Majestic sofa - what kind of furniture, what are its advantages
If you want to design an interior in an original way, harmoniously combining stylish Art Nouveau and majestic classics, designers recommend using a sofa rather than a sofa as upholstered furniture. This product is by no means new, it has been known since the 17th century, but until recently it was distributed only in eastern countries. In fact, the classic sofa is a small original sofa, it differs from the usual analogue by its interesting armrests and artsy back. Excellent operational characteristics and compact dimensions of the furniture allow you to place it in any room - living room, bedroom, loggia, narrow entrance hall. A huge assortment of models makes it possible to beat the most daring interior solutions.
What is a
Sophia is called a kind of sofa with a wide seat and the same height of the back and armrests. Previously, such furniture was available exclusively to the aristocracy, it was intended for daytime relaxation in a sitting position. Of course, the main difference between a sofa and a sofa is in modest dimensions, but this furniture also has other features:
- lack of a folding mechanism;
- unusual design;
- high rigidity of seats.
This classic sofa did not provide for the possibility of folding into a full berth. Modern variations are deprived of this "drawback", and the furniture not only serves as a sofa, but can also be used as a bed, moreover, manufacturers often equip it with high-quality orthopedic mattresses. If the base of the sofa is both hard and soft, only the first option is always provided for a sofa. For many users, rigidity becomes an advantage, because the furniture holds its shape for a long time, it is more comfortable to sit on it, and it is healthier than the soft design of the mattress.Unlike the ottoman, the back of the sofa is always symmetrical about the center. It differs from the couch by the clear lines and significantly larger lengths.
Among the advantages of such furniture:
- It fits perfectly into almost any interior, combined with other furniture.
- It provides a classic rectangular shape, and therefore it is easier to place it in the traditional layout of modern apartments.
- Relatively small sizes allow you to install the sofa anywhere, including small-sized housing - a small room, a studio apartment.
- It is distinguished by its stylistic diversity - you can find models in the spirit of empire and avant-garde.
- Since the armrests can be designer - curved, carved, artsy - the product does not look boring. You can pick up an interesting exclusive option and diversify the atmosphere of the living room.
- Compared to a sofa or bed, this design is cheaper.
The sofa also has its drawbacks - it cannot be called universal furniture, yet most often it is designed for daytime sitting.
Of course, many manufacturers make this furniture folding, which is especially true for the children's assortment. But such a model is much less reliable in operation than a regular sofa, since its mechanisms do not require frequent folding. Compared with a classic sofa, an increase in the number of parts in new designs entails the risk of breakdown of folding mechanisms and furniture failure. So, when purchasing such a product, you need to weigh whether this particular model is appropriate or whether it is worth choosing an ordinary sofa. By figuring out what a sofa is and what it looks like, you can understand its design features.
The same height of the armrests and backrestUnusual designCompact sizeWide seatHard seatConstruction device
Structurally, the sofa can be straight, angular, sliding. Eurosop is popular - an option with a variety of pull-out mechanisms, where manufacturers install drawers, boxes for storing bedding. All of them are made from a variety of materials, differ in style.
A sofa made in the Provence style looks very interesting - such products are made, as a rule, from natural raw materials, the color of the upholstery is often light, pastel shades. Classical models are distinguished by an interesting form of elements, can have a carved back, armrests. Baroque and Art Nouveau require support from other interior items, but a sofa in this style is very beautiful. High-tech style, which marks a minimalist accuracy, restraint, is also perfectly emphasized in this furniture.
Frame, back and armrests
Today, furniture designers and designers are increasingly moving away from standard ideas about a sofa type sofa. Sizes and heights are gradually increasing, it is often possible to meet a structure without armrests at all, or instead of them there are rollers or pillows at the edges. However, at the heart of any sofa there is a frame, a back, which, as before, should be strong, strong, reliable. If earlier exclusively wood was used for their manufacture, today metal and plastic parts are used. Instead of expensive wood, plywood and a laminated chipboard are also used, which significantly reduces the cost of furniture.
But a natural tree does not give up its positions, and even better, it seems, nothing has been invented yet. For the manufacture of frames in modern furniture, different species are used - the most expensive models are made using oak and beech. Cedar, walnut, rattan, alder are also in demand. Birch and pine are most suitable for mass production. The advantages of any wood are its durability and naturalness.
MDF, chipboard are used to reduce the cost of furniture while maintaining the external characteristics of wood. They are durable, not subject to wear, but it is important that GOST technology is observed during production, otherwise such materials can become hazardous to health due to the release of formaldehydes and other harmful substances.
Particleboard and chipboardMetalWoodenWith plywood baseWith leather armrest and tableMetal furniture is at the peak of popularity today, but it is important to remember that it is limited in style. If the interior of the apartment is designed in the Empire style or classic, then variations of a sofa with a metal frame will hardly be appropriate.
Filler
A variety of materials are used to make the filler. A sofa can provide both a springless and a spring mattress:
- In the first embodiment, the core of the filler becomes a block of polyurethane foam (PUF). It is sometimes referred to as technical analogues of spring blocks, but it is much cheaper.
- Spring mattresses consist of interconnected elements that frame different layers of filler. For this, coconut coir, horsehair, synthetic fiber, foam rubber, all kinds of polymers, and also felt can be used.
Some mattresses also have a cotton lining, such a “pie” creates a solid, fairly dense structure. Different layers are used in the pillows, backs and seats, so their stiffness is different.
SpringlessSpring loadedUpholstery and color variety
The most durable upholstery is leather, it is beautiful, durable, looks elegant. Furniture upholstered with this material for a long time retains a presentable appearance. But it is the most expensive, and therefore there is a cheaper analogue - eco leather. Such material is more affordable, externally imitates real skin, colors have a natural shade.
Eco-leather can be painted in any color, sometimes designers use the most daring and vivid combinations.
When buying a sofa made of artificial leather, you need to understand that this material, although in appearance it resembles a natural analogue, does not have the same strength properties. Faux leather is easily scratched, scuffs and cracks appear on it faster - so use such furniture very carefully.
Often fabric upholstery is used for a sofa. Its cost is acceptable, and the choice of colors and textures here is very rich. The most common, affordable fabrics are jacquard and fleece. More expensive upholstery materials - natural cotton, velveteen, velvet, plush. As for the picture, today not only all kinds of prints, abstraction and avant-garde interweaving of tones are relevant, but also cells, stripes, monophonic options. Also often manufacturers depict whole pictures on the back and seats of the sofa, which is especially true for children's furniture.
LeatherEco leatherVelveteenJacquardTextileVelvetTransformation mechanism
Progress goes forward, and the furniture industry provides the sofa with the opportunity for convenient transformation. How the mechanisms differ from each other, what are their features, is considered in the table.
Mechanism type | Features |
Roll-out | The most common variant is the telescope, when extra space is taken out of the seat. |
Cot | It can be of different types, including French, American, Italian, which differ from each other, but have the general principle of stretching one section after another. Such mechanisms, as a rule, are not very durable, do not have orthopedic properties. They are inexpensive, except perhaps for the guest version of the sofa. |
Dolphin | The mechanism is based on the fact that the second block is pulled out from under the first, aligning with the general level. The back remains in place. |
Cougar | The essence of this mechanism is the extension of the first block up and forward with the simultaneous raising and exit to its place of the second block. |
Conrad | It has three blocks, therefore it is used in large models. |
Accordion | Three sections are pulled forward, forming a full-fledged berth with comfortable mattress blocks. |
ClassicCougarAccordionConradDolphinRolloutCotSofas are still popular, such as a sofa with a classic way of layout, when the seat is extended, and the back rests on the vacant seat.
Location Tips
The sofa is comfortable, practical, design and dimensions allow you to install it almost anywhere. Often furniture is placed in a children's room, especially if you need to save space. The second application is as a guest option. In addition, a sofa can supplement the hallway by adding a touch of comfort to this passage room. A more overall model, especially with unusual backs, armrests, organically fits into the interior of a living room or hall.Many people buy a sofa purposefully for the dining room or on the balcony (loggia), where it performs its functions 100%, contributing to a comfortable rest.
It is important that this type of sofa goes well with other elements of the interior. A sofa is furniture that fits into most modern styles, whether high-tech or classic. It is important only to choose the appropriate decorative elements, to think over the shape, color, upholstery of this and all other furniture.
In the nurseryIn the dining roomOn the loggiaIn the kitchenIn the hallIf the room already has a sofa, the sofa should be combined with it in color and style.
The nuances of choice
When buying a sofa, one should not forget about functionality - whether the transformation mechanism or its complete absence depends on whether they will only sit on it or if the furniture will be used for sleep.
The next important point is the materials, because they determine the softness or rigidity of the seat, the comfort of its location on it, the convenience of the back and armrests. They must be wear-resistant, unpretentious in care. Flock is ideal in this respect - it is an affordable, beautifully washable material from the category of synthetic fabrics. Many sofa models provide for the use of removable covers, which is very convenient, which can also be an additional plus in favor of choosing such furniture.
The price depends on many factors. If you need to save money, it is important to choose an inexpensive, but solid upholstery. Spring blocks inside the seat will be more expensive than a PUF sofa, but polyurethane should not be thin. The manufacturing company is important when choosing, but it is not necessary to buy products from promoted brands, in this case, reputation plays a greater role than popularity. And the cost of goods of reliable, but not advertised brands is many times lower.
Perhaps, only a clear understanding of what a sofa is, what this furniture is for, will make an informed choice. In this case, the product will be in demand and useful, and will not be a simple "museum exhibit" of the interior.