Practicality

Don't forget, you'll be using your sofa every day for the foreseeable future, so think about your day-to-day use before purchasing. Founder of The French Bedroom Company, Georgia Metcalfe, says practicality is key when she is looking for new pieces of furniture: "Because I have two little children, I'm always thinking about practicality when it comes to items of furniture for the family rooms of you home.

"I've found that leather is a super practical option because it's so 'wipe clean', and you can easily see where all the mess is."

If you have pets you'll want to avoid certain fabrics such as wool, satin, velvet, and even certain leathers, unless you don't mind your cat digging its claws into it. Do your research and buy a model covered in pet-friendly fabrics such as distressed leather and microfiber.

Pay some mind to how many people you expect to be seated on your sofásvintage on a regular basis. If you're purchasing for a home with a big family, or you're the kind of person who enjoys entertaining you should look towards larger, three-seater sofas, or one with a bench style design. These are much more comfortable than trying to squash everyone onto a two-seater.

If leather is the most practical option for you, we recommend the Matera three-seater sofa (£2,499, Heal’s.

The Heal's Matera sofa