I recently moved to LA and was faced with one of those maybe-this-means-I’m-an-adult moments when I realized I needed more furniture to fill my larger space. Specifically, I didn’t own a sofa, and my bare living room was waving its arms at me for attention. This was my first time ordering a sofa of my own, and like any good millennial, I spent hours (days?!), poring over websites to find one that was the best fit for me. The quest was worth it, my friends, and I now have that sweet little lady up there that perfectly matches my style and needs. Want to get a new sofa, but don’t know where to start? I’ve got you covered.

Click through to read my tips for finding the best sofa for your home…and where I got mine!

1. Don’t skimp on this one.

If you’re trying to save money on your decor, I’d recommend doing it on a different piece of furniture. The sofa is, in many ways, the anchor of a living room. It’s where people congregate most and it’s usually what you’ll see first when you enter the room. Think of your sofa as an investment — something that you’ll have for many years. Knowing this, I weeded out super cheap sofas because I wasn’t sure how long they’d last.

2. Colorful or neutral?

Pinterest has surely turned me into a colorful couch nutcase. I LOVE all of the colorful sofas I see on the internet these days. I toiled with the idea of getting a bright pink or blue one for myself, but ultimately decided that a light grey worked best for my lifestyle and that I could bring color in in different ways.

Some things to consider: Are you DEAD SET on a specific color or on the fence? If you’re wishy washy about the color, that may mean that you want it because it’s trendy, not because you really adore it. Ask yourself, will I still love this color two years from now? It’s a lot easier to buy colorful throw pillows and replace those than it is to buy an entirely new couch. Also, consider the other decor in your living room and house. What would fit the theme you have most? Lastly, how will kids or pets affect your couchity couch? I have a corgi who sheds like NO.OTHER. His hairs are white, so I wanted a light-colored sofa to disguise his fur. They blend right in!

3. What kind of material is the sofa made of? 

This is especially important if there’s a chance someone might spill anything on your couch (side eyes to you, kiddos!). A velvet sofa may be tough to clean and could end up stained. My sofa is polyester, which was used because it’s the easiest material to clean…you know, in case my dog spills his morning coffee. 😉

4. Consider the size. 

This was one of the most important factors for me because I live in a one-bedroom apartment (read: small). A loveseat would have been too tiny, but standard-sized couches felt a bit too large for my space and sectionals were out of the question. Part of the reason I ended up getting my sofa from APT2B was because they offer “apartment-size sofas,” which are in between a long couch and a loveseat. Scooooreeeee! For your sofa, take size into consideration — you want something that will properly fill the space, but that won’t engulf it either.

5. How will you receive it?

This is minor, but I was not interested in picking up the sofa myself (my weak arms would be no match!). Delivery for sofas can also be pretty expensive. I was lucky that APT2B offers a free “white glove delivery service,” meaning they’ll deliver it to your house, set it up, and throw away any trash fo’ free. My delivery guy’s name was Jaime and he was pretty much the best, ever.

6. What kind of look are you going for?

Lastly, but perhaps most importantly — what kind of style do you want your living room to have? Personally, I LOVE mid-century modern furniture, so it was important that I found something in that style (I love my sofa’s low back and tapered legs!). Other styles might include something more modern, rustic, vintage, or traditional. Keep that in mind when selecting your sofa because if all of your decor screams “rustic!” but your couch screams “modern!” it might look a little off.

How did you select your sofa? Any tips for people who are on the hunt?

This post is in collaboration with one of my new favorite brands (for real), APT2B. Thank you for supporting the awesome brands that keep The Nectar Collective going.