In my previous post,  I put together a list of questions to help in the decision-making of buying a sofa online.  My answers to these questions lead me to purchase an English roll-arm sofa. In case you are not familiar with the English roll arm, it looks like the one below.  It is classic, relaxed, and comfortable,  with deep seating and low rolled arms, it is the perfect addition to any living or family room.  Here are several reasons why I am in love with this divine beauty......



First, it has a classic form that will never go out of style. Second, I find the shape to be very versatile; a lot of different styles of furniture pieces will work well with the English roll arm. Third, the comfort factor!  The sofa slopes back slightly so you can easily sink into it and never want to get up; therefore I dub this the perfect napping sofa. The depth of an English roll arm ranges from 40 inches to 46 inches depending on the style. Forth, The petite rolled arms and tight backrest are chic characteristics that I love so much!  The tight backrest means no more fluffing the back cushions and that's a win for me!  Last but not least it has legs!  Legs on furniture can lighten up a room and make it breathe a bit. Depending on your style you can get turned legs, casters, or straight legs. 



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Here are the questions you should ask yourself when buying a sofa online.  Next to each question is my answer.


1.  What is your budget?  Under $1000.00

2.  Will it fit through the doorway for delivery?  Yes

3.  What size sofa/how will it be used?  A long and deep sofa.  Plenty of space for 3-4 people to sit or lounge while watching television, and long enough to stretch out for a nap.

4.  What kind of fabric?  Durable woven fabric

5.  What color do you want?  A light color: taupe, beige, or light gray

6.  What style of sofa do you want?  Traditional

7.  Did you measure the space where the sofa will be placed and will the dimensions of the sofa fit in the space?  Yes

After answering these questions it was time to pull my options together with inspirational photos.
Finding Inspiration is fun; this is where you can let your imagination run wild!  Magazines, Pinterest, and Houzz are great sources for finding inspiration.  Clip your favorite pictures of sofas from magazines and put them in a binder.  When you are ready to shop you can use those pictures as a reference. Or if you have a Pinterest account set up a SOFA board and pin your favorites. Search for rooms on Houzz and save them to your idea book.  All of these options will help you determine your style.  As I began to look for ideas it was apparent that the roll arm was for me!  Narrowing it down to my favorite style was challenging because there are so many sofa styles out there.  Even the English roll arm has its own variations of style as you can see from the inspiration photos below.  My ideal sofa should have a tight backrest, three seat cushions, casters, a long seat bench minimum of 90", extra deep seating, and a choice of fabric and color.  Whew, that's a huge request.  At first, I thought my ideal sofa was unattainable in my price range until I researched online and found some great options.

Please note that due to the nature of online shopping prices may change and items may go out of stock or be discontinued. 

One of the updates I made to our living room last year was the purchase of a new sofa!  Exciting right?  The large sectional that we had for 10 years was worn out and just wasn't working for our newly empty nest. This was my first time buying a sofa online so I was a bit apprehensive about the whole process.  Now you would think buying a sofa online would be easy to do; just order your favorite one, get it delivered and you're done... easy peasy right?  Well not so... especially when you buy online!.  I mean you can't sit on it, touch it or visualize how it would look in your space.  Today I want to delve into the specifics of what you need to know when buying a sofa online.


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First, take the time to get a clear idea of how you want your room to look and function.  My goal was to lighten and brighten my living room with white paint and a new sofa.  The room had to function as a family room as well as a living room for entertaining.  After you establish the look and function of your room consider everything you want in a sofa by answering the following questions. Your answers to the questions should help you decide on what sofa to buy.

1.  What is your budget?

2.  Will it fit through doors and stairways for delivery?

3.  What size sofa do you want and how will it be used?

4.  What kind of fabric?

5.  What color do you want?

6.  What sofa style do you like?

7.  Did you measure the space where the sofa will be placed and will the dimensions of the sofa fit in the space?



Measure

Make sure your sofa will fit through your front door!  You'd be amazed how often people don't think this through and end up being disappointed on delivery day!  Check access carefully by measuring door frames and stairways.  When in doubt contact customer service they should be able to help answer your questions.  They helped me by advising me what sofas come with removable feet.

A good way to find out if your sofa will fit in the designated space in your room is to use masking tape.  Tape out the dimensions of the sofa on the floor where you want the sofa to go. This will help you visualize the sofa in your space.

Order fabric samples

Choosing the right fabric is essential!  It is important to see and feel the fabric in person because fabric online looks very different!  Order as many samples as you can and view them in your room in natural and artificial light. Most sofa companies will send you free samples. Make sure to take your time choosing the right fabric for your needs.  Some sofa companies have a fabric specialist that you can speak to about your fabric choices.

Construction

Never buy online without knowing how the sofa is constructed.  Read the specifications about the materials used to make the frame and cushions.  Kiln-dried hardwood is the most reliable choice for durable sofa frames and feet.

Read the reviews from other buyers

 This is where other customers get real about their experience with the product.  Read as many reviews as you can!  You'll start to notice a theme regarding certain details about the sofa that will help you weigh in your decision.  This was very helpful for me!

Read the return policy 

Protect your investment by checking the return policy ahead of time!  Here are a few things to look for:  Do they accept returns at all?  Is there a time limit for returns?  Are there any fees for returning an item?

Before you shop it is a good idea to gather inspiration.  My favorite places to go are other blogs, magazines, and Pinterest.

At this point, you should have a good idea of what to look for and how to shop for that perfect sofa.  In case you're wondering what style sofa I purchased it is an English roll arm sofa from Wayfair.  Number 1 in the list below.  In an upcoming post, I'll talk about why I love the English roll arm so much!     

Getting the best quality sofa that fits your budget should be a priority.  The cost of sofas varies widely, a low-mid priced sofa should last about 10 years, while a higher priced sofa should last 25 years or more.  Below are a few choices with the links for you to look at:

Sometimes a change will do ya good!  When there's no time for a big renovation or it's just not in the budget how can we update our homes?  The answer is with cosmetic changes.  Here's how...

How to update your home without renovating

Dress Up The Walls

Frame and hang photographs in groups to tell a story.  Add punch to your wall with removable wallpaper.  There are a lot of new trendy patterns and beautiful graphics that can transform your room and give it a designer look.  If you have DIY skills install SHIPLAP or wood strips.  We installed shiplap above our FIREPLACE in one day and the wood strips in our entryway only took about a half-hour to install.

Try A New Layout

Rearranging your furniture can make your room feel like a brand new space. No renovation is needed!  Shake things up a bit and change your furniture layout by reconsidering your existing furniture choices.  Are they in the right place?  Are they in scale to the space?  Try moving pieces around or edit what doesn't fit. You'd be surprised how doing this will make your room more functional and feel more open.  Our SECTIONAL was over ten years old and wasn't working for our downsized family.  We replaced it with an OVERSIZE SOFA that has plenty of room for seating but takes up less space in the room.



Update Window Treatments

The biggest priority when choosing window treatments should be whether you need privacy or light or both.  You can go with blinds, shades, sheers, or curtains.  Choose the thickness of your fabric depending on how much light or privacy you want in the room.  In my living room, I chose woven roller shades that let in light and curtains for privacy.  In the GUEST BEDROOM, I opted for extra thick curtains without blinds or shades

A chocolate cake made from scratch might seem intimidating, but it is quite simple to master.  This is an incredibly decadent cake with an intense chocolate flavor.  It is easy to make using one bowl and will quickly become your go-to chocolate cake recipe.  The name rustic came from the crusty biscuit like top on this chocolate & orange cake.

If you want a designer look without paying the high price of designer wallpaper, shop for discount fabric.  Amazon has a wonderful selection of fabric to choose from.  This black and white stripe fabric only cost me $4.00.
     

Snacking can be an excellent way to keep you satisfied between meals as long as you snack smart. Crispy black-eyed peas with sea salt are a healthy snack alternative with a boost of fiber and a great source of vitamins and minerals.  A half-cup of black-eyed peas contains 70 calories.  This recipe made with simple ingredients is flavorful, crispy, and nutritious.  I made this irresistible snack in about 30 minutes with sea salt, Old Bay, and olive oil.  Make this recipe in advance for a healthy grab-and-go snack, pop them in your mouth by the handful, or sprinkle them on top of a salad.

Well, here we are friends, in a new year!  With the flip of the calendar comes a new set of interior design trends. There's something about a new year that makes the idea of a fresh look for my home so appealing. While I do not believe in following trends from year to year or change my style to what seems to be "in" I do like to use trends in my home that work with my style.  If you're ready to start a new project in your home and are curious about what's trending consider the following interior design trends for 2018.