How to Choose the Right Sofa Size

The right sofa is about the room as much as the sofa. Before you choose, measure these four things.

Four measurements

• The wall. Leave at least 30 cm free at each end so the sofa does not look squeezed.
• The walkway. Keep about 80 cm between the sofa and the coffee table, and more where people walk through.
• The door. Measure the width of every door and corner on the way in, including the lift.
• The seat depth. Deep seats are made for lounging, shallower ones for sitting upright with guests.

Mark the sofa's size on the floor with tape and leave it for a day. If you keep stepping around it, choose the next size down.