How to choose a suite?

Buying a sofa is one of the biggest furniture investments you'll make - and one of the most permanent. "You've got to love your sofa, because you're going to have a very long relationship with it."

Wurmbrand maintains there's no such thing as a "temporary" sofa. "Expect to have it for at least 10 years," she says, "even if you plan on having it for just two." What happens is that the sofa gets demoted, moving from the living room to the family room to the guest room. Before you know it, a decade has passed. And that impulse buy has become a part of your life.

To make sure your selection will appeal to you over the long haul, consider some of the following questions when buying a sofa:

Style

Make sure you're buying a sofa that complements the style of your décor. If your interior is traditional, look for a sofa with rolled arms, a contoured back, skirting or tufted cushions. Contemporary sofas tend to have cleaner lines, fewer flourishes and understated upholstery.

Scale

Consider the proportions of the room and determine what height, length and depth of sofa would look best in the space. If you're uncertain, mock up a footprint on the floor using masking tape or blue painter's tape. (if that's not enough, consider "building" a sofa out of empty boxes, then living with it for a day to see if the size feels right.) Allow at least three feet of circulation space on each side that traffic must pass.

If you plan on spending a lot of time laying on the sofa, figure out the length you need to do that comfortably, and buy a sofa that has at least that much space between the arms. (Don't choose a sofa based on length alone, because a sofa with wide or rolled arms may have less space between the arms than a shorter piece with straight arms.)

A common furniture shopping mistake is buying a sofa and discovering that it won't fit through the door or round a corner. Make sure you measure all the openings the sofa has to fit through, and check to see whether the legs are removable.

Farewell to arms?

If you're short on space, consider buying an armless sofa - it'll make your room look larger.

Number of Cushions

How many people do you want to seat? it's a fact of life: Nobody likes sitting in the space between the seats. Therefore, if you're buying a sofa with two cushions, it will probably only get used by two people, unless each cushion is very long. A three-cushion sofa is more likely to seat three people, while a sofa with a single cushion will fit as many people as can squeeze onto it.

Standard Back vs. Pillow Back

Sofas generally come with two types of backs: standard, in which the upholstery is tailored to the contours of the sofa's back, and a pillow back, which features removable cushions or pillows along the rear. Pillow-back sofas are generally considered more comfortable and inviting, but there's a downside: Unless you're extraordinary diligent with your fluffing, the cushions will usually look slightly askew. If you're the kind of person who is driven to distraction by something like that, you might want to consider the alternative.

Comfort

When it comes to sofas, one size does not fit all. The depth of the seat and the angle of the back will influence how comfortable you feel. How do you know what depth is right for you? Let experience be your guide. If there's a sofa or chair that you find particularly comfortable, measure the distance from the inside of your knee to the spot where your lower back hits the back of the sofa, then buy a sofa that has similar dimensions.

Fabric

If you've got kids or pets, remember that patterned fabrics will usually hide stains better than plain ones. Before you buy the sofa, ask for a fabric sample or a cutting that you can take home on approval, so you can see the material under the light in your room and with other pieces. If you're scared of colour, consider buying a neutral sofa and embellishing it with colourful cushions.

Avoid letting a fabulous fabric tempt you into buying a sofa that's otherwise not right for you. "Try to imagine the sofa naked." That way, you won't end up with a frame you don't like once the fabric wears out.

Quality

Buy the best quality sofa you can afford. Your purchase will be amortized scross many years. Plus, it's often cheaper to re-upholster a good quality sofa than to buy a new one of comparable quality.

How to Buy a Leather Suite?

Leather prices have tumbled, putting this practical material within reach for more and more people. Our tips cover buying and caring for leather furnishings.

Aniline vs. Pigmented

A surge in supply and new, more efficient manufacturing processes have brought down the cost of leather. This surprisingly practical material now adorns sofas at price points once reserved for vinyl look-alikes.

Leathers are graded by the size, location, and severity of the natural blemishes that are a part of all hides. Nearly perfect, mark-free hides are rare and prized. Most aniline leathers (see below) will have visible markings, such as wrinkles and scars. These leathers will develop a beautiful lustrous patina with age and use.

When shopping, look for top grain leather, which comes from the desirable outer surface of the hide. Leather taken from the inner surfaces is split grain, which is much weaker.

Aniline (or "pure" or "full" aniline) leather is soaked in aniline dye, but does not have other finishes or pigments applied. Only the best hides are used for this superbly soft leather.

Semi-aniline (or "protected" aniline) leathers have a small amount of pigment, giving them slightly better protection against stains and fading.

Pigmented leathers are the least expensive. Although the leather is used for this process is somewhat stiffer than the others, pigmented leathers are also more stain- and scuff-resistant.

Keep in mind that added finishes and surface pigments aren't necessarily bad. In addition to lowering the cost, they also increase the uniformity of the colour and provide superior resistance to fading, scratches, and stains. In other words, perfect for rough-and-tumble family use.

Nubuck vs. Suede

The texture of leather furniture is partly a function of its quality. The highest quality hides are the softest.

Nubuck leathers are lightly brushed or abraded to create a short, plush nap. Nubucks are top-grain leathers so they wear better than their cousins, suede. They are also more resistant to damage.

Suede has the look of nubuck but is less durable.

Sauvage is a two-toned effect that produces a marbled or creased appearance.

Pull-up leathers are full anilines that have been processed to produce a weathered or distressed look.

Embossed leathers are lower-grade hides that have been imprinted with any of a wide range of textures.

Grade will determine how much you pay for leather furniture. A high-grade leather sofa might cost 10 times the price of a lower-quality piece. Still, even the lower grades can look great and wear well. For added peace of mind, you can purchase extended warranties that cover damage and stains.

To protect your investment, keep leather away from heat sources, which will dry the leather out. Excessive sunlight can cause fading.

Vacuum regularly to remove dust, and blot up spills immediately. Regularly use the recommended cleaners or creams to improve the leather's resistance to staining and to keep it soft and supple.