How to measure and dress your sofa?

Ordering a simple throw to revamp your entire sitting room is a great shout, but how does one go about measuring it? It is tricky, however, we have compiled a stress free guide for how to measure and dress your sofa.

Step 1. Getting the dimensions right.

Couches, like people, come in all different beautiful shapes and sizes. From your Davenport to your chesterfields, a recliner to a love seat, no one is the same. (Excluding the ottoman or shezlong,) they all have a seat to sit on, an armrest to hold on to and a back to sink into.

Start by measuring the ‘outside height’. This is from the floor to the top of the back of your sofa. Next the ‘inside height’ and ‘inside depth’, this is the measurement from the top to the bottom of the caution you lay back on, as well as the caution you sit on from the base to the edge. Next is the ‘seat height’, this is from the floor of the front of your sofa to the top edge of the caution you sit on.

Tip!
If you are positioning your sofa right against a wall, you will not need as much material for the outside height.

Next measure the ‘outside arm height’, which is from the floor to the top of your armrests. Measuring from the outside of the sofa. Next is the ‘inside arm height’, which is from the base of the seat you lay your cautions on to the top of the armrest. Measuring from the inside. Now make a note of the ‘inside length’, which is measuring the length of all your cautions laying together.

Tip!
Remember, always give yourself a generous excess for tucking reasons as well as allowing for the thickness of your arm and headrest.

Now you know how big your throw should be, it’s time to get creative.If you are disguising the entire sofa for the purpose of covering wear and tear that has occurred over time, it is as simple as ‘throwing’ your ‘throw’.  Tucking into the creases will give it a smooth clean feel. And voila! There you have it! A brand new sofa. If you really want to shake things up with a bold statement colour, you can also invest in some complimentary colored scatter cautions to add depth and a flair of your own style to the room.

If you are going for that chic country cottage style, you can always play about with layering. Fold your throw into a long neat rectangle and gently place it over one side of the sofa. From the back rest skimming along the edge and resting just above the floor. Give a more dynamic look by mixing and matching fabrics. If you have a natural linen sofa, try a chunky knit throw, accompanied by mixed textured scatter cautions.  Alternatively, if you have a leather sofa, use one of our waffle weave 100% cotton throws. With a range of deep gorgeous tones and a tangible honeycomb feel, it is sure to add a touch of comfort and class to your living room.

Looking for something a little more relaxed while still expressive in style? Try the effortlessly looking yet warm and inviting corner ‘ ‘fling’’. That’s right as if you have literally flung it over the side. Pull the corner edge of the throw over the back corner headrest, leaving it to dangle. You can roughly concertina the material spreading it out a bit over the seat caution in a diagonal way. Playfully style your sofa further by adding different-sized pillows on top. Leaving larger ones towards the back and the smaller scatter pillows towards the front. Giving you a messy masterpiece!

Tip!
Using asymmetry in interior design leaves visual interest in a room. Although the opposite of symmetrical, it is always important to add balance by using similar forms, lines and colours. If you have a one-sided-looking sofa, with your newly placed throw blanket cascading over the side. Pop on the opposite end of the sofa a side table or tall lamp, creating visual balance and harmony in the room.