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Brixton 4 Seater Leather Sofa from Furniture Village
There are so many sofa styles to choose from that buying a new sofa for your home can be quite overwhelming and daunting. Obviously, there are sofa styles that we like the look of, but we also need to choose one that works with our lifestyle and will meet the needs of our household.
It is also important to consider the financial investment of buying a new sofa. Sofas are one of the most intensely used items in a home and previous reasearch by British furniture retailer Furniture Village has shown that over the course of the average 11-year life of a sofa, it will see a lot of activity. Couples kissing 2,105 times, families watching 3,135 films, almost 96 days of phone conversations and 16 weeks of people reading books to name a few.
So you can see that choosing a sofa style that works for you is a lot more important than you may have imagined. Particularly when you take into account sofa trends that may be influencing your decision. That’s a lot to take into consideration.
New research by sofa experts Furniture Village has looked at the most popular sofa styles according to current search data to see what kind of things people are looking for from their sofa and which sofa styles are most in demand.
Results show that Brits are still seeking out sofas that are glamorous and opulent, but that comfort and practicality are now more in demand.
New England Newport 3 Seater Leather Sofa from Furniture Village
According to the data, the classic Chesterfield is the still the most sought after and most searched sofa style. With its sophisticated, high rolled arms, beautiful leather tufted upholstery and structured back, the Chesterfield sofa offers both class and glamour with its timeless appeal.
However, a small drop in search from 2020 to 2021 (-1.75%) may indicate that search popularity is starting to flattened out. Searches for compact couches such as the Knole or the Camelback style grew less than the sofas that allow us to lay down and chill out indicating that comfort may be moving up our list of priorities.
Camden Collection Loft 3 Seater Leather Sofa from Furniture Village
What could explain this growing interest in comfortable sofas? As a nation, we Brit spends a whopping 20 hours and 24 minutes relaxing on the sofa every week. That’s just over 44 days a year that we spend loafing on the sofa. So it’s easy to see why comfort is one of the most important criteria when it comes to sofa styles.
It could also be down to the fact that we’ve spent significantly more time at home over the past two years so our sofas have played a much larger role in our home life given the fact that we were housebound for extended periods during the lockdowns.
Either way, super-cosy is the big winner according to the latest search data as sofa styles that have seen the biggest increases in search are the one specially designed for us to put our feet up and relax. Searches for comfy choices designed for lounging and napping have more than doubled.
Optimus Space Saving Sofa Bed with Memory Foam Mattress from Furniture Village
Surprisingly, the streamlined Lawson sofa is by far the design that’s growing in popularity the fastest with the biggest increase in search in 2020, rising 247% from 2019 to 2021. The Lawson sofa, with its three-cushion seat design, soft back pillows and setback rolled arms is a modern and comfortable option for the home perfect for resting our head on them during power naps or as we’re winding down at night.
Boutique Splendour Fabric 4 Seater Split Sofa from Furniture Village
Searches for the English roll arm sofa rose by 163% from 2019 to 2021. This gloriously traditional sofa is a great addition to any living room. The distinctive roll arms and deep seats and sloped back really do steal the style show without compromising on comfort.
Isobel Small Fabric Corner Sofa from Furniture Village
Sectional sofa searches are up 121% from 2019 to 2020. Both vertsaile and comfortable, sectional sofas are multipiece modular sofas with joined sections for sitting and can be used to create the perfect lounging space for the entire family. Recliners, corner wedges and arm rests combine to make the perfect setting for stretching out and relaxing.
Romilly 3 Seater Fabric Sofa from Furniture Village
The minimalist simplicity of Mid-century Modern sofa styles saw a search increase of 112% from 2019 to 2021 showing that clean lines, a rectangular silhouette and tapered legs are still attractive to consumers looking for that stylish sofa for their home.
Couches on the opulent side are still popular, but according to the latest data, they’re not as searched for as the more comfortable options. Perhaps the Pandemic taught us that how a sofa makes us feel is more important thann how it looks?
Amelie Boutique 2 Seater Fabric Sofa from Furniture Village
Seeing an increase in searches of 98% between 2019 and 2021, Cabriole sofas bring the ultimate in retro style to our homes. The compact look and seamless design makes this sofa style hugely attractive and with curved sofas and Seventies shapes being such a huge trend in 2022, I am almost certain that searches for this style of sofa will see a large year-on-year increase. Watch this space!
New England Nantucket 2 Seater Fabric Sofa from Furniture Village
With search data showing a 58% increase for the Camelback sofa style, there is no doubt that curved sofas are about to have a bit of a moment. Wether they have a single or a double arch, the streamlined shape of the cambelback along with the exposed legs and rolled arms makes for a pretty attractive choice.
Rene 3 Seater Fabric Sofa from Furniture Village
Tuxedo sofas have straight, upholstered arms that are the same height as the back, accompanied by loose pillows. These sofa styles have seen an increase of 57% from 2019 to 2021.
Ercol Bellaria Right Hand Facing Chaise Sofa from Furniture Village
The chaise lounge sofa is elegant and practical and for this reason alone it has seen a 44% increase in search from 2019 to 2021. Perfect for smaller homes, the chaise section allows us to stretch out on the sofa without taking up all the space.
Does this search data surprise you? Would you have guessed that Chesterfield sofas are the most sought after sofa styles? And would you opt for comfort over elegance? Let me know in the comments below.
Don’t forget to pin this post for when you need to choose a new sofa style for your home.
Luckily, Albany Park is here to help. The Black-founded brand is an editor favorite here at AT, thanks to its quality craftsmanship, genius packaging, and tool-free assembly. Each of their stylish sofa options comes in a wide range of fabrics and colors, so there’s sure to be something that will match your existing decor or act as a catalyst to a whole new look for your space. Oh, and we haven’t even gotten to the best part: For a limited time, Albany Park is offering an extra 15 percent off (plus free shipping!) select furniture items in honor of Labor Day. Simply browse our favorites below and enter the code LDAY15 at check out. Your future December self is already thanking you.
Red is a bold and commanding colorway for any piece of furniture but particularly for the largest piece in the living room: the couch. In this gallery of 40 inspirational modern home interiors, we take a look at how to decorate living room with red couch. We’ll discover how to create balance with such a vibrant element and ways in which to complement the aesthetic. This collection of living room designs illustrates striking decor schemes that build dark drama around a red sofa, light lounge areas with uplifting impact, red-infused rustic interiors, boho-style sitting rooms, and contemporary minimalist layouts with colorful wow factor.
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For more inspirational color palette ideas, check out our book of 100 Beautiful Palettes that comes inside our comprehensive Dream Home Kit.
Recommended Reading: 51 Red Living Rooms With Tips And Accessories To Help You Decorate Yours
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Sarah writes about all things shopping for Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, and Cubby helping you find the best deals and the best products for you and your home. A Brooklyn-born Jersey Girl, she loves a good playlist, a good bagel, and her family (but not necessarily in that order).