BookmarkSofas: Sleeper & Sectional Sofas
In no category of home furnishings will you have a greater selection of styles and qualities than that of sofas. And while the aesthetics of the piece are certainly important, ultimately, comfort should be first and foremost. In order to simplify the selection process, you might find it convenient to group sofas (and here I use the term to refer to sleepers and sectional sofas as well) by the style of their backs. Arguably, no other aspect of this furniture has a greater affect on the way a sofa looks and feels. You will find that all sofas can be grouped into four back-style categories.
Four back-style categories: Tight Back |
Other parts of the sofa include: Skirts |
Back Styles
|
|
 |
Tight back sofas have the firmest "seat" (sit the hardest) as their sprung backs have no pillows for you to sink into. As a result, you tend to sit upright in these sofas more so than in other styles. Camel Back, Channel Back and Tufted Back sofas are good examples of this category. They tend to stay neat looking and are "low maintenance," as they have no back pillows to straighten. |
|
Attached pillow backs sit more softly while still maintaining a tidy look. Pillows are filled and then sewn onto the inside back of the sofa to prevent them from shifting. On the down side, you are not able to turn them around to hide that nasty stain residing on your sofa pillow. |
|
 |
Loose Pillow Back sofas usually have the same number of back and seat cushions, allowing for fabric matching of stripes and plaids. In this case the back pillows are reversible and can usually be unzipped for re-stuffing. The seating comfort is moderately firm but, as with all styles, will vary based on the depth of the sofa and the quality of the filling in the cushions. |
Multi Pillow Back Sofa
Multi Pillow Back sofas, also called Scatter Back sofas, have more back pillows than seat pillows. The pillows are tossed randomly across the back for a more casual look. These sofas tend to sit softly and are often deeper than other designs. The back pillows can be arranged to accommodate people of varying heights, and are unquestionably the choice of youngsters during pillow fights. |
|
Skirts
 Dressmaker |
|
 Kickpleat |
Base Treatments
Upholstered Foot |
Plinth Base |
Arm Styles Arm styles are numerous with the classics shown below. Keep in mind your usage of the sofa. If you are inclined to lie down on it, you may find a lower padded arm to be better suited to your lifestyle than a high tuxedo-style arm. |
 Roll Arm |
|
 Tuxedo Arm |
After selecting your sofa style, a fabric must be chosen. Here you would be wise to carefully consider the manner in which the sofa is to be used, as the cost of reupholstering a sofa is close to that of a new one. In selecting a fabric, the style and fiber content both come into play. Photographs Courtesy of Rowe Furniture and Hiatt Furniture |
SofasGalore.com offers a great variety of modern sofas and other contemporary furniture for your home.
More information on sofas
Sofas Merchant
www.SofasGalore.com
Learn about upholstered furniture
View our leather furniture directory