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Sofas
It’s worth investing in quality when it comes to sitting comfortably. A well-designed sofa should be somewhere you look forward to landing at the end of the day. These options offer something for every budget.
Hamish ModularSoho HomeI love everything about this, from the wavy velvet upholstery to the table at the back – which is perfect for a lamp, a book and a martini. It’s that sort of sofa. You can buy it as a straight two- or three-seater but really it’s made to be modular and to snake around the sitting room, Seventies-style. Comes in a range of deeply lush autumnal colours from tobacco to cream and olive. If you like the idea but haven’t got room for the table then the Vivienne is a slightly curvier model.
Remy Sculptural ArmlessAnthropologieNow this isn’t for everyone, because it’s very much a secondary sofa... By which I mean if you have one room with one TV then it isn’t the one – but if you have a drawing room or a sitting room that's for chatting rather than watching, then it's a super-elegant choice. It’s billed as light yellow, but it’s basically a rich clotted cream. It would be great in a large bedroom, at the end of the bed with an artfully draped silk dressing gown over it – not yesterday’s trackie bottoms, please.
Flow Grand Three-SeaterJohn LewisA high-street version of the Soho Home Vivienne, this comes in a variety of colours and configurations so don’t be put off by the rather clumsy CGI (or is it AI these days?). It’s a mix of pocket springs and foam, so it will be comfortable and you can start with a three-seater and add bits as you go along. A single middle unit is £499, to give you a sense of what you are getting into.
At The Helm LeoJohn LewisIf you’ve always hankered after the design classic Togo but the budget hasn’t been there, or you now feel it’s a tad low (it’s OK, it IS) then this might be your answer. The colours are quite classic but you can jazz it up with cushions, or you might prefer the leather version – the Yellowstone is probably the one for that proper Seventies vibe. I’m wary of leather sofas but in Seventies style they work well, and (I speak from experience) are more stain-resistant than you might think.
ShoreditchDarlings of ChelseaIt can be hard to choose a sofa online when they're all cut-out images in grey fabric, but a few guidelines can help. In a small room pick one with legs, as that will reveal more floor which will make the room look bigger than a box shape that hulks. Narrow arms will look lighter, as well as giving you more sitting space. Always check the depth, too – while you want to be comfortable, too deep means you'll end up lying down. Nothing wrong with that, but be aware. The round cushions at the ends of this one are a nice touch.
Stripe LipsRockett St GeorgeThe original Mae West Lips sofa, created in 1935 by Salvador Dali, began as a sketch on the back of an envelope and is now considered one of the most important pieces of Surrealist furniture ever created. In 2018 the Victoria & Albert Museum acquired one from the original pair for around £500,000. Studio 65 later created their own version – Bocca (Italian for mouth) – which sells for around £8,000 on 1st Dibs. For everyone else, there’s this for £650 and it’s kind of fun for a bedroom or landing, or a large hallway.
ElbertRowen & WrenThere are certain pieces of furniture that might feel indulgent but will actually last a lifetime. Given that we in the UK live in the smallest houses in Europe, a sofa that measures just 168cm long is a great idea. Buy it now for a small flat or rental, put it in a bay window when you upsize and money is tight for new furniture – and then move it to a bedroom where it will sit happily at the end of the bed receiving clothes that are between wash and wardrobe. In a really big house it will look pretty on a landing, and when you enter the downsizing phase of life the 46cm height means you will be able to get up and down without that tell-tale “oof”.
JudeLove Your HomeBoth classic and slouchy, this sofa (which also comes with loose covers) manages to be both inviting looking and tidy. The single seating cushion shows it’s not dictating how many people should sit there but also means it will be comfortable for one to stretch out and relax. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. There are dozens of fabric choices, from stain resistant velvets to botanical prints (yes, that would be lovely to counteract the straight lines). You want a simple design that’s not too fussy and will work in every style of room? This is it – you can call off the search now.
Matera Three-SeaterHeal'sClean lines, no fuss, minimal styling – this sofa will be a future classic. Comes in all sorts of leathers (I’m a fan of classic when it comes to this material), velvet or wool.
Ottilie ModernLove Your HomeOne of LYH's best sellers, Ottilie has tall legs (more floor visible, more space implied), narrow arms (more seating room internally) and a clean, modernist look that will bring a contemporary touch to a country cottage and, in a rich velvet, soften a more minimal modern space. It’s deep, too, so it makes for comfy sitting.
