What is a sofa

In Europe, any sofa is usually called a sofa. It is considered a mandatory attribute of the living room, because a party without such a cozy place to relax is simply unthinkable. True, providing comfort while sleeping on it is quite difficult, judging by the Hollywood films. But is it?

What is a sofa

Explanatory dictionaries describe it as a soft bench with a back and armrests. Designers specify: all sidewalls are necessarily of the same level and can play the role of additional seats. But about the prospect of a good sleep on it, experts prefer to remain silent.

Story

The name of this piece of furniture came to us from the east. The Turks called a sofa covered with soft carpet an elevation on which, at the time of the reception of the guests, the nobility sat. Away from home, this role was played by a stylized and rather comfortable bench, which retained the name of an older relative.

At the end of the 17th century, the sofa appeared in Europe, where the nobility accepted it with enthusiasm. The furniture was slightly modified, turning into a small sofa with carved armrests and a high back. Small and narrow, he took pride of place in the living room, allowing guests to relax during the ball.

At that time it was status furniture, therefore it was made from expensive varieties of wood. Sheathed frame brocade, silk or leather. And additional comfort was introduced thanks to the sheep’s hair and horsehair, with the help of which it was possible to make the seats comfortable, durable and always even.

Since then, the concepts of beauty and convenience have repeatedly changed. The sofa that conquered the hearts of the nobility became available to everyone, changing depending on taste preferences and fashion trends. But despite numerous innovations, she managed to preserve the characteristic features of this furniture.

Description

From the "brothers" this type of sofa stands out with typical armrests and a back: not too high, wide and straight, they perfectly complement the main seat. You can lean on them or sit down if you wish, because the design is designed for both types of loads.

The second difference is stiffness. This, of course, is not a wooden bench, but you won’t be able to drown on such a sofa. And even if we are talking about a transformer with an orthopedic mattress, the furniture always remains moderately rigid.

Modern sofa is characterized by laconicism and functionality, right angles and hidden fittings.

Well, and the form. Carved legs and fanciful backs with armrests are in the past and are now extremely rare. A laundry storage box or a retractable transformation mechanism, if provided, is hidden under the seat so that when viewed from the side it was impossible to even suggest their presence.

Features

The depth of the seats and the width of the sofa allows you to "saddle" her a large number of guests. But if a tall person decides to sit on it reclining, an unpleasant surprise awaits him - there is no headrest. And the armrests and back are too low to be able to rest against them with the back of the head while relaxing the neck.

It is also impossible to get a good night's sleep on the sofa because of its rigidity. Even if a transformer has been chosen, which can be folded into a large bed, one cannot dream of a sweet dream on it. Although for people with a sore back, it will be useful.

What are

Given all the characteristic features of a sofa, it is logical that its types differ only in size, shape and functionality. In terms of size, they distinguish:

  • double room;
  • triple - the equivalent of a standard sofa;
  • multi-seat (4-6).

According to the functionality, the classic version (with box) and the transformer are distinguished. The conversion mechanism is usually a retractable type - on wheels or walking.

But if we are talking about the form, it means the opportunity to meet the corner (by analogy with the sofa) option. As for the color solutions - they are limited only by the imagination of designers and taste preferences of the owners.

Watch the video: How to choose the right sofa for your space (March 2024).

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