How to Choose Your Sofa or Accent Chair

Your sofa or accent chair are one of the largest, and often the most expensive pieces of furniture you’ll ever buy, so they're important pieces to get right. So before you dive into buying a new sofa or armchair, follow our tips on how to choose the ideal piece to ensure it’s right for your space. This sofa and accent chair buying guide will also offer tips on how to style it too to ensure your chosen piece takes pride of place in your living space.

The Faroe Boucle Occasional Chair, a large rounded organic shaped chair in soft cream boucle next to a floor lamp.

Choose Comfort

You may get seduced by some of the latest trendy couches as there are so many sofa styles to choose from, but your living room is for relaxing first so combining comfort with style is paramount. Take some time to consider the different types of sofa and what you need from it, it’s an investment piece that needs to fit in with your lifestyle. Do you want something super snuggly to hunker down with a vino and your latest box set or something a little more supportive and formal?

The Phoenix Velvet Armchair, a modern armchair in burnt sienna velvet with angular armrests and a slightly reclined shape.

Materiality

What sort of fabric is best for you, a sumptuous velvet or maybe a modern boucle. If you're prone to a spillage or have a young family then something more hardwearing like a modern leather sofa or a wool sofa would be a fitting choice.

Size Matters

As tempting as it is to buy the biggest sectional sofa to fill up your living space, it can drain the energy out of the room. If you’ve got a lot of space to fill, look at pairing your sofa with an accent chair or two and creating a conversational seating zone. On the other hand if you have a small room then sofas without arms will give the illusion of more space.

The Samara Boucle Curved Sofa, a curved two-seater sofa in cream boucle next to a studded brass coffee table.

Clever Contrasts

When creating your seating zone consider the size,shape and colour of your sofa in contrast to your accent chairs and your room decor. They don’t need to match in size or colour but should complement to make the room flow.

The Dulwich Armchair, a boxy patterned armchair upholstered in an abstract fabric next to a tall plant.

Shop Seating At Abigail Ahern

Give yourself a cosy place to sink into with our collection of swoon-worthy seating for every room in the home. Make a statement in your living room and with sofas, accent chairs and unique armchairs. Available in a variety of fabrics and materials, from sumptuous velvet, patterned cottons and boucle chairs to rustic wooden benches and stools.

Shop The Collection

Sofa & Armchair Measuring Guide

Avoid any delivery day disasters by making sure your sofa will fit in your home. As well as making sure your dream couch fits in the room, measure all hallways and doorways that your sofa will have to fit through on the journey to its destination.


View The Guide

How To Style Your Sofa or Accent Chair

Perfect Pairings

Ramp up the style of your sofa or accent chair and change them to reflect the seasons by accessorising with soft furnishings or pairing them with some style savvy sidekicks. Here are some sofa and accent chair styling ideas, our top 4 style saviours to ensure your seating zone entices you to hunker down.

Detail of the texture on a rectangular cushion with a terracotta and cream cover with a simple brick design.

Cushions

Cushions are good value for money and they can add colour, depth, pattern and comfort to any couch. Variety is the key so mix up the sizes too. If you haven’t got a lot of pattern in your room decor, cushions are the perfect opportunity to introduce some, the same with colour if your sofa is a neutral hue, then select textiles that really pop out and draw your eye in.

Shop Cushions
The Baxley Chunky Knit Throw, a cream coloured chunky knit throw draped over an armchair.

Throws & Blankets

Adding a comforting layer for the cooler weather or protecting your sofa from the daily grime, throws can be the ideal practical choice as well as adding a huge dollop of colour or pattern to your sofa. If you don’t need to have them permanently draped, then ensure you have a well stocked basket nearby so they’re easily grabbable. 

Shop Throws and Blankets
The Stamford Side Table, a simple modern table with a round monochrome marble top, with a warmly lit lamp and accessories.

Side Tables

Small tables are the essential sidekick that every sofa or accent chair needs. Providing a landing spot for your afternoon cuppa or evening tipple, a touch of glow with a table lamp, decorative accents like houseplants and sculptures and maybe even a handy vessel for your remote.

Shop Side Tables
The Pada Pouffe, a round pouffe in two natural hues and a woven finish, next to a cream coloured curved armchair.

Floor Cushions and Pouffes

Taking the comfort level even higher, partner up your sofa or accent chair with somewhere to pop your feet. A large floor cushion or pouffe is also another opportunity to up the texture levels or add in contrasting colour to your room’s decor styling. 

Shop Floor Cushions & Pouffes