Tope Trends Feb/Mar 2010
How long has it been since you thought about a new sofa? If you are considering buying one in the near future, I would like to give you a few tips that might make shopping for your next one a little easier. There are a gazillion sofas out there to choose from but when you start looking seriously, you feel like your choices have been narrowed down. After all, when you weed out the wrong colors and the ones that won’t fit, suddenly there are only a few that will work. At least it feels that way. Very quickly you become discouraged and want to give up. Well don’t. There really are more to choose from than you think.
When you walk into Tope's Furniture Galleries, consider that most of the sofas you see are available in hundreds of different fabrics. It’s not just more of the same fabric in different colors, but many different patterns as well. I suggest that you go ahead and sit on the ones that aren’t screaming your name as well as the ones that are, because you may be missing out on the most comfortable sofa you have ever been on. If you find that perfect fit, then start searching fabrics. Finding the right fabric may be all this not- so-perfect sofa needs to make it perfect. Our sales staff will be eager to help you choose a suitable fabric for your newly found comfy sofa. (After all, that is our job!) Know too, that if there are exposed wood legs, or feet, the finish color can usually be changed to match your décor. I realize this may take a little imagination on your part to visualize but give it a try, you may be better at it than you think!
Speaking of comfort, it is imperative that you not only sit on a sofa, but that you stretch out on it as well. It’s ok, really. Get comfortable, kick off your shoes! If you nap on your sofa at home, (and don’t we all) then doesn’t it make sense to see if it is comfortable for sleeping? Any of our friendly sales staff will encourage you to do so. You are making an important purchase and you need to be sure that it is a good fit for you.
Now, let’s consider quality. How do you know a well made sofa from a cleverly disguised piece of junk? First and foremost, when you are shopping at Tope's, you are shopping in a reputable store. We have been around for several decades so we are obviously doing something right. We offer service after the sale, but most likely you won’t need it! It’s still nice to know that we are here if you do. We proudly service what we sell. Next, our salespeople are knowledgeable and enthusiastic because we believe in what Tope's has to offer.
Another important thing to know is that some lesser quality sofas can “look” like something you saw in a better brand. My suggestion is that you look very closely. Look for seat cushions that are nice and thick. The fabric should be on both sides of the cushions so that you can flip them regularly. Fabric patterns should match up from the back to the seat cushions and down the front to the floor. Fabrics should be considered for their clean-ability and durability. Some fabrics can be cleaned with water and detergents without leaving a water ring behind. Some will need a solvent which you will have to purchase through your local drycleaner or in the cleaning section at your grocery store. Some can be cleaned with dry, powder type cleaners. A sofa should have some “heft” to it. If you can pick up the end of a sofa by yourself, (with one hand tied behind your back) that is NOT a good sign! Ask about the frame. Is it solid hardwood? That is best. What is the spring system? Coil springs that are hand tied are ideal. Some sinuous (S-shaped, like in your car seats) are good, and usually very comfortable. Some companies have their own spring systems that are totally unique to their brand. We will be happy to explain how they work.
You also need to consider the role this sofa will play in your home. Is it going to be in the room that you use every day? Will there be children or pets on this sofa? Do you eat and drink on this sofa? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then you need to consider the most durable sofa that you can buy, likewise if this is the sofa that will have to last for fifteen years! On the other hand, if you plan to put this sofa in a room where no one ever sits (you know, the room that may as well have a velvet rope in the doorway!) then consider a less expensive sofa with a great look. This is the room that you could use a higher grade of fabric to get a very high end look. A note about fabric grades: a higher grade does not refer to higher quality and vice versa. The grade of the fabric from low to high generally refers to price, not quality.
I have, all too often, seen the look of excitement in a client’s eyes turn into a look of despair when they become overwhelmed by their choices. It can be as if they have been dropped in a foreign country where they don’t know a soul and they also don’t speak the language. Hopefully this information will make you feel more comfortable on your journey to find that perfect new sofa. Let Tope's help you with that!
