A pair of sofas creates symmetry in a room. (Photo courtesy of Cheryll Gillespie)

Every great room revolves around one pivotal piece, in the living room, great room and or family room that piece is most likely, the sofa.

Not only is the sofa where people spend most of their time when in the room, but it also sets the tone for the room. The sofa literally dictates how comfortable the room feels and looks. It also set the style tone.

In the design world, a sofa must be as functional and comfortable as it pleasing to look at. So, are you with me sofa? Okay bad designer joke but then again we are not renowned for our sense of humor.

Giggles aside, buying a new sofa or sofas is serious business. I didn’t say sofas by mistake - in most rooms you will be buying a matching pair, whether that combination is two three seaters or two love seats.

Many of you think that you need to employ a sofa and loveseat but designers seldom choose this combination instead opting for a symmetrical and balanced pairing of a matched set, either two sofas or two love seats - trust me on this one.

First step toward that sofa purchase is to find one that you will enjoy looking at each and every day. Give every sofa a 360 degree viewing, as the back of the sofa in today’s settings is often exposed to viewing and therefore needs to be visually appealing and well constructed.

Ask yourself, is the room the right size for this particular sofa? Not too big, not too small but just the right scale for the space it will inhabit? Next, consider the upholstery fabric or leather covering. How durable is the fabric and is it appropriate for your family? Leather is the most durable and easiest to maintain, remember we need to be realistic and practical here - dogs, kids and everyday life can be hard on the furniture so make life easier by buying a sofa that will withstand and endure all that you need it to.

Next step is not actually a step, it’s a sit! You need to give each seat on the sofa the sit test. How comfortable is it? How many people do you need to fit on the sofa? Remember nobody wants to sit on the crack!

If you often curl up with your significant other and enjoy a movie, give the sofa the lie down test, is there room to lie side by side? Look for cushions made from cotton or polyester fiber, foam or down, the denser the foam, the heavier it is and the longer it will last. Good quality foam will have a density rating of 1.8 to 2.5.

While we are on the topic of the inside of the sofa, ask the sales person about the springs. Generally , the number of springs and the way they are reinforced will dictate the piece’s quality and cost.

Make sure the back of the sofa has springs in it, too. The frame of the sofa should be constructed from kiln-dried hardwoods such as oak, alder, birch or maple. The kiln-drying process keeps the wood from cracking or warping when the humidity changes. High-quality hardwood plywood or marine plywood is a durable frame substitute.

You’ll most likely live with your sofa for the next ten years, that’s longer than most marriages last! You get my point - ten years is a long time, so choose wisely and enjoy the process.