Design-forward sofas

Discover a selection of bold sofa designs to make your living room come to life.

Consider your lifestyle

“When selecting a sofa for your living space, there are several things to think about, the main being to consider your lifestyle. Knowing whether you prefer a very relaxed space or more of a formal area will help you determine the orientation of the sofa and the type of upholstery you need.

“Choose a fabric that is practical and that will suit the surroundings. Test out the comfort of the cushions and make sure the area is measured correctly prior to placing an order on a sofa.” – Charlotte Ashton, marketing manager at La Grange Interiors

Fabric choice

“If you have pets or small children, opting for a performance stain-resistant fabric selection is wise. A grade genuine leather is great for a young family with no pets that climb on, as leather scratches very easily. For a formal area that has less traffic, most durable high quality fabrics and leathers are fine. I think style here is key.” – Daniela Da Rocha, interior designer and creative director of Da Rocha Interiors

Sofa orientation

“The orientation of your sofa itself is very important. Will you be placing the sofa up against a wall or will it be placed in the centre of the living room where its back will be exposed? If you are looking for a modular corner suite, where do you want the corner piece to be – with a daybed or without?

“It is also important to take measurements of your doorways and hallways, because while a sofa may be the perfect size for your living room, it may not fit through your front door or through a tiny stairwell landing space.” – Daniela Da Rocha, interior designer and creative director of Da Rocha Interiors

Your personal taste

“Choose a sofa style that is going to suit your home. Look around your space and if there are any existing pieces (i.e. occasional chairs, coffee tables etc.) try to incorporate the same design style to the sofa you are selecting. It will create rhythm in your space.

“Select a colour that works with your space. You can either go for a statement or a colour that is neutral. Neither is wrong nor right, just make sure when choosing your colour that you know you won’t get tired of it a few years down the line.” – Daniela Goncalves, interior designer and sales consultant at Roche Bobois

Consider the room as a whole

“When selecting a sofa it is important to consider the living room as a whole. You need to picture all elements working together. For example for your living room you’ll need a coffee table, side tables, a TV unit, a rug and maybe some art on the walls and a few plants. This is where style and size also comes into play.

“You need to select a sofa style that fits in with the rest of your décor elements. And size is also an important factor to keep in mind as you don’t want to select a sofa that overpowers the room and you also don’t want to select a sofa that’s too small for the room. A good idea is to measure the size of a sofa and picture it in your living room before making your final choice.” – Elsa Richter, marketing assistant at KNUS Online Home Decor Store

KNUS Online Home Decor Store – Supine Double Lounger

Sofa scale

“Correct sofa scaling along with selecting the right shape and colour are the most important factors to consider when buying the perfect sofa. If your living space has an unusual ceiling hight, choose a design that is in proportion to the room’s height.

“A sofa with deep-set seats and a lower backrest will create the illusion of extra space in a room with a lower ceiling. A relatively recent development for sofas is the modular couch, which allows you to add pieces to build your ideal sofa size and shape. If your living room is used largely for entertaining visitors, corner sofas can prove more sociable. They are also great for growing families and frequent movers; they can be broken down into smaller pieces, facilitating easy and hassle-free moving and packing.” – Johann De Waal, marketing manager at KARE Johannesburg