It’s been quite a while since our new sofas arrived. June in fact. Remember they were chosen and bought in record time, on the last day of the Habitat sale, which is actually a good time to go sofa shopping as we did get a good deal and extra discount for buying in store, rather than online. And when we let on to the salesmen we wanted two sofas, not just the one, they really couldn’t do enough for us. In most cases I’m sure people want the sofas they’ve just bought pronto, and so did we, but we weren’t so keen on having them in the house while the work took place in the conservatory, so that was something we

But this is the first time they’ve appeared here - and looking objectively at the picture below we need to sort out our power arrangements - but they’re just what we were after, and now we have the final cushions, the ones we bought recently by Carola Van Dyke I’m really pleased with how it’s all worked out. Originally the cushions behind the stag and hare cushions were supposed to be the colourful ones, but as soon as we saw the collage cushions, they were instantly demoted - it’s easy to see why, isn’t it?

Not only is the design of these cushions very us - we have a thing for hares and this is our second stag cushion, so it could be said we have a thing for stags too, but I’m also in awe of the textured collage, and you know how much I like a bit of colour. What’s even better is how well they go with the throw that’s been deployed over the arm of MOH’s end of the sofa, to save it wearing out and discolouring. I couldn’t have planned these to go better together if I tried.

Over Christmas in one of the craft groups I’m in on Facebook, someone posted a picture of a cow that takes a similar approach and many of the exceptional craft brains have suggested ways to reproduce that. I’m very tempted, but on a much smaller scale, perhaps on a card, one day. But back to the cushions, I never thought of myself as a tweed kind of person, but these cushions are just my thing, and if it’s possible to be in love with cushions, I’m in love with these.

You might be wondering what crockery has to do with my new sofas and cushions, and the photo below starts to explain that. They’re also my Christmas present from MOH, which I’m doubly grateful for as he doesn’t see why I need more plates, as surely we’ve got enough… Ah, but when they’re as pretty as this, and match our cushions, I think that changes things.

Now boiled eggs are on the breakfast menu more often than before - and they really are rather good. I’m on the lookout for the matching espresso set, which still seems to be out of stock everywhere - I’ve a suspicion that I may even make my own cow collage, before I find that set online to buy!

So one last shot of our living room, which is the view that greets us as we walk down the stairs. I’ve gone for different cushions on the smaller sofa, as the whole matchy-matchy thing really isn’t me. I’ve still a cushion cover to make, and when that’s ready I’ll share more on the velvet cushions (with pom poms - I told you they’d be big in interiors) it’ll sit alongside.

But with ten new cushions in 2018 - there’s three more on the grey sofa in the conservatory, you’ve already seen the orange stag cushion and a sneak peek at the cushion mum made, also with pom poms - I think I’m almost at my cushion fill, well for a little while at least!

Yes I know that’s a huge topic, but it’s important to get the right one or ones isn’t it? They’re not something we buy every day, so we need to get it right. And if you’re anything like me, it’s a piece of furniture that gets used everyday.

We currently have leather sofas, a two-seater and a three-seater in brown leather. They’re almost ten years old now and if I’m honest have seen better days.

But where to start identifying replacements?

As you’ll know from the hunt for dining room chairs I like to have an idea of what I’m after before I head to the shops. So the four things I’ve considered for our replacement sofas are:

1. Size

It sounds obvious doesn’t it, but you’d be surprised by how many sofas I’ve fallen for and then once we’ve measured just don’t fit in the space we have. I saw a beautiful sofa a few years ago in a shop in Taunton of all places, don’t ask me why we were looking at sofas so far from home.

It was a grey patterned sofa and gorgeous. But too big. I got as far as taking the measurements and asking about delivery before I admitted this sofa wasn’t going to workBut then my investigations took on a new tack and I pored over websites to find the material. I found it and had samples sent and my plan was to have our new sofas covered with this fabric.

Of course that didn’t happen - and I’m lucky that we’d already measured our existing sofas and the space around them or otherwise I think I’d have been very close to an impulse buy that day in Taunton! And now I’m glad it didn’t work out as I’m not sure the pattern I fell in love with really had the longevity I was after.

2. Layout and function

It’s worth considering what you want from your sofa. Does it need to incorporate a spare bed for example. Ours doesn’t but it’s worth considering. We’re happy too with the two seater and three seater approach, even though there are many modern corner sets available.

3. Design

As I said before, our current sofas are brown leather, this time though we’re looking for a fabric finish. They looked smart, were cool to sit on which was welcome in the summer (less so in winter!) and you might be wondering why we’re after something different this time.

Partly that’s for a change, but it’s also because we hope the fabric sofas will absorb sounds more than leather. This may not be a consideration for you but with a wooden floor and an open spiral staircase MOH is always encouraging more soft furnishings here. It’s not that he’s a cushion fiend, but he says it makes his hifi sound less boomy. Yes dear.

Instead of the large floral pattern I fell in love with in Taunton, we’re aiming for something more neutral but something that adds some texture to the room. I might be setting myself up for another challenge here, but I’m hoping not.

4. Style

Now this is the big one. MOH chose our current sofas so I’m hoping for the casting vote this time round! Thankfully we are both on the same lines, neither of us are pining for frilly and flouncy sofas. We’re after one with clean lines, that is functional and still looks good.It needs to be comfortable, to have enough of an arm to rest on, but not too much that it's tempting to rest a cup of tea on and be able to live through some minor decorating.

That’s not too much to ask is it?

I've been looking online for inspiration, and these sofas from Habitat are what I think I'm looking for and the Chester sofa is just what I had in mind. There's a two seater and three seater version, so it could work.

CHESTER SOFA BY HABITATImage source: Habitat — CHESTER SOFA BY HABITAT
Image source: Habitat

But neutral’s boring!

No, it’s not or it doesn’t have to be.

Not everything in our home needs to be bright, colourful or bling. If you look at most rooms, and especially those in magazines most of the room, often seventy percent, is the room’s dominant colour with just thirty percent of a secondary and accent colour, which can be added through accessories such as cushions and throws.

MY SOFA, THE THROW IS STAYING WHEN WE REPLACE THEM

Now I have a plan of what I’m after I’m looking forward to the shopping! What does your perfect sofa look like?

This is a collaborative post but all opinions are my own