Sofas in the living room: varieties, choices and options in the interior

New apartments have become more spacious, which gave rise to increased design options for the room. Typical Soviet apartments, although they have not changed their size, have become platforms where you can apply completely new interior moves. The choice of furniture and decor becomes wider and more affordable, but people still solve standard issues. One of them - what kind of sofa to buy in the living room?

Modern furniture should be comfortable, beautiful, fashionable and, very importantly, durable. And although the seeming variety of choices is hundreds of options, even today all sofas belong to only 6 groups.

This means that nothing has changed significantly in choosing a sofa in the living room. And this object is needed in the hall all for the same purposes:

• in the recreation area it is the most comfortable furniture;
• if necessary, it will serve as a sleeping place;
• it emphasizes the interior idea, makes the style more convincing.

There are some advantages to using the sofa - it’s convenient, beautiful, it unites households and guests, functionally. There are almost no cons. Unless the sofa can become a minus of the living room, which obviously does not fit the room - neither in color, in design, in form, nor in material, is it “friendly” with other elements of space.But if the matter was only behind the sofa, it was he who should adapt to the existing situation.

As mentioned above, sofas are divided into 6 groups or types. Within this classification, there may be branches, but they are no longer so significant.

• Modular. These designs consist of individual modules, varying in shape and size. They may vary even in the materials of manufacture, but this is less common. Modules may not even connect to each other, they are just geographically located nearby. But if the model is elite, then it can be equipped with special magnets that fix the modules.

• Island Art Sofas. The seats of such a sofa can be firmly fastened to the back and armrests, and disassemble / assemble this design again will not work. In most cases, these are non-folding soft sofas. Round, oval and even wave - quite popular models today. For island sofas, the back of the back is made in the same upholstery as the seats. Such furniture was created for installation in the center of a spacious room. Usually you can sit on such a sofa from different angles (it is double-sided). Island sofas are not actually intended for sleeping; they do not imply a berth.

• Sectional. They are called straight and angular, but their real name is sectional. The buyer can choose a product with a different number of sections. The manufacturer twists the seats, backs and armrests, etc. The sofa, which is made to order, immediately implies several options for the sections. A large sofa is a structure in which there are 7 or more sections. The compact version of the sectional sofa is the usual direct. Such a sofa is often used for zoning the kitchen-living room. This is a good choice for those who wish to stay on the universal option.

• Corner compact. This is a segment of budget corner and very popular sofas. Dimensions are chosen by the buyer, but the choice is usually reduced to 2-4 standard sizes. Such a folding sofa is suitable for sleeping and relaxing. Compact types of such models rarely do without a bed section, because the name of the sofa bed for them is quite fair. Under the ottoman is usually a box for bedding. It is believed that this option is convenient for those who want to buy a sofa in the living room, and an additional (spare) bed.

• Mattress sofas. And these are high-quality sofas that are suitable for sleeping. The sofa has a full thick mattress. The design itself can be either straight or angular. Unfolded, it turns out a full bed, and much better than in the case of a compact corner sofa. It can be triple and not only suitable for those who have to sleep in the living room.

• Sofa with folding bed function. During the day it is an ordinary sofa, at night - a bed, which is laid out over the sofa. Even pillows in this case do not have to remove. But keep in mind that the bed will be high, because this option is more suitable for teenagers. It is expensive, is found on sale less often than other types.

Metal, plastic and glass are actively used in the manufacture of furniture, but nevertheless they are inferior in terms of prevalence to wood and its derivatives.

Sofa frame can be made solid wood, plywood, MDF, fiberboard and particleboard, OSB. Timber and slabs are suitable for supporting furniture elements, and thin plywood sheets can be used for sheathing the frame. But if we talk about quality, then modern materials are inferior to wood in many respects. Its derivatives can also be attractive in appearance, and cost expensive, but they cannot repeat the characteristics of the array.

Walnut, ash, oak, beech - these trees make beautiful furniture, which is also used in the sofa frame.

Facing today and inexpensive materials that change their appearance and performance by laminating, postforming, caching, veneering. So the materials are gaining strength and they are quite relevant for the manufacture of furniture facades.

Today, a potential buyer has a choice - to buy natural (environmentally friendly) fabric for a sofa or synthetic. And the question really often stands this way, because many buyers can choose the type of upholstery right in the store. Certainly natural fabrics are preferred; they are hygroscopic and breathable.

Upholstery options.

• Cotton. Affordable, pleasant to the touch material, but the shelf life of this material is limited.

• Jacquard. The material is distinguished by a relief texture and high density, the fabric does not wear out quickly and is not afraid of ultraviolet radiation.

• Tapestry. Furniture with such upholstery looks elegant and aristocratic. It is strong and natural, but it has a tendency to abrasion.

• Silk. Used rarely. Usually they are fitted with antique furniture. The surface is very pleasant to the touch, the material is hypoallergenic and it is easy to take care of it (but the material is cold).

• Leather. Luxurious, durable, moisture resistant, easy to clean upholstery, but high cost, tendency to crack over time and stickiness are the minuses of such furniture.

• Arpatek. This is an artificial upholstery that is tear resistant, easy to clean, good color retention and not prone to rapid abrasion.

• Scotchguard. It resembles a jacquard, but it costs less than it. The material is durable, but can fade in the sun.

• Flock. Excellent coverage, easy to care and waterproof. Dust does not stick to it and nothing clings to its texture, but the material can wear out over time and is prone to absorb odors.

• Shenill Durable and wear resistant material. It fades a little and does not stretch, but absorbs moisture and, for example, is not able to cope with the traces of cat's claws.

There are also a lot of them, and the most popular option is considered spring block. He is responsible for the high level of comfort, for the correct distribution of the person’s weight. The filler has a lot of advantages, including long-term operation, reliability, resilience, orthopedic properties. But the minuses include creaking, which may appear over time, and costly repairs if a spring break occurs.

Other filler options.

• Polyurethane foam - synthetics, which in quality can bypass rubber and rubber, can be cast and block.It does not accumulate dust, does not cause allergies, withstands loads, etc. But some variants of this material are stiffer than the same spring block, and cheap polyurethane foam will quickly lose its elasticity.

• Synthetic winterizer - The material is often used in low-cost models. It has an elastic and resilient structure; fungus cannot start in it. The material will not cause an allergic reaction, although this is synthetics. But the operating period of the synthetic winterizer is relatively small. And there is still no single technology for its production, so the risk of running into low-quality material is very large.

• Periotek. This filler includes polyester fibers. This is a high-strength and resilient material, since it successfully combines, for example, bamboo and rayon or corn fibers, as well as flax, coconut, wool. It is made using a special three-layer technology. It is completely safe for human health. He has a lot of advantages, and the disadvantages include only the high price and relative rigidity.

• Hollofiber. And this is a modernized synthetic winterizer familiar to many. The spiral structure of the material guarantees rapid restoration of shape after long loads. This is almost ideal material, since it has not revealed significant shortcomings. It is safe, lightweight, odorless, non-rolling, breathable. He finally does not support combustion.

Other fillers worthy of the attention of the buyer include latex, durafil and stratofiber.

The dimensions of the sofa should correspond to the main requirements - organize comfort for the user, take up not very much space and optimally integrate into the project room. The dimensional characteristic is the height of the sofa, length and width.

Sofas are:

• full size - up to 200 cm in length (not less than 180), folded width of 80-90 cm;
• one and a half - length 140-170, width - 70-90 cm;
• small - length 120-150, width - 70-80 cm.

The main role in this classification is given to length, which can be interpreted as the number of seats. But the width and height can be equal for different models.

In the form of sofas can be straight, angular, U-shaped, round, semicircular, oval, radius, etc. There are long roomy models, but there are narrow and low, more decorative sofas (models for one).

A modern buyer can find an exclusive and extravagant version of the sofa color scheme. But some colors will always be at the top, while others share fashion laurels (which lead in sales a couple of seasons) and sofas “for everybody.” The latter are often made to order.

Color schemes of modern sofas:

• upholstery white, milky, ivory - beautiful, but easily soiled, and even leather models require special care;

• maroon - fit in a spacious living room;

• chocolate brown - if the design of the room has similar colors in other furniture or decor, the option is good;

• terracotta - A fashionable option for the hall in warm colors;

• blue and turquoise color recent seasons are in fashion, especially shades of rain, the sky before a thunderstorm;

• lilac the sofa looks better in the interior of pop art;

• bright red - suitable for bold interiors, as well as for white and gray living rooms;

• beige - pastel shades of furniture - this is a classic;

• green - It will look good in eco-design;

• emerald - Fits well in expensive, noble styles;

• yellow - a reference to the Scandinavian aesthetics;

• purple - color with which you need to be careful (able to cause apathy).

The sofa in the English style, of course, is beautiful and elegant, but the key word in the aspect of choice is relevance. It is very important that the furniture is not only beautiful, designer, fashionable. It is necessary to integrate it into the existing design and in a certain interior style.

The most popular sofa styles today:

• English - a family model with rounded armrests in plain upholstery in natural tones;

• fusion, lounge, pop art and various French styles are well conveyed using the convertible model sofas;

• Victorian as well as loft Chesterfield stylish sofa (leather, velvet or flock upholstery) will perfectly emphasize;

• art deco, neoclassic, venetian style - This is excellent soil for taxido - a chic sofa created for a glamorous interior;

• in retro, Scandinavian style, camelback is applicable - This model is interesting in that its back is similar to a camel's back, which, in fact, reflects the name.

Finally, the most popular furniture product in this category today is scandinavian sofa, which is more common in the Scandy style, but it also comes to the living rooms, where the style is basically blurry. This is a minimalistic two- or three-seater model with pillows clearly drawn. It has laconic textile armrests and, as a rule, wooden legs.

It is worth saying that today an independent combination of furniture is popularized in interior design. This means that you are not buying a ready-made kit or kit, but make yourself comfortable and beautiful combinations. A sofa and armchairs are no exception. But even if you assume that you are not ready for such a risk, think about a set of furniture that varies in color, for example.

And remember that the chair should not be decorative. If you have a large corner sofa, the mission of the chair remains unclear. Consider the size of the living room: sometimes the desire to necessarily put in the room a set of upholstered furniture just goes against common sense. A great option is a chair with a footrest. It is comfortable, stylish and does not need a symmetrical element of furniture.

When choosing a sofa several requirements are considered at once. And if one buyer considers only elite models that are a priori expensive, the other looks at comfortable options with pillows at the best price. And the third is only interested in original models, so that "not like everyone else."

Experts recommend building a sofa selection based on answers to these questions.

• What size is the living room, in what part of it is it planned to place the sofa?
• How many people will sit on it at the same time on ordinary days?
• How often will a sofa be used in principle?
• Will it be used as a sleeping place, how often?
• Are there animals, small children in the apartment?

Having decided on the shape, size, color, you need to go to the choice of the transformation mechanism. There are several of them: dolphin, book, eurobook, accordion, tick-tock, click-clack, roll-out mechanism. This is not to say that some of the mechanisms is significantly superior to others.

It is known that a lot of purchases occur, as they say, on emotions. And the owners then regret the haste of choice. because Do not be too lazy to make a list of requirements that will help to take into account all the nuances and wishes.

For small living rooms, corner sofas are a good solution. Of course, you won’t put them in the middle of the living room, but they’ll stand perfectly against a long wall. If zoning of the space is necessary, then the corner sofa against the wall will not give such an effect. But here you have to choose: either maintaining free space, or zoning.

Other options.

• Across from the door - this is most often a window installation. The option is rare, but met. Especially if the sofa is low and they are not going to lay it out.
• Near the dining table. This refers to a geographically close location, not a combination. For example, a sofa stands against a long wall, and behind it is a dining table.
• In the center of the living room. Suitable only for very large halls or options for combining the living room and kitchen. In this case, the sofa will be a zone. The disadvantage of this placement is the inability to use the wall above the sofa.
• Near a low table. It is convenient even in a relatively small room. If the hall is small, then the table should be miniature.

Sometimes in one living room the owners manage to combine two sofas. And this is not the worst option if the recreation area, according to the owners, should be large. But the subtleties of placing two sofas are to have a low table between them, which can transform into a full-fledged large dining table. To lay out two sofas standing nearby is also problematic, but possible.

The most common arrangement of the sofa is opposite the TVThis provides maximum comfort when watching TV. Near the sofa there may be a group of armchairs or pouffes, as well as hanging lamps.

Interior design experts pay attention to: All placement methods are divided into symmetric, asymmetric and circular. In the first case, it is a living room of a square or rectangular shape. The asymmetric arrangement of the sofa is suitable for a non-standard living room or a direct room. Circular furniture makes it possible to create cozy areas in the room. And for the living room, this option is perfect. Usually the center in such an organization of space is a carpet, a TV, perhaps a fireplace with shelves above it, and the rest of the furniture is placed around them.

Specific examples will eloquently tell you how an ideal sofa in a living room might look. The selection below contains 15 beautiful illustrations of how the sofa fits harmoniously into space. Sometimes you need to fight stereotypes and not be afraid of bold interior solutions.

• A huge sofa that perfectly forms a large seating area. For a long and relatively narrow living room, this is a good option. If you dream up, then around the corner of the sofa you can also arrange the dining area.

• A beautiful gray sofa that looks like a vintage thing from luxurious interiors. A chair was chosen for it, which does not match the sofa in color, but perfectly echoes the pillows. For a light-flooded living room, this is ideal.

• Composition of two different sized sofas and armchairs. Only suitable for a spacious living room, or, as in this case, for a room where there is not much cabinet furniture and the emphasis is on the recreation area.

• Very concise and simple option, but he’s good at that.

• The choice of sofa in this case is remarkable, as this is a model that does not burden the space. Triple, Scandinavian, pleasant in color, it fits perfectly into the narrow living room.

• Not everyone likes the voids in the rooms; for many, cosiness is a pleasant crampedness, proximity of objects. And this example shows how this desire can be translated into reality.

• A small sofa surrounded by side tables is a good option for a small family. Perfectly matched triptych on the wall. Great minimalistic solution.

• Another laconic choice that automatically adds style to the space. Such a sofa does not fold out, but if this is not the mission assigned to it, then why look for reasons to abandon the sofa ("just in case" is not an argument)? And, again, this is a small typical living room.

• The classic solution, complementary to an elongated room. At the dressing table there is a bench from one set with a sofa, which looks very nice.

• An example of a space in which a sofa takes on additional zoning features. For combined rooms, the option is very good.

• Very modern and democratic idea. The area above the sofa is beaten brilliantly, and the red armchair blends great with the gray sofa upholstery.

• In this example, a kit is involved: a large sofa and two armchairs. And these two chairs form a “dialogue zone”, which is a very good solution for such long narrow rooms.

• Bright sofa in a bright space. The owners abandoned the large sofa in order to save space on the organization of an additional functional zone.

• A bit retro and western aesthetics. In an apartment, this design is more difficult to organize than in a private house, but the basic ideas can be taken. The little table in the middle is the center of the composition.

• An option that is as modern as practical. A rug, pillows, a table - everything helps a gray, slightly ascetic sofa to become even more comfortable. Very stylish and convincing.

The choice of sofa is really kind, because this furniture will not change for a long time. Do not give in to emotions, include rationality and common sense. And then the purchase will delight you for many years.