Whether you're looking for a sofa the whole family can fit on, or just craving more space to stretch out for yourself, a chaise sofa or chaise sofa bed offers the perfect solution. But picking the right style isn't just a case of point, click and purchase. Instead, when it comes to finding the perfect chaise sofa bed for your home, there are a few crucial things you need to consider.
How newspaper can help you find the right chaise size for you
Why knowing your left from your right is crucial with chaise buying
What a rub count is and why it's vital if you have kids or pets at home
So, if you're thinking about investing in a chaise from our handcrafted collection, here are 5 tips to help you find your perfect fit.
1. Test the size in relation to your room
The Alderton chaise sofa/sofa bed shown in Linen Cotton Nordic Blue
Chaises like The Alderton come in a choice of family-friendly sizes.
Don't forget a chaise isn't a conventionally shaped sofa. Instead, it has an elongated section, which juts out further than the other seats. So, checking the dimensions in relation to your living room is crucial, particularly if the room layout or shape is unconventional. Laying newspaper flat on the floor is a great test of whether a chaise will fit in its intended space. Not only will this allow you to see if the size is in proportion to the room itself, but also in regards to other furniture.
Also essential before ordering your chaise is checking the measurements of any doorways it needs to fit through on route to your living room. After all, there's nothing worse than your dream sofa or sofa bed arriving, only to discover you can't actually get it inside the house. A handy feature with our chaise designs is that they come in two parts, which can make delivery into smaller spaces actually easier than a traditional 2 or 3 seater design.
2. Go with a design that speaks to your gut
The Ansty chaise sofa/sofa bed shown in Stain Resistant Linen Cotton Stone
As The Ansty demonstrates, chaises cater to fans of all sofa styles.
Once you've settled on a size that works for you, the next decision you need to make is which style to choose. And, following your heart is the best way to do this. So, listen to your gut and allow yourself to be drawn naturally to the chaises that speaks to you. When you've narrowed down the options, this is where your rational head should step in, as it's important to consider how practical the style is for your lifestyle, and how well it gels with your existing décor. And, this will help you avoid a chaise that for all its merits looks out of place in your home.
Also crucial to decide at this stage is which side the chaise needs to sit on, the left or the right. So, make sure you're clear on which side the chaise will face. Otherwise, you could end up with the complete opposite to what you were expecting, throwing your entire room's layout into turmoil.
3. Pick rub count over colour when it comes to fabric
The Bayfield Chaise Sofa Bed in Stain Resistant Linen Cotton Dove
Choosing a high rub count fabric will keep your sofa bed looking young.
Finding a chaise fabric that's right for you involves more than just picking a colour you like. Sofa fabrics vary in their resistance greatly, so bearing in mind how often your chaise will be used, and by whom, is the best way to decide on a suitable fabric type.
Every fabric has its own unique properties, and it's these that determine how quickly the material shows signs of age. The test of a fabric's resilience is known as its rub count. And it's knowing this that will help steer you towards the right fabric choice. The higher the rub count the longer it will take for the fabric to wear. So, high rub count fabrics are perfect if you have children or pets at home that are likely to jump on and off the sofa frequently.
So, while colour should be a consideration, a fabrics' rub count is the ultimate deciding factor, if you want your chaise to stay looking newer for longer. A higher rub count can prolong the longevity of your sofa's cushions, as can selecting a machine-washable or spot clean fabric, which offers a more practical way to combat accidental spills.
4. Know your reflex foam from your siliconized hollow fibre or feather-wrapped foam
Deciding on your seat filling gives your sofa the desired support.
How you want your seat pressure to feel is the final thing you need to consider. And, there are some important things to remember about the different seat fillings on offer.
As a general rule, reflex foam seats provide a relatively firm feel. These require very little maintenance to keep them looking shapely. While others, like siliconized hollow fibre or feather-wrapped foam need a quick plump after use. This helps the filling stay evenly distributed. So, it's important to think about how much support you want your chaise seats to have. And, also how much upkeep you're willing to put in, to keep its appearance. All options have their equal benefits and unique attributes. So, we recommend using our Personalisation Guide to help you select the best type for you.
5. Consider if you need extra storage before you buy
The Bermerton chaise storage sofa/sofa bed shown in Stain Resistant Linen Cotton Nordic Blue
A chaise with hidden storage is great for keeping clutter contained.
So, there you have it, our top tips for choosing the perfect chaise. We have so many more designs to choose from, all of which are available to personalise in over 150 fabrics. To see the full collection available visit our website. Or, if you’d like to talk to one of our experts, call us on 0208 939 3800.