9 Sofa Buying Mistakes to Avoid Before You Order

A sofa has to fit the room, reach the room, and suit the way you sit. A useful buying check covers all three before you choose a color or place an order. These nine common mistakes each have a practical check you can do at home.

1. Measuring only the wall

A sofa's width is only one part of its footprint. Depth affects the space between the sofa and the coffee table, and a chaise projects farther into the room.

Mark the full outline on the floor with painter's tape. Walk past it, open nearby doors, and check the other seats. Record overall dimensions and usable seat dimensions separately. Our sofa collection includes different depths and configurations to compare.

2. Forgetting the delivery route

Measure the clear openings along the complete route: entrance, interior doors, hallways, stair turns, and elevator. Check the largest package and the conditions for removing legs or other parts.

A modular sofa can arrive in separate components, each with its own dimensions. Compare those dimensions with the route and turning space. If a turn is difficult to assess, contact us with photographs and measurements before ordering.

3. Choosing a seat depth without checking how you sit

Measure a seat you already find comfortable. Record the seat height, usable depth, and back position. Consider whether you normally sit upright with feet on the floor, curl up, or stretch out.

Cushion softness and your sitting position change how those dimensions feel. If you can try a sofa, sit in your usual position and stand up again. Our seat height and depth guide explains the measurements to compare.

4. Choosing upholstery without checking care

Get a sample of the cover you are considering. Look at it in your room, feel its texture, and check how its color works with the floor and other furniture.

For children, pets, or frequent meals on the sofa, read the cleaning instructions and the details of any stain-resistant treatment. Smoothness, weave, and the type of likely mess all matter. A removable cover should be cleaned by the method specified for that cover; a zipper alone does not tell you whether it is machine washable. Our fabric sofa care guide helps separate routine dust removal from stain treatment. BISSELL's upholstery tag check before wet cleaning likewise makes the care code the starting point for using a cleaning machine.

5. Judging construction by one material label

Look for the frame construction, seat support, cushion filling, and care requirements. A sofa can combine solid wood and engineered wood in different parts of its frame.

Foam density and firmness are different measurements: density is mass per volume, and firmness describes resistance to compression. Ask about the actual cushion build and feel. Feather or fiber-filled cushions may need regular fluffing; include that routine in your choice. Our Keaton sofa with feather-and-fiber cushions is one example where regular cushion fluffing belongs in the care routine.

6. Ordering the wrong sectional direction

Draw the configuration on your room plan. When a listing uses left-arm-facing or right-arm-facing, the viewpoint is generally from the front, facing the sofa: the named arm is on your left or right. Confirm the pictured layout and selected option before ordering.

Check how components connect and which combinations are supported. Our modular sofas offer different arrangements, so compare the specific configuration with your floor outline.

7. Forgetting the space a recliner needs

Mark the sofa in its fully open position as well as its closed position. Include the footrest, moving back, required wall clearance, nearby curtains, and a reachable power outlet.

A wall-hugging or zero-wall name still needs to be read with the model's clearance instructions. Check the movement diagram and keep cables clear of moving parts.

8. Comparing price without delivery and return details

Read what is included in the delivery service, what assembly is required, and whether the order is expected in multiple boxes. Check return eligibility, time limits, fees, packaging requirements, and the terms for the exact item. The FTC's return and refund recordkeeping guidance also recommends keeping receipts, deadlines, and copies of communications.

Our return policy sets out the applicable process. Keep your order details and packaging instructions together so they are easy to find if you need support.

9. Skipping a final order check

Before paying, compare the cart with your notes. A similar photograph can represent a different size, cover, seat count, or chaise direction.

• Model and selected configuration.
• Overall dimensions, open dimensions where relevant, and seat dimensions.
• Exact color and upholstery option.
• Package sizes and delivery access.
• Assembly, care, delivery service, and return terms.

Save the confirmed options with your order. If a measurement or configuration remains unclear, send us the model name and the detail you need to check.

Sofa buying questions

Can I judge firmness from foam density?

No. Foam density measures weight for a given volume; it does not tell you whether the seat will feel soft or firm. High-density foam can be made with different firmness levels. Compare the cushion's stated feel, foam layers, and any feather or fiber wrap. If you can try the sofa, sit in your usual position long enough to notice how far you sink and how easily you can stand up.

Will a modular sofa fit through a narrow doorway?

Not automatically. Each module or shipping carton still has to pass through the narrowest opening and turn through the full route. Measure the clear doorway with the door open, including any loss of space from hardware. Compare each package's width, depth, and height, then check the space opposite the door for turning it. A package that clears the doorway can still get stuck at the next hallway corner.

What should I compare when buying online?

Start with the assembled dimensions and package sizes so the sofa fits both the room and delivery route. Next compare usable seat depth, seat height, cushion feel, and the exact chaise or arm orientation. Use an upholstery sample to check color and texture at home. Before paying, confirm the selected size and cover, delivery service, assembly work, and any return charges or packaging requirements.