Buying a new sofa is a major investment, and when you’re spending a lot of money on a single purchase, you want to get it right. Ideally, you will want to choose a sofa that is comfortable, suits your personal style, and will last as many years as possible. If you have small children, you may be looking for something child-friendly and easy to clean; if you have a big living area to fill you may opt for some matching armchairs or sofa seats that recline. Whatever you’re looking for in a sofa, the perfect one is out there waiting for you.
If your sofa is looking a little shabby or worn out and you think it might be time to invest in a new one, follow our top tips to get the best sofa for you, your family and your budget.
Measure it out
Before you go sofa shopping, make a decision on where in the room your sofa will go and use a tape measure to take all of the necessary measurements. You should also measure the width and height of the door frames to ensure you can get your sofa into the room with no problems.
Try before you buy
We all love the convenience of online shopping, but when it comes to your new sofa, testing them out in-store is recommended. You can’t really get a feel for your sofa or test how comfortable it is unless you try it out in person, and it would be disappointing, as well as time-consuming, if you had to return it.
Consider your current decor or theme
If you have a particular style or colour scheme for your living room, find a sofa to match. Play around with different fabrics and colours to see what would look good with the style you like. For example, a sleek leather sofa may suit a modern room, while a wooden framed sofa with colourful cushions and throws may fit a more rustic vibe.
Test the quality
Finding out details such as the material of the frame and the filling of the cushions will give you a good idea about the quality of the sofa. You will probably want something that is durable and hard-wearing, so you don’t have to replace it too soon. Shop around and do your research before you make any solid decisions.
Paying for your new sofa
Buying a brand-new sofa can be a big expense, especially when you want something high quality and long-lasting. It’s not always within our means to pay the whole cost upfront. However, many furniture retailers will have different payment options to make it more affordable for customers to buy the sofa they want. Look into the specific payment options your retailer offers before you get your heart set on any furniture, as terms of payment will vary.
Finance
Because a new sofa can be expensive, many stores will offer a payment scheme on finance. Essentially, this means you are borrowing money. Instead of paying outright for your new sofa, you will be billed a certain amount each month until the cost has been covered. The time period for repayments is agreed upon before you buy, and can be anywhere from six months to a few years. However, some retailers will charge interest for this, making it more expensive overall than if you had paid outright. This is why checking the terms and conditions is important as you only want to agree to fees you can comfortably afford.
Interest-free credit
Another option that may be available to you is the same process of paying on finance but without the interest charges. An interest-free payment plan means you can spread the cost of the item over several months or years, without dealing with any extra charges. Usually there will be a time frame of a couple of years for interest-free finance before fees start and, in some cases, there will be a fee if you want to pay the debt off early.
Buy now, pay later
If the store you are buying from offers a ‘buy now, pay later’ scheme, this means you won’t have to pay anything towards the item for a certain amount of time. This is usually around 6-12 months, although it does vary between retailers. This gives you the flexibility to decide how and when you pay. You may choose to pay in regular instalments throughout the time period, or in one lump sum when it is within your means.
Check the terms carefully
With any of these payment options, always be responsible. You should only agree to a payment plan if you are certain you will be able to afford the sofa and pay for it under the agreed terms. Take your time to make sure you understand all the fees and charges.
Morses Club cash loans
At Morses Club, we provide cash loans to cover any unexpected expenses. We will run credit checks and meet with you face to face before we decide whether you are eligible for a loan. As responsible lenders, we only lend to customers who can afford to pay back what they borrow. To find out more about our cash loans, visit our how it works page.
