Obviously one thing that needs to be at the top of the priority list is going to be comfort. Comfort is very much a personal preference, some people like very soft sofas that they can literally sink into whilst other people prefer firmer sofas particularly if they suffer with a bad back. If the sofa is for a lounge the comfort factor is probably going to be more important to you than if the sofa is for a bedroom where a higher priority might be a sofa that can also double up as a bed.
The next major consideration needs to be thinking about the size of the sofa. A very popular style of sofa currently is the corner sofas. However, corner sofas tend to be very large so it is important that if you decided you want a corner sofa that you measure the room accurately to ensure that it will fit. Not only do you need to consider the room that the sofa is going in but you also need to think about how you are going to get the sofa into the house and if it is going to fit through doorways and around corners.
Then there is the style of the sofa it is very easy to visit a furniture showroom and see all the nice new modern sofas and decide you want one of those. However if the room the sofa is not modern unless you want to give the whole room a makeover the sofa may look a little odd. Therefore picking a sofa that is in keeping with the rest of your house is probably wise. Then there is the material which the sofa is made out of. Traditionally fabric sofas have always been very popular however more recently there has been a growth in the popularity of leather sofas. Leather sofas are great as they are highly durable making them a popular choice for families, they come in a variety of colours and styles.
Therefore when you decide it is time for a new sofa there are going to be lots of decisions to make. So take your time don't rush out and buy the first sofa you see, but take the time to do your research. You are likely to have your new sofa for many years to come so making sure you find the right one for you is very very important.