A sofa is a living room staple. Whether you like to lounge and watch TV or curl up and read a book, finding the perfect sofa for you is important. Keep reading to learn more about the types of sofas available.

Types of Sofas

Sofa: The most traditional option, a regular sofa can seat two or more people and come in a variety of depths, widths, and heights. Typically, these sofas have three seat cushions.

Sleeper: As the name states, these sofas allow you to alter the sofa to provide more surface area to sleep – which is perfect if you host guests a lot.

Loveseat: Meant to seat two people – historically, a couple – loveseats are smaller and cozier than standard sofas. A loveseat can otherwise be identical in design to a standard sofa; the only important distinction is its smaller size.

Chaise: With this style, one or both sides of the sofa has a chaise that extends forward to allow you to stretch out entirely without the need for an additional ottoman.

Settee: More formal and bench-like in appearance, settees are meant for more formal settings that see less wear and tear.

Tip!

Looking for a sofa with more seating space? Check out our Sectional Sofa Buying Guide for tips on choosing the right one for your living room.

Sofa Designs

Reclining: These sofas allow you to tilt the back of the sofa while raising the legs.

Modular: These sofas are composed of multiple sections so you can rearrange it the way you want.

Standard: These sofas don't recline, aren't modular, aren't convertible, or a sleeper sofa.

Convertible: This is a type of sleeper sofa. To change it into a sleeper, you alter the sofa's structure, such as folding down the back.

Curved: These sofas can either have a curved back or a curved frame. They can fit many styles, especially glam or modern spaces.

Sofa Bed: Sofa beds are a type of sleeper sofa. Unlike convertible sofas, this sofa creates a sleeper by pulling out a frame from inside the sofa that sits under the cushions.

Chesterfield: The signature of this vintage sofa style is its full-body tufting. Traditionally made to embody careful craftsmanship and prestige, modern chesterfield sofas invoke timeless elegance. These sofas typically have tuxedo-style rolled arms.

Sofa Arm Styles

Square: Often found on Lawson and mid-century modern sofas, square sofa arms are characterized by sharp, geometric lines.

Armless: This style doesn't have arms at all, which can be great for small living rooms or other spaces where you'd like to cut down on visual clutter.

Rolled/Round: Vintage and elegant in appearance, rolled or rounded sofa arms slope outward and curl in on themselves.

Pillow Top: Thick, arm-shaped cushions pad these sofa arms for extra comfort.

Recessed: These sofa arms, characteristic of the English sofa style, are extremely low-set and often have a sloping profile. Charles of London sofa arms are similar to recessed sofa arms, except that they tend to be more traditional in design.

Flared: Flared sofa arms are similar to round sofa arms, except they don't curl in on themselves. Instead, they gently splay outward.

Tuxedo: This is a style of sofa characterized by arms that are the same height as the backrest, creating a clean, boxy, and structured silhouette

Charles of London: These arms are curved, sloped, and low profile. This style is ideal for traditional-style homes or formal sitting areas due.

Tip!

Not sure which sofa size works best for your seating area? Check out our guide Sofa Dimensions: How to Choose the Right Size Sofa for Your Home for helpful sizing info.

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