Choose your sofa first, and the rest of the decisions will follow

Don't be daunted when decorating your home in Mexico

One color choice will make the next decisions easier. Photo: Courtesy

When furnishing and decorating your new home in Mexico, where do you start?

I discussed this last week with a good friend, who also has years of successful design experience. He and his partner just purchased their second condo in Mexico.

“If you try to do it yourself, it’s like being on the world’s most stressful scavenger hunt,” he told me over coffee as we looked at our catalogs of sofas. It reminded me why I started my business in the first place.

Both my friend and I know that the best place to start when decorating your home is the living room, specifically your sofa or sectional. This is generally the most significant piece in the common area, so it sets the tone of the space. Sofa manufacturers have on average about 200 fabric and leather cover options. Although that seems a lot, it will save you countless hours of wasted time and stress when you select the cover first. With the cover as your guide, it will be incredibly easier to choose the paint color for walls and complementary furniture pieces.   

Although looks are important, it’s also important to consider how you will use your sofa. Are you planning to use it primarily for relaxing, reading or watching TV, or will it be used only occasionally when guests pop over for a visit? If you enjoy stretching and laying out to binge watch your favorite show, consider a sofa with a rolled, upholstered arm. Make sure to measure the length of the couch so that you will be comfortable when you spread out.

Who will be using the sofa the most? Is one person in your home taller than the other? Fit the couch to the person who will be using it the most rather than trying to fit a one-size-fits-all. Sofa frames do not generally work for everyone’s height. For someone on the shorter side, consider a bolster cushion to make up for the depth of the seat cushion.

The new performance fabrics are perfect for the humidity in Yucatan, or in a waterfront home. Each thread in a performance fabric is coated with a repellant spray before being weaved together. The material is then resprayed. The result? Spill a glass of red wine on your sofa and the liquid rolls right off without any stain. No more sweat and suntan lotion stains.

The price of a sofa with the right construction, the right interior materials, and the right cover will run about 10,000 to 15,000 pesos, depending on style and cover choice. Considering that a well-made sofa will last you 20-plus years in this climate, not a bad deal!


Sheryl Novak is an expat from Canada who has owned a home in Mexico for over 10 years. She is the owner of SOLutions Mexico, an online furniture store and an expert on sourcing all styles of furniture, for all budgets, in Mexico.  Email sa.novak@solutionsmexico.com.

Sheryl Novak
Sheryl Novakhttps://www.solutionsmexico.com/
Sheryl Novak is an expat Canadian and owner of SOLutions Mexico, an online furniture store in Mexico. Sign up for our free newsletters, which deliver our top headlines twice a week.
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