slightly more expensive sofa seems good value, given the hard work it does to support and keep you comfortable day after day.”

You’ll find something for everyone among the latest raft of designs, says Tanya Rechberger, lead designer at King Living. “This year, we’re seeing a mix of profiles, with both robust, heavier profiles and slimmer silhouettes trending. We can also expect to see a shift towards a more relaxed, casual aesthetic.” Organic lines are taking over from the sharp, tailored styles of the past couple of years, says Baker: “We’re seeing soft curves in rich tones, such as petrol blue and deep teal, which ooze elegance and sophistication.”