Sofas have probably been one of the few furniture that has been present with us as early as the Stone age, and a plethora of designs and innovations have emerged through the generations.

Quite a lot of sofa designs have rose and declined in popularity in lieu of trends and changing needs but we still have sofa designs we inherited from various eras like the Victorian era.

Knowing the different types of sofa can help you in choosing a perfect couch according to your needs. There are a lot of types now and every nuance can distinguish the other from the other.

So without further ado, here are 18 different types (some are even illustrated) of sofa for your reference.

Chaise or Chaise Lounges

• Are chairs with one extended side and elongated backs perfect for lounging (hence the term). They’re usually found in sitting rooms or patios.

An example of a Chaise.

Chesterfield

• these are usually leather sofas with raised, rolled armrests and deep button tuftings on the back. The arms are at the same height as the back– kind of resembles a tub with one exposed side.

An example of a 1-seater Chesterfield.

Recliner

• is a type of sofa that is either motorized or not, with an extendable footrest and a reclining back for relaxing or quick naps.

An example of a motorized recliner.

Recliner Sectional

• a variety of the recliner. This type of sofa usually has one extended side (like a chaise), and reclining seats.

Recliner Sofa

• 2 or 3-seater sofas with at least 1 seat that reclines. Reclining can be motorized or mechanical.

An example of a 2-seater recliner sofa with adjustable headrests.

Daybed

• sofas by day and beds by night. Like sofa beds but they don’t have adjustable backs. Unlike chaise lounges, daybeds have raised sides, or a raised back.

An example of a daybed.

Sectional

• these are usually multiple piece sofas that you can attach together and arrange into different shapes and configurations (“L” shape and “U”).

An example of a sectional with an “L” shape.

Lawson

• has loose back cushions that you can remove and rearrange. Known for the comfort it offers and present in most homes. The Lawson doesn’t necessarily have rounded arms, though they usually come in that kind of design.

An example of a 2-seater Lawson sofa.

English Roll Arms

• has rounded arms (hence roll arms) which are smaller than the back and has tight back cushions, meaning they can’t be removed and rearranged, unlike Lawsons. Comes in hanging or draped seat cushions.

An example of a 3-seater English Roll Arms sofa.

Settee

• Are sofas popular during the post-modern period. Settees are basically just seats narrower than love seats.

An example of a simple settee.

Love Seat

• any sofa that is perfect to seat two people comfortably. Love seats are too small to be stretched out on so it is only popular among individuals with small spaces.

An example of a fabric love seat.

Tuxedo

• sofas with tufted backs and arms that come in geometric designs. Got its name from the professional and clean aura it radiates. Unlike the Chesterfield, Tuxedos are usually upholstered with fabric.

An example of a Tuxedo sofa.

Mid-Century

• characterized by clean and rectangular sides and cushions with solid wood legs. Mid-centuries have again risen to popularity as of late.

Bridgewater

• have arms rolled to one side, and the middle part of the back curved downward (think of a soft “v”). Used to be popular among the nobility.

Camel Back

• like the Bridgewater, only that the way the curves rise and drop are inverted (think of a soft “m”). The shape the backrest resembles is the curves present on a camel’s back. The descending part of the back continues until the arms. Usually has exposed wood legs, and wood arm and back linings.

Pull-Out Sofa

• a very popular type of sofa bed. Pull-outs have stacked cushions ready to be pulled out to lie and stretch out on. Unlike Futon sofa beds, the back part cannot be folded to be completely flat.

An example of a pull-out sofa bed.

Futon

• like Pull-Out Sofa Beds, but all sides are foldable to produce a completely flat surface (hence the term Futon, the foldable beds the Japanese use).

An example of a futon sofa bed.

Divan

• Divans are sofas that can be as big as sectionals, but do not have backrests. Usually comes with a lot of pillows for arrangement. As this type of sofa does not have a backrest, positioning can be a bit tricky and constricted.

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Found anything you liked? Head over to our store and you might just be able to stumble across the sofa you’ve long been looking for!

 

-Megan