Julie Fergus: Choosing the Right Sofa

Sofas are more than a place to sit, relax, and nap; they are a major design element in a living area, so there’s a lot that goes in to choosing the right sofa for your space and style.

Personally, when making the decision for myself or my clients, I always start with the size. If you have abundance of space you can have an oversized sofa, but smaller spaces will require a sofa with less volume. Once I know the size that will perfectly fit into the room, I weight the options and details: skirting versus legs, shape, pillows, and cushions. The goal is to balance the size of the space with the size and volume of the sofa, then choose the details that will enhance the décor.

Here, a few considerations. 

Skirting is a lovely detail that anchors a sofa to the floor, whereas a sofa with legs creates more openness. Don’t think of a skirt as a formal detail, think of it as an opportunity for more color and pattern, and a place to hide plugs in open concept spaces. Sofa legs do come in a variety of heights offering less volume and a lighter visual, which is nice for smaller spaces.

A streamlined, futon-style sofa with legs adds visual room to a small space. Photo courtesy of Room and Board via Houzz. 

The arms and legs define the style, rolled arms and detailed feet are traditional; square arms, tapered legs, or metal legs are contemporary. Vintage pieces may have more detail or carvings. If you contrast that with a contemporary fabric you’ve created a unique style.

An antique sofa with an ornate, carved-wood frame. Photo courtesy of Remodelista. 

A traditional, rolled-arm sofa from Ethan Allen. Photo courtesy of Houzz. 

Pillows embellish the sofa. So if you want more texture, color, and pattern; include more pillows. Use a variety of pillow sizes and shapes, as well as complimentary fabrics for a custom, personalized look. If your style is more contemporary; a streamlined and simple sofa back without pillows will be in order. However, you can have simple pillows to provide an emphasis or pop of color.

Pillow tie in the colorful decor in this room. Photo courtesy of BHG.com

A blue-and-white design by David Lawrence is emphasized with pillows. Photo courtesy of House Beautiful.

Then there is the question of sectional versus a combination of sofa sizes. A sectional sofa is often perfect for small spaces because it will maximize the seating capacity in a small space. The challenge is then where to have end tables and lamps if the sectional is desired. Sofas provide the natural opportunity for end tables. The need for end tables and lamps may help you decide which is better for your lifestyle. Use the inspiration from these beautiful spaces to help you determine the best sofa for your design style.

A sectional sofa with a modern feel. Photo courtesy of CB2, via 4homedecoration.com

-Julie Fergus

Julie Fergus, ASID, is a nationally published interior designer. Her studio and showroom is located in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Julie’s clients are primarily in the Lakes Region and Mount Washington Valley, however, she will travel throughout the state and North East. JulieFergus.com