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Find the right sofa style for you and your space

From contemporary to retro, every sofa style brings something different to your space and can help capture a little of your personality along the way. Whether you love to lounge on luxurious velvet or sit pretty on a printed fabric, here’s a breakdown of the different sofa styles for you to choose from:

Choose the right material for you

Your ideal sofa material will come down to a few factors – comfort, cleaning, overall maintenance required and style. Kids and pets roaming the house? A leather sofa can be quickly cleaned of grubby finger marks and mucky paw prints. Looking for something a little luxurious? Velvet is your friend. To help you decide how to choose a sofa fabric, we’ve rounded up what to consider for the materials available.

Leather

Offering a true sense of sophistication, leather sofas are a popular choice for many households. Durable, easy to clean, and available in a range of different styles, you’re sure to find a leather sofa that suits your space. Leather sofas can last around five years longer than fabric sofas, making them a great investment and the ideal choice for properties with kids and pets.

Velvet

Velvet sofas are another popular and stylish fabric option. Available in a variety of tones, velvet sofas are versatile and can add a hint of luxury to your space. The fabric is soft, comfortable, cosy, and fairly easy to clean.

Boucle

If you want to make a bold statement with your sofa fabric, you’ll certainly achieve this with boucle. A more unusual fabric made from loops of yarn, boucle has a ‘nubby’ texture that’s sure to stand out. This fabric requires upkeep, but when cared for properly is an excellent option.

How to choose the right colour sofa

Select your number of seats and shape

Once you’ve measured the area, it’s time to decide which sofa shape works best for you and the number of seats you have space for. The size and shape of your sofa will dictate the entire look and feel of your living room, so it’s important to get this part right.

Generally, a larger living room can accommodate a spacious corner sofa – perfect for families. On the other hand, a cosy two-seater may be the best option for a smaller room. When considering how to choose a sofa size and shape, always bear in mind the number of people the sofa needs to seat.

Here we’ve rounded up some of the most common sofa sizes and shapes:

Snuggler

A snuggler (or cuddler) is larger than a standard armchair but smaller than a two-seater sofa. It's perfect for one person to get comfy, or a cosy option for two.

Two-seater

Also known as a loveseat, a two-seater sofa is a compact, space-saving option for couples and smaller households. Two seaters also serve well as additional seating options alongside larger sofas.

Corner sofa

Corner sofas are ideal for large families or homes with frequent guests. Their ‘L’ shape design gives them a relaxed and stylish look with lots of flexible seating space.

Chaise sofa

A chaise sofa is based upon the French chaise longue, which is a cross between a chair, sofa and daybed. Perfect for making the most of the space in your room, chaise sofas are great for relaxing and putting your feet up.

Modular sofa

A modular sofa features movable sofa pieces which can be arranged together to meet your needs. Versatile and available in a variety of different sofa styles, modular sofas allow you to get more creative with your interior design.

Find the right filling

When it comes to choosing a sofa, what’s inside counts. A sofa’s filling can make a big difference to its comfort, durability and longevity. Choosing the right filling is important, and sometimes it helps to invest a little more to get a firm filling that will last.

There are three main varieties of sofa filling to choose from, although some may be combined to offer twice the benefits.

Fibre

Fibre cushions are made from polyester strands. This gives the sofa a plump appearance but a soft sit, as the strands compress under pressure. Many people find fibre to be the most comfortable option, however, bear in mind that its firmness can reduce over time when used regularly.

Foam

Foam cushions offer a firmer and more supportive seat. Their robust construction looks better for longer and doesn’t require as much plumping as fibre or feather. Additionally, foam cushions tend to appear smoother and wrinkle-free.

Feather

Feather-filled cushions offer a similar feel to fibre and are perfect if you want a sofa to sink into. They’re plump and soft but may lose firmness over time. To avoid clumping, feathers are often mixed with fibre.

Try out the sofa if you can

We always recommend you look at your potential new sofa in real life before buying. Why not visit your local Barker and Stonehouse store to get a full view of the sofas available?

You can explore the showrooms or order some swatches to see colours and patterns before you make a decision.

Frequently asked questions

What type of sofa lasts the longest?

Leather sofas are known for their longevity. In terms of fabric, sofas that have a dense hardwood frame such as teak, walnut or maple tend to last the longest. For materials, tightly woven textiles such as cotton are typically longer lasting.

How much should I spend on a sofa?

The money you spend on a sofa will depend on the style, material and size you choose. For example, leather sofas generally cost more than their fabric counterparts – however they are a great long-term investment. We recommend taking a look at the different sofa styles available to see which options suit your budget.

What is the best material for a sofa?

Leather and fabric are the two main types of materials used to make sofas. Both options have their benefits, but leather is viewed to be the premium option. Due to the higher costs of leather sofas, many people opt for lower priced alternatives such as faux leather, cotton and velvet.

What to avoid when buying a sofa?

When thinking about how to choose a sofa, you should avoid impulse buying and failing to measure your space. Impulse purchases can be great for small, bargain items, but when it comes to buying a new sofa, it’s best to take your time and find a suitable option for your home.

What determines a quality sofa?

Factors such as a sofa’s material, filling and design will determine its quality. High-quality sofas are built with long-lasting materials like leather and woven fabric, along with a firm filling such as fibre and foam. However, you may view the quality of the sofa on how well it meets your needs.