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6 things to consider when selecting the perfect Chesterfield Sofa

6 things to consider when selecting the perfect Chesterfield Sofa

, by Ruth Wilbur, 5 min reading time

Whatever the style of your home a Chesterfield sofa is guaranteed to look stunning. The low maintenance style and effortless ease of these sofas make them a practical choice as well as beautiful. But before you dive into finding your dream seat, time spent considering the benefits of different types of seat is well rewarded, ensuring your chosen Chesterfield is the seat-to-beat.

1. Consider your space

Our Chesterfield sofas range in size so it’s important to spend a little time thinking about the proportions of your room and what size is most suitable for your space. Some of our ranges - the Banbury and Dalmore for example - are suited for smaller spots such as a snug or cosy living room. The Banbury with it's practical Harris Tweed and Leather dress options is the ideal choice for kitchen diners too. 

By contrast our Liberty collection is sizable and sits well in a larger room - it’s a real showstopper of a sofa and can be used to balance high ceilings and large proportions as it won’t feel ‘lost’. Similarly you’ll find the same with our Kensington Collection

Whatever size of room, it’s always a good idea to leave a little breathing room around your sofa to make the most of the design. The Chesterfield rolled arms suit a little space to appreciate their design detail and ensure that your room feels balanced. 

Another tip we share is to mix and match your sofa with accent chairs of an alternative style, this way you can save on space but also add interest to a room adding height and contrasting styles. Our Austin Egg chair offers a complete contrast, whilst our DuffelPemberlay and Selfridges collection are more traditional choices with their buttoned backs, and there's also our ever popular Chessington Wingback.

You can seamlessly blend two different sofa collections together using coordinating fabric or embrace an eclectic style by mixing and matching different finishes. 

2. Are you especially tall or on the petite side?

Here the height of the sofa and the depth of seat plays a part. The taller amongst us may prefer a slightly higher seat such as the Chessington range, which has fractionally longer legs. It also depends on whether you prefer to sit on sofas or find you kick back and fully recline when tempted to take the weight off. Thinking how you will use your seat will help to narrow down your choices. Our Oskar collection is exceptionally deep, lending itself to fully fledged relaxation, as you can nestle back and stretch your legs out. The Eaton with its higher back makes the perfect spot for reading. Those that are more petite might appreciate the smaller scale of the Jacaranda or Bowmore as you’ll be supported by the contours of the sofa, aiding your posture.

3. What’s your style?

It might be an obvious point but not all Chesterfields look the same so determining taste narrow things down. The Oskar is the classic Chesterfield  - low, deep and with a buttoned back and base. At the other end of the spectrum is the Jacaranda - shapely and petite with a curved back and smooth seat and back. It has a simpler silhouette. In between these collections sit a myriad of possibilities in terms of shapes and finishes. Taking time to browse our sofa collections and following us on socials can help you figure out what you like and what you love. 

4. How about the upholstery?

Aniline leather is wonderfully hardwearing and has a natural patina that develops over time. This finish will become softer the more you sit but is still nicely robust for all that a life well lived requires.  Perhaps though you love the warmth and softness of Harris Tweed or vibrancy of velvet. Luckily many of our Chesterfield collections are available in different finishes so you can choose what suits you. 

5. Soft or Supportive? Or something in-between?...

Generally buttoning is a good indicator of how firm or soft a seat will feel. Buttoning adds tension to the upholstery for a firmer finish, you’ll end up with something that has more of a ‘bounce’ rather than ‘squish’. 

If it’s squish you’re after then opt for a cushion-based model. Our Bertie, Constable and Elgar all offer different levels of cushiony comfort. For something in between the two - we suggest a smooth fixed base such as the Arbroath

6. When in doubt ask

Our final tip is to get in touch - our team are sofa experts and are on hand to answer your questions - they know their stuff and can advise you on the pros and cons of the different collections we stock. One of the many benefits of buying a British made sofa is that many of our makers can often customise your sofa to suit you - our team can tell you more. You can also ask for fabric samples to be sent free of charge (up to 6) for a first-hand fabric experience. 

And of course the best thing to do is to come and try them for yourself by taking the “sit test” for a sure fire way to find out exactly what you like. You’ll be welcomed to our showroom with a cuppa and cake, and left in peace to ‘sit’ to your heart's content.

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