Furniture Styles: Sofas

Couch

• What is most often referred to in North America as a "couch" or "sofa" is a thickly upholstered bench augmented with cushioning on the seat and back with padded armrests at either end. The backside of the couch is also heavily padded for comfort and high enough to support the whole spine and shoulders of a person's body and allow most heads to rest comfortably. Couches typically span 6 to 8 feet in length and can fit three people comfortably. The couch is one of the most dominate pieces of furniture in an American living room, and sectional couches can be combined to form large L-shaped units that create a warm and inviting space for gathering and lounging.

Convertible Couch

• Once the first couch or sofa was invented, it could not have been long before someone realized that couches make good places to sleep for visiting guests, husbands in trouble with their spouses, or anyone looking for a nice place for an afternoon nap. The modern spin on this idea is the sleeper sofa or convertible couch that combines the comfort of a soft place to sit with a bed that stays folded away into the frame until needed. Typically, the couch cushions are removed to allow access to the bed, which is then pulled up and unfolded into a thin bed frame that remains elevated from the floor on its own legs. The traditional sofa bed had a thin mattress, but newer models come with more luxurious inflatable versions for increased comfort.

Loveseat

• A smaller version of a full-size couch or sofa is a loveseat, which typically seats two people rather than three or more. Loveseats can be used separately to create an intimate area for two people to sit and have a conversation or share close time with each other, or they can be used in conjunction with larger couches to add additional seating to a living room. Two loveseats can be set facing each other with a coffee table in between to foster conversation, or single loveseats can be placed on porches or balconies for the viewing of activities and vistas outside the home.

Divan

• A divan is similar in style and use as a regular couch; however, the main difference is the height and cushioning of the back. Divans tend to have shorter backs than full-sized couches, with support offered from the hips to the middle or lower part of the back only. Rather than have fully upholstered backs, divans instead have fabric-covered backs that support removable pillows to provide comfort and styling. Up to three people can sit comfortably on the typical divan, and the back pillows can be arranged to provide the best level of support for each person.

Settee

• Before there were the hulking sectional sofas of modern American living rooms, there were the more formal and luxurious settees in European households of the wealthy. With their high backs and rigid angles, settees were made more for decoration more than relaxation. Though two could sit comfortably, they were not meant for extended lounging. The modern-day settee is still an intricate addition to the decor of any home or office, with densely embroidered fabric, boldly embellished armrests and whimsical arches and curves to the steeply inclined back. Setees are also made in versions that are at home on the front porch or back patio.