The sofa in the living room is a gathering place for the whole family: in the evenings they sit comfortably and watch a movie, and in the mornings they discuss plans for the coming day. It is very important that this item is practical, comfortable and pleasing to the eye. This material will tell you which sofa to choose for the living room so that it is comfortable and lasts a long time.
In order to understand which sofa to choose for the living room, you must first find out for what purpose it will serve.
- Will it be just a decorative element or an important functional element?
- Will the sofa be a place for daily sleep or will it only be used for sitting on?
- Will it be comfortable for you to spend time on this sofa?
- Will you be hosting guests there?
Interesting: the word “sofa” itself appeared around the 16th century. In the Farsi language (as well as Turkish and Arabic) it first meant “sheets of paper written on” or “lists”, and then they began to call accounting books and even the offices themselves that way. And after some time, the word “sofa” began to be used to describe typical office furniture - long benches with soft upholstery.
How to choose the shape of a sofa
First, you need to decide on the shape of the sofa: it is worth measuring it, since it must fit in the place where you want to put it. For small and medium-sized living rooms, a sofa for three people (the length of such a sofa is approximately two meters) is most suitable. This, I must say, is the most common option. It is best if it is a sofa with a straight shape; It is convenient to place it in the room, for example, near the wall.
Interesting: the longest sofa in the world was assembled in the Russian city of Saratov. It became one of seven Russian records recorded by the Guinness Book. The length of this sofa is 1 kilometer.
It is also important to know in order to choose a corner sofa for the living room - this option will fit well into a studio apartment (for zoning the hall and dining room). Also, a corner sofa is well suited for large families or people who like to receive guests: it can comfortably accommodate five or even six people.
If you don’t have a very large living room, then you can buy a transforming sofa: you can work, relax, and sleep on it. And if the living room is very small, then treat yourself to a small mini-sofa in a minimalist style: it will decorate the guest room and give you a pleasant and comfortable place to relax.
If you have a spacious living room, then you can easily place a sofa there that can seat six or more people.
Tip: if the sofa is chosen for daily sleep, then the size of the sleeping place should be 50 cm larger than your height.
Light sofa in a small living room
Which style to choose?
Chesterfield
This style is characterized by twisted armrests that go flush with the back. This option is perfect for shabby chic, eclectic, modern, loft interiors. Modern manufacturers offer custom varieties of Chesterfield sofas that suit the Art Deco aesthetic.
Mid-century
The style of this model appeared in the middle of the last century, when precise shapes and thin legs were in fashion. A rectangular sofa is well suited for retro, modern, modern classics. It will also fit well into the Scandinavian style if you choose plain upholstery in soothing colors.
Bridgewater
Rounded armrests in the form of bolsters are complemented by comfortable pillows. The main purpose of the model is maximum comfort. Well suited for classics, English style, as well as country (checkered upholstery) and Provence (floral upholstery). It is a classic solution for the living room of an American home.
Sleeper
A simple and clear sofa model that comes without armrests and quickly turns into a comfortable sleeping place. Suitable for high-tech, minimalism, retro styles (if you choose the appropriate upholstery). Thanks to its small dimensions, it is suitable for small rooms.
Tuxedo
Thanks to its ideal geometry, it is used for modern interiors. The back is straight, as are the legs, the armrests are located at the same level. The upholstery can be fabric or leather. Will decorate loft, American and Scandinavian styles.
Cabriole
Luxurious carved legs are complemented by a curved back and expensive upholstery. Frame material – natural wood. Used for expensive interiors in classic, modern, art deco, baroque styles.
Lawson
A universal, comfortable model with wide and low armrests and a high back. Be sure to be equipped with pillows and have a deep seat. You need to choose the right color and type of upholstery depending on the style of the interior.
Choice of frame: to last forever
Now you can start choosing the frame of the sofa. This design takes most of the load during product operation, so it must be very durable. Basically, the load-bearing parts of the frame are made of alder, pine, spruce and birch.
Plywood or chipboard may be used to fill the framing frames, so don't be alarmed when you see these materials included. Chipboard is not afraid of moisture, but the service life of this material is not very long, so it is better to choose plywood. Multilayer plywood will last a long time - it is a very durable material.
sofa frame
It's time to talk about the design features of the sofa, and we'll start with the “basics of the basics” - the frame. This is the frame on which all remaining parts are attached, and therefore its undeniable advantage is strength.
- A frame made of chipboard and plywood, used in the cheap price segment, is short-lived and unsafe due to the content of harmful impurities in its composition that can be released into the atmosphere;
- The frame, made of wood and reinforced with metal inserts, will last for many years. When manufacturing in the furniture industry, they use both inexpensive species of pine or birch, as well as exclusive beech and ash;
- The frame, made of metal tubes coated with galvanic powder paint, called chrome plated, is very strong and durable to use.
Which filler is the best?
How to choose a sofa for the living room so that it lasts a long time and is comfortable and convenient for you? Choose a frame made of wooden beams, and the filler is a spring block. The springs are very durable and comfortable: they are not afraid of weights.
If you plan to sleep on the sofa every day, then a spring filler will be the best option.
Polyurethane foam is also often chosen as a sofa filler: it adapts to the human body, so it is very soft and comfortable to sit on. Latex, holofiber, padding polyester and other materials are also used as fillers.
You can also try viscoelastic foam, developed by NASA and widely used in furniture making.
This foam remembers the contours of the body. When the load is removed from it, the material returns to its original position.
It's easy to check the best filler: just sit on the sofa, then stand up and see how quickly the seat returns to its original shape.
Advice: they won’t let you look at the filling itself in the store, since it is located inside the sofa, so pay attention to the seams. If the seams are sloppy, then the factory doesn’t think much about quality, and the sofa filling may be poorly made.
Comfortable sofa with soft filling inside
Color solution
- Monochrome sofa. Matches the color of the walls, suitable for minimalist interiors.
- Neutral. We are talking about white, gray, beige, light brown, milky tones, which are perfect for cozy rooms.
- Bright. Used as a counterbalance to a calm, neutral finish. The sofa should become a bright, rich accent and attract attention. But, it should not be too conspicuous so as not to interfere with rest.
- Calm. If the decoration and decorative items are full of colors, designers advise choosing a sofa in cool colors, such as purple, blue, burgundy, dark gray. In this case, the colors can be contrasting.
The color of the sofa can be selected according to the color wheel, which is used by professional designers and stores. In this case, the palette of both plain bases and the design itself is taken into account. The main thing is that the tones match the chosen interior of the room.
How to choose upholstery for a sofa in the living room
First, think about whether the material will be easy to care for, whether your pets will scratch the upholstery, whether children will spill coffee on the sofa, how durable the upholstery is - that is, pay attention not only to the style of the upholstery, but also to its functional load.
There are three types of upholstery: fabric, genuine leather and eco-leather.
Fabric upholstery is suitable if there are children or pets in the house. Most often, flock, velor, chenille, jacquard or tapestry are used to upholster a sofa. These fabrics do not allow moisture to pass through, are easy to wash and are resistant to wear.
Genuine leather is also a very wear-resistant material, but it is difficult to care for and is the most expensive. But note that leather upholstery gives a feeling of coolness. And in general, a leather sofa is classic and luxurious.
Eco-leather (artificial leather) is not inferior in performance characteristics to natural leather, but costs much less.
It is easier to maintain eco-leather than natural leather: it is wiped with soapy water and then washed off with clean water.
Sofa with fabric upholstery
Basic criteria for choosing a sofa
Browsing the assortment of the furniture online store https://divanchik.ru/, the buyer first of all pays attention to the models that he liked visually.
But appearance is far from the main criterion for choosing a sofa. When purchasing such furniture, you should consider:
- dimensions;
- shape;
- presence of a transformation mechanism;
- quality of materials;
- appointment;
- price;
- style;
- color;
- functionality.
It is important that the sofa not only fits well into the overall appearance of the room, but also fits in size. Therefore, before purchasing, you can take measurements of the area where the new furniture will be located. If the choice of a sofa is based only on its external qualities, subsequently the item may not only turn out to be uncomfortable, but also quickly fail. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the frame, filler, upholstery and other structural elements.
Color of the sofa in the living room
Please note that the color of the sofa should be consistent with the color of the entire living room, especially its walls. If the walls in the living room are colored, and the room itself is dark and without natural light, then it is better to choose white furniture. If the walls are white and you are close to the Scandinavian style, the sofa can be gray. The main thing is that the color of the sofa does not merge with the color of the wallpaper in the living room: the wallpaper and the sofa itself should be different colors.
What color to choose for the sofa in the living room so that it doesn’t hurt your eyes? Try brown, cream and pastel colors.
Gray color and its shades favorably emphasize the outlines of upholstered furniture. It is very laconic and calming, which is why it is so often chosen for rest rooms.
By the way, pet hair or stains that are often left by small children will not be visible on a gray sofa.
If you want to make an accent on the sofa in the form of decorative pillows, do not choose bright colors, but rather use soft background shades.
Blue fabrics have a calming effect on the human psyche, so this color is good to choose if you like to relax after work.
Bright sofa against a cream-colored wall
Dimensions
This is the first and most important point. Especially if you are choosing a sofa for a small living room. Agree, it will be a shame if it simply doesn’t fit. Therefore, answer one question - how much space is there for a new sofa? You should have a clear idea of the area available for installation. So, take out your tape measure and measure seven times to avoid surprises. Length, width, depth, assembled, unfolded - make sure you are sure of the maximum dimensions that are possible here.
Lifehack! If you have trouble visualizing the size of an item in a space, use masking tape to mark the outline of the sofa on the floor. This will give you the opportunity to visualize the overall scale and make sure you have enough room to walk through.
How to choose fabric for a sofa in the living room
Basic upholstery fabrics have already been mentioned in this article. What fabrics are best to use to increase the life of the sofa?
Chenille is a cut-pile fabric with a complex composition (approximately 50 percent cotton and 50 percent synthetic). Chenille thread is very durable, holds its shape well and is easy to clean;
Velor is a fabric that is obtained by weaving five threads, four of which are warps, and the fifth is pile. Cotton and wool velor are used for upholstery of upholstered furniture. Velor does not stretch or sag; it can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner brush or just a wet cloth. Velor is very soft and pleasant to the touch. Its only drawback is that the pile wears off very quickly;
Jacquard is a fabric with a complex pattern and high density. Jacquard lasts a long time. You can clean it with water, but if it is heavily soiled you will have to take it to the dry cleaner;
Light sofa with an accent of bright pillows
Flock is essentially a substitute for velvet, which is typically 35 percent cotton and 65 percent polyester. The pile is applied to the flock electrostatically. Flock is not easy to maintain: it cannot be washed with alcohol, cannot be bleached, cannot be squeezed, and cannot be dry cleaned. The contaminated area should be wiped with a soap solution of a small amount of warm water (about 40 degrees) and mild soap, wait two minutes, then wipe off the dirt with a foam sponge and wipe with napkins. Then this area must be ironed with an iron and a steamer through a cloth at a temperature of 150 degrees;
Tapestry is a very practical and wear-resistant fabric that can even be washed in a washing machine (on the delicate cycle). The tapestry is very pleasant to the touch.
How to choose a corner sofa for the living room
A corner sofa has a frame (lower part) and an upper part made of elastic material. In corner sofas, the frame consists of two parts: the base and the side parts. The base of the product is always twice as long as the side parts. The frame bears the heaviest load, and you already know what types of frames there are.
Corner sofa for living room
When inspecting a corner sofa, pay attention to the composition of the side parts.
They should be ergonomic, not too hard, but not too soft, and preferably with bolsters and armrests: this will make the sitting comfortable.
The padded sides should be resilient to support a person's weight, but still comfortable.
Photo gallery
The photos presented in the gallery show examples of successful design projects for living rooms with stylish and comfortable sofas.
Transformation mechanisms: table of different types
| Transformation types | Characteristics |
| Book | This sofa has two positions: for sitting and for sleeping. At the bottom there is a drawer for linen. This is a very convenient option if you need to save space in the room. |
| Click-clack | This is also essentially a book, but the sofa also has an intermediate state, which is called “relaxation”. A click-klyak does not always have a drawer for linen, but in most cases it does exist. |
| Eurobook | The lower part of such a sofa rolls out on wheels, and the back fits into the free space. This sofa is very convenient to use as a bed for sleeping: the sleeping area is very large and flat. Eurobooks often have a linen drawer. |
| Tick-tock (pantograph) | This is the same Eurobook, but the seat is raised to move forward. The advantage of this type is that the wheels do not scratch the floor. |
| Accordion | The mechanism is made according to the principle of an accordion: you just need to pull the seat towards you, and it will straighten out into a sleeping place. It is very convenient to use such a sofa as a bed: it turns out wide and flat. |
| French folding bed | Here, under the seat, there is a folded cot that can be pulled out by pulling it towards you. This option is more suitable for guests, and not as a daily ritual. |
| Dolphin | In this sofa, the seat does not move, but only the second half of the berth can be pulled out. And pulls out from under the seat. This mechanism is very simple. It is most often used in corner sofas. The only drawback is that such sofas do not have a drawer for bed linen |
This guide explained the best way to choose a sofa for your living room. When you come to the store, choose carefully, take your time; You shouldn’t buy the first sofa you like. Present it in your living room, ask questions about the quality of the product and the warranty to the seller. At the same time, it is always important to remember that you should choose based on your own tastes and preferences. It is only important to look at the size of the sofa, its filling and upholstery (let it have a zipper - this way you can remove it and clean it). And choose the colors and fabric of the sofa as you wish: after all, this piece of furniture should please you for many years to come.
Storage systems
A distinctive feature of a good modern sofa are drawers for linen, storage of alcoholic beverages and other accessories. They are located in the cavities of the furniture structure and have a fairly large capacity. An important element is furniture fittings, levers and lifting mechanisms, with the help of which opening becomes simpler and more accessible even for a person with a small build.
You need to know how such devices work and how convenient they are right in the salon, so as not to waste time on complaints later.
