With increased usage comes a growing need for durability. Whilst you can’t control the inevtable footfall of toast crumbs and cat scratches, Fiona McKenzie Johnson reminds us that “what you can control is how that sofa (and indeed any armchairs) is covered.” For “full indestructibility” Henriette von Stockhausen of VSP Interiors recommends the following: “first know that a woven pattern will be more durable than a print,” then “loose covers which can be regularly washed (I’ve used a woven ticking for mine, which is inexpensive and machine washable – and soaks up salt water before it gets to the feather filling), or upholstering a sofa in a rug, kilim or “vintage Anatolian fabric.” As for an incredibly sturdy design, Henriette recommends George Smith. You can, of course, simply put a blanket or throw over your sofa – and this is good for a dog (especially since it’s easy to remove when you’ve got guests). Caravane now offers a handy amalgamation of a sofa cushion and a blanket in the form of their ‘sofa cover’, a kind of luxurious futon layer that could either be dedicated to a (very luck) dog, or saved for “best” for an instant sofa upgrade.
Indeed, sofa dressing is an entire art form, as our Features Editor reminds us. “ There is something very sad about a sofa upholstered in a plain fabric without a single patterned cushion to spice it up,” says Elizabeth. “The opposite is equally jarring – a sofa in a lively fabric without cushions to ground it can end up sticking out like a sore thumb. At the other end of the spectrum, however, you might end up with a sofa so laden with cushions that it fails to serve its core purpose – to provide comfort.”
Then it comes to thinking about how you like to use your sofa. Do you like to lounge in deep, pudding-like upholstery? If so then buy something deep and squashy. If you have more of a tendency to perch, or if the sofa is for a formal drawing room, then perhaps you can cope with something a bit more upright, even an elegant cane-backed antique option rather than something fully upholstered. Don’t feel that you have to stick to traditional shapes either – there’s a whole world of sofa designs out there. If you’re prepared to hunt the perfect piece down, 20th-century design can offer a wide range of interesting forms, and contemporary sofas can be as wild and extravagant as you like.
Whatever your preferred style, scroll down for inspiration, and then check out our selection of the best sofas to buy now.
