The sofa is the heart of the lounge where everything from family movie nights to pre-dinner drinks with friends take place. They are potentially the most used, most important piece of furniture in your home, not to mention they can be a large investment, so getting your choice right is key.
Of course, with so much choice available, there are as many sofa styles to avoid as there are ones that will be perfect for your space. So we asked designers what couch styles should you steer clear of if you want a timeless living room.
First and foremost, you want to avoid following short-lived sofa trends too closely, this piece needs to last years so you don't want to invest in something that will date in a few months. Similarly, you don't want to go with something that's all form and no function. What you need is a balance between the two.
As designer Wendy Labrum explains, 'We lean toward sofa profiles that tie both form and comfort together. A sofa feels timeless if it can live with a family and hold up over the years, both from a style and material standpoint and for practicality and use.'
Let's take a closer look at the types and styles and sofas to avoid if you want to ensure this key piece of furniture has longetivity.
1. Avoid big, bulky shapes
Bulky couches can feel luxurious in terms of the comfort factor but, over time, you may start to feel it overwhelms the room and there's little flexibility when it comes to layout or introducting new pieces of living room furniture.
'For a timeless couch choice, steer clear of bulky, oversized, and overstuffed sofas that dominate the space,' advises Marie Flanagan, Principal, Marie Flanigan Interiors. 'These pieces often feel heavy and visually overwhelming, making it harder to achieve a balanced, refined look.'
Marie advises to, 'opt for well-proportioned silhouettes with clean lines and structured cushions that maintain their shape' for an investment that will last the test of time.
2. Don't lean to contemporary
By the sleek and minimalist nature of contemporary furniture, they often look beautiful but don't feel all that comfortable. Which is fine for maybe a statement accent chair, but a couch is a piece you want to feel as good as it looks. While there are of course, going to be exceptions, overly contemporary couches that will see a lot of use are best to be avoided.
Wendy Labrum warns to avoid anything that's too 'modern and basic', and instead to 'bring in a silhouette that has design intelligence and thoughtful frames and details.'
3. Don't choose cheap synthetic materials
Cheap and cheerful materials that are on-trend but low quality may seem like a good idea at the time, but you know the saying 'buy cheap, buy twice.'
'Fabric choice also plays a key role in longevity,' comments Marie Flanigan. 'Avoid overly plush, synthetic materials like microfiber or shiny, patterned velvets that can feel trendy or wear unevenly. Instead, choose high-quality linen, cotton, or wool blends in neutral or muted tones that age gracefully.'
If you're looking for something that will suit a busy family room, Marie suggests 'textured weaves and performance fabrics that offer durability without sacrificing elegance, ensuring your sofa remains a sophisticated anchor in your living space for years to come'.
4. Steer clear of designs with uncomfortable arms
Details matter, and opting for a sofa with too chunky or overly modern arms can affect its future appeal.
'For a couch that's going to stand the test of time, pay close attention to the arms,' explains Jeanne Barber of Camden Grace Interiors. 'Avoid track arms (which can read more modern) and avoid arms that look extra bulky (hello, man cave!).'
So what should we be looking at for a sofa that can help to create a timeless living room? Jeanne suggests, 'Instead, opt for a sofa with an English roll arm – it looks classy without being fussy and that's the reason it's been a staple since the 18th century.'
5. Don't go too low slung
Low slung couches are definitely on trend, and while they look beautiful and can at first appear to be comfortable, they are a couch style to avoid, or at least approach with caution.
Our Head of Interiors, Hebe Hatton, made the mistake of buying a low slung couch last year when they were the height of fashion. 'I still love the look of my couch,' she explains. 'Although I do think give it a year and it will have dated, especially with all the trends now being more traditional and characterful.'
'But it's actually more how uncomfortable it's become that makes me regret my purchase. What at first felt like a lovely couch to sink into, perfect for movie nights, has now given me back pain, and it's hard to get up from or even reach for my coffee from.'
Shop classic couch styles
If you are looking to invest in a timeless couch, these 3 are our top choices right now.
You are probably reading a lot about slip cover sofas being back on trend, but really they never went away. They are a classic sofa choice that's never going to date and, pick a good quality one like this couch from Serena and Lily, and they wear really well too. There are also 103 fabrics and colors to choose from.
Crate & Barrel makes great quality sofas that last. There are so many designs and colors to choose from, but it's this one designed in collaboration with Jake Arnold, that's top of our list right now.
If you like a more contemporary design, but want to ensure your sofa style won't date, this piece is a good balance. It's got a modern feel with the clean lines and simple silhouette, but the plush cushions ensure it's still comfortable and versatile.
A couch is a big investment, and probably not the piece to experiment with. You want this key piece to last, both aesthetically and physically. We would always advise going and testing out a couch in person so you can really feel what it's like in situ – or if that's not possible, always check the return policies of your online purchase.
As well as wanting to avoid certain couch styles, you also don't want to buy anything that's not great quality, you want a couch to feel heavy (which will indicate a sturdy frame), and be made from a durable fabric – always order swatches if you can.
