Sometimes it can be a little tricky knowing where to start when it comes to choosing the perfect sofa for your rented home – here are 6 tips that might help!
*This post has been sponsored by Sofa Workshop.
If you’ve ever rented a furnished property, you’ll know that the furniture included, like the sofa perhaps can sometimes be hit and miss in terms of style. It makes sense I suppose. When making purchases, landlords may be thinking of longevity as well as practicality above anything else, which often means the sofa you end up with might not look great, or be the comfiest thing to sit on. In these situations, it’s worth asking them if it’s possible to store the sofa in storage and replace with something that looks a little less tired.
Like I said, it’s worth asking.
There’s always sofa comfy covers if they say no!
And heads up – chances are they could say no, so if you have the choice, try opting for an unfurnished property. Living in an unfurnished property allows for so much more flexibility when it comes to decorating you rental.
You are free to choose vital pieces like a sofa. One that suits your style and that can be used for years to come, no matter how many properties you move to in the future.
But sometimes it can be a little tricky figuring out where to start when it comes to choosing the perfect sofa for you (and your family). Given the level of investment you are about to make, it’s certainly not a purchase to make lightly, or in a rush. You don’t want to end up wasting time and money on a product that just isn’t right for you.
So here are a few tips that might help with the decision making process.
1.Think of it as an investment.
There is this assumption that because you rent you shouldn’t be spending money lavishly and should just be saving instead. I disagree (of course). While I don’t advocate expensive rental renovations that change the physical interior or exterior of a home, I do believe that money should always be spent on the things that you can take with you . So whatever your budget , try to find something is qood quality and that makes you happy.
2. Try it out!
It goes without saying, but you won’t know if a sofa works for you unless you try it out first. Seat depths vary, which is why it’s vital to do a practice run of lounging and sitting before you make up your mind. If you’re buying online, do your research! Read reviews, compere dimensions to real life furniture, and order fabric samples to establish an idea of what your sofa will be like in your rental.
3. Get the sizing right!
There is nothing worse than buying furniture that doesn’t fit your home so before you do anything, measure .. thrice! Get out the tape measure and make sure you’re certain of the maximum sofa dimensions (paying particular attention to the height, depth and width) that will fit, and suit your space. Think about how it will get through the door on delivery day, its proportion in relation to the size of your room, and the various positions it could be placed. If you buy a sofa that is too big, it’ll end up looking cramped and much smaller than it actually is.
Things to consider:
Will it be the main show stopper of the room or will it be surrounded by lots of other supporting furniture items? Will it be placed against a wall (maybe hiding an unattractive wall feature that often comes hand in hand with renting) or will it be floating away from the wall – like mine as seen from pictures.
{RELATED : SEE HOW TO MAKE THIS SOFA TABLE]
It’s not set in stone though of course, playing around with furniture layout is super fun when your designing a space in your home!
4. The shape matters
I would suggest going for a compact sofa with legs if you are renting a small room to give the illusion of more space, and high back options for larger rooms with high ceilings. It also needs to be a sofa that you can easily move around, or dismantled if needed (especially if you are on a 6 month contracts and move often).
Larger corner sofas are great if you are looking to zone parts of your living space for daily activities or you have a big family and regularly entertain large groups of people. However, bear in mind, that your next home may not be able to accommodate the left or right corner attachments of a corner sofa and you may find yourself having to buy a new sofa that does..
5. Be bold with colour and style
When deciding on colours and style, it really depends on what fits your home and personality. Go with your gut instinct, you’ll want something that not only feels great but also complement the rest of the room’s look. And as you most likely will be limited with the things you can do to the walls of your rented home (i.e painting, hanging art), now is the time to be bold, and maximise colour input through furniture pieces like a sofa.
Don’t be afraid to go with an option that sports a unique print for example .You want your sofa to make a statement and stand out against magnolia or beige walls. In saying that though, it also important not to follow trends. You want a sofa that you love , and think you will still love in a 5 + years time. I chose a yellow Eden Sofa for my rented home, because its my favourite colour and I know that is unlikely to ever change! ha
Things to consider:
If your home is very modern and sleek , choose a sofa with clean lines and dramatic colours. If your living space is more an eclectic mix of colours and designs, a sofa that combines several styles would work . If traditional, pick a classically structured sofa in a durable and neutral fabric
And don’t forget, even if you do go for a more neutral toned color and style you can always jazz it up with a few scatter cushions in different sizes, colours and textures.
6 How practical is the material?
You’ll be using your sofa every day for the foreseeable future, so think about your day-to-day use before purchasing. If you have children or pets you might opt for a fabric that’s easy to spot clean, and is harder wearing like leather or darker cotton fabrics. Velvet is stylish and hugely on trend at the minute but requires a little more maintenance than other fabrics – read this post for all my top tips on velvet upkeep! . That being said, I have a child and 2 cats and a velvet sofa and so far so good!
There you have it! These are my top tips for choosing the perfect sofa for your rented home. I hope these tips come in handy when choosing a sofa that will stay stylish and keep you comfy for years to come.
***This post was sponsored by Sofa workshop. This sofa was gifted to me 3 years ago. I only partner with brands I LOVE and think you will LOVE too! All ideas, photos and opinions are 100% my own.
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I tried to access the couch website but it says I’ve been blocked??? Weird. I’m also curious where you got the coffee table and throw pillows.
Strange. The pillows are from La reodute!