Wirecutter is a product recommendation service from The New York Times. It helps people buy the right items to fit their lifestyle. Wirecutter makes product recommendations solely based on quality evaluation. Its journalists make all editorial decisions—such as which products to test and which products to recommend—completely independent of business considerations.
Joshua Lyon,a writer on Wirecutter focusing on home and decor, recently wrote an article telling us how to shop for a sofa in person. Over the past years, Joshua has visited furniture stores from New York to Montreal to Mexico, testing over 100 couches across various price range.
Joshua understands the value of shopping for a sofa in person, and has much valuable advice for those who want to shop a sofa offline. The advice can be summarized into five main points:
1. Test the Sofa in Person
2. Get the Right Size
3. Check Out Sofa Legs
4. Care About Maintenance
5. Read the Fine Print on Warranties
Test the Sofa in Person
Buying in-store means you’ll have a real person to help if problems come up. These on-site staff want to keep you satisfied—so you’ll shop there again. They act as an advocate who’ll spare you from customer service phone bots or anonymous reps—no more getting stuck in that endless “let me transfer you” cycle.
Get the Right Size
Measure, measure, measure, always measure. Joshua used painter’s tape to map out the exact dimensions of a potential new couch on his floor and left it there for at least several hours to get a realistic sense of how the sofa would work within his space. It is always important to know where you will place the sofa and its required size.
Check Out Sofa Legs
Do you have delicate hardwood floors? Unless you’re planning to place the sofa on a rug, you’ll need to avoid anything with hairpin legs, which can easily scratch your floors.
Care About Maintenance
If you have kids, pets, or are prone to spills, pick a stain-resistant performance fabric or washable removable covers. Down-filled cushions need regular fluffing to keep the sofa looking neat, while firm foam ones are lower-maintenance. Be honest about how willing you are to fluff cushions regularly.
If you want to know how to clean a sofa, please refer to one of our previous articles How to Clean a Sofa
Read the Fine Print on Warranties
Warranties and return policies vary sharply by brand—and even a small, innocent action can void them. It’s well worth reading the fine print before buying higher-priced furniture.
Note: The main points of this article are derived from "The Advice I Swear By for Furniture Shopping," an article by Joshua Lyon, an editor at Wirecutter.
