A sofa is the most used and longest-kept piece in a home. Even so, it is often chosen on colour and price alone — while the things that decide how it will look in five years are invisible in the showroom.

1. The frame

The frame is the backbone. A frame built from kiln-dried solid timber holds its shape for years; timber that has not been dried properly moves over time, causing creaks and an uneven seat. Ask what the frame is made of and whether the timber was kiln-dried.

2. Foam density

What matters is not the thickness of the foam but its density. Low-density foam feels comfortable for the first few months, then collapses and never recovers. If you do not sink straight to the base, and the seat springs back quickly when you stand, that is a good sign.

3. Fabric

Choosing a fabric is a decision about how you live, not only how it looks. With children or pets at home, favour tightly woven, stain-resistant fabrics; for gentler use, a more delicate texture such as velvet works well. Always ask about the fabric's abrasion resistance.

4. Stitching and workmanship

Look at how straight and how taut the seams are. Puckering at the corners or loose, wandering stitching tells you something about the rest of the work too. Do not hesitate to open a zip and look inside.

5. Measurements

The most common mistake is choosing a sofa to suit the catalogue rather than the room. Measure your space and mark the sofa's footprint on the floor with tape. Do not forget doorways, corridors and lifts — a sofa that will not fit through the door is a familiar problem.

6. How it will be used

Will it double as a bed? Do you need storage underneath? Should the corner be left- or right-handed? Settle these before you buy; they cannot be changed afterwards.

7. Who made it

It matters who built the piece. A manufacturer working in its own workshop can actually solve a problem when one appears. Get in writing exactly what the warranty covers.

At Sancar Life we make our sofas in our own workshop. Get in touch for sizes, fabrics, colours and our wholesale terms.