CHOOSING THE PERFECT SOFA
Sofas are often the largest piece of furniture, so they can quickly set the tone for a room's design, telling us if the room is for lounging, entertaining, or perhaps for both. And because sofas are expensive, deciding on which one to buy can be daunting. How do you choose the right one? We’re here to help you figure that out. Let’s get started, shall we?
SOFA STYLE & FUNCTION
It all starts with having a vision. What do you want the overall look and feel to be, and how do you want the room to function? For example, when you walk into a space with a large U-shaped sectional, it has the tendency to say ‘hey, this space is for lounging’ and invites you to sit back, relax, and put your feet up. That's why U-shaped sofas are often accompanied by a large TV or fireplace and work well in basements, family rooms or casual living rooms.
On the other hand, walking into a room with an upright English roll arm sofa, invites a different kind of experience - something that's more conducive to entertaining and conversation. It feels more adult, sophisticated and traditional too.
A three-seater sofa with a chaise (called a Chaise Sofa) is a happy compromise because it’s an upright sofa with an attached ottoman for lounging. Most big box stores excel at the Chaise Sofa, and you can find great options at West Elm, EQ3, CB2 and Crate & Barrel. They work well in smaller spaces too, where you still want to lounge but you might not have enough space for a large sectional or U-shaped sofa.
And then there's the supermodels of the sofa world - the ones we call Designer Sofas. They take their style cues from well known design eras (Mid-Century, Art Deco or Louis XVI to name a few). Some great examples are shown below, starting with a modern take on Louis XVI that’s curved and upholstered in leather (gorgeous!!) and the Mario Bellini modular Camaleonda (1970) on the right. We also love the Soriana Sofa (1969) and curved Vladimir Kagan (1956).
Investing in the real deal can be expensive but fun if you like a good hunt. For those of you on a budget, many furniture stores, like Eternity Modern, have replicated these designs at discount prices so they have become much more accessible.
FOAM OR FEATHERS?
Whether your sofa is store-bought or you're making a custom one, it’s important to understand what you want your sofa to be made of - the age-old debate of down, foam, or both.
Down is arguably the most comfortable and luxurious. You’ll sink into a sofa stuffed with down. However, it takes a little more work to keep it looking great. Down doesn’t ‘bounce back’ on its own - it requires regular fluffing to redistribute the feathers and bring back the volume. It's also the most expensive option.
Foam on the other hand is the opposite of down. While down is natural, foam is synthetic. While down is cushy, foam is firm and bounces back. For someone who prefers a firmer cushion, foam is the way to go. And of course, foam has the tendency to create a more “buttoned up” appearance.
For most people, something in the middle is the perfect solution. You can do a hybrid sofa where the core is foam then wrapped in down (or synthetic Dacron) for that plush feeling. Big box stores will often do a hybrid to cut down on costs.
LET’S TALK FABRIC
The fabric you choose can determine how a sofa ages over time, how well it hides stains, and how easy it is to clean. Performance fabrics are often the way to go if you have kids or dogs (or partners who are just like your kids and dogs). Almost every major furniture retailer sells a sofa in a performance fabric. If you’re unfamiliar with performance fabric, it’s a type of fabric that is stain resistant, easy to clean and has a high rub count (i.e. durability).
If you are looking for a sofa for a less used area, then we do love our natural fibers over here at Griffin Houghton. You can't go wrong with linen, cotton velvet, wool or mohair. By choosing a natural fiber sofa, you're opening yourself up to many options! If you've fallen in love with one of these options but you’re worried about it, you can use a company like The Cleaning Guy or Fiber Sheild (local to Toronto). They use a product called ZebraSeal which is like an invisible seal for your sofa that can actually be used on all upholstery items and helps keep your furniture in tip-top shape for years to come.
LASTLY, HAVE SOME FUN!
If you make the right choices, investing in a quality sofa can last you 20+ years, so in many cases it can be worth the investment. And because a well made sofa can last this long, you can always re-upholster when you want to switch things up in your home. So don't be afraid to have a little fun. Why not do your seat cushions in one pattern and the base of the sofa in another? Slipcovers also give you the ability to switch it up in case you get tired of the fabric. We love the local Toronto company Potato Skins Slipcovers.
Next time you're on the hunt for the perfect sofa, we hope some of the above tips come in handy. And as always, we’re here to help. Happy sofa hunting!
Image Credits
Image 1 - Design: Neal Beckstedt; Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson; Image 2 - Design: Rosanna Bossom; Photo: Astrid Templier; Image 3 - Design Within Reach photo; Image 4 & 5 - Design: Unknown; Photo: Unknown, Design: Unknown; Photo: Unknown; Image 6 & 7 - Design: Kelly Wearstler; Photo: Nick Hudson, Design: Julie Hillman; Photo: Barbel Miebach; Image 8 - Design: Meghan Eisenberg; Photo: Haris Kenjar, Serena and Lily performance fabric; Image 9 - Design: McGrath II; Photo: Joshua McHugh, Guy Goodfellow Collection fabric, Howe London sofa
Contact us for all your design needs at studio@griffinhoughton.com
We would love to help.
