The Ultimate Sofa’s Buyers Guide: How to Find the Perfect La-Z-Boy Sofa

Are you looking to buy a new sofa? Shopping for a new sofa is exciting and a great way to freshen up any room, but with so many options, it can be tricky to find the perfect one. While La-Z-Boy is renowned for its iconic recliners, we also excel in sofa design, bringing over 90 years of expertise in comfort and motion upholstery. Whether you choose to shop with us or explore other brands, this comprehensive sofa buyers guide will help you find the ideal sofa.

Key Takeaways

• La-Z-Boy has a variety of sofa styles, including traditional, contemporary, modern and family-friendly designs. While they may appeal to a certain demographic, each category is meant to accentuate a wide range of styles.
• There are many types of sofas to choose from, including stationary and reclining sofas, as well as sleeper sofas that come in twin, full and queen sizes.
• La-Z-Boy sofa beds can be space-consuming, so ensure you measure both with and without the pull-out mattress to avoid overcrowding.
• La-Z-Boy sofas can be customized with various fabrics, leather, and cushion options. You can even choose specialty fabrics like our stain-resistant or antimicrobial covers.
• The starting price for a sofa is about $1,900, with options to suit various budgets and preferences. This starting price does not include sales prices, which can be significantly lower depending on the sales piece.
•  La-Z-Boy offers sofas with sizes ranging from 67” to 92” in length.

1. Evaluate Your Space
2. Selecting the Perfect Sofa
3. Personalizing Your Sofa
4. Understanding Sofa Costs
5. Delivery and Pick-up Options
6. Sofa Shopping Checklist

Evaluate Your Space

Before purchasing a sofa, it's crucial to measure your space to ensure it fits seamlessly into your room.

Room Assessment

Consider the dimensions and layout of the room where your new sofa will reside. Is it a family room for gatherings or a formal living room for entertaining? The placement should account for windows, doorways, and fireplaces to avoid layout issues.

Accurate Measurements

Accurate measurements are essential. Bring a sketch, photos, and precise measurements of your room to the store to help the salesperson assist you better. It’s also important to measure the route your furniture needs to take to get to your room upon delivery, ensuring it can pass through hallways and doorways without issue.

To learn more about How to Measure Your Space, read this article.

Additional Factors

• Home Decor: What is the style of the room? What look are you going for? Considering your home decor is important when choosing a new sofa to ensure that it fits seamlessly into the design of the room. 
• Wall Colour: What colour are the walls in the room? Are you planning to paint? Consider bringing a sample of the paint colour into the store to help match the sofa fabrics. 
• Flooring: What type of flooring does the room have? Tile or scratch-resistant? Make sure to protect your hardwood floors with felt pads.
• Existing Pieces: What furniture is going to stay in the room? Do you plan to replace any furniture? Will the current furniture in the room match your new sofa?
• Furniture Placement: Are there windows or doors in the room? If a sofa is in front of a window, it might be an awkward placement, especially if you’re trying to get some light in.

Larger redesigns may be more difficult without any expert help. This is why hiring an interior designer might benefit you in the long run, if you’re trying to perfect a certain room in your home. 

La-Z-Boy offers complimentary interior design services to help you visualize and plan your space effectively. To learn more about our services, take a look at this step-by-step guide.

Selecting the Perfect Sofa

Purchasing a sofa may sound easy, but there are a couple of things you might want to consider when selecting your brand-new furniture item.

Personal and Household Needs

When choosing a sofa, you need to make sure you’re taking into consideration who will be using it and what you want out of it.

Who is using the space? How many people live with you? Do you host a lot of get-togethers with overnight guests? These types of questions can help narrow down your sofa choices.

It is also important to think about the heights and body types of all potential users. If there’s a significant height difference, you might need additional seating options. Consider pets and children as they may influence your fabric choice as well.

Size and Style

Choosing the ideal sofa involves considering your body dimensions and style preferences. Comfort is key when sitting on a sofa, so you should evaluate factors like seat depth, back height, and overall support.

For instance, your head should align with the top of the head cushion, and your legs should form a 90-degree angle when your feet are flat on the ground. If these criteria aren't met, the sofa may not be the best fit for you.

Sofa Sizes

La-Z-Boy offers sofas in various sizes to fit different room sizes and personal preferences:

• Apartment Sofas: Ideal for small spaces or as additional seating. The average apartment-size sofa is about 70” wide. 
• Standard Sofas: Perfect for medium-sized living rooms. Most average-sized La-Z-Boy sofas are around 80” to 82” in length.
• Extra Long Sofas: Great for large rooms and providing ample seating for multiple people. Extra long sofas at La-Z-Boy can be as long as 92” in length.

Each sofa size can also come with additional height recommendations:

• Petite: Users that are 5’4” and under
• Medium: Users that are 5’4” to 5’9”
• Large: Users that are 5’10” to 6’2”

• Extra Tall: Users that are 6’2” and over

Each model is designed to provide optimal comfort for specific body sizes, ensuring that the sofa fits you just right. To get a better idea, take a look at this article on How to Find the Right Fit for Your Sofa.

Style Preferences

La-Z-Boy offers a wide range of styles to choose from, ensuring you can find the perfect match for your home.

Our furniture is categorized into four main style collections: 

• Classics Revisited: Inspired by fashionable and elegant designs, this collection honours the past without being stuck to it. 

• Modern Retreat: With streamlined silhouettes and geometric prints, the Modern Retreat look is both chic and sophisticated.
• Family Favourites: The Family Favourites collection is designed to cater to family functions without having to sacrifice style.
• Comfortably Casual: This collection is meant to create beautiful spaces that are meant to be lived in.

While each furniture style has its personal touch, La-Z-Boy furniture is meant to blend into any decor you add it to. To learn more about our Furniture Styles at La-Z-Boy and for examples, take a look at this article.

Personalizing Your Sofa

Customization is key to making a sofa truly yours. Before we see what kind of customizable options there are for La-Z-Boy, there are many types of sofas to choose from. 

Types of Sofas

Extra Long Sofas

Extra long sofas are just like regular sofas, but are longer in width, giving more seating options. They are ideal for larger rooms and can accommodate more people.

Sleeper Sofas

Sleeper sofas are perfect for those who need a multifunctional piece of furniture. These sofas easily convert into a bed, providing a comfortable sleeping option for guests. Whether you’re looking for a twin, a full or a queen sleeper size, La-Z-Boy has it! Remember to measure both the regular sofa as well as the pull-out measurement to avoid a cramped living space.

To learn more about our Top-Selling Sofa Beds at La-Z-Boy, read this article.

Reclining Sofas

Reclining sofas offer the ultimate in relaxation, making them perfect for movie nights or simply unwinding after a long day. Simply pull on the latch on either wide and recline with ease. If you’re in a small space but still want a reclining sofa in your room, La-Z-Boy also has wall reclining sofas. These reclining sofas can recline mere inches away from a wall, for that spacing-saving design.

To see some Top Reclining Sofas at La-Z-Boy, read this article.

Apartment-Sized Sofas

Apartment-sized sofas are designed to fit smaller spaces without sacrificing style or comfort. These compact sofas are ideal for apartments, studios, or any room with limited space, offering the perfect balance of functionality and aesthetic appeal.

To see some La-Z-Boy Sofas for Small Spaces, read this article.

Leather Sofas

Leather sofas add a touch of luxury and sophistication to any room. They are durable, easy to clean, and become more comfortable over time. Leather sofas are perfect for those looking for a timeless, stylish piece that also offers longevity and ease of maintenance.

To learn more about our Top Leather Sofas at La-Z-Boy, read this article.

Duo Collection

The Duo Collection combines the appearance of a standard sofa or chair with the ability to recline, saving space and maintaining style. These products are different than other power recliners because they look like regular chairs, and they are exclusively made with power. 

To learn more about the Duo Collection, read this article.

What Upholstery is Right for Me?

Now that we know what types of sofas there are, let’s see what custom options you can make for a La-Z-Boy sofa.

Fabric vs. Leather

Your choice between fabric and leather will depend on several factors including comfort, appearance, durability, maintenance, and cost. Leather offers a distinctive look and is easier to clean, while fabric provides a broader range of colours and patterns.

At La-Z-Boy, we offer over 800 different kinds of upholstery options, with a fabric and leather grading system that affects pricing depending on which cover grade you choose. To learn more about our Fabric Upholstery or our Leather Selections, take a look at these articles.

If you’re still unsure about whether to choose fabric vs leather, learn more with this comparison article.

Specialized Covers (Available in Fabric & Leather)

• Performance Fabrics: Durable and easy to clean, perfect for high-traffic areas.
• Stain-Resistant Fabrics: Like La-Z-Boy’s iClean, it is designed to repel spills and stains, providing peace of mind in busy households.
• Eco-Friendly Fabrics: Made from recycled materials, such as La-Z-Boy’s conserve™ Sustainable Fabrics, offering an environmentally friendly option.
• Antimicrobial Covers: Protect against mould, mildew, and bacteria, ensuring a healthier living environment.
• Pet-Friendly Fabrics: Designed to withstand scratches and wear from pets, making them durable and easy to clean.
• Energy Restoration: Restore by Nanobionic® features a mineral-based fabric coating that transforms natural body heat into energy using infrared technology.

Cushion Upgrade

For an additional cost, upgrade to firmer cushions that conform to your unique shape, enhancing comfort and ease of use, especially for those with mobility issues.

Pillow Options (Stationary Frames)

Stationary sofas come with pillows, which means you can customize those as well. You can accessorize your pillows by adding an accent colour to them, as well as contrasting welt, cording or fringe. 

If you want to get specific, you can also request feather padding for your pillows instead of the usual foam padding.

Sofa Bed Upgrade

Stationary sofas can come as a sofa bed. Customers have the option to choose between the Twin Sleep Chair, the Full Sleep Sofa or the Queen Sleep Sofa. 

With either of these options, you can easily turn your living room into a sleepable guest room.

Along with the unique features of the original sofa, full and queen sleepers offer overnight guests a full/queen-size supreme comfort quilted innerspring mattress that measures 5.5” thick.

The sleeper mattresses can be upgraded to include either a Slumber Air mattress, which is an inflatable air mattress for extra adjustability, or a firmer mattress that provides a more solid sleeping surface, similar to the firm cushion upgrade.

To view more about our Sofa Bed Mattress Upgrade, read this article.

Power Upgrade with Adjustable Headrest & Lumbar Support

Upgrade your La-Z-Boy reclining sofa to power for easy reclining with a control panel or wireless remote. Adjust the headrest from 0-55 degrees and control the lower lumbar support to match your spine's curvature. Enjoy added convenience with built-in USB ports and memory settings for your favourite positions. All power upgrades can be cordless, thanks to our rechargeable battery pack. 

If you need help with learning about the controls, check out La-Z-Boy Power Furniture: How to Use the Control Panel & Remote. 

To learn more about the headrest & lumbar upgrade, check out the Review of La-Z-Boy Power Recliners with the Headrest & Lumbar Feature.

How Much Does a Sofa Cost?

One of the bigger questions you may be asking yourself is how much a sofa costs and, more importantly, why. Well, here are some factors that influence the cost of a sofa, as well as how our La-Z-Boy prices compare to other furniture stores in Ottawa, Gatineau and Kingston.

Factors Influencing Cost

The cost of a sofa is influenced by various factors, including the materials used, customization options, and design complexity. High-quality materials like top-grain leather or solid hardwood frames typically increase the price but offer better durability and comfort. These are the materials primarily used at La-Z-Boy.

Customization options, such as different fabrics, finishes, and features like adjustable headrests and lumbar support also add to the cost. Intricate designs and innovative mechanisms, such as power recliners or sleeper sofas, further impact the price due to the skilled labour and higher manufacturing costs involved. 

La-Z-Boy also uses Premier Construction for all of our stationary and Duo collections. To learn more about Premier Construction, read this article.

Comparison with Other Brands

La-Z-Boy sofas typically start at $1,900 and go up from there, catering to the mid to higher-end market.

While cheaper alternatives from big box stores might offer lower initial prices, they often compromise on material quality and customization, potentially leading to higher replacement or repair costs in the long run. Overall, the choice for finding the right furniture brand is up to you.

To learn more about the cost of a sofa, industry-wide and at La-Z-Boy, take a look at this article.

Furniture Financing at La-Z-Boy

If shopping at La-Z-Boy is too expensive, we understand. However, there are affordable options for you out there.

Furniture financing offers a solution, allowing customers to pay off their purchases over time instead of upfront. La-Z-Boy partners with Flexiti Financing, providing instant approval and easy monthly payments. Once approved, customers can shop and finance with Flexiti anytime.

For more information, check out this article on Furniture Financing.

La-Z-Boy Sofa Delivery and Pick-Up Options

La-Z-Boy offers both pick and delivery options. Here is how they work.

Delivery Options

When purchasing a sofa, you’ll need to consider the delivery options available.

La-Z-Boy offers white glove delivery for $129.99 within Ottawa, Gatineau & Kingston, and out-of-town delivery costs $169.99. 

 For an additional fee of $25 per furniture piece, we can assist with either moving out old furniture from different rooms or bringing it to the curb. Additionally, we offer the option to dispose of any old furniture in a local landfill at an extra charge of $50 / per furniture seat. This service ensures that your new loveseat is delivered and set up with care, allowing you to enjoy it immediately without any hassle.

If you prefer to save on delivery costs, you can pick up your new sofa from the store. Some sofas come apart for easier transport, making it convenient to bring your purchase home yourself.

To learn more about our delivery services, read this article.

Sofa Shopping Checklist

Now that you know everything you need to purchase a La-Z-Boy sofa, here are some additional things to consider beforehand:

Must-Haves

When shopping for a quality sofa, it’s essential to consider several key factors:

What to Expect When Shopping at La-Z-Boy Ottawa, Gatineau & Kingston

La-Z-Boy's experienced sales consultants are ready to guide you through the purchasing process, ensuring you find a sofa that meets all your needs.

Upon entering the showroom, you will be greeted by one of our sales consultants. One of the main questions they’ll ask you will be either “Are you looking for fabric or leather?” or “What style of furniture are you looking for?”

If you don’t know, that’s okay! They will be able to ask you questions that will help narrow down your search. Since height is a defining factor when looking for a furniture frame like a sofa, they might sit you down on a sofa that suits your specific height. 

After sitting down in a few seats, hopefully, you’ll have a better sense of what it is you're looking for. Perhaps you enjoyed the reclining on one of the sofas, or you like the stylish design from one of our stationary pieces. Whatever the circumstances, your sales consultant will help you find the perfect sofa for you and your home. 

If you end up liking more than one frame or any of our accessories to complete your room, our sales consultants can collaborate with our interior designers to bring your vision to life with our complimentary design services. If you're interested in re-designing your space with the help of our team, you can learn more about it with this article. 

What's Next?