At House & Garden, we take our roles as journalists and design experts extremely seriously, which is why we’ve created a highly scientific – and totally serious – guide to choosing a sofa based on your personality and interests. Disregard whether it’s the right colour or shape for your home and ask yourself this question instead; if your sofa was a person, would it have been your best friend at school?
We all remember the animated scene in 101 Dalmations where owners look like their dogs. It’s apparently a common phenomenon. But what about people looking like their upholstery? Do your angular outfits mirror the straight lines of your vintage Conran sofa?
OK, fine, we haven’t psychoanalysed any people (or sofas, for that matter) and us playing couch Cupid is largely a bit of fun, but if you’re on the lookout for a new spot to sit, it wouldn’t hurt to find out which style we’ve suggested...
For the neatness-obsessed: Mid-Century sofas
This one’s for the snappy dresser in the Mary Jane shoes. With an appreciation of teak-panelled walls and 1950s Italian design, you prefer a restrained footprint on your furniture and you’d rather sit up straight than sprawl. The smaller, neater dimensions of a Mid-Century influenced sofa are ideal for someone who likes everything to look just so, with no crumpled or deflated sofa cushions. Plus, you’d rather spin a record than watch TV, so you need that precious floor space for dancing.
For the fans of a flourish: Skirted sofas
You were born to decorate with a frill and a flounce. From the first ruffled outfit of your childhood to your aunt’s curtain swags – you were hooked on frothy finishes (they make ordinary things look more special). Even in the depths of winter, you wouldn’t be caught dead in a plain pair of jeans and a jumper, because what is life for if not having fun with a whimsical wardrobe? And what is a sofa for if not an excuse to add another pleat or a skirt to something?
For the well-organised: Modular sofas
You’re a pro at compartmentalising every aspect of your life and you structure your days carefully so that each block of time is accounted for. Perhaps you use the Pomodoro method and work in 25-minute stretches to get everything done? Take the concept of flexible blocks of time combining to create one whole efficient day and apply that to a sofa instead. A modular style could be the sofa for you – you can arrange its pieces however you like (and from a logical point of view, it’s much easier to fit through a tight hallway).
For the laid-back: Loose cover sofas
Friends describe you as laid-back and least likely to freak out in a crisis. You spend summers in the Balearic Islands, wearing lots of linen and swimming in your underwear if you forget a cossie. You’re as relaxed and easy-breezy as they come, permanently planning a holiday and never minding too much if things don’t look perfect. You’re too cool for neatness. A loose-cover sofa is you in upholstery form – it doesn’t look overly smart, it's excellent company and it's probably the most stylish thing in the room. As a bonus, it’s easy to remove the cover for cleaning when you were too chilled to ban red wine from the living room.
For the vintage lover: Seventies-style sofas
If you just binge-watched Daisy Jones & The Six, live for The Modern House’s new property listings, and like to listen to Fleetwood Mac while reminiscing about missing the halcyon days of Woodstock; give your living room the vibe it deserves with a vintage (or vintage-inspired) sofa design that’s guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser. A few styles that Instagram seems to love include the Camaleonda designed by Mario Bellini or the Togo by Ligne Roset. Commit to the lifestyle and choose something brown.
For the maximalist: Patterned sofas
People call you eccentric, a maximalist, loud, a colour-lover, a ‘character’ even. Maybe you are some of those things, maybe they have you all wrong, but at House & Garden we will never shy away from colour and pattern in hefty doses and we wholeheartedly encourage you to free your inner creative and choose a patterned sofa. Not only will it match your sunny personality but a busy sofa is the most practical choice for concealing marks.
For the discerning: High-end handmade sofas
You appreciate the finer things in life and you’re happy to save up and invest in quality. From your grass-reared, locally-sourced meat to your handmade loafers; you won’t compromise on attention to detail and you prioritise foods, experiences and items that haven’t been rushed to completion. It makes sense then that you would cherish the same qualities in a sofa. Choose one of an exceptional calibre that is beautifully hand-made to last using traditional techniques and materials, with no corners cut.
For the purist: Howard-style sofas
You value tradition and ‘proper’ ways of doing things. The idea of making a cup of tea in a mug is ludicrous – it should be made in a teapot and served with a bone china cup and saucer. And no bed of yours will lay beneath a lofty duvet – you prefer layers of blankets and bedspreads, thank you very much. A classic Howard-style sofa with its tight sprung back and curved arms will always be in style and it will look neat as a pin in a country cottage. Much like your tea set.
For the impatient: Available-immediately sofas
Nothing gets your goat quite like a queue. You’re famously impatient, you hate waiting, and if you have a vision in mind then you want every aspect of it to fall into place yesterday. Hell hath no fury like you at the prospect of a 20-week wait for a sofa, so timing is everything and you need a style that’s pre-made, waiting in the wings and available to ship right now (or in a week or so).
For the modern minimalist: Contemporary sofas
You’ve never been big on chintz, you meditate to clear your mind and you love nothing more than an angular jacket from Margaret Howell (or The Row, if you’re really pushing the boat out). While you’re enjoying the resurgence of nineties and noughties stainless steel kitchens, you look firmly towards the future when it comes to embracing new technology, new brands, new ideas and contemporary architecture. A modern sofa with clean lines, straight legs and fuss-free cushions suits your approach to life.
For the touchy-feely: Small sofas and loveseats
You wear your heart on your sleeve, you’re a hugger, not a hand-shaker, and yours is the first shoulder to be cried upon by a friend in need. Get up close and personal to the ones you love with a loveseat. Bigger than an armchair, and smaller than a two-seater, a particularly compact sofa or is perfectly proportioned for legs-tangled, hand-holding cosy proximity (or end-of-bed lounging if you have the space). If your sofa friend of choice is your dog, no one is judging.
For the nap fan: Sofa beds
You live to lounge, your eyes are permanently heavy and your kindred spirit would be a sloth. They say we spend a third of our lives in bed but in an ideal world, you’d go for a 50/50 split. You love a nap – day or night – and you like to be ready for action at all times. The action in question is limbering up for a good kip. Make the journey to Bedfordshire even shorter with a sofa bed – all you need to do is pull out the mattress.
MAY WE SUGGEST: the best sofa beds to buy now
For the non-conformist: Unusually shaped sofas
You’re here for a good time, not a long time (well, ideally both) and you’re not afraid to cross boundaries, experiment and generally lead the charge where others only follow. Your anything goes attitude extends to home decor and you’re usually looking for something that isn’t already in half the sitting rooms on your street. This is why a statement sofa in a non-traditional shape is probably the style you should focus on.
