The Sofa Silhouette: 5 Classic Styles for the Timeless Home

The Sofa Silhouette: 5 Classic Styles for the Timeless Home

There are very few pieces of furniture that need to be more carefully chosen than the sofa. For starters, they tend to represent a key focal point in the living room, family room, or snug. At the end of a day – or the beginning of a particularly free and easy Sunday – it tends to be the first thing we lock eyes on as we walk into the room, with everything else following second.

It needs to balance comfort and aesthetic appeal, which can be a trickier task than most of us anticipate. The wrong choice of sofa can fracture even a strong vision for the rest of the room, whereas a beautiful sofa can dupe us into investing in a piece that has users fidgeting all evening, and eventually abandoning it for the trusty armchair – or even a heap of cushions on the floor. But that’s not all. Over time, some sofas succumb to age much faster than others. A once excellent choice can start to look old, haggard, and shapeless all too soon, unless it’s made with a quality, durable fabric and stuffing.

As any interior designer knows, once you find a sofa that ticks all the boxes, you should fight tooth and nail to never let it go. Choosing a beautiful upholstery fabric and giving it a regular refresh at the hands of a skilled upholsterer is preferable to (and a lot more enjoyable than) starting all over again.

But what about the silhouette itself? Like any other furnishing, there’s a world of difference between ‘timeless’ and ‘trendy’. What styles are built to withstand the test of time?

The Knole Sofa

With a back and arms the same height, a gentle curve between the feet and the top of the armrests, and a skirt that just brushes the floor, the Knole sofa is one of the most enduring sofa silhouettes out there. Sometimes, a tasselled rope connects the arms with the sofa’s back, and decorative woodwork adds an additional feature.

First conceived back in the 17th century, the Knole is thought to have been designed as a ‘double throne’ for the King and Queen to share. It has been through a few modern reinterpretations over the years but remains true to its roots and is arguably one of the most timeless sofa styles out there.

The Knole suits a plain fabric – ideally a linen or durable cotton weave – with a smattering of smaller decorative cushions, or a vintage floral pattern.

The English Roll Arm Sofa

This one features a higher back and much lower arms which, as the name suggests, are gently rounded. These lower arms make the style a little less versatile, as most adults will find them too low for propping up a book or reclining sideways, but a few well-plumped cushions can more than compensate for the low arms.

The English Roll Arm Sofa is traditionally un-skirted, and the legs tend to add a more delicate contrast to the sofa’s bulkier silhouette. A saber leg, with its gentle curve, or a turned leg are both excellent options for raising the sofa higher, and preventing it from appearing as though it’s sinking into the floor.

A rustic fabric like our Inca Check Mushroom is an excellent choice for this quintessentially English silhouette.

The Chesterfield Sofa

Speaking of quintessentially English styles, the Chesterfield is arguably one of the most recognisable and traditional options out there. With high, rolled arms and deep tufting across the back, few styles have been reinterpreted and reimagined as many times over as the Chesterfield.

Another style to be conceived in the 17th century, the Chesterfield is closely tied to the smoky rooms of the Gentlemen’s club and the sounds of ice spiralling within lowball glasses.

While, traditionally, this sofa style is upholstered in leather brought to a high shine, plenty of styles now feature softer, more welcoming fabrics that suit the quirky cottage a little better. Leather sofas don’t always age well, and they tend to be uncomfortable in the warmer months.

When it comes to choosing your upholstery fabric, avoid larger patterns as they could easily be disrupted by the signature tufting along the backrest. A smaller print will add texture and depth – consider an abstract or geometric fabric to accommodate the more masculine silhouette.

A sofa is one of the trickier aspects of any room, even for interior design pros. Considering the two elements of silhouette and fabric separately is one of the easiest ways to ensure a good fit for the rest of the room, and a style that will withstand years of use – and years of capricious trends!