Selecting the perfect sofa is more than simply choosing a functional piece of furniture – it’s about creating a focal point that reflects your personal style while offering the comfort you deserve. Your sofa will define the entire atmosphere of the room. Whether you opt for classic neutrals, muted textures, or embrace colour and pattern to turn your sofa into a statement piece. As with all interiors topics I am covering in my series, you must take a measured approach , address all the key factors before you make a considered decision . The choice of shape, size, construction and fabric will transform your living space, infusing it with personality, energy, and a sense of luxury.
In this alpine chalet we used an open plan space for a vast corner landscape of white seating with colourful cushions – a beautiful yet risky strategy mitigated by layering white natural skins of different textures.
1. Getting the Basics Right
Size matters. You cant avoid to measure your space and draw up a floor plan with all other intended furniture pieces sized as well. We often find rooms have too large sofas which leave little room to dress the space with auxillary furniture. Consider how you entertain and who uses the space. Not everyone will like to huddle together on a large deep corner unit. One of the memorable pieces of advice I learned at the Inchbald School Of Design were I trained, was ” really only two people like to share a sofa”.
The proportions in this new build Battersea apartment required careful calibration of sofa and armchair sizes.
Consider your purpose. Are you entertaining formally groups of guests or lounging with close family to watch TV ; or do you need to bridge multiple events and functions in one space. Give yourself optionality and flexibility. If you have a large space by all means measure up for a nice corner sofa or corner with a chaise extension, they are cozy to sit on ; but remember to add additional other seats.
Consider other factors: traffic flow and sight lines are important. Are you walking into the space to see the backs of the sofas? Perhaps you want to walk in and see armchairs or low backs. Speak to the sofa maker to adjust dimensions of their models. We hardly ever buy a standard sofa, more often than not I will pick a sofa style and work with my preferred workshops to adapt everything from width to seat depth, backheight and armrests to really fit the clients and the space.
In this alpine chalet we found the perfect corner sofa from Living Divani for the rear corner with armchairs and pouf placed in the foreground as you enter.
Style and shape. The vast amount of sofa options available can be overwhelming so I like to break it down into categories I can pick from. Are you looking for classic or modern shapes? This will be influenced but not limited by the architecture of your property – it comes down to your personal taste: which look appeals to you, which comfort do you prefer. And if you need to make size adaptations you ought to work with a bespoke furniture maker and you probably cant go with some of the modern (often Italian) brands (although some do offer different depths, its a factory product with less flexibility so be careful to check dimensions in your space).
Legs. Arms, Backs, Seats. Those are your key factors to check. Do you want the sofa on the floor (with skirts or tassels) or raised up on wood or steel legs. Do you like high or low arms which you can lean into maybe even sit sideways against and use the sofa like a very long chaise, do you prefer thick, thin, straight or sloping arms? Do you like high or low backs, fixed backs or back cushions? Finally the seat depth greatly affects the look and comfort of the sofa. And whether you have a fixed seat, a loose seat in one piece or divided into 2,3 or more seat sections. You see now how much there is to consider and we have not yet covered fabrics and construction.
Finally please check your access. We have learned the hard way. Sofas are large pieces of furniture and many homes have limited door sizes and tight stairs. You can ask for sofas to be built to take apart but this needs to be planned in advance.
In this project our mission was to create comfortable seating, offering a sofa bed, and using textured light coloured yet dog proof fabrics.
2. The Makers
High street or High end. I will admit I have Ikea sofas in my summer house bought for toddlers to jump around on, dressed with fabulous throws. They served a purpose and now I am replacing them with a bespoke curved sofa to perfectly fit the shape of the room to take me through the next decades. Based on my personal experience, I understand we make choices depending on the stages in life and the rooms we are decorating. So long as you make conscious compromises. As a studio we work with a range of different brands and makers ; typically we always collaborate with makers who will be able to adapt their products for custom requiements. Depending on the purpose and style we designing for, just to name a few, I work with British brands such as David Seyfried, Dudgeon, Sedilia, Stuart Scott, Kingcombe, George Smith, Whitehead or Italian or German brands for the modern styles such as Knoll, Vitra, Poliform, Living Divani and Rolf Benz. If you can afford to invest into a well made product then buy for longevity. At a minimum invest into a fabulous fabric. The worst looking sofas are cheap high street models with bland single colour flat fabrics. There is just nothing to get excited about.
You have one big ticket. Your sofa is probably the furniture piece with the most decorative power if you chose to accept the challenge. It is likely to dominate the room so you really need to be getting the shape, size, colour, texture and pattern right and balance it against everything else we have been writing about such as paints and wallpaper, rugs, curtains, lighting and art! And dont just think you save the day with a few nice cushions, that is a valid and fun game to play but not in replacement for making a great sofa choice.
My Summer house Ikea sofas dressed with fabulous throws by OKA.
In this kitchen family nook we purchased High street sofas and recovered them with a heavily textured and stain proof outdoor fabric loose cover, a safe choice for children and pets.
This corner sofa and storage ottoman was crafted by Dugeon with a Fermoie fabric.
The iconic classics. There are sofas which have achieved fame and cult status , like some designer handbags. They can look great in any fabric or leather in any interior. You still have to get the size right and please test sit them to ensure you like the comfort but their irrefutable shape appeal buys you instant satisfaction and admiration. There are too many to list them all, some of those icons which I have placed in interiors are:
LC3 by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret & Charlotte Perriand produced by Cassina, Serpentine by Vladimir Kagan , Togo by Michel Ducaroy (1973) made by Ligne Roset, Barcelona by Mies van der Rohe (1929) produced by Knoll, Camaleonda by Mario Bellini (1970) made by B&B Italia (now reissued by Tacchini), Mah Jong by Hans Hopfer (1971) made by Roche Bobois, Maralunga by Vico Magistretti (1973) made by Cassina and the DS600 by Ueli Berger, Eleonore Peduzzi‑Riva, Heinz Ulrich & Klaus Vogt (1972) made by de Sede (Switzerland)
The Maralunga sofa looks good in any setting like in this chalet.
3. The Evolution of the Sofa
The origins
The Ancient Egyptian and Greek cultures used reclining couches for their elite. Those provided inspiration later for the European Renaissance and Roccoco revivals. In the Islamic world, cushioned benches or floor platform with cushions were common, we can see how they still inspire many modern day seating arrangements.
The Mahjong above was ordered in unusually colorful Kenzo fabrics. In this summer residence we built deep raised platform seating with foam pads and vast amounts of outdoor fabrics cushions.
The classics
The evolution of the settee, canape or chaise with legs and fixed seat and back became fashionable in all European countries and each nation’s aristocracy refined its own particular style through ornamentation, the type of wood and gilding and the particular tissu that was used for the upholstery. Those collectible pieces which were often quite small and shallow (people were shorter) still inspire modern day copies and in my own reception room I made Rococo inspired carved and gilded sofas with modern day generous dimensions and plush feather down stuffed seat pads, the central feature of my seating arrangements.
In this project we fully reupholstered springs, webbing and stuffing and recovered a family heirloom with a luxurious durable baby mohair which will last at least a decode or more.
The modern Age
The twentieth century modernisation of shapes and materials produced radically new variations of sofas with the corner sofa, corner chaise and serpentine, curved snakes and various other shapes from bubbles to lips and marshmellows, many of which now covered in leather which was rarely the case until the late 19th/early 20th century.
These modern leather sectional sofas look great in modern and classic interiors.
4. Comfort is Key
Sofas are not just a visual aesthetic decoration , they are after your bed and your dining chairs your most used object. Touching , sitting, sleeping you will experience its surface. You want to select a fabric which enhances the shape of the pieces you chose, looks beautiful in your room and you enjoy touching, and ideally is durable in maintenance.
Construction: First and foremost go and test the sofa and then ask how it is made.
Traditionally fabricated sofas are made in a meticulous, layered process that emphasizes durability, comfort, and craftsmanship. The frames should be made from kiln-dried hardwood (like beech or birch) for strength and longevity. Joints are usually dowelled, glued, screwed, and corner-blocked to prevent movement and squeaking over time. Coil Springs (8-way hand-tied) are the gold standard in traditional upholstery. Each coil is tied in 8 directions to webbing below and the frame above, this offers resilience, even weight distribution, and long-term comfort. Alternatives used are serpentine springs or webbing, depending on quality tier. The back is typically supported by jute webbing, stretched and tacked to the frame. Webbing is then covered with hessian or burlap for stability. Stuffing materials include: Horsehair (very traditional and breathable), Coir (coconut fibre) or crimped wool. Ideally you want to use only natural fibres in sofa construction.
Most modern shaped sofas rely heavily on the use of foams. Foam construction is significantly faster and more cost-efficient than traditional methods, and many modern sofa shapes are only achievable with foam construction. Pre-cut foam blocks or sheets are applied to the seat, arms, and back. These foam layers are glued or stapled into place and may be layered to create a mix of comfort and structure. Armrests and back cushions are shaped using foam carving, or laminated foam sheets cut to a curved profile. Dacron/wadding (a polyester fiber wrap) is often added to smooth edges and soften the seat. CMHR Foam (Combustion Modified High Resilience) this is Fire-retardant foam used to meet UK fire regulations (Crib 5 or Crib 7). Common in commercial seating and used in many sofas sold in the UK.
We have recently researched sofa constructions methods in a bid to find ”all natural sofas” and have found that a few brands are working towards this goal. I found that SCP are at the forefront offering several designs which are made using all natural materials. They are using natural latex which is sustainable, durable, and breathable, it is more expensive and the comfort is different from traditional PU based foams.
Fabric covering: Texture, Pile, Composition : The main fabric categories (apart from leather) suitable for upholstery are: cotton, linen, wool, velvet, mohair and other synthetic woven materials. Always discuss your chosen material with the sofa maker. Some shapes require materials to strech, sometimes check, stripe or geometrics wont look good. I prefer heavily textured fabrics especially if they are plain colors or I pick a bold pattern. Most ‘modern sofa brands’ do not allow COM (customer own material) construction so you are very limited to what they offer. In that case you have to spend time in the showroom and look through all the available options and I would go with an interesting texture.
In this cinema room project we used The Togo sofas.
Durability: Bold fabrics should not only be visually stunning but practical too. Look for fabrics that are durable and stain-resistant. Velvet, while luxurious, can sometimes be delicate especially with pile crushing and cans show stains easily, some synthetic velvets or woven blends can offer a more practical option. Similarly, consider fabrics like ‘performance linen’ which combines both elegance and durability, ensuring that your bold choice will stand the test of time. Many brands now produce stain treated or indoor/outdoor performance fabrics. Mohair is a plain coloured but durable material that will always look stunning.
For this pied a terre our mission was getting the size right, so we adjusted the sofa and selected a textured weave with a stain treatment.
For this Gothic Revival project our mission was to recover a worn out BeB Italia sofa with something unusual so we had to test our chosen COM material for suitability.
Reflect Your Personality: Bold fabrics allow your sofa to become more than just a functional object. They can tell a story, evoke emotions, and serve as a reflection of your unique taste and personality. A sofa in a striking hue or an adventurous pattern instantly sets the tone for the entire room, acting as a focal point that draws attention.
Create Visual Impact: A neutral sofa with a heavy texture and beautiful shape wont compete with other objects in the room , but a bold fabric creates drama and opulence in your space.
Timeless Appeal: Bold fabrics do not necessarily date quickly. A carefully selected vibrant fabric in a classic design especially surround by antique furntiure and art will age gracefully. Instead of shying away from boldness, embrace it as part of a timeless aesthetic. Think of the members clubs and their plush sofas which are plumped daily, I love sitting in 5Hertford Street and admire their more is more use of fabrics, wallpaper and art. if your sofa arms wear you can have extra slipcovers made to protect them.
5. More about Textures and Materials
Fabrics with texture or intricate patterns bring a dynamic element to your sofa that plain colours simply cannot. Whether you opt for a rich velvet, tactile linen, or bold geometric prints, the texture and pattern you choose will further influence the mood of your space.
The most elaborate patchwork sofa we ever made is a collage of ten Pierre Frey Fabrics, truely a work of art.
Mixing Fabrics: the patchwork sofa. more than once we have created sofas or groups of seating with strikingly different fabrics, materials, colours and patterns. Variety spieces up the design. What might feel chaotic to you is uplifting and inspiring to someone else, dont stay in the safe zone with just a few coloured cushions.
- Velvet and Plush Fabrics: For a luxurious, indulgent feel, consider rich velvet or mohair. These fabrics not only look opulent but also catch the light in fascinating ways, adding depth and movement to the sofa. A deep, plush velvet in a striking colour creates an undeniably sophisticated look, perfect for both traditional and modern interiors. Above we used a velvet stripe on the back and frame of the vintage sofa and mohair on the seat.
- Textured Weaves and Bouclé: Fabrics such as bouclé or textured linen bring a sense of warmth and understated elegance to your sofa. Their tactile qualities make them a natural choice for creating comfort and cosiness. A warm, textured fabric in a bold colour offers a balanced way to incorporate boldness without it feeling too overpowering. Above we mixed a printed cotton linen corner sofa with a cream boucle ottoman.
- Print and Patterns: If you want to make an even bolder statement, consider patterns. Stripes, geometric shapes, or floral designs in vibrant colours can completely redefine the character of a room. Choose patterns that play with scale and repetition, ensuring they align with your overall design vision. A large floral pattern in a deep, rich hue can introduce drama, while smaller geometric patterns in a complementary palette can add subtle intrigue. Look at the sofa above where we used ten different fabrics for each part of the sofa!
There are only a few occasions I would allow a grey sofa but here it works because we made the surrounding sufficiently striking and this serves a family of young children with a dog.
- Creating a Harmonious Palette: Ensure that your bold fabric complements other colours in the room. If your sofa is in a striking blue, choose accent pieces that are either in complementary shades (such as mustard or orange) or in neutral tones to let the sofa stand out.
- Layering with Accessories: Accessories such as throw blankets, cushions, and rugs can bring cohesion to the space. If your sofa is bold in colour or pattern, use these accessories to balance the tones and create a harmonious flow throughout the room.
6. Sofa Beds
It would be amiss to write an article about sofas without at least some advice on this important option. Nobody likes to sleep on a sofa bed but we all have to do it at some point. Parents-in law , sleepover friends, sick spouses…I can imagine many situations when you need that extra option to make up a bed. My advice is to make them as comfortable as you possibly can do. I have three sofa beds in my house and we use them all the time.
Invest in a good mechanism and test the mattress and if you have any extra space somewhere store an additional topper to add comfort when your making up the bed.
Now, all that’s left to do is kick back, relax, and invite friends over to admire your new sofa – just don’t let them get too comfortable, you might never get them to leave!
Stay inspired, stay sophisticated
Love, Claudia
In conversation with Lord Herbet at the David Seyfried showroom in Chelsea Harbour
