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Choosing the right types of sofas or couches can bewilder the uninitiated. Once you’ve perused the Chesterfield, the family sofa, loveseat, English arm roll, tuxedo, modular, mid-century modern, sleeper sofa and sofa bed or studio couch, divan/daybed, the Knole, contemporary, sectional, ottoman, camelback, Meridienne or fainting couch, chaise lounge, Lawson, Bridgewater, low-seated, the cabriole, track arm, relax mechanism, and recliner, you might feel giddy enough to want expert help in narrowing down your options.
Considering how much is available in terms of aesthetics and comfort, not to mention the custom designs you might dream up—it is a good idea to narrow down your priorities on paper.
This article takes you through some of the most popular choices and provides a guide on how to go about making the correct decision when searching for the perfect sofa.
Measure Your Sofa
Aside from budget, you’ll need to consider the space to accommodate the couch and determine what size sofa you need. The length/width (taking into account the widest point of rolled arms) and height/depth must be considered because you will have to haul the couch into the space, so measure up stairways, doors, and windows before you go shopping to ensure you can move the piece into your home without it getting stuck. (You may be able to remove legs to make this easier.)
Priorities When Buying a Sofa
Scale matters
If your living room is small, don’t try cramming an oversized sofa into it. You don’t want to overwhelm the space. And if the ceiling is low, don’t choose a high back that will make the space seem smaller.
Comfort
A deep, lower seat will give a relaxed sitting position, and a high shallow seat will prompt a more upright position that will affect your comfort levels. High-backed sofas provide good neck and shoulder support.
The high-density foam feels firm, but this may not be what you are going for, so look into the materials used to construct the sofa. Soft foam may deteriorate fast. High-resilience foam wrapped in a feather and down combination is a good bet.
Meanwhile, softer wood like pine won’t have the longevity of kiln-dried oak, ash, or beech and may warp over the years. Plastic, particle board, or metal frames are a no-no as they are uncomfortable and can crack or break. Quality joins will also ensure a longer lifespan than frames held together solely by nails, staples, or glue.
Color and upholstery choices
Both color and upholstery choices are affected by whether or not the sofa has to accommodate pets and children. If the answer is yes, it needs to be a hard-wearing, washable material, and the color should not show dirt. Leather is long-lasting, while polyester is more durable than linen.
Removable covers are handy for keeping the couch in mint condition. If your summers are hot and humid, consider a breathable fabric such as linen rather than velvet, which may be too hot.
Style
Style depends entirely on your tastes, so you may prefer clean, contemporary lines over more ornate styles. You should decide whether you want a trendy couch or something that will go the distance and last a while. Look at your room’s existing style or the style you are aiming to create and ensure your choice works with that style.
We begin our style exploration by examining which sofas and couch styles have seemingly been around forever yet have stood the test of time.
What Are Traditional Sofa Styles?
Traditional sofas include styles like the Chesterfield with its high rolled arms (as tall as the back of the couch) and deep button tufting, the sort of thing we might picture in dark leather in the libraries of grand old English homes or gentlemen’s clubs of old. These days it is also available in linens and velvets for more feminine appeal.
The English Roll Arm is a comfy sofa with a low, tight back and rolled arms considered a timeless classic.
The regal-looking camelback originated in the 17th century. This couch has a curved back, often with a pronounced or fairly subtle arch or “hump” in the middle. The original camelback sofa style was more about the décor style than comfort, although it has been updated to fit a traditionalist setting and provide comfort.
Aside from these, some popular and functional modern trends are finding favor with buyers in the 2020s.
Which Types of Sofa Are Most Popular?
The Lawson’s clean, modern lines have made it an American best-seller. This sofa was designed to suit American author, businessman, and tycoon, Thomas Lawson. It was a response to the Victorian move towards Rococo Revival silhouettes and has a seat design with three cushions and loose back pillows. The arms may be rolled, narrow track, or wide.
Sectional sofas have also gained popularity in living spaces because of their versatility. Having the capacity to change the configuration of your seating makes the living room more functional and allows you to update the look of your room occasionally.
A sectional is made up of independent pieces. The general number is three to five pieces. There are different models, including the popular U-shape and L-shape. Sectionals are useful in creating a cozy, intimate space perfect for warm discussions; they are wonderful for lounging on and may even be used as guest beds – pull-out beds are even a feature of some sectionals.
Because modern modular sectionals consist of more pieces, they also allow for more and different arrangements. You may buy additional pieces if you have a sizable family or enjoy entertaining. And what’s more, they are generally easier to transport than other sofas.
Loveseats are good old-fashioned sofas offering two seats. Ideal for small spaces, in bedrooms as a handy spot to read, watch TV or tie your laces, and even to provide additional seating in a living room where a three-seater won’t fit. Loveseats are excellent all-rounders. These can be found in a variety of styles.
Loveseats come in four categories based on their width from arm to arm. Compact accommodates a single person at around 51 inches long, small loveseats are 52 inches, medium goes up to 58 inches, full is as much as 64 inches long, and loveseat sofas can be up to 71 inches long.
What Kind of Sofas Are In Style?
Recent trends are seeing the sophisticated, streamlined, boxy style of the Tuxedo sofa finding a firm spot in the affections of modern sofa-hunters. The backrest of this sofa is lower-slung than the Chesterfield, and the arms of this couch are extensions of the backrest in this elegant style.
Which Type of Sofa is Best for the Living Room?
Also sought-after are deep-seated sofas, which are all about hedonistic levels of comfort. They are roomy; whether it’s a power nap you need, plans for a long lazy winter stretched out in your socks with coffee, books, and cats close at hand, or a favorite TV series on the box, this is just the ticket.
It’s debatable whether these are the best for the living room, as it comes down to personal choice, but the deep-seated couch offers a host of styles to choose from, so you are not limited in finding the comfiest options.
The deep-seat measurement is taken from the front of the seat to the back. Anything larger than 100cm is a deep-seated couch; with all the extra space, there is room for throw pillows galore.
Pros and Cons of Leather Sofas
The price of a leather sofa may be off-putting, but it is good value, as it not only does leather look chic and expensive but is more durable. Leather is hypoallergenic; it repels dust mites, pet hair, dander, and other allergens that collect in fabric sofas. Thanks to the tanning process, leather is stain-resistant and hardy.
It repels stains, and a damp cloth removes the worst spills. It does, however, show scratches and scuffs more than fabric might. Leather cream used every couple of months will keep the leather supple and hide the worst scratches.
Leather does not absorb odors as much as fabric does, which is good news if you have smokers visiting. Leather sofas are often firmer than their fabric counterparts and are not as comfortable. In summer, the leather retains heat, so it may be uncomfortable. In winter, the reverse is true.
- Full-grain leather is genuine leather, and so retains its original texture.
- Top grain leather includes the outside layer of the animal hide. It is polished full-grain leather and is the thickest, most hard-wearing leather.
- Bi-cast leather has a layer of vinyl added to it to give the impression of full-grain leather, but it is stiff, and the quality is not as good.
- Suede comes from the underside of the animal’s skin. It is made from younger animals as older animals’ skin is usually rough.
- Aniline leather has a small amount of surface coating to protect the leather surface.
- Semi-aniline leather has a slightly thicker protective coating. It is more resistant to stains than aniline leather, as it has a pigment, so the dye treatment is more consistent over the sofa.
- A polymer coating on pigmented leather ensures a longer lifespan, and an antique grain can be used to add a top layer that is rubbed away to give an aged appearance.
Why Custom-Made Sofas Are ALWAYS Tops
Handmade furniture is generally of better quality and value than that manufactured in a factory. It lasts longer and does not necessitate lengthy shopping trips to find exactly what you want. Sometimes, custom-made furniture costs less; some are made from recycled wood and other materials.
Custom-made sofas allow you to be creative and alter the basic design to suit your needs in terms of room shape or extra requirements (length/shape, storage, and so on), which will be uniquely personalized. There are a variety of wonderful choices available through Metropolitan Design Furniture.