What type of sofa should you buy? A simple (but complete) guide.

The type of sofa you buy for your living room will depend on a lot of factors such as the size of your room, the space available, decor style of your home, color theme, material, etc. But there’s one more thing you must consider - exactly what kind of sofa you must buy.

By the kind of sofa, we mean the different types. There are many types of sofas available from which you can choose the best sofa for your living room. In this blog, we’ll tell you all about different types of sofas and which one would be best for you.

Sectional sofas

A sectional sofa is a sofa made up of multiple pieces. A sectional sofa could have two or three or more components. For example a 3 seater sofa joined with two chaise lounge seats on either end. Or a sofa with a movable ottomon or side tables.

Sectional sofa with a chaise lounge: This sectional sofa has three components - a 3 seater sofa that is joined with two chaise lounge seats, one at either end. A chaise lounge is a sofa with a backrest and a seat that stretches out on which you can rest your legs.

Sectional sofa with ottoman: This type of sectional sofa has an ottoman - a low upholstered seat, on which you can rest your legs. You could also use it as a separate chair. These sofa sets for the living room can be moved wherever you want to place it.

Sectional sofa with corner table: These sectional sofas come with a corner table that is either attached or is moveable.

Key features:

• Made of kiln dried solid wood frame. Fabric upholstery on back and seat.
• Elastic Webbing and S Springs on back frame and in seat base for comfort.
• Left hand & right hand lounger possible in the same sofa.
• This is possible as the sofa consists of a 3 seater and a pouf (which can be placed on either arm side of the 3 seater) which forms a lounger.

Recliner sofa or recliner chairs

One of the more popular types of sofas, recliner sofas or recliner chairs are those that recline. Meaning they’re more comfortable. You can get all kinds of recliner sofas for your living room:

• Single seater recliner
• Three seater recliner sofa
• Recliner sofa set

You could say recliner sofas are the best lounge sofas because they are usually cushy and comfortable. This type of sofa reclines when a person lowers the chairs back and raises its front. It almost becomes like a bed.

Key features:

• Fabric upholstered recliner with PU foam in seat and back
• Made of kiln dried solid wood and plywood combination frame
• Reclining seats on both the arms side seats of the 3 seater

Lounge sofa or lounge chairs

You could call lounger sofas sofa-cum-beds, too. Lounge sofas or lounge chairs have extensions that open up and almost take the shape of beds. These sofas can be used for - you guess it - lounging.

Lounge sofas, like sectional sofas, are made up of multiple parts that join together to form the sofa. Such a sofa works as a sofa and can be converted into a bed whenever needed.

But when should you buy a lounge sofa?

• If your house is small or if you need extra space for sleeping, you could go for a lounge sofa.
• If you have a habit of sleeping in your living room while watching the television, a lounge sofa would be perfect for you.
• If you have a lot of overnight guests and you need extra space for sleeping, there’s no better option than a lounge sofa.

Loveseat sofas

Loveseats are two-seater sofas but not quite sofas. Confusing? Well, a loveseat is designed exactly for two people. Whereas a sofa is any upholstered piece of furniture made for the purpose of seating, it can be designed for two or more people, the loveseat is specifically designed only for two people. It is usually meant for a couple.

Loveseats can accommodate only two people and hence its use is limited. And so, you could go for a loveseat if you want something in addition to your sofa in the living room. Conversely, if you want to keep limited seating in your living room, a loveseat would be an elegant sofa option for your living room.

How to choose the right type of sofa for your living room?

Select the right kind of upholstery

The upholstery of your sofa makes a difference to the look and feel of your sofa. You can find elegant sofas for the living room in different kinds of upholstery - leather, leatherette, cotton, linen, and other fabrics. The upholstery will also decide the kind of maintenance your sofa requires. So when choosing the upholstery type, make sure it’s easy to clean and maintain. If you have pets or kids, you should choose a color and texture that does not get dirty easily.

Look for the right material

You will find sofas made from all kinds of materials - bamboo, wood, metal, and more. But you will have to carefully select the material that best suits the look and feel of your living room. Moreover, you must also consider the weather conditions. If you live in a house next to the sea or a place that experiences heavy rainfall, you must choose a material that can resist moisture and dampness - such as hardwood or metal. Bamboo and softwood tend to catch fungus and warp due to moisture. Hence, you should avoid these materials.

The comfort level of the sofa

When it comes to the comfort level of sofas, different people might have different requirements. Some may prefer a sofa with stiff and hard upholstery, while others might want one they can sink into - soft and springy. You should first do some research. And it’s easy to do so. Just look for ‘best lounge sofa’ or ‘best sofa for family room’ online, and you’ll see hundreds of options. Then, you must read some reviews and then zero in on the best sofa for your living room.

The style of the sofa should match your decor

Think about this - you may like a contemporary design sofa. But what if your living room is decorated in a different style? You can find elegant sofas for the living room of all styles. Every home and living room has a dominating style and hence, it’s best to think carefully about what kind of living room sofa set designs you should look at. If your home decor is antique, there’s no point looking at contemporary or industrial design sofas.

Over to you

We’ve told you all about the types of sofas available. If you’re looking to buy your choice of sofa, well right from your current sofa, look up Nilkamal online furniture store.