Couch Research

Sofa Style 101: The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Perfect Couch for Your Space

August 26, 2024

Dive into sofa styles, but remember: style's a personal journey. Discover what resonates with you in the world of design.

Alex Back | Couch.com CEO & Founder

We at Couch.com ask you to dive into “what’s hot and what’s not” with sofa styles, but remember: style’s a personal journey. Discover what resonates with you in the world of design and don’t look back. Founder and podcaster, Rebecca Hay, unveils the secret to finding the perfect couch style for your particular needs.

How Do I Choose My Couch Style: Featuring Rebecca Hay

Discover Your Perfect Couch Style

In a recent chat with Rebecca Hay, the founder of Rebecca Hay Designs and host of the “Resilient by Design” podcast, we dove into the nitty-gritty of picking the perfect couch for your home. Rebecca shared how platforms like HGTV, Pinterest, and Instagram have totally influenced modern design tastes. While today’s homeowners have a sharper sense of style from all this exposure, they often struggle to articulate what they want. For example, the camelback sofa, with its unique hump-like crest and curved design, offers a blend of traditional elegance and modern decor flexibility.

Rebecca stressed the importance of designers showing clients different pictures to get a feel for their likes and dislikes and having in-depth conversations to really understand their needs. This way, homeowners can make well-informed decisions about their big furniture investment, whether they’re looking for a comfy, deep couch to relax on or a stylish perch for entertaining guests. The Chesterfield sofa, known for its rolled arms and button tufting, is an iconic design that can fit various modern interior trends. Rebecca’s insights offer valuable guidance for anyone looking to find that perfect couch to complete their living space.

Impact of Technology:

The influence of platforms such as HGTV, Pinterest, decor magazines, and Instagram has significantly shaped modern homeowners’ design sensibilities.
Due to constant exposure to diverse design ideas, contemporary homeowners possess a more refined sense of style and design preferences. Contemporary sofas, characterized by their minimalist aesthetic and modern materials, are a popular choice among these homeowners.

Consumer Knowledge:

While many homeowners have a general sense of what they like, articulating these preferences can often be challenging.
It is important to recognize and respect the homeowner’s existing knowledge and preferences. Corner sofas, designed to fit into room corners, offer a versatile option that can adapt to various styles and applications.

Guiding the Design Process

Initial Steps:

Designers often begin by showing clients various pictures to help gauge their preferences and dislikes.
Using images is an effective way to help clients narrow down their choices and clarify their design vision. For example, an English roll arm sofa, with its low, rounded arms, can illustrate a traditional style that blends historical significance with contemporary decor.

Key Questions to Consider:

Designers should determine whether the client prefers a couch that is comfy and deep for relaxing and watching movies.
Another consideration is whether the client desires a stylish perch that serves as a perfect spot for enjoying cocktails. Modular sofas can be a flexible option for various room configurations, accommodating changing needs over time.

Making Informed Decisions

Significance of Investment:

Choosing a couch represents a significant financial investment, making it essential for clients to make informed decisions.
The Lawson sofa is a comfortable and stylish option, known for its iconic design and versatility in both traditional and modern settings.

Designer-Client Conversations:

Engaging in detailed discussions with clients is crucial to understanding their specific needs and preferences.
These conversations ensure that clients feel confident in their choices and are guided appropriately by the designer.
The sectional sofa is a versatile and popular choice, fitting various room sizes and social settings.

Clarification and Examples

Comfort vs. Style:

Providing practical examples helps illustrate different uses for couches: A comfy, deep couch ideal for curling up and watching movies.
A stylish perch perfect for sitting and enjoying cocktails.
Many sleeper sofas feature a foldable bed frame hidden within the couch, making them a space-saving solution for multipurpose rooms like dens or offices.

Client Challenges:

Acknowledge that customers often face difficulties in distinguishing between various types of couches.
It is advisable to start with broad preferences and gradually narrow down to specific shapes and styles, such as traditional sofas with rolled arms like the Chesterfield, which are known for their classic look and comfortable feel.

FULL TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE

What is the Most Popular Sofa Style?

Now that you’ve heard from Rebecca Hay, it’s time to discover which sofa style suits you best!

Embark on a sofa style odyssey where the quest for your perfect match begins. This is your compass, guiding you through the initial steps of this exciting journey of finding a sofa style that resonates with you. From timeless classics to contemporary marvels, let’s unravel the threads of sofa style.

When it comes to choosing a sofa, you may find yourself pondering the timeless allure of the traditional three-seat sofa. Classic, and it never goes out of fashion. Camelback sofas, with their distinctive hump-like crest and wooden structure, are a prime example of traditional styles that have been prominent for centuries. However, if you’re looking for a touch of contemporary flair, the mid-century modern sofa** might just be your perfect match**.

Timeless elegance: Mid-century modern sofas blend clean lines, minimalism, and functionality, creating a timeless elegance that resonates with various design preferences.
Versatile aesthetic: The style effortlessly adapts to both contemporary and traditional interiors, making it a versatile choice for a range of home decors. English roll arm sofas, with their low, rolling arms and sloping back, also offer versatility, suitable for both classic and modern designs.
Iconic design elements: Tapered legs, geometric shapes, and organic curves are signature traits that evoke a sense of nostalgia while remaining fresh and stylish in modern settings. Low-seated sofas, with their short legs and seats positioned near the ground, are ideal for rooms with low ceilings, adding a minimalist aesthetic that is popular among millennials in urban areas.

Are Pull-Out Couches Still a Thing?

Sleeper sofas are still solidly useful for padding out your basement, or for a guest room or home office that’s tight on space. They’re also ideal for adding a makeshift sleeping space in your living room where there is very little room for one. Modern sleeper sofas are sleek and versatile options for multifunctional spaces.

Space-saving solution: Pull-out couches provide a convenient and space-efficient bedding solution, making them ideal for smaller living spaces or multifunctional rooms.
Dual functionality: Combining seating with a hidden bed, pull-out couches offer a seamless transition from day to night, providing a comfortable sleep space without the need for a separate guest bed.
Guest-friendly option: Hosting guests becomes hassle-free with a pull-out couch, offering a comfortable place to sleep while maintaining the aesthetics and functionality of your living area during the day.

Now that we’ve explored various sofa styles and their unique features, let’s dive deeper into the art of selecting the perfect couch. Watch as our expert reveals insider tips and secrets that will help you find a couch that not only meets your functional needs but also enhances the overall style of your home. Don’t miss out on this invaluable advice!

What are the Old Fashioned Couches Called? Chesterfield Sofa

You’ve probably never heard of Settees – They’ve been around since the 17th century Europe and are the classical cousins of today’s comfy couches. Settees were like the versatile multitaskers of their time, with backrests, arms (sometimes), and even sides that could magically turn into a bed. Talk about functional furniture, right? Imagine lounging on one of these bad boys, casually chatting or taking a nap. They’re like the OGs of relaxation, plus all the frills and ruffles.

Get the Right Sofa for Your Style!

As you bid adieu to this sofa style expedition, remember this: your choice is the brushstroke that paints your space with personality. Amidst Chesterfields, sectionals, and mid-century wonders, trust your gut. The perfect sofa isn’t just a piece of furniture; it’s an extension of you.

So, whether you’re drawn to the plush depths of a modern masterpiece or the cozy nostalgia of a vintage find, go forth with confidence. Your space, your style – there’s no wrong answer. Let your choice speak volumes about you, and as you settle into your chosen couch, let it whisper, “You’ve got this.”

Full Transcript: How Do I Choose My Couch Style, Featuring Rebecca Hay

Rebecca Hay: And so, if you’re the homeowner looking at images and pictures and starting to narrow it down and understand, “What is it about that couch that I like? Is it that it looks so comfy and deep and I feel like I can curl up and watch a movie? Or is it that it looks like a great perch for me to sit and have a cocktail?”

Alex Back: Hey everyone, it’s Alex with Couch.com, and I’m here with my new friend Rebecca Hay from Rebecca Hay Design. She is the founder and Chief Rebecca Officer—CRO—love it, I just came up with a new title. Also, she is a popular podcast host of Resilient by Design. I was a guest recently and thank you so much again for having me there. Amazing, ladies and gentlemen, Rebecca Hay! Here she is, woohoo!

Rebecca Hay: Yeah, thank you. Thank you so much for having me, Alex.

Alex Back: My pleasure. You have agreed to come to Couch.com and tell our users about certain things that they may be curious about, that they may want to hire an interior designer to discuss, but maybe they could just think about these things first prior to doing that or prior to going couch shopping.

Rebecca Hay: Certainly.

Alex Back: So, one of the questions I think we get all the time is like, “Okay, where do I start, right? First, do I—well, I don’t even know what style I like—how do you choose a couch style? How is that something—how do you guide people in that part of the process? Or do you generally just, you know, do you throw some pictures in front of them, or do you sort of have a more existential, like, character backstory conversation about, you know, what if their couch was a celebrity, who would it be? What methods do you use?”

Rebecca Hay: I wish I was that cool. I don’t have a crazy system like that. I would say most interior designers don’t. And I think that the consumer nowadays—the homeowner—is really more savvy than they used to be. I think because of television shows like HGTV, Pinterest, decor magazines, Instagram, and the like, I think that homeowners are bombarded with imagery of designs and spaces in beautiful homes all the time. And so, I do like to give our clients or the homeowner a lot more credit because I know that they usually come with an idea of what they like or what they don’t like, but quite often they can’t articulate it. And so, one of the great things that you can do as a designer, and if you’re working with a designer, would be to ask the designer to help guide you.

When it comes to design style, like, show some pictures. Like you said, Alex, I like to show a few photos if the clients are really kind of clueless, meaning that they really don’t know what they want. They know they want it to look good, and that’s it. And I sort of will do this or that, and you can start to get a sense of what clients like.

And so, if you’re the homeowner looking at images and pictures and starting to narrow it down and understand, “What is it about that couch that I like? Is it that it looks so comfy and deep and I feel like I can curl up and watch a movie? Or is it that it looks like a great perch for me to sit and have a cocktail?” And so, it’s starting to have those conversations with our clients because let me tell you, it can be a big investment. And so, we want to make sure that when we are helping and guiding our clients to select their furniture for their home, their couches, that they’re making the right decision and we’re guiding them in the right way.

Rebecca Hay: I don’t know if that answers your question.

Alex Back: That makes perfect sense. That does, and it answers it great. And I think a really good, um, some really good images that you gave us were, you know, the couch that’s so comfy that you really—and it’s deep and you want to curl up and watch a movie or—or a cocktail perch. A couch that could act as a perch to have a cocktail on. Like, I think I can see the difference between those two things, and I think customers generally have a lot of difficulty discerning between two different types of couches. So, I think starting with broad strokes and giving images to them like that, or if you’re doing it for yourself, like really starting to start broad and then start to narrow in on something like a shape.

Thank you so much for being with us and sharing your insight. It’s just incredibly valuable. We hit all of our marks, and I genuinely appreciate it.

Rebecca Hay: Thank you for having me.

A smiling man with short brown hair and a beard stands on a beach during sunset. He is wearing a black short-sleeved shirt with small white dots. The ocean and sandy shore are in the background, creating a warm and relaxed atmosphere.

Alex Back

Couch.com CEO & Founder

Alex Back is the founder and CEO of Couch.com. Previously, he was the co-founder and COO of the popular furniture brand, Apt2B, which was acquired by a large US retail furniture chain in 2018. He worked to integrate Apt2B, one of the very first online furniture retailers on the Shopify platform, into the operations of the 100 year old larger business entity and was deeply immersed in the business operations of both online and brick and mortar retail for 4 years before leaving in 2023 to start Couch.com. Working in various parts of the furniture industry since 2004, he has 20 years experience in retail sales, e-commerce, marketing, operations, logistics and wholesale manufacturing and distribution. He has worked extensively with partners such as Costco, Bed Bath and Beyond and Amazon and his work has been highlighted in many publications such as Forbes, CNN and HGTV, among others. Alex is delighted to bring his experience and authority on couches and the furniture industry to this platform, along with many of his industry colleagues who are helping him keep the Couch.com audience informed and engaged on a daily basis.

Expand

Learn more about our experts

Copy Link Copied!