Sofas and couches: comfortable sofa beds, sofa landscapes with decorative cushions and more for living rooms & co.

Sofa and couch – The ideal sofa belongs to every perfect living room furnishing. But who should still look through all the possibilities and the large selection? Corner sofa, big sofa, two-seater, sofa landscape, or rather just an armchair? And which material is the right one – corduroy, velvet, cotton, linen or rather the classic leather sofa? With the perfect sofa, every living room becomes a favourite place. We’d like to find out here what options you have when choosing a sofa, what’s behind materials such as foam or spring core, and what the perfect sofa is for you. We’ll also tell you where to get high-quality sofas that meet your needs. Are you interested in furniture and interior design? Then check out our comprehensive guide to interior styles or interior brands XXL!

Sofa and couch: guide to buying the perfect sofa – big sofa, sofa landscape & co.

Do you know this? You just want to buy a comfortable sofa that fits perfectly in your living room, but besides the dimensions there are thousands of other specifications that mean nothing to you. Find out what the names mean and which sofas are the best here.

Upholstery: structure and characteristics of the upholstery of a sofa

Most couches follow a very similar construction scheme. First there is a frame made of wood and/or metal followed by a base.

Normally, the spring core is attached to the slat base, but not every sofa is equipped with a spring core. This does not necessarily mean inferior quality, if the missing spring core is equipped with a wave under-springing and a slightly denser foam.

In the case of an innerspring sofa, metal springs protrude into the foam cushion to make the seat cushions a little harder, but the foam surrounding them can be a little softer, as it is no longer solely responsible for the resistance of the furniture.

Here again briefly and clearly, the structure of the seat cushions:

• Suspension
• Spring core (or corrugated under-spring)
• Foam cushion

Foam padding: Which foam is the most comfortable for your sofa?

The material is particularly popular in the production of upholstered furniture, because it is hard-wearing and durable. In addition, it holds its original shape well and springs back to its original cut even after continuous stress. This makes foam particularly suitable for upholstered furniture.

How soft or pliable the material is is determined by the density and compression hardness. The volume weight provides information about how much air the foam contains, because air is obviously lighter than the polyurethane that encloses the air bubbles. However, a high density does not also stand for a high compression hardness, this is determined by the size and density of the bubbles.

To illustrate this a little better, simply compare two standard kitchen sponges of different price categories. A very cheap kitchen sponge will be coarse-pored and very easy to squeeze into a small ball. A high quality kitchen sponge, on the other hand, will have much more resistance.

But how do you decide which foam upholstery is right for you? On the one hand, you can assume that cold foam cushions seem a little harder at first, but at the same time they hold their shape much better.

For normal foams you should pay attention to the following values:

• Thickness: 4- 6 cm
• Volume weight of upholstered furniture: around 30 kg/m³
• Reference: Mattresses from 40 kg/m³ upwards

Covers: Advantages and disadvantages of fabrics & materials – From leather sofa, corduroy, velvet and Co.

On the one hand, the fabric and generally the materials you choose for your sofa are of course a matter of taste and are influenced by your interior design style and personal preferences, but we would like to give you a brief overview of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of fabric, in case you are still about to make the decision.

Corduroy: velvet’s robust brother for soft sofas with a retro look

Corduroy fabrics have been produced in England since the 18th century. No wonder that this material has a somewhat dusty reputation. Thus, the fabric fits particularly well into retro furnishings and country house style. The connection to velvet comes from the base. Both fabrics are based on Fustian weave, a heavy cotton fabric that contributes to the high durability of corduroy and thus guarantees you a long-lasting upholstery cover.

Tip. Also check out our post on retro & vintage furnishings!

Leather: noble, durable natural material – leather sofa in smooth leather, suede or sustainable imitation leather?

In order to make a concrete statement about the durability and care of the leather, it is relevant to know what type of leather forms the sofa cover. Suede is generally a little more difficult to care for, because care products such as greases are not so easy to use on it. In addition, calfskin is particularly sensitive to scratches because it is very fine and soft. Calfskin is often used for luxury fashion items such as bags and shoes.

Sofas tend to be upholstered in cowhide, which is slightly less delicate and extra durable, especially with the right care. Leather furniture care is easy to find in retail stores and guarantees that you will enjoy your sofa for a long time.

Fabric: Cotton, linen & Co. – light and often available classics

If you visit a furniture store to look around the couch and sofa department, you will mainly encounter fabric sofas. The reason for this is that this option is probably the cheapest. Also, using fabric covers opens up a wide variety of patterns that other cover options simply wouldn’t offer. Velvet, for example, can be very difficult to print on and prints quickly look blurry.

With fabric, this problem does not arise. However, most fabrics have the disadvantage that they are absorbent and light colors stain faster.

Velvet: elegant, soft fabric option for that special look in the living room

in the past, and even today, the cost of production of velvet is very high, which leads to the fact that the fabrics are associated with wealth and prestige. Originally velvet comes from the Arab region, but would be imported a lot to Europe. We often associate the fabric with grandiose palaces, theaters and operas. No wonder, then, that the main buyer in Europe was Italy. Velvet was used by wealthy Italians, as well as other European nobility, to furnish their country houses and city palaces.

The fabric therefore looks particularly good in combination with marble and golden metals, which reflect a little of the pompous furnishings of the time. With the development of synthetics in the 50s and 60s, the fabric type became widely available. Cleaning real velvet requires a great deal of dexterity, but gentle steam cleaning is definitely possible.

Sofa types: simple benches, practical corner couches and more for the living room

Not all couches are the same and not all sofas are the same. Because the choice of different seating is large, so we would like to introduce you to the most popular types and help you decide whether the sofa is suitable for your needs.

Benches: perfect for bedrooms and dressing rooms, with or without backrest

If you’re looking for benches for the interior of your home, you’ll often find seats without backs. This is what benches for your apartment look like. But where do you actually put them? Benches are great for places where you want to create seating that will be used primarily for short periods of time and for practical reasons. For example, in the entrance area for putting on and taking off shoes, in the bedroom or dressing room.

Chaise Longue: simply put your legs up – definition and appearance

The name is French and means ‘long chair’. A chaise longue is therefore a cross between a sofa and an armchair. The seat of an armchair is stretched out so that there is enough space to put your legs up. Chaise longues were also particularly popular with aristocrats and are also reminiscent of ancient Rome. Modern chaise longues, on the other hand, fit in with more contemporary furnishing styles.

Sofa beds: space for guests in the living room or guest room

Do you want to offer your guests a place where they can feel comfortable and spend a restful night? Then sofa beds or sofa beds are just what you need. If you opt for a pull-out option, be sure to increase the firmness of the foam so that your guests have a comfortable sleeping experience.

Corner couch: optimal use of space in room corners – save space in every room

Want to create a beautiful sofa set in the middle of the room, or on the edge of your living room? The first start for this is a corner sofa. This helps you to give structure to the sofa landscape and to use the available space optimally.

Sofa landscapes: perfect solution for spacious living rooms

Modern, cool and practical – sofas do a lot for the living room. Especially if your living room is a huge, open space, or one with other rooms, for example not separated from the dining room, then sofa landscapes help you to give the room structure and invite you to relax! There is room for the whole family or a large group of friends. But even if you like to have a lot of space to relax alone or as a couple, a sofa landscape is the right choice if there is enough space.

Upholstered furniture: the top 4 furnishing brands for high-quality sofas

Couches are available from multiple suppliers. From cheap to expensive, everything is there. However, it is worth spending a little more money, because with it you often invest not only in high-quality materials, but also long experience and guarantee that your furniture makers are masters of their trade.

Wittmann: Upholstered furniture with Austrian charm

The family business has been producing exclusive upholstered furniture for almost 100 years, which not only looks good, but also lives up to the Austrian heritage. The upholstery is described as the perfect middle ground between the hard German and soft Italian upholstery. Tradition and modernity meet and form an incomparable unity:

• Wittmann

Edra: unusual furniture with innovative functions

The Italian brand are the inventors of the Smart Cushion, a cushion that can be customized through a flexible steel frame, but still does not lose structure. The range also includes other unusual furniture, such as the Rose armchairs and more:

• Edra

Rolf Benz: Timeless comfort from Germany – sofas, armchairs and more

Rolf Benz didn’t just start producing upholstered furniture yesterday either. The experience leads to exquisite, German sofas, which inspire customers worldwide with their minimalist, timeless design. Are you looking for a sofa that will give you extra pleasure for a long time? Then take a look here:

• Rolf Benz

Minotti: furniture with simple and modern elegance from Italy

Durability and minimalist beauty – that’s what the Italian furniture label stands for. If you’re looking for chic leather and fabric sofas, you don’t have to look any further, because Minotti has just that in its range and is sure to have a model that you like:

• Minotti

Have we piqued your interest and you want to learn more? Then take a look at our XXL furniture brand guide, which presents the best and highest quality furniture and home decor brands!

Decoration: sofa cushions and everything you need to decorate your living room

It’s not just the new sofa that counts, but also the matching decoration. This makes the piece of furniture your own and allows you to give it your personal touch. We’ve rounded up the most exclusive home decor suppliers for you to find your new favourite sofa cushion.

Off-White Homeware: At home with hypebeast Virgil Abloh

Virgil Abloh, the founder of Off-White and creative director of Louis Vuitton, has his own way of interpreting modern design and is right on target. Want to know more about the label’s cushions, mugs and wallpapers? Then click here:

• Off-White

Hermès Interior: Popular blankets with H-Design

Anyone who is on Pinterest will hardly have come around the blankets with H logo, but also cushions and curios are offered by the French luxury label Hérmes. The fluffy cushions and throws are, of course, made from only the finest materials. Convince yourself:

• Hermès Interior

Dior Maison: A piece of Paris to your home

In the fifties Christian Dior made the fashion label Dior big with the presentation of the New Look. Since then, the brand’s range has also expanded into homeware. Cushions, candles and co. provide a feel-good atmosphere with an extra luxury factor:

• Dior Maison

Gucci Décor: Decoration for the Italian ‘Dolce Vita

Alessandro Michele has taken the Gucci fashion house in a new, colorful direction, moving back more towards its Italian roots. Gucci has been taken back to the Italy of the seventies in one way or another, but with that certain rock star flair that defines fashion. Retro revival is also celebrated in the fancy furniture and other interior design. The Gucci furniture is definitely worth a look, even if it is only to be inspired by the grotesque pieces and to smile a bit:

• Gucci Décor