Its label may not be cut and dry (sofa, couch, davenport—what do you call it?) but its function is clear: provide a comfy sitting spot and look good doing it. Read on to learn how this timeless fixture is taking shape in today’s living rooms—and beyond.
Eye for Details
After a quick glance at any high-end furniture catalog, it is apparent that a few ruffled pillows and a plush throw are no longer the standard accessories for sofas. “Customers are responding well to sofas with interesting details,” says Angela Green, merchandising manager of Room & Board. “People are looking for that little something, whether that something is buttons, interesting bases or a stainless steel cap detail on a wood leg.”
Sofa legs, in general, are now out in the open—an element that has traditionally been covered up with a skirt. Greater attention is also being paid to the arms of these fixtures. “A lot of sofas now have a box arm, so they tend to be [straighter],” says Sandra Greenway, interior designer for Robb & Stucky. Exposed legs and no-frills arms play into the clean-lined look that many upscale furniture companies are leaning towards. “[Sofas] will often times have a tight seat or a tight back or a combination of both,” Greenway says. “Less of a pouf, cushion look.”
Undercover
For most families, just about anything goes when it comes to choosing which materials will best suit their sofa, as long as the fabric is durable enough to withstand the likes of post-soccer practice shoes and grape juice spills. Room & Board’s top-selling upholstery, Advantage, is one that fits the bill with its anti-stain qualities. Greenway says textures, chenille and neutrals are also popular among those wanting a casual look; Nora Murphy, executive vice president of style and advertising for Ethan Allen, adds leather to that list as well. “In today’s world, where no rooms are off limits, family-friendly fabrics and leathers are very important,” she says. There are plenty of lush looks that are even being made more fitting for everyday use. “Advancements in this technology go well beyond the microsuedes, and now include rich velvets, boucles and tapestries,” Green says.
There are those sofas, though, that aren’t the plop-down-and-watch-TV types. “There are really two different customers,” Greenway explains. “You either have a customer who is lined with practicality and quality, [or one] who is lined with quality and beauty. Everyone wants something to look nice—some want a more luxurious look.”
Sitting Outside the Box
Nowadays, the sofa is no longer strictly for the family room. “As rooms take on different purposes…sofas can take on different purposes as well,” Murphy says. For example, basement spaces are transforming into home theaters and game rooms that call for cozy places to plunk down, while home offices are doubling as guest rooms that require sofa beds. And as the trend of outdoor living continues to rise, naturally so too does the desire for alfresco-friendly sofas, equipped with weatherproof fabrics and frames.
Regardless of what a sofa might look like or where you might find it, one thing is for certain: Sofas are a forever fixture. “The sofa will always serve a purpose,” Murphy says. “Styles will change, the name may even change, but ultimately we will always need a place for more than one person to sit down and relax. It promotes togetherness.”
To Learn More
Ethan Allen, www.ethanallen.com.
Robb & Stucky, www.robbstucky.com.
Room & Board, 800.301.9720, www.roomandboard.com.
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
