How to Select A Customisable Sofa

I wrote this article for Lounge Lovers to illustrate and clarify what 'customisable furniture' means and what it entails to have a custom made sofa made to your specifications.

As an interior decorator, the first thing that comes to my mind is to think 'outside the box' and work with a space to ensure the perfect 'fit' in every sense of the word.

You see, the idea of a designated living room with a sprawling space can be spatially challenging to furnish – leaving you pondering how to fill it with a sofa in the right proportions, whilst keeping the result intimate. This can be difficult to pull off, but I am naturally drawn away from the ‘standard approach’ and look to custom made.

As a good starting point, when working with a client to tweak and re-imagine a room with a new sofa, I ask what the vision is and how it will fit in with their needs, while I suggest choices that deliver with minimal effort. I look beyond and think ‘outside the box’, steering away from the adage ‘one-size fits all’.  

I guess it’s not surprising that custom made furniture springs to mind, as it essentially takes the design challenge away. Customisable furniture can fundamentally tie everything in together too, offering a quick fix for a tricky layout. To further boost this, a well-designed custom-made sofa personifies the family who occupy it, as well as elevating the existing interior for a distinct feel.

SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS A CUSTOMISABLE SOFA

Customisable furniture (or made to order furniture often referred to as MTO) will pretty much ensure flexibility, as you have the choice of selecting specifications as well as colour, finish, and design.  

If a layout calls for a custom-made sofa, I branch out to distributors who offer customisation. That said, I usually lean towards Australian owned furniture distributors for sofas that can be modified and specifically designed for varying needs, for example the width, fabric and colour can be changed.

I like the advantages of custom-made, as it can be the difference between a sofa specially designed to fit a functional and well-thought-out floor plan, rather than a sofa trying to make it work in the wrong space.

Setting all that apart, it is important to remember that the lead time for custom-made furniture can vary with standard ranges and therefore can take longer. This will need to be taken into consideration if you need it sooner rather than later. Aside from this – I like to think ‘good things come for those who wait’ and I never like to rush sensible interior design, as this can jeopardise achieving the desired result for a space, along with all the right elements. 

A CLEVER COMBINATION OF STYLE, WIDTH, FABRIC AND COLOUR IS IMPORTANT 

I believe our surroundings play an important role in self-care and is the secret to a happy home, and we all value the importance of our own private oasis, right? This is why putting together a clever combination when purchasing a sofa can make or break your relaxation experience.

I often look to modular sofas because they are so interchangeable and are a unique way to create the right dynamic, whilst adapting to the lifestyle of a growing family for example. A modular sofa also allows you to ‘add on’ as your needs change, as it isn’t locked into any one position.  

WHY SIZE DOES MATTER

It is necessary to take a floor plan into careful consideration when selecting a new sofa. For example, if the room is oversized, consider pulling furniture away from the walls to the centre of the room. This will delineate the areas into smaller ones, adding interest whilst creating a stylish vibe.

Creating functionality and harmony is key for good sense of flow, and if on the other hand a living room is on the small side, then a sofa designed for a tiny space can be a practical solution. For a little deviation from the lack of room, consider an appropriately sized sofa without arms and select the smallest width as practically possible, to avoid over crowding.

SELECTING FABRIC

The layout of a space will determine how you position a sofa and if you want to make it a focal point (the ‘hero’ piece so to speak) then the colour and style is what will make the ‘statement’.  Despite this, the fabric selection is the number one player in the life of a sofa.

We know a 100% white linen sofa is a desirable and organic option, and of course great for the planet, but it may not necessarily be the smartest choice within the dynamics of a family with young children, but all is not lost, as a poly blend is practical and resistant to stains and still 'sustainable’ enough because it lasts longer and lends itself to up-cycling at the end of its journey, rather than ending up in landfill. Polyester-based textiles are favoured choices for busy families, given chaos and tiny mishaps are all part of life, without compromising on style.

With winter upon us shortly, we will be spending more time at home and regular ‘movie nights in’ will be on the cards. It is safe to say our lounges will get a fair workout. But with comfort and style, must come a durable fabric that shines through. In my view this is pivotal, especially if we have little ones (think impromptu sleepovers).

I usually take our four-legged members into account as well, as they are a big part of a family’s makeup and impact our overall wellbeing with their unconditional love  – but whether we like it or not, sometimes our furry friends like to make themselves feel comfortable in places we wish they wouldn’t, and when given half the chance they seem to prefer the family sofa over their own bed!

WHY REMOVABLE COVERS ARE SO WORTH IT  

As a trusted expert in the field of interiors, let me say this, our pets and children play a crucial role in the life of our furniture, and if we are not selective about where we want our children to play, and our pets to relax, then the most durable fabric (like 100% polyester)is the only way to go. However, getting back to basics and keeping things simple and practical can be testing at times!  In addition, and all things considered, removable cover options for a sofa can also be the game changer in this scenario (for the temporality side of it) and may well be the answer to a household with young children. 

You see, removable covers (apart from giving you peace of mind) can save you when you own an indoor dog or cat, as pet hair, paws, and nails can damage fibres in textiles easily and unless we are vacuuming our sofas daily, or spot cleaning soils and stains immediately, signs of wear and tear will be inevitable. Having said this, small children are likely the biggest culprits (bless their little hearts) and often at fault of careless spills and deterioration of fabric generally. Therefore, I like to see a functional space being adaptive, I love the Cloud 4 Seat Sofa for its fully customisable options and removable covers, and if you want a colour that does a good job at hiding scuffs and marks, as well as being aesthetically pleasing; jot down ‘Austin coffee’ as a custom colour tip.

SUSTAINABLE OPTIONS ARE IMPORTANT FACTORS

With sustainability becoming a big environmental factor, we want only good things for our planet and sourcing from manufacturers and distributors with ethical standards, displays awareness and aids in the contribution of a better planet.

At the end of the day, we all like to perceive an eco-friendly approach and apply this as often as we practically can.

My natural choice for the brave at heart, but with family-friendly covers is the Bronte.

CHOOSING COLOUR AND SCOPE FOR A DEFINING FEATURE

With our natural environment and relaxed Australian way of life, colour can pay homage in expressing our diverse landscape and climate.

Our interiors should be cohesive with our outdoor areas, as much as with our adjoining rooms – and in the scope of finding the right sofa piece, the colour is another approach we need to consider when personalising a space.

Adopting colour ways pulled in from the outdoors and nature keeps everything consistent and balanced, once more, we need to remain practical here and selecting a hue that is forgiving with young children is a must!

And since the colour green is associated with nature, I have to say I am currently infatuated with a calming and relaxing hue of green.

Granted, to create the right colour environment, a green sofa may not be for everyone, however scatter cushions with removable covers allow you to introduce colour for textural changes, that highlight along with the changing seasons, this allows you to ‘mix things up’.

Even though there are no rules – soft textures and patterns are equally important factors.

There really is nothing like embracing splashes of colour and texture in soft furnishings, and a vibrant rug with geometric cushions, ensures elemental appeal and is a great way to set the tone.

Designed for small spaces, the Frankie Chaise (below) comes with a reversible chaise, and you may also choose the configuration.

CONCLUSION

A home should reflect a lifestyle, and personalising a living area with an encompassing sofa that fits in every shape and form, is the perfect finish and reminiscent of the ‘perfect’ night in as we nestle down with the people we care about the most.

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Image credit:

Lounge Lovers

Willow Home & Living (cushions)

Hali Rugs

Miss Amara

LuxDeco

Montauk Lighting

Lighting Collective

Walter G Cushions (cushions)

Designer Boys Art

Fenton and Fenton (green vase)

The Memo (toy truck)

Adairs (chocolate cushion)

Evoke Interior Decorating (curated concept boards)

Written by Marina Mura for

https://www.loungelovers.com.au/terms-conditions

Lounge Lovers is an Australian furniture retailer specialising in design-led, quality furniture at accessible prices. Inspired by the latest design trends.

Lounge Lovers aims to provide its customers with “great-looking furniture at exceptional value”, says Founder, Derek Kerr.

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