A sofa is a staple in every home, and sofa shopping is one of life’s simple pleasures. Before getting caught up in colors, fabrics, designs, and sizes, you must select a sofa shape. Have you been wondering which shape of the sofa is best? Well, wonder no more because you’re about to find out.
The best sofa shape differs from person to person and living room to living room. Size, design, style, padding, comfort, and cost must be considered. The Lawson sofa is the best sofa shape for most people as it’s comfortable, well-padded, stylish, and affordable.
Suppose you have difficulty telling your Lawson from your Loveseat or Cabriole from your Camelback. In that case, deciding which sofa shape suits your needs will be nearly impossible. Today’s article will fill you in on the different sofa shapes and provide the steps to help you determine which option is best for you and your home.
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Which Shape Of Sofa Is Best?
Of course, only you can decide which sofa shape is best. Asking yourself the following questions will help you make your mind up once and for all:
- How many people will typically sit on the sofa at one time?
- Am I more focused on style and design or comfort?
- How much space do I have available in my living room?
- Do I have any back problems that I need to consider when choosing a sofa shape?
- Will I want a sofa on which I can lounge, or possibly even nap, or merely somewhere to sit?
- Do I want a long and narrow sofa or one that is short and wide?
- Am I looking for a formal or informal sofa?
- How much money am I willing to invest in a sofa?
With these questions, it’s time to learn about the different sofa shapes. By the time you’re finished reading the following, you should have a much clearer idea of which shape of the sofa is best for you and your home, and all you’ll need to do is make your decision.
What Are The Different Sofa Shapes?
You must know your sofa shapes to decide which sofa shape is best. Though this task sounds simple enough, there is a surprising amount of confusion surrounding sofa shapes, and the theory here is that it comes down to understanding the word “sofa shape.”
Because most people use the word “shape” to describe round, square, rectangular, or triangular objects, it’s only natural to automatically assume that “sofa shape” has something to do with any of the above.
But, as you’re about to discover, that is not the case regarding sofa shapes. A quick Google search or glance at any furniture store’s display floor or website will reveal that almost all sofas are rectangular.
When you hear the words “Tuxedo sofa,” “Lawson sofa,” or “Chesterfield,” you’d be forgiven for thinking these were styles of sofa. But these are different shapes of sofas. When you hear the words “L-shaped sofa” or “U-shaped sofa,” these terms aren’t referring to a specific shape but rather a specific configuration.
Now that that’s out of the way and there is no space for any confusion let’s look at the different sofa shapes.
Chesterfield Sofa
The instantly recognizable Chesterfield sofa is big, bold, and beautiful. Chesterfield sofas have made an impression since the 18th century and remain a popular choice.
Chesterfield sofas are low-slung, have rolled arms that are the same height as the back, don’t have any back pillows, and have a unique quilted or buttoned design. Chesterfield sofas are usually dark in color and made from real leather.
This type of sofa boasts superior comfort and space, has a rich history, complements several interior design styles, and practically screams laid-back luxury. But its low back means it’s not the best option for lazily lounging for hours, and they are expensive.
Chesterfield sofas are best for people looking to fill a big living room, people who are fond of classic interior design styles, and those who aren’t afraid to splash out on a sofa.
Camelback Sofa
Camelback sofas also have 18th-century origins and are sleek and sophisticated sofas. The iconic Thomas Chippendale designed it, and it is considered a timeless sofa shape.
The Camelback sofa gets its name from the raised hump on the center of the sofa’s back. In addition to this raised back, Camelback sofas feature exposed wooden legs, a shaped bench seat, scrolled arms, and tight upholstery with no back cushions. It will always feature plenty of detailed woodwork and plush fabrics like velvet.
Perfect for poised conversation, the occasional formal get-together, and elaborately elegant, Camelback sofas will meet the needs of many. However, these sofas have minimal padding, which means they aren’t the most comfortable and have a hefty price tag.
Camelback sofas are the best sofa choice for people who have styled their homes in traditional, classic, or mid-century modern interior themes.
Tuxedo Sofa
The Tuxedo sofa is streamlined, stylish, and space-saving. It’s synonymous with 1920s design yet has somehow managed to keep up with the times, and, as such, it remains a popular sofa shape.
The arms and back of this sofa are straight and high, and it has a distinctly boxy appearance that lends itself well to different interior styles. Tuxedo sofas don’t have back cushions, but they do have exposed legs and tuft detailing. They’re usually small in size.
Smart looks aside, Tuxedo sofas are lightweight and don’t take up much floor space, and they’re appropriate for both formal and informal living rooms, which makes them massively versatile. An obvious downside to the Tuxedo sofa is that there isn’t anywhere to rest your arms, and because they’re smaller, they don’t offer much padding.
The Tuxedo sofa is the best option for people working with limited space and those enamored with the Art Deco design style and 1920s furnishings.
Loveseat Sofa
The Loveseat is compact, comfortable, and – quite frankly – cute. This sofa shape has been around since the 17th century when it was designed as a seating solution to the ever-growing problem of women’s ever-growing dresses.
Loveseat sofas are designed to seat two people at a time, so they boast two cushioned seats, a padded back, low armrests, and stubby legs. This sofa shape has no specific design style, so that you can find Loveseats in every color, material, and design. Loveseat sofas can also be used in formal and informal settings and areas outside the living room.
The Loveseat sofa is small, lightweight, compact, and affordable. Loveseat sofas are also available in various styles and designs, which means they will work well with any interior design style. There’s a lot to love about Loveseat sofas. The only downside to the Loveseat sofa is that it is small – about 50 to 72 inches long – so you won’t be able to stretch out.
Loveseat sofas are the best sofa shape for people looking for a small sofa to snuggle on. Along with single people and couples, Loveseat sofas are also the ideal sofa shape for children.
Mid-Century Modern Sofa
Mid-Century Modern sofas are clean, curvy, minimalistic, and – you guessed it – modern. As the name suggests, this sofa shape was created slap-bang in the middle of the 20th century, and though it is not as popular as it was back then, it is steadily re-emerging as a stellar sofa shape choice.
The Mid-Century Modern sofa boasts a long, narrow body with arms of the same height, thin tapered legs, and ample back cushioning. In line with this interior design style, Mid-Century Modern sofas will often be made from contrasting materials and feature a combination of muted colors with vivid patterns and vice versa.
Mid-Century Modern sofas are spacious, stylish, and reasonably comfortable. However, they do tend to veer on the expensive side of the sofa price spectrum, though because they’ve already done so in the not-so-distant past, the risk of them becoming outdated is present.
Unsurprisingly, Mid-Century Modern sofas are the best sofa shape for people who love the Mid-Century Modern interior design style.
Cabriole Sofa
Cabriole sofas are dainty, delicate, and distinctive. This sofa shape is one of the most well-known and popularized in the early 17th century by King Louis XV.
The Cabriole sofa is grand and has a curvy wooden frame, bowed S-shaped legs that often boast intricate carvings, sloping arms, and a cushion-less back. This sofa is most commonly constructed using woods like walnut, mahogany, or beechwood and often has velvet or linen upholstery. It is appropriate for use in formal living rooms.
Cabriole sofas are bespoke furniture items that boast a beautiful and streamlined design, have exquisite craftsmanship, and provide an unexpected level of comfort. But it’s massively expensive. In addition to its budget-breaking cost, the Cabriole sofa’s classic French design and glamourous styling often mean that it will look out of place in more modern homes.
Cabriole sofas are the best sofa shape for people who are fans of French interior design and decorating and aren’t afraid to pay for them.
Sectional Sofa
The Sectional Sofa is stylish, suave, sophisticated, and sectional. Thought to be invented in the 1950s, Sectional sofas are an incredibly popular sofa shape for modern homes.
Sectional sofas are multi-piece sofas that come in pieces of two, three, five, and seven. This shape of the sofa is configured as an L-shape or U-shape. Sectional sofas are typically covered with leather, microfiber, or cotton, and – as is the case with most modern-day pieces of furniture – the style, design, color, and finish options are limitless.
This sofa shape is as spacious as they come. It’s usually very sleek and stylish and is known for being extremely comfortable. Unfortunately, sectional sofas take up a large amount of space and can be difficult to rearrange. They’re also very challenging to transport – so moving house with a Sectional sofa will be a battle.
Sectional sofas are the best sofa shape for people with large families, regularly entertaining guests at their homes and enjoying nothing more than stretching out on their sofas.
Lawson Sofa
Lawson sofas are comfortable, casual, and charming. This sofa was designed in the 20th century for Thomas Lawson, who was sick of ornate sofas prioritizing class over comfort.
Lawson sofas boast high stuffed backs with low arms, stubby legs, and plenty of removable cushioning. This sofa type is about deep seats, straight lines, and superior comfort. They’re most commonly covered by cotton or linen upholstery. Lawson sofas are considered to be informal sofas.
The Lawson sofa is praised for its high comfort level, spaciousness, stylishness, versatility, and affordable price point. The only downside to Lawson sofas is that they’re bulky and take up a fair bit of floor space.
Lawson sofas are the best sofa shape for people after a charming, casual, and comfortable sofa ideal for sitting and snoozing.
Conclusion
There is a sofa for everyone from Tuxedo to Camelback, Lawson to Mid-Century Modern, and Chesterfield to Loveseat. Each sofa shape offers the sitter something that the other can not.
With the help of today’s article, selecting a sofa shape is easy. Investigate the different sofa shapes presented to you and ask yourself the important questions shared, and before you know it, you’ll be sitting snug and smug on your new sofa.