Listen up, peeps! Imagine if we told you we'd found the ULTIMATE family sofa. That's right, the search is over! Erin claims it’s alive and kicking in the family lounge room at her Urban Farmhouse… and you better believe the hype!

It’s called the Jean Jumbo Modular from MCM House and when you lookup the definition of ‘luxurious lounge’, there should be a picture of this one. It’s an investment piece and once you lay on this beauty you’ll understand why. From the ultra-soft brushed linen fabric to the generous, plump cushions complemented by square upholstered arms and feather scatter cushions, she’s is a truly sophisticated and elegant sofa.

If you’re in the market for a new sofa, don’t underestimate what a big deal this purchase will be! It will probably be one of the most expensive pieces of furniture in your lounge room so you want to choose wisely. Here’s our 6-step fast-track guide to getting it right…

SIZE MATTERS

First things first, measure your space! When it comes to picking out your couch, it’s not always about going big or going home. Squeeze in the largest lounge a room can handle, and you might find yourself doing a shimmy just to get around. Believe it or not, a too big sofa can make your space feel smaller. So, if you're ever in doubt, go smaller - a side table can help fill a space and complete the look, but trying to downsize an oversized couch? Not so much fun.

A modular sofa, like the Jean Jumbo, is configured from a range of modules that piece together to create a configuration that best suits your lifestyle and the size of your room which can be a great option to choose a look you love in a size that suits your room.

At Erin’s house, we had the luxury of one long wall to create a whopping 4.4 metre sofa - big enough for her entire family.

2. Your Home, Your Style

It wouldn’t be a Three Birds’ Guide without us making mention of your all-important Vision Board! It’s the first place to check what style of sofa you’ll be shopping for to suit your home. Then jump online and do a bit more research online to better understand what type of sofas look good in the style of home you’re trying to create. Look at any defining features on the ‘body’ of the sofa. For example, does it have a high or low back? Wide or skinny arms? How much leg is showing? Will it work in an L-shape configuration?

Once you know the style you’re looking for, the next big decisions are going to be colour and fabric. Again, you’re going to be guided by the overall look you’re trying to achieve. We usually go in one of two directions when picking the couch colour:

1. NEUTRAL: grey, cream or white

2. BOLD: a pop of colour that makes a statement.

Without a doubt, neutral is the safest option and if you’re a styling rookie, you can’t go wrong with a neutral couch. Neutral doesn’t mean boring – remember, you can add plenty of interest by using cushions, throws and rugs with gorgeous colours and patterns. Or if you start neutral and want to experiment with colour over time (or vice versa) look for a sofa with changeable colours that you can swap out over time. MCM House has a range of linen covers available for customers to update their fabric and linen covers every few years.

If the Jean Jumbo is not quite what you’re looking for, we also recommend checking out the Joe Sofa for a laid-back luxe look, the Hucks Sofa for more retro vibes, or the Hampton Sofa for classic charm. Go for a look that complements your vision and makes your heart sing!

3. Fabric Fun vs. Function

With kids and pets in the mix, choosing a durable fabric is crucial wherever possible. Once you’ve nailed the style and colour of your sofa, you may find the fabric decision will have already been made for you because your options might be limited by the style and colour of the sofa you want. If you’re lucky and your desired style and colour come in a range of fabric options, you first need to check if the style you’re going for demands a certain fabric. For example, if you’re designing a Hamptons-style formal lounge room, we suggest you stick with linen (which is probably what you’ll see in your inspo pics) rather than try and make leather or velvet work.

Erin’s sofa is ‘brushed linen’, a fabrication unique to MCM House that offers a strengthened blend of cotton and linen fibres for a stronger, more durable weave. It has all the good looks of linen but is less prone to stretching. This finely milled fabric undergoes an extra finishing treatment for a stone-washed finish that feels ultra-soft.

4. Comfort is King… OR IS IT?

Notice that we’ve put comfort way down the list of priorities… controversial we know! But TBH, we’re a little over seeing entire lounge rooms ruined by horrendously ugly but supposedly ‘super-comfy’ sofas. We’re not saying comfort is not important. It is! We’re just saying it’s best to tick this box AFTER you’ve nailed the aesthetics.

The best way to test the comfort factor is to visit some showrooms and sit your butt down on every single sofa you like the look of to see what floats your boat. Make sure there’s enough room to fully stretch out and to curl your legs up (if that’s what you like to do). It’s probably a good idea to take your family along if you’ll all be sitting on it at the same time. Though they might moan, it’s better to be safe than sorry and getting it home to find that movie night is too much of a squeeze.

Foam or feather filling? High-quality foam is a great choice for a sofa as it’s less expensive and more durable than feather, so your sofa will always look ‘fluffed’. Feather-filled cushions on the other hand give that luxurious, ‘sink into’ feeling but be prepared to fluff, puff and pouf those cushions daily! We think the ideal solution is a combo of foam and feathers.

In case you’re wondering, Erin’s seat cushions are high-density foam, dacron and white feather and the back cushions are white feather filled.

5. In it for The Long Haul

Remember, a good sofa is an investment. Choose the best piece your budget allows that's built to last, with a sturdy frame and high-quality craftsmanship. MCM House sofas are designed with longevity in mind, ensuring your family enjoys comfort and style for years to come.

Now that you’ve narrowed down the style, colour, fabric and comfort aspects of your preferred sofa, it’s time to check the quality before you part with your sofa-destined-cash. Price can often be a good indicator of quality, but not always. There are loads of great quality affordable sofas out there so be sure to shop around. Having said that, if you're only willing to spend $200 on a 3-seater, please don’t expect that it’s going to last.

6.BE CLEAR ON YOUR BUDGET

It’s debatable where in the list of priorities the budget should fall. It could very well have been one of the first considerations as well but we’ve chosen to put it at the end because we still think it’s best to start with what you want rather than what you can afford. Once you know the exact look and colour you're after, it’s possible to find very similar-looking sofas at a few different price points.

And there you have it - you're ready to find the perfect family sofa that ticks all the boxes. Happy sofa shopping!