Sofas—we relax on them, read on them, socialise on them and maybe even fall asleep on them. But, despite their familiarity, sofas in all their various guises can still be confusing.
Sofa styles (there are a lot of them!) range from high-back sofas to corner sofas and modular sofas to loveseats. There are traditional sofas and contemporary sofas and, these days, sometimes a sofa hybrid-part-traditional sofa, part-contemporary sofa.
If you’re finding yourself confused at the difference between a tuxedo sofa and Mid-century sofa, read on to discover the main sofa shapes any furniture buyer should know.
Traditional Sofas
Traditional sofas prioritise fine hand-rendered craftsmanship, extensive decorative detailing and, typically, showcase curved, opulent silhouettes.
Rolled arms, deep buttoning, fringing, tassels and other forms of decorative trims, carved wood frames, shaped wooden skirts, legs and feet and elaborate fabrics like brocades, chintz and tapestry are just some of the characteristics of traditional sofas.
Sofas are often characterised as traditional if old-time upholstery techniques have been used in their construction. Historically, sofas of this type were rarely larger than 3 or 4 seaters however, these days, traditional elements can be applied to much larger, modern sofas.
Верблюжья спинка дивана
As its name would suggest, the camelback sofa is characterised by a pronounced hump (or two) on its seat back. Slender rolled arms are the traditional choice although modern-day designs often use the more contemporary shelter arm as seen here. Leg styles range from the most traditional of a straight Marlborough or cabriole leg to more modern bracketed options.
Designed in the 18th century by furniture maestro Thomas Chippendale, this sofa has retained its sophistication over the years.
Диван Честерфилд
Диван Chesterfield — одна из самых знаковых форм дивана и популярный формальный дизайн дивана. Датируемый 18-м веком, красивый дизайн дивана отличается относительно низкой, свернутой спинкой, которая продолжается до подлокотников, создавая равномерный силуэт, пухлые подушки сидений и глубокие пуговицы.
Antique Chesterfields were often rendered in a rich leather whose deep tones would be accented by the use of the deep button-tufting, however, modern Chesterfields come in various fabrics, offering a different aesthetic.
кушетка
Part sofa, part bed—a daybed sofa is a lasting remnant from the Middle Ages. Modern examples range from occasional-use chaise-like designs to regularly used beds with headboard or backrest-like panels and mattress base. They are often constructed of upholstered, wooden or iron frames.
Trundle daybeds are space-saving workhorses and are often found in kid and teenage rooms to be used when friends come to visit. For an adult-friendly use, daybeds with storage work well for smaller loft spaces.
Английский диван Roll Roll Arm
A classic Victorian sofa which is as loved today as it was 200 years ago, the English Roll Arm sofa has low, set-back rolled arms, a deep seat and a gently reclined tight back, although some designs may have loose back cushions.
The design is one of the most popular sofa styles, lending itself to traditional and contemporary decor schemes, town and country homes alike. The style can be seen in the homes of actress Jessica Chastain and J.Crew’s impossibly stylish former creative director Jenna Lyons.
Knole Sofa
An instantly recognisable sofa style, the Knole sofa is arguably the most unique sofa shape. Its ingenious design is found in the ability to drop its detached sides in a leaf-like manner. These folding panels are held upright by a system of hinges and decorative corded ties which add a functional beauty to the piece.
Because of their collectability and designer kudos, Knole sofas tend to be used as statement pieces in their truest form and are rarely modernised, however, updated versions do exist with modern materials and accents.
Contemporary Sofas
In contrast to their elaborate traditional counterparts, contemporary sofas are interested in streamlined design. Less focus is put on the frame of a contemporary sofa—in fact, the frame is usually almost completely concealed under the upholstery.
There is a tendency toward straight, uncomplicated and unbroken silhouette lines, the use of platform bases or simple legs and non-patterned fabrics. Their construction usually incorporates modern technologies and materials to produce the slimmest version possible and they can come in almost any size and shape.
Лоусон Диван
Лоусон — один из самых известных дизайнов диванов, но его на удивление сложно охарактеризовать из-за его различных модификаций и воплощений в прошлом. Настоящий Лоусон — это хорошо набитый диван со свернутыми подлокотниками Лоусона или носками (которые могут быть либо утоплены, либо заподлицо с передней частью дивана) и отдельными свободными подушками спинки и сиденья, которые придают дивану характерный комфорт. Это любимый выбор для семейных комнат, он может быть как традиционным, так и современным.
козетку
A loveseat sofa is the one sofa style which almost any room will benefit from. Small loveseats are akin to a 1.5 seater chair, making them an intimate spot for couples to relax in, whilst larger designs more closely resemble a 2-seater sofa and work well in a larger arrangement. Loveseats come in a variety of styles—both traditional and contemporary. Round designs have become popular of late, encouraging sitters to curl up with a tempting book.
Современный диван середины века
Mid-century sofas have been some of the most popular of late. Whilst there isn’t a one-size-fits-all description for the Mid-century sofa, there are a few distinct design Mid-century design elements to look out for. Boxy shapes or long straight planes with rounded corners, round bolster cushions and splayed legs or a platform base are all classic Mid-century. As is shallow linear button-tufting, pastel shades and exposed wood framing or exotic wood wraps.
Смокинг диван
Reportedly named for New York’s sophisticated Tuxedo Park, this sofa is recognisable for its high square arms which wrap around the entire back of the sofa and crisp and tailored upholstery. It is, by nature, one of the more formal sofa styles but also one which works well in various settings. When upholstered in rich velvet, the sofa appears ultra-glamorous; channel tufted, the style is decidedly Mid-century modern; and, left plain, a tuxedo sofa seems so current.
Family Sofas
Family sofas are designed for two things—comfort and seating capacity. They are typically large sofas of informal design with a low profile, deep plush seats and cushions and sturdy construction. Family sofas are understandably popular in family rooms or informal living rooms.
Секционный диван
This contemporary sofa design is usually constructed as a complete piece (or with perhaps one join) and typically looks like a regular sofa with a long chaise attached at either or both ends. This placement determines whether the sofa would be a considered a left or right hand facing sofa or a U-shaped sofa. Many sofa styles have been given the sectional treatment, meaning there’s a chance you can find your preferred sofa style in this format.
Модульный диван
A modular sofa is so-called for its interconnected, interchangeable sections or units. Highly customisable because of their various configurations and endless possibilities, sofas can be created differently with unique combinations of the individual components. They can be U-shaped, curved or completely freeform. Recently, sectional sofas placed in the centre of a living room, with seating on all sides have become popular.
Creating Your Perfect Sofa
Although certain sofa styles have lasted the test of time in their original forms, the fun in designing a sofa is that you can take elements of different sofas and combine them to make something which is best for you.
The combinations of sofa styles, arms and legs are limitless so the most important thing is to choose your sofa based on what you want from the piece and the style of your room.
Once you know those two things you can create a sofa which is really right for you.
Shop Designer Sofas
Here at LuxDeco, our highly skilled designers are on hand to give their expert advice and help design your perfect sofa. If you would like help choosing your luxury sofa, contact our team at concierge@luxdeco.com or +44 (0)20 3322 8665.
ПОДРОБНЕЕ
Continue on your sofa journey and learn more about the craftsmanship and care that goes into the production of our luxury sofas.
10 Main Sofa Styles
Nowadays, the market is filled with different sort of furniture! The sofa sets the tone to the whole style of the room. Its very hard to decide which sofa type will suit your space harmoniously, but it is even harder to explain the producer or the retailer what are you looking for. As you have noticed, there are 10 main sofa styles, in this post I am going to name, show and explain each sofa type in details.
Characterized by a clean-lined, rectangular shape, tufted back and seat cushions, and solid, wood legs, the Mid-Century sofa is the ideal choice if you love the “Mad Men” aesthetic. In fact, in 2009, CB2 released a Draper sofa, named after, you guessed it, Don Draper. Mid-Century sofas are always on high legs so it looks light and elevated. It has a simple silhouette. Contemporary Mid-Century sofas can have minimum of curvature of the area of arm rests (Image 2). Usually the upholstery is monochromatic, made of durable contemporary materials. This sofa will suit perfectly for minimalistic and contemporary interiors.
A daybed can be used as a couch by day and a bed by night. If you have houseguests often, it’s a natural choice for when you need extra sleeping space. This feature is especially advantageous for studio apartments, or if the bedroom is small and you don’t have extra space for a chair, sofa or love seat in the room. To make a daybed more comfortable for sitting, place thick pillows against the back board so you have additional back support and your feet are more likely to reach the floor. Most daybeds have side rails or armrests, so you can lean against the side of the bed as if it were a lounge chair. The bottom cushion on a daybed is a standard mattress, typically twin-size, so it offers plenty of comfort and support. Some daybed manufacturers produce varieties that come with under-the-bed storage trundles. The added storage can serve as a dresser, toy chest or trunk for belongings.
A disadvantage of a daybed is its need for a supportive back wall that runs the entire length of the bed. Even though you don’t have to place a daybed against a wall, it might not look visually appealing without one.
According to Houzz, “chaise” derives from the term “chaise lounge,” meaning long chair. A chaise is an upholstered seat for one, and it is meant for reclining in — think of this as a chair and foot stool in one. Chaises always have a back and may have one, two or no arms. Some chaises, like the one you see here, are contoured, making it even more tempting to lie back and relax. Others have a more contemporary upright shape and can be used to seat two side by side or one reclining.
Округлые подлокотники определяют этот стиль дивана, а свободные подушки на дне делают его очень удобным выбором. По словам Макграта II, спинка сиденья обычно тугая, а это означает, что подушки не снимаются. – Тренер Central Perk Coach в «Друзьях» был англичанином. Английский диван с подлокотниками — одна из самых популярных моделей по нескольким причинам. Во-первых, это очень удобно. При средней глубине 42 дюйма в этом диване легко утонуть (и никогда не вставать!). Во-вторых, это классическая форма, которая никогда не выйдет из моды. И в-третьих, я нахожу его форму очень универсальной; Многие различные стили мебели хорошо сочетаются с английским поворотным кронштейном. Руки обычно немного ниже спины. Одним из самых известных производителей английских диванов с подлокотниками является лондонский дизайнер Джордж Смит.
Tuxedo sofa was made famous by interior designer Billy Baldwin, but there are lots of iterations of the tuxedo sofa. What distinguishes the tuxedo from other styles is its boxy shape. The arms are almost always the same height as the back and the legs are either upholstered or exposed. The couch is clean-lined and geometric, and often upholstered with fabric.
The camelback sofa is a great choice for fans of traditional styling. Aptly named for its curved back, the sofa comes in a variety of styles — one hump, two humps and barely there curved back. It’s a traditional style that creates an elegant look in any home.
The biggest difference between English Roll Arm and Lawson is that back cushions of the Lawson are not attached to the frame.
Созданный для финансиста Томаса Лоусона на рубеже 20-го века, диван Лоусона имеет четкие линии, отражающие его стремление к более простой, удобной и современной конструкции, чем богато украшенные викторианские стили того времени. Этот диван подходит для оформления от современного до традиционного, но имя Лоусон иногда неправильно применяется к стилям, которые почти не демонстрируют его характеристик. Научитесь распознавать ключевые особенности дивана Lawson, если хотите выбрать эту универсальную классику для своего помещения.
With its straight lines, the Lawson is sometimes called “boxy,” but don’t let that description stop you from appreciating its design. Its proportions give the sofa a tailored back about as high above the seat as the seat is deep, with arms much lower than the back. The original Lawson design has three attached back pillows over three seat cushions. Oversized or pillowed arms will not appear on a Lawson sofa. Fans of Lawson style appreciate the neat look and supportive feel of attached back pillows, but seek one with loose back pillows if you prefer. Because of the height of its arms, this sofa is one of the more comfortable sofas for napping. The Lawson style also comes in a convertible sofa-sleeper. The option of straight legs lend the Lawson sofa a more modern look, while a tailored skirt leans it toward traditional decor and a ruffled skirt lends it country flair. A rectangular or “track” arm may be your choice for an urban loft and a small rolled or sock arm for a more traditional or cottage-style home
Самый простой способ узнать, является ли рассматриваемый диван Честерфилдом? Обратите внимание на глубокую пуговицу сзади. Подлокотники дивана свернуты и имеют ту же высоту, что и спинка. Часто сделанный из кожи, такой предмет вы ожидаете увидеть в изысканной библиотеке.
See the way the legs of this sofa curve outward and down, sort of like the ballet movement? This style of sofa — popular during the first half of the 18th century — is characteristic of Queen Anne, Louis XV, and Chippendale furniture. The Cabriole sofa is characterized by an exposed wooden frame (often carved); continuous, equal-height back and arms; distinctive curved legs with concave lower portions and convex upper ones; and no separate back cushions. They rose in popularity around the time of Людовик XV in the 1800s and have swung strongly back in vogue today.
Also known as a “love seat,” the settee is defined by a straight back and space for two to sit comfortably. It can fit into nooks too narrow for a full-size sofa or create a cozy seating vignette in an open floor plan when paired with a side table or a chair. Plus, in one of these two-seaters, you’ll need no excuse to scooch up close to your seat mate.
If you want to know more about types of sofas, read this article by Houzz
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/types-of-rebars-844455-final-79df825e60664fb382c898ff2455a265.png)
