It’s pretty clear there’s no challenging the importance of the sofa to our daily living routines. While their appearance and use vary from home to home, everyone needs a place to sit and sofas have become a dependable and expected solution.
So find a comfortable place to sit and let’s talk sofas.
The terms “couch” and “sofa” have become interchangeable, but actually refer to two different things.
Couch comes from the French word coucher, which means to lie down and sofa actually comes from suffah, the Arabic word for bench.
There are many different types of sofas, among them are the traditional sofa, the love seat, the sectional, the settee (or chaise) and the divan.
The traditional sofa is one that is most commonly found throughout homes and comfortably sits up to three people. Average length tends to be up to 8 feet. Anything after that is typically a custom job.
Love seats are those typically seat two people and sectionals are those that are usually L-shaped with a recliner on one or both ends. Check out Nothing but Love and Modular Furniture for more information on these styles.
Chaises are typical loungers that have become more useful to look than to actually use. They’ve historically added old-world sophistication and charm to a living area and they still have that impact today. Divans are the backless sofas you see that are backed up against a wall and supported with throw pillows or other cushions as a result.
The pictured Maya II Sofa by Homelegance effectively brings a bit of a retro feel into the modern age with muted camel tones with 60’s era circular patterns emblazoned on the throw pillows.
There are a number of things that should be considered before determining which of these you like best. Chief among these is what you intend to use it for (and how often it is going to be used). Reading a novel every now and again versus a family of 4 enjoying a regular movie night can drastically change your needs.
Don’t forget the numbers. Dimensions of the couch in proportion to your rooms (or if it will even fit in the door of your home) are things that cannot be overlooked.
All things considered, however, a couch is almost one of those things you can’t live without. So make sure you choose what’s best for you and your family.