An Existing Sofa, or a New Design?
Before developing a sofa from scratch, check whether an existing model can meet the brief. Here is where a finish change ends and development begins.
Published Updated
Start with an existing model if its shape and seating layout already work. Ask the factory to assess changes to size, cover or configuration before assuming they are simple options. A new arm, frame or module connection can turn a small-looking change into development work. Compare both routes before committing.
Mark what stays. Mark what changes.
A reference image is a good starting point, but “make it like this” hides the most important decisions. Is it the low back you want, the wide arm, the loose cushions or simply the colour? Those requests lead to different work.
For a dealer adding a sofa to a range, an existing silhouette may already do the job. A project buyer may have a fixed wall length or access constraint that the same model cannot meet. Write the non-negotiable requirement beside the image; let the factory assess the rest rather than interpreting every detail as fixed.
Our starting point at JANEPU is batch production from the current model library. If a suitable design is missing, we assess development against your brief. Send the closest model and mark what has to change; an existing reference does not mean stock is available.
“Just make it narrower” still needs a drawing
A narrower sofa may need different cushion widths, fewer seams or a changed frame. A deeper seat changes more than the outside footprint. Do not decide whether a modification is minor from the number of centimetres alone.
Ask which parts can stay and which need a drawing or sample. For a sectional, reusing approved modules is different from designing a new corner unit; check the connections as well as the outline.
Changing the cover also needs a check. The original seams, pattern direction and cushion shape may read differently with another fabric. Choose the actual sample before approving the final appearance, rather than matching a colour from a screenshot.
Mark the change, not just the finished look.
- A: Cover — confirm the sample, seams and pattern direction.
- B: Overall width — ask what changes in the frame and cushions.
- C: Arm profile — identify the shape to keep or develop.
Use the sample to make a decision, not to restart the brief
Before sampling, agree what you will judge: the outline, the sit, the cover, the visible seams and any removable or connecting parts. Collect comments in one marked document so that a change accepted by the designer is not undone in a separate message from procurement.
If cost is the reason for choosing an existing model, ask for a breakdown before assuming a saving. Development, sample revisions and batch production belong on separate lines. A repeatable base model can reduce the work involved, but the actual saving depends on the requested changes and quantity.
Work backwards from the opening or installation date, leaving time to review the sample. Production completion, shipping and installation are separate dates.
Related product references
