What Type of Sofa Should I Buy?
A sofa is the focal point of the room. Often found in the living room, sofas tie a room together, offer seating for you, your family, and guests, and constitute a significant furniture investment. So, how do you choose the right one?
There are many different types of sofas, including sectional sofas, modular sofas, and sleep sofas. Even after you have chosen between these sofa styles, you need to pick other aspects of the sofa, like whether it will have rolled arms, what color the seat cushions will be, and whether you want a high or low-seated sofa. The choices are endless, but that's why we're here to help.
This guide will help you work out which type of sofa is the best choice for your space. Take a look below to learn more about the types of sofas you can get your hands on with Viesso.
Types of Sofa: By Sofa Styles
At Viesso, we're proud to stock a vast variety of unique and stylish sofas. We pride ourselves on finding incredible craftsmanship and sofa styles that will last for years to come. Take a look below to find some common sofa styles you might consider.
Chesterfield Sofa
A Chesterfield sofa is recognizable for its high rolled arms and back of the same height, sometimes with deep button tufting. Often made of leather, our Wallace Sofa is an excellent example of what Chesterfield sofas commonly look like.
Sectional Sofas
A sectional sofa (also known as a modular sofa) consists of multiple sections that can be arranged as you please. These are great choices if you move around a lot, particularly for renters so that you can modify your sofa design to fit in the space that you have. Our Colyn Sectional Sofa is a great choice; with plump cushions and curved steel legs, it can fit in a range of spaces and interior design styles.
Camelback Sofa
A camelback sofa is notable for its camel hump-shaped back, exposed legs, and tight back. Camelback sofas add quirkiness to any room.
Tuxedo Sofa
Tuxedo sofas are perfect for anyone looking for stylish and contemporary sofas for their living space. With straight, squared-off arms and backs, tuxedo sofas, like our Mulholland Sofa, fit well into sleek and clean spaces.
Chaise Lounge
A chaise lounge is essentially a long chair. It's perfect for laying out and relaxing and can be used as an addition to the traditional sofas already in your space.
English Roll-Arm sofas
Looking for traditional sofas? The English roll-arm sofa styles are perfect for you. With low backs, loose cushions, and signature rolled arms, this style exudes comfort and coziness.
Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Mid-century modern sofas were a trend that emerged in the mid-20th century and often have clean lines, tapered legs, and minimal ornamentation. They are perfect if you want a simple and functional sofa. Our Miller sofa, with wood legs and removable cushions, is a classic example of this style.
Lawson Sofa
A Lawson sofa is a casual style notable for its low arms, skirted bottom, and box-shaped cushions.
While this is by no means an extensive list of all the sofa styles you can find on the market, these are a few key styles that are popular with many of our customers. Once you've got the style of the sofa you want chosen, it's time to consider functionality.
At Viesso, we pride ourselves on stocking sofas that adhere to the form follows function principle in furniture design, but you may have more uses for your sofa in mind than simply sitting.
Types of Sofas and Couches: By Function
Generally, sofas are used for sitting, relaxing, watching TV, and reading, but in some cases, your sofa may need to have more functionality than that. Do you often have guests over to stay? If so, a sleeper sofa could be a great choice.
Sleeper sofas are convertible sofas with dual purposes. They can essentially become another bed in your home. While an individual could sleep on a Chesterfield sofa, the chances are they won't be as comfortable as if they were to be sleeping on one of our sofa beds!
The range of sleeper sofas we have on offer varies in style, so they can fit into whatever kind of interior style you have in your space. For instance, our Unfurl Lounger Sofa Bed is a sleek, modern-style sofa that comes in many colors. Our Cubed Sofa Bed with Arms, on the other hand, mimics the style of a tuxedo sofa and can be converted into a sofa bed when needed.
Other functionalities to consider include who will be sitting on the sofa. For elderly people, a low-seated sofa may be challenging to rise from, so a high-seated sofa could be a better choice. Additionally, for those with recurring back problems, sofas with back support, like recliners or camelback sofas, could be a good choice.
Types of Sofas: By Room
Last of all, you're going to need to consider the space in which your sofa will go. We've already covered how sectional sofas and modular sofas can be rearranged, making them a good choice for renters or frequent movers. But there are other things to consider.
For a sofa that is going to be placed in an office space, a sofa with a straighter back, like mid-century modern sofas or other contemporary sofas, might be better than something like an English roll arm. This is because while English roll arm couches exude comfort with their loose and plush sofa cushions if you're greeting colleagues or working on your sofa, you likely want a sofa style that won't send you to sleep!
You may also be looking into the types of sofas that can be used in outdoor settings. Often, this kind of sofa will have removable seat cushions or cushions made of a waterproof material. The frame will also be made of something sturdy and weatherproof to ensure it withstands outdoor conditions.
At Viesso, we have many options for outdoor sofas, including the Brumas Sofa, a roll-arm sofa made of lacquered aluminum; outdoor sectional sofas, like the Stripe Configuration 7 and the Paletti Modular Lounge Set; outdoor corner sofas, like the Level Right-Corner Sofa, and other sofa styles that are suited to your deck area and garden.
Types of Sofa Material
Along with the different types of sofas to consider, you may also want to consider the types of sofa materials you would like.
It is uncommon for sleeper sofa options or sofa beds to be made of materials like leather or PVC because this would make for uncomfortable sleeping. However, you may also want to avoid anything sticky like this for a regular sofa. If you've got kids, you might be looking for dark colors or washable fabric. And for frequent movers, you might want a color or fabric that can fit easily into already-painted walls in rented homes.
On top of these considerations, you might be looking for a way to bring your sustainable living ethos into your furniture. You can do this by shopping with Viesso. We're committed to finding lasting styles in functional designs made with materials that do less harm to the planet than traditional sofa materials.
Final Thoughts
There are many different types of sofas, from corner sofas with curved arms to sectional couches with exposed wood legs to mid-century sofa designs and track-arm sofa styles. It can feel overwhelming trying to choose.
Our guide has covered an easy way to break down your furniture shopping experience to ensure that you find the perfect sofa for your living room, office, or decking area. Consider the style, functionality, and space that the sofa is going to be in before making your purchase.
If you'd like to see more of the incredible range of stylish and contemporary sofas we offer, check out our sofa range now.