The most comfortable sofas have the right combination of upholstery and cushion fill for napping, watching TV and spending time with friends and family. If you prefer a warm-to-the-touch sofa, you might want to steer clear of leather, which can remain chilly, especially in colder months; for those who want something soft, stick with velvet, cotton blends, suede or microfiber. And don’t forget about the fill: For a super-fluffy cushion, look for a large percentage of down fill, but if you prefer a firmer seat, go for a foam or spring core wrapped in fiber.

To assess the durability of a couch, look the materials used to make it. The longest-lasting sofas tend to have hardwood frames, which provide the best support. In terms of upholstery, performance fabrics—specifically, ones with rub counts between 50,000 and 150,000—and leather tend to be the most resilient. If you’re worried about stains or frequent washing, though, choose a couch that can be recovered or slip-covered down the line.

If you’re shopping for a new couch, start by looking at the materials and overall construction. In general, you want something constructed using hardwood and durable materials like leather and performance fabric. Additionally, look for a brand that’s transparent about how it sources its materials and constructs its sofas.