Choosing a luxury sofa is one of the most considered decisions you will make for your home. Unlike most furniture purchases, a sofa is a commitment — something you will live with daily for a decade or more. It needs to be right in scale, material, configuration and quality. Done well, it becomes the piece that defines the room. Done poorly, it is an expensive problem that is difficult to solve without starting again.
At Araco Interiors, our sofa collection spans over 85 pieces across the Araco Atelier and Tommy Franks ranges. We have helped hundreds of clients — residential and trade — choose the right sofa for their space. This guide distils everything we know into a clear, practical framework.
Step 1: Measure Before You Browse
The most common sofa-buying mistake is falling in love with a piece before understanding whether it will physically work in the space. Before browsing a single sofa, you need three measurements:
Room dimensions
Measure the full floor area of the room and mark where the sofa will sit. As a guide, a sofa should occupy no more than two-thirds of the wall it sits against. In a room 5 metres wide, a sofa of 3 to 3.2 metres maximum — including any side tables — reads as proportionate.
Access dimensions
This is the measurement most people forget until the delivery lorry arrives. Measure every doorway, hallway and stairwell the sofa will need to pass through. Standard UK doorways are approximately 750–820mm wide; some larger sofas will need to be carried on their end, separated into modules, or delivered via a window. Our delivery team can advise on this for any specific piece.
Seat depth and height
These two measurements determine whether a sofa will be comfortable for the people who use it most. A seat depth of 55–65cm suits most adults for upright, conversational seating. A seat depth of 65–75cm+ creates a deeper, more reclined lounging position. Seat height of 42–48cm works for most people; taller users tend to prefer 46cm and above.
Step 2: Choose Your Configuration
Two-seater sofas
Typically 150–180cm wide, a two-seater works in smaller living rooms, as secondary seating in a larger room, or in a bedroom sitting area. At Araco Interiors, the Araco Atelier two-seater designs in our Atelier Sofas collection offer the same quality of construction as our larger pieces — ideal where space is limited but quality is not.
Three-seater sofas
The most versatile configuration, typically 200–230cm wide. Suitable for most living rooms of 4 metres or more in width, a three-seater forms the anchor of a seating group. It can be positioned facing a fireplace or TV, angled within a larger space, or used as the primary social seating in an open-plan room.
Corner sofas and L-shapes
Corner sofas work best in rooms of 4.5 metres or more in both dimensions — they need space to breathe. They are excellent for family rooms and open-plan spaces where they can define a zone within a larger footprint. Our Araco Atelier corner configurations are available in left or right-facing orientations; specify carefully based on your room layout.
Modular sofas
Modular sofas offer the greatest flexibility — components can be added, rearranged, or separated as your space changes. The trade-off is that modular pieces can look less resolved than a single, integrated design. Choose modular when flexibility matters more than aesthetic precision.
Step 3: Select Your Material
Fabric choice is the single most important decision after configuration. It determines how the sofa looks, feels, cleans and ages.
Bouclé
Bouclé is the defining fabric of luxury contemporary interiors. Its looped, textured surface catches light beautifully, adds warmth and visual depth, and improves with scale — a full sofa in bouclé is transformative in a way a cushion cannot match. Our Araco Atelier sofa collection is available in 10 bouclé colourways, from warm neutrals (Wicker, Vanilla, Pebbles) to cooler tones (Cinder, Ashlar) and considered deeper hues (Porcini, Mistral, Laurel).
Best for: Living rooms, principal bedrooms, hospitality. Low-traffic environments where the fabric can be maintained with care.
Avoid if: Pets with claws, very high-traffic family spaces.
Velvet
Performance velvet — as used across our Tommy Franks range — offers the visual richness of traditional velvet with significantly greater durability and cleanability. It is available in a wider colour range than bouclé and photographs exceptionally well. The pile can mark with regular use, but brushing restores the surface easily.
Best for: Dining chairs, accent sofas, bedroom seating, hospitality projects.
Avoid if: You want a very low-maintenance option in a heavily used family room.
Linen and textured weaves
Linen-look and woven fabrics offer a more relaxed, organic aesthetic. They are typically the most durable of the three categories, resistant to pilling and suited to higher-traffic use. Available across both the Araco Atelier and Tommy Franks ranges.
Step 4: Consider Frame and Construction
A luxury sofa earns that description through its construction as much as its fabric. When comparing pieces, ask about:
- Frame material — hardwood frames (kiln-dried beech or oak) outperform softwood and engineered board. Hardwood frames do not warp, expand or crack with use and can last 20+ years.
- Spring system — sinuous springs or eight-way hand-tied pocket springs both offer excellent support; the latter is the traditional luxury specification.
- Seat cushion filling — fibre-wrapped foam gives a plumper, softer look; high-resilience foam provides firmer, longer-lasting support. Down-wrap adds a premium softness around a foam core.
- Back cushion filling — loose back cushions filled with feather/down give a relaxed, sinkable aesthetic; fixed backs are firmer and more architecturally considered.
Step 5: Choose Your Legs and Base Finish
Leg style has a significant effect on how a sofa reads in a room. Tapered legs in natural wood or brushed brass add lightness and lift the silhouette. Plinth bases (fabric-covered, flush to the floor) give a more architectural, lower-slung look. Exposed metal legs in brass or black add a contemporary edge.
Delivery and Lead Times
Luxury sofas from our Araco Atelier collection are made to order in your chosen colourway, with a typical lead time of 8–12 weeks. Tommy Franks sofas vary by style; please check individual product pages or contact our team for current availability.
We offer FREE UK nationwide delivery on all orders, and white-glove delivery (including room placement and packaging removal) is available by quotation. For trade and development projects, we can coordinate phased delivery and site access with your project manager.
Trade and Project Pricing
All sofas in our collection are available at trade pricing for interior designers, architects, developers and hospitality projects. Visit our Trade & Projects page to apply for a trade account.
Shop Luxury Sofas at Araco Interiors
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I measure my room for a sofa?
Measure the full width of the wall the sofa will sit against, then subtract at least 60cm each side for circulation space and any side furniture. The sofa should occupy no more than two-thirds of the wall width. Also measure the seat depth you want (55–65cm for upright seating, 65–75cm+ for lounging) and the access dimensions through all doorways and hallways.
What is the lead time for Araco Atelier sofas?
Araco Atelier sofas are made to order in your chosen colourway, with a typical lead time of 8–12 weeks from order confirmation. Please contact our team for current lead times on specific styles.
Can I get fabric samples before ordering?
Yes — we can arrange bouclé fabric samples in all 10 Araco Atelier colourways before you commit. Please contact our team with your request.
Is white-glove delivery available?
Yes. White-glove delivery — including room placement and packaging removal — is available by quotation. Contact our team when placing your order to arrange this service.
Are sofas available at trade pricing?
Yes. All sofas are available at trade pricing for verified interior designers, architects and hospitality projects. Apply via our Trade & Projects page.