If interior design was simple, we’d all do it by ourselves, and a lot of people would be out of a job, wouldn’t they? Unfortunately, most of us can’t really afford an interior designer to come and make our place look like it should be featured in an architecture magazine, so we have to rely on our own skills and wits to make the place look nice and cosy.
Today, we’re going to focus on the basics, and that’s how to choose the right sofa shape for your room. Believe it or not, there are so many things to consider when shopping for a new sofa, and if you want to find the perfect fit – you have to know them all.
In order to help you stop wasting your time, we went out and did some research on your behalf. We’ve consulted with interior designer, we’ve read a lot of stuff, and finally, we’ve decided to bestow upon you the fruits of our labour. So, without further ado, let’s see how you can find the perfect sofa shape for your room.
Which Sofa Shapes Are There?
Before we can get to the “how to choose” section of this article, we first have to get familiar with some sofa basics. So, here are some of the most essential sofa shapes you can get your hands on.
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Cabriole Sofa
The first shape on our list is the cabriole sofa. This is the most traditional style out of all, and it features an exposed wooden frame and some luscious curves. We’re sure you know which ones we’re talking about, right? It’s the ones you’d often see in old-money, TV show families’ houses, or perhaps the ones you’d picture Queen of England sits on.
These sofas scream luxury and passion, mostly due to their S-shaped legs and expensive pillows and cushions they’re often styled with. They can be lined with pretty much any fabric, but if we had to choose the one that’s perfect for it, we’d choose two – leather and velvet.
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Sectional Sofa
Sectional or corner sofas are the central piece of modern, minimalist interior design, and they’re the ones that are most often found in some newer homes. They’re quite contemporary, although most of them will fit virtually any space. It’s a very functional design and one that offers you a lot of freedom when it comes to furnishing your room. They work well with an extra armchair and are often the choice for large families that like to gather ’round and watch movies every now and then.
As far as fabrics are concerned, you’ll rarely find one that is upholstered in leather. However, any other fabric, as you can see for yourself if you click here, will work very well with these sofas.
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Club Sofa
Finally, the third most popular sofa choice is the club sofa or the English rolled arm sofa. These are one of the oldest designs as they originate back to the 19th century. They’re instantly recognizable for their small, recessed arms and quite a bit low and deep seats. These are as comfy as they get, and thanks to their low-profile arms, you may just fall asleep on it without worrying about your neck hurting for the next week. If you don’t know which type we’re talking about, it’s the one in the middle of the world’s most popular coffee shop – Central Perk.
Now, apart from these, there are probably more than 20 additional sofa types, but all of them are in one way or another similar to the ones we’ve already mentioned.
How To Choose The Right Sofa Shape For Your Room
Now, let’s look at some expert tips on how to choose the perfect sofa shape for any room.
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Match The Vibe Of The Room
Before you go out and get a new sofa, you should probably have a good idea of how you want your space to look and feel and choose accordingly. For instance, if you’re all about minimalism and modernism, a club or cabriole sofa doesn’t really match the vibe, so you might be better of going with something like a corner sofa.
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Determine Orientation And The Placement
Some sofas are meant to be against the wall because their backsides aren’t the most presentable. Therefore, if you plan on putting your sofa near the wall and orienting it towards the middle of the room, you might consider something that’s going to occupy the large portion of the wall and not something like a Chesterfield that’s going to look out of place.
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Measure Everything
The last thing you’d want is to fall in love with a sofa, buy it, and only then realize that it won’t fit your room because it’s too big (or even too small). Even though you would probably be able to work things out if the sofa was small, we are quite confident that you won’t be able to do anything if you get one that’s too big. So, make sure you measure everything, at least twice, before you go shopping.
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Pick The Right Upholstery
Choosing the right upholstery will also greatly influence which type of sofa you go for. When it comes to choosing the perfect upholstery, you’ll have to consider various things. If you have kids or pets – you’ll have to think about maintenance. If you spend a lot of time lounging on your sofa – you’ll have to think of longevity. We don’t have to keep going – you get the gist.
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Think Of The Arms
Finally, not all sofas come with the same style arms as we’ve seen, so you’ll have to think about that, too. If you prefer lying down instead of sitting up, you’ll probably be better off with low arms and vice versa. Some don’t even come with arms, and if that’s something you might find interesting or appealing – go for it.
Conclusion
There you have it. Those were some common sofa types and a small, hopefully useful, guide on how you can choose the right one for your room. We hope we’ve been able to help.
