So many sofas

If you want to be sitting pretty after shopping for a new sofa, you'll want to consider more than the comfort.

Flipping through hundreds of fabric swatches can be daunting, though.

To narrow your choices, think about color and how you'll use the sofa, says Dale Emmert, CEO of Simpson Furniture, with stores in Coralville and Cedar Falls.

Coordinated efforts

'The first thing to decide is if you want the color to coordinate or contrast with the rest of your room,” Emmert says.

The most popular shades are earth tones like browns and beiges. Recently, blues and grays are becoming more popular. And a brightly colored sofa in jewel tones - the 2015 Pantone color of the year is a deep red Marsala and the 2014 color of the year was emerald - is eye-catching.

A brown or gray sofa, though, is the most versatile. Change the look of the room with paint colors, art and accessories without needing new furniture. A sofa in a neutral pattern and color can be accented with bright pillows, lamps or area rugs to keep the space visually interesting.

Fun or formal

'Decide how you're going to use the sofa,” Emmert says. 'Is it for daily living or a more formal sitting room?”

Most sofa fabric is a polyester blend. Fabric with rayon or silk as part of the blend - used in more formal sofas - can often be dyed more vibrant colors but may be less durable.

Leather is often more expensive but is easy to care for and lasts longer. A less expensive alternative is a leather look-a-like made of polyurethane.

If you have many pets or children, a microfiber fabric, made from 100 percent polyester, is the most durable option.

'Microfibers are our most popular covers, period,” Emmert says. 'They're easy to clean, and they can generally come in any color you want.”

Sponsored by Simpson Furniture

2300 Jones Blvd., Coralville; (319) 545-5005 and 2300 Main St., Cedar Falls; (319) 266-3535 | http://www.simpsonfurniture.com/

Since 1946, Simpson Furniture has been a premier retailer for home furniture, flooring and home décor.