Most furniture is designed for a hypothetical buyer. We build for you specifically: your room dimensions, your seating preferences, your household's daily reality. This page walks through every variable you control in our configuration process so you know exactly what you are deciding and why each choice matters.
Fabric: 250+ Options, Organized by How You Actually Live
The largest and most visible personalization decision is fabric. Our library runs to 250+ options across a range of fibers, textures, and cleaning code categories. Rather than browsing all 250 at once, most buyers find it easier to start by narrowing on one practical filter before moving to aesthetics.
Filter by cleaning code first If your household includes young children, pets, or anyone who eats regularly on the sofa, start with W-coded fabrics only. These are the machine-washable options and will narrow our library to the most practical candidates before you spend time on color and texture decisions.
If machine-washability is not a priority and you want maximum texture and appearance options, WS, S, and X-coded fabrics open the full library, including velvets, performance linens, and specialty weaves.
Filter by texture second. Within your cleaning code range, fabrics divide roughly into smooth weaves (performance polyester, solution-dyed acrylic), textured weaves (boucle, chenille, nubby linen blends), and pile fabrics (velvet, mohair-style weaves). Each reads differently at a distance and feels different under daily use. Swatches are the only reliable way to evaluate this.
Then consider color. Color is the easiest variable to feel certain about in a sample and the one most likely to read differently at full sofa scale. A swatch that looks like a warm greige in isolation can read cooler against your wall paint. Ordering two or three swatch candidates and laying them against your actual wall is worth the time.
Our free swatch program ships samples at no cost. Order the candidates you are genuinely considering, not just the ones that look good on screen.
Configuration: Shape, Size, and Orientation
Configuration decisions cover the overall shape of the piece, whether you need a chaise and on which side, the number of seats, and whether you want a modular system that can be reconfigured later.
Key decisions to make before ordering:
The facing direction of your chaise or return, described as left-facing or right-facing when you are looking at the sofa from the front. This is locked at order and cannot be changed after production begins.
Whether you want the sofa to float in the room or anchor against a wall, which affects both the configuration shape and the placement of arm styles.
Whether you anticipate moving in the next few years, this is a reason to consider modular over fixed configurations.
Our team will confirm orientation and configuration fit during the 3D floor plan review step before your order is finalized.
Seat Depth: Standard or Deep
Our standard seat depth runs approximately 22 to 24 inches of usable seat surface. Our deep seat configurations run 24 to 28 inches. The overall sofa depth (front cushion edge to back of frame) ranges from 36 to 48 inches across our lineup.
If you are taller than 5 feet 10 inches or you primarily use your sofa in a reclined position, deep seating will likely suit you better. If you are shorter than 5 feet 4 inches or you prefer upright seating, standard depth is more functional. Custom depths between these standards can be specified when you place your order.
Arm Style and Height
Arm style affects both how the sofa looks and how it functions. The primary options across our lineup run from low track arms (approximately 22 to 24 inches from the floor) to mid-height slope arms (24 to 26 inches) to higher square or box arms (26 to 30 inches).
Higher, squarer arms double as headrests for lying down and are more traditional in style. Lower, sleeker arms make a sofa read lighter and more contemporary, particularly useful in smaller rooms where visual weight matters.
Leg Style and Finish
Our leg options include tapered wood legs in espresso, walnut, and painted finishes, and metal legs in chrome and brushed gold. Height options run from 1.54 to 76 inches.
Taller legs in metal finishes read contemporary and minimalist. Shorter tapered wood legs read warmer and more traditional. Beyond aesthetics, leg height affects under-sofa clearance for cleaning and robot vacuums, which require a minimum of 3.5 inches.
Cushion and Back Style
Back cushion style is a personalization choice that significantly affects both the silhouette of the sofa and the amount of ongoing maintenance it requires.
Tight or attached backs are upholstered directly to the frame. They require no fluffing, hold their appearance with minimal upkeep, and create a clean, structured silhouette. Less adjustable for individual comfort preferences.
Loose cushion backs create a softer, more casual look. They require regular fluffing to maintain their profile, particularly in higher-use households. They allow more flexibility in how you position cushions for comfort.
Pillows and Finishing Accessories
We can coordinate throw pillows in complementary fabrics from the same 250+ library. Coordinating pillows in a contrasting texture or tone are a practical option for deep seat configurations where lumbar pillows add functional support in addition to visual interest.
If you are ordering throw pillows alongside your sofa, order swatches for your top two or three pillow fabric candidates along with your sofa fabric candidates. Seeing them together in your actual room before committing is always worth the extra step.
The Personalization Process Step by Step
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Order fabric swatches from your shortlist (free)
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Submit your room dimensions for our free 3D floor plan rendering
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Review the rendered layout and confirm the model, configuration shape, and orientation
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Choose seat depth, cushion firmness, and legs
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Confirm fabric selection
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Finalize your order
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We begin production in our Los Angeles, California workshop
Each sofa is built individually to your specification using kiln-dried hardwood frames, 8-gauge sinuous springs, and 2.5 lb high-resilience foam. No stock inventory is involved in the process.
FAQ: Personalizing Your Sofa With Us
How many fabric swatches can I order? Our free swatch program does not have a strict limit for serious buyers working through a configuration decision. Order the candidates you are genuinely comparing. Swatches are the most reliable step in the fabric decision, and skipping them to save time frequently leads to regret.
Can I change my configuration after placing an order? Our builds begin production after order confirmation. Changes after production has started are typically not possible. This is why we run the 3D floor plan step and swatch review before an order is placed rather than after.
Is there a minimum order size or required configuration? No. Single sofas, chaise configurations, compact two-piece modulars, and full U-shape sectionals all move through the same process with us. There is no minimum size or complexity requirement.
What if I want a color or fabric that is not in our current library? Reach out to us directly to discuss special material requests. Our 250+ library covers a wide range, but we can advise on options outside the standard catalog for buyers with specific requirements.
How long does a custom order take? Lead times range between 4-5 weeks varies by configuration complexity and current production volume. Requesting a quote with your specific configuration details is the best way to get a current lead time estimate. Because we manufacture domestically, our lead times are not subject to overseas shipping variables.
Every sofa we make is built to your specifications in our Los AngelesSan Jose, California workshop. Free swatches, free 3D floor plan rendering, and 250+ fabric options available at whataAroom.com.
