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If you have questions about sofa styles, upholstery fabrics, recliners, headrests and more, as well as how to match sofa looks to interior design styles, you've come to the right place. Welcome to the Furniture Village sofa and armchair buying guide.
These days, there are so many living room furniture options available - sofas in all sizes, chaise end sofas, sofas with recliners, armchairs for two, storage footstools - and in a huge range of interior design styles.
Let's start right at the beginning and decide whether you need a sofa, a sofa bed, an armchair or a footstool - or even all four.
Whatever the design or upholstery fabric or size, every sofa comes in one of three basic looks.
Classic back sofas have back cushions that can be turned and plumped. There's usually one back cushion per seat cushion.
Fixed back sofas have a tightly-upholstered back with a much firmer and more traditional look and feel.
Pillow back sofas have multiple back cushions that are more like square accent cushions than traditional sofa cushions.
How a sofa or chair feels is as important as how it looks. From soft, ‘sink in’ comfort to firmer support – find your perfect sit with our handy comfort guide.
Plush, sumptuous, soft cocooning comfort. Indulge yourself with deep, soft, squishy fibre, soft foam or down-filled cushions. You might want to stay all day.
In a nutshell: soft and luxurious.
Snug comfort with a bouncy feel. Think foam seat cushions which spring back into shape, or foam-wrapped, pocket sprung seat cushions for the perfect balance.
In a nutshell: comfy and supportive.
Extra support for a slightly firmer feel, without compromising on comfort. Look out for long lasting high-density cold cure moulded foam cushions and pocket sprung seats.
In a nutshell: lovely and firm.
A comfortable living room sofa by day, the sofa bed quickly converts into an overnight bed for your guests. Learn more about sofa bed styles in our sofa bed article and below.
If space is at a premium but you still need to accommodate an overnight guest, a chair bed is a great choice. Chair beds look like armchairs but unfold into comfy beds for one person.
Most sofa beds are designed to sleep two people. A 3 seater sofa bed will offer your guests plenty of room, while a 2 seater sofa bed will be a little more cosy.
A chaise end sofa bed or a corner sofa bed will give your family and friends plenty of room to lounge on by day and often incorporate storage for pillows and duvets.
Every home has an armchair that everybody fights over. While a sofa offers more room for sprawling out, there's something even more relaxing about an armchair that you can call your own.
The perfect seat for one, armchairs offer comfort and support with arms to lean against and a well-cushioned back.
These look like armchairs - although they can be armless - and tend to be smaller. An accent chair makes the perfect extra guest chair or bedroom chair.
Cuddle chairs are oversized armchairs that are designed to seat two in cosy comfort or one person who likes to spread out.
You can relax in any sofa or armchair but if you want to put your feet up you'll need a footstool. Footstools also make great impromptu coffee tables and guest seats.
Storage footstools tend to be large and boxy and contemporary in style. Hiding a useful storage compartment under a hinged lid, they're a great choice for a compact living room.
As they don't have to accommodate a storage compartment, traditional footstools tend to have taller and more decorative legs as well as more comfortably cushioned tops.
Narrow down your options by thinking carefully about your family, your home and your lifestyle.
1. How many people do you need to seat?
It's an obvious question, but make sure you do a quick head count before you come to a final decision.
2. Does your family like to snuggle up together on one big sofa?
If sharing one space is going to cause too many arguments, consider two smaller sofas or an arragement of sofas and armchairs instead.
3. Is your family composed of tidy sitters or happy sprawlers?
If there’s a mixture of both, a sofa with recliners might be the way to go.
Consider family-friendly upholstery fabrics, or opt for loose covers which can be removed for washing.
If you have a lot of visitors, opt for flexible seating like modular pieces or extra footstools.
Oversized sofas are great for family movie night, while armchairs make it easier to gather round a coffee table.
A sofa has to fit through the door, of course, and needs to be in proportion to the room.
Large sofas work well in traditional rooms with high ceilings. Compact sofas may be better for modern rooms.
If not, consider a sofa bed. They come in all looks so you don't have to sacrifice style for practicality.
Sofas and armchairs fall into three style categories - modern, traditional and a casual contemporary look that combines the best elements of modern and traditional.
While there are certain sofa styles that work best in specific living room styles, listen to your inner interior designer and choose pieces that you instinctively love.
The modern sofa look is simple yet beautiful, and features straight or curved lines. Modern sofas and chairs are central to striking, minimalist decor but also fit well in relaxed and casual interiors.
1. Sleek straight lines or gentle curves
2. Clean and unfussy
3. Minimal embelishments like subtle stitching
4. Angular metal or tapered wood legs
5. A sleek, low-back silhouette
6. Adjustable headrests
7. Power recliners
8. Built in USB ports
9. Chaise ends
10. Integrated storage
If you like your sofas and armchairs effortlessly sleek and stylish, consider an Italian leather sofa - the essence of sophisticated modern style as well as time-honoured craftsmanship.
Retro sofa style showcases the tapered legs, buttoned backs and curved profiles of 1950s and 1960s mid-century modern sofas, alongside the geometric patterns, bold colours and high backs of 1970s sofas.
Perfect if you love clean minimalism, neutral colours, smooth lines and gentle curves, Scandi-style sofas and chairs often have light wood tapered legs, subtle back buttoning and chaise ends.
Ercol - iconic British sofas with a retro feel.
Nicoletti Home - sleek and sophisticated Italian leather sofas.
The traditional sofa or armchair suits all homes. In the classic home, traditional sofa style blends seamlessly with period features, while in the modern home this look is a pleasing counterpoint to modern decor.
1. Wider, deeper seats
2. Higher supportive backs
3. Comfort features like recliners
4. Turned or moulded feet
5. Castors
6. Curved or scroll arms
7. Winged sides
8. Lavish buttoning
9. Patterned or textured upholstery
10. Subtle, sophisticated colours
Chesterfield sofas have rolled arms that are the same height as the sofa back, signature deep button tufting and often a nail-head trim. This style looks beautiful in a traditional interior and adds a signature vintage touch in a modern interior.
Wingback armchairs have wings mounted to the sides of the chair, which usually extend down to the armrests. Wingback chairs were originally designed to protect the sitter from chilly draughts.
Buttoning is the technique of stitching through and pulling together the upholstery fabric and layers of padding, and securing it with a button. This traditional style detail can also be seen on many contemporary sofas.
Parker Knoll - timeless designs with the emphasis on comfort.
Casual contemporary style is design aesthetic that's on trend, relaxed and comfortable. Neither purely traditional or entirely modern, it takes elements of both looks and is the perfect choice for modern living.
1. Generous proportions
2. Clean lines
3. Power or manual recliners
4. Chaise ends
5. Deep cushioning
6. Supportive backs and arms
7. Easy-care family-friendly fabrics
8. Retro and vintage design details
9. Modular options
10. Built in storage
Modular sofas are the ultimate flexible seating solution. Simply choose the sections that work best for you, your home and your budget, and create any seating arrangement you like.
Channeling a distinctively British approach to luxury, heritage sofas have gorgeous upholstery in natural fibres like wool and linen, vintage details with a modern twist like studding or buttoning, and sumptuous feather-filled cushioning.
Chaise end sofas feature an extended length on one side and are the perfect way to put your feet up. Most styles are available both as right-hand facing and left-hand facing. Some chaise ends hide a useful storage space.
G Plan - the very essence of sofa comfort in a wide range of designs.
Alexander & James - contemporary interpretations of classic sofa styles.
Choosing between fabric or leather can be difficult. Leather upholstery ages beautifully and has plenty of character but you'll enjoy an even wider choice of colours and styles if you opt for fabric upholstery. To help you choose a leather or fabric sofa we've made it easy to order fabric swatches.
Practical, affordable and offering a huge choice of colours, patterns and styles, fabric upholstery is a great choice for sofas and armchairs. Take a closer look at the types of fabrics you'll find covering Furniture Village sofas and armchairs.
Resilent yet luxurious, this soft-feel fabric is available in many colours. But be warned, chenille is a pile fabric so can show wear and is not ideal for homes with pets or young children.
Whether man made or natural, velvet has a luxurious shimmering texture, soft feel and is available in many colours. Velvet is a pile fabric, so it can show wear and is not ideal for homes with pets or young children.
This soft-to-the-touch synthetic fibre is pre-treated with a protective finish for durability so it's an excellent choice for everyday living. It feels soft and luxurious too.
With its lovely natural texture and beautiful imperfections, linen is a fabulous choice for an elegant sofa. While linen does not fade or pill, it does not stand up to heavy wear and can crease.
Luxurious and natural, real wool has a lovely soft feel and tends not to wrinkle. This is a very forgiving fabric that stands up to dirt, abrasion, mildew and sunlight. Wool can be an expensive choice.
Available in a wide range of colours, patterns and textures, woven fabrics are perfect for family homes although they can be less durable than other fabrics as there's no protective pile.
Vacuum fabric upholstery lightly or use a soft brush regularly to avoid build-up of dirt, and take care of spills promptly. Fabric tends to fade if exposed to prolonged sunlight, and will show wear on areas of more use. You'll find more information in our upholstery care guide.
There’s nothing quite like leather, which is why all of our leather sofas are upholstered in only the best 100% leathers. Attractive and luxurious yet hardwearing and easy to care for, leather upholstery is a timeless choice that’s always in fashion, and a great option for busy family spaces and homes with children. At Furniture Village we offer four different types of leather.
Uniform in appearance, our family leather has a protective coating which makes it hardwearing and family friendly. It's a great value, practical choice.
Club leather is thick, durable and strong with a heavier grain definition. It's designed to be tough enough to withstand the rigours of a busier lifestyle.
Featuring a distressed, antiqued finish for a gorgeous lived-in look, our romance leather is rich in distinctive character and improves with age.
Made from the finest premium hides, our connoisseur leather is luxuriously soft and features characterful natural grain markings.
Whatever type of leather you choose, you'll notice texture and colour variations, even within one piece of furniture, as well as characterful markings. Leather also tends to stretch and soften with use. You'll find more information in our upholstery care guide.
It's important to make sure any new furniture fits perfectly, so be sure to figure out your room layout first and measure carefully before shopping. Remember, your furniture needs to be in proportion to the room, to your other furniture and, in particular, to the height of the ceiling. Think about the aesthetic of the room too - two small sofas might look better than one large one, for example - and consider modular seating.
Armchairs are, by and large, designed to seat one person. This is wonderful if you're that one person, but if you need to accommodate a lot of people, an armchair might not be the best use of space. If you do have room for an armchair, be sure to explore all the different types of armchair, like wingback armchairs, swivel armchairs and recliner armchairs to find the right one for you.
Cuddle chair, snuggle chair, love seat - whatever you call them, these oversized armchairs are a living room must-have. Designed to seat two in cosy comfort, they're perfect for cuddling up with the one you love - or for stretching out in solitary comfort. Cuddle chairs are large pieces so you might want to maximise seating options by opting for a sofa instead.
When space is at a premium, a two seater sofa is the way to go. These smaller sofas offer greater flexibility if you're decorating a room from scratch and want to keep your layout adaptable. They're often more affordable which is helpful if you're just starting out. These compact sofas are available with classic, fixed and pillow backs, and in fabric and leather.
If you have a more generous room to fill or need something bigger to accommodate family and friends, a spacious three seater sofa could be the answer. Choose fabric or leather upholstery in classic back, fixed back or pillow back style. Not quite enough room for a large sofa? Choose a compact three seater sofa with slim arms.
A four seater sofa is big on comfort and roominess. So whether you are having a crowd round or stretching out with your nearest and dearest, everybody's happy. Choose fixed back, classic back or pillow back style in either fabric or leather. Remember that a large sofa can dominate a smaller space, so make sure you measure carefully before ordering.
A corner sofa is hugely versatile and can be the most accommodating choice for fitting around other pieces of furniture - especially if your home has an unconventional layout or if you need to save space. A corner sofa also help you to create a seating area within a larger multi-purpose space. Choose classic back or pillow back style in either fabric or leather.
A chaise end sofa is designed for reclining. Like having a built in footstool, a chaise end lets you put your feet up and stretch out in style. You will find that many 2 seater sofas, 3 seater sofas and 4 seater sofas incorporate a chaise end. Chaise ends or day beds are often also available as part of a modular collection so you can create your own chaise longue. In a larger sofa, a chaise end may also incorporate a useful storage space.
These days, sofa and armchairs come with all kinds of extras designed to make them more comfortable, more stylish and more relaxing. If you have the option to choose optional extras, be sure you know what you need - and what you want.
A recliner sofa or armchair features a mechanism that allows you to adjust your seated position from upright to reclining by moving the seat back backwards as the front of the chair lifts to become a supportive footrest. Different types of recliners suit different people and different homes.
Power recliners allow you to recline in an almost infinite range of positions at the touch of a button either on a pad or on the side of the sofa or chair. You'll need to position your recliner chair or sofa close to a power source.
The original recliner mechanism, manual recliners are easy to operate - you simply push gently against the sofa or chair arms. Manual recliners can be affordable but may not be the best choice for someone with limited strength.
Battery-operated recliners take all the work out of reclining and have a smooth mechanised motion. As with manual recliners, armchair or sofa position is not restricted by power source location. Battery-operated recliners are more affordable than power recliners.
It's a given that sofas and armchairs are going to be comfortable. And while you may not always get to choose what kind of suspension or cushioning your sofa has, it’s always good to know what you’re sitting on – especially if you need extra lumbar support.
The fillings of a sofa or armchair can be the last thing you think about after style, size, fabric and colour. However, fillings do make a big different to the feel of a sofa and to how the sofa cushions retain their shape. Some sofa brands even let you customise the fillings. So what is the best filling for sofas?
Foam has a firm bounce and retains its shape best. The more traditional furniture-makers tend to prefer foam fillings.
Fibre refers to man-made, synthetic fillings, usually wrapped in fabric. Fibre offers medium to soft comfort, depending on its density.
Feather-filled sofas provide a softer, more luxurious cushioning option and have that sumptuous 'sink-down' feeling.
Same sofa designers use a mix of fillings, like foam cushions with a fibre wrap, or feather cushions with a foam core.
Our sofas and armchairs come with a variety of different spring and suspension systems, from traditional springs and webbing to coil, pocket and zigzag springs. As superiority of springs generally correlates to a higher price, it's a good idea to visit us in store and sit on lots of sofas to see what's most comfortable for you.
If you have a bad back, suffer from neck pain or just generally like more support from your sofa, be sure to shop around for one that has what you need, whether that's high-back style, built in lumbar support or even adjustable headrests.
High back sofas and chairs offer great support for those with back problems. If you prefer low-back style but occasionally need high-back support, choose a sofa or armchair with drop down headrests
Many sofas come with additional lumbar support. This is where the back of the sofa or armchair is stitched in such a way that the back cushioning is in exactly the right place to support the back.
Inbuilt headrests give plenty of comfort and extra support to your head as you relax, and are particularly helpful for people with back issues.
Drop down headrests are as wide as each sofa or armchair seat. They allow you to quickly change the look and feel of your sofa from high-back support to low-profile style.
Manually operated, ratchet headrests let you choose between a selection of headrest positions. A fairly low-tech option, they're often a more affordable extra.
Like a power reclining mechanism, power headrests adjust smoothly and quickly at the touch of a button for the perfect head-supporting position for you.
Alongside classic sofa looks like Chesterfields and classic sofa shapes like four seater sofas, you'll find a wide variety of on trend sofa styles at Furniture Village. See what our in-house design experts have to say about the latest sofa and armchair trends by reading the articles below. You'll find many more articles at The Home of Inspiration, our very own online design hub.
Q. What is the most popular sofa colour?
A. The short answer is grey, in all its many shades. Grey is a fabulous neutral - bold but subtle, sophisticated yet versatile, and fashionable without being a fleeting trend. We highly recommend it.
Q. In sofas, what's the difference between pillow back and classic back?
A. Actually, sofas come in three different back styles - the classic cushioned back, the pillow back or scatter back style, and the fixed back. You'll find more information here.
Q. What kind of mattresses do your sofa beds have?
A. Different sofa beds come with different kinds of mattresses, including memory foam, coil sprung and even pocket sprung. If you've found a sofa bed that you like but would prefer a different mattress, please just ask. We will always try to help.
Q. Which Furniture Village sofas are modular?
A. There's too many to count! In fact, we are one of the largest retailers of modular sofas as we're big fans of this versatile and flexible seating solution. Learn more about our modular sofa collections.
Q. Is every corner sofa available as both left-hand facing and right-hand facing?
A. Yes! To clarify, a left-hand facing corner unit (or chaise end) will have the shorter length of the corner sofa (or chaise end) on the left-hand side as you're facing the sofa. A right-hand facing corner unit (or chaise end) will have the shorter length of the corner sofa (or the chaise end) on the right-hand side as you're facing the sofa.
Q. What is the thickness of the leather on Furniture Village sofas?
A. This varies from brand to brand and designer to designer. The industry standard is 0.7 mm and our leathers start at a more luxurious 0.9 mm.
Q. What's the best sofa for a small living room?
A. You can't go wrong with a two seater sofa. They're on the smaller side but can comfortably seat two adults (or three children). You may find that some three seater sofas with slim arms and compact proportions take up hardly any more room than a two seater.
Q. What are the different types of sofa fabrics?
A. We have hundreds of sofas in almost as many fabric types, colours and styles. It's best to start by finding the sofa you love, and then choosing the fabric you like best - most sofas come in a wide range of fabric colours, so it's easy it find one that works with your decor. You can learn more about the fabrics you'll find at Furniture Village here.
Q. What are the different types of leather used in your sofas?
A. At Furniture Village, we offer four types of leather so you can choose the leather look you love and, importantly, find a leather sofa at a price that works for you. Learn more about these four leather types here.
Q. What are Furniture Village sofas filled with?
A. That depends on the sofa. Some of our sofas have foam-filled cushioning, some have feather cushions, some have fibre and some have a mix. When it comes to choosing, there's no right or wrong answer - it all depends on what feel you like. Foam is firmer, feathers are softer and fibre is somewhere in the middle. The sit of a sofa also depends on its suspension - the type of springs or webbing. It's a good idea to come along to your local store and talk to one of our experts.
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