Sofa: differences and features

Making a home is a matter of responsibility. The house is a fortress, and everything in it should please your eye. It is desirable that the rooms were made in the same style, and the furniture was of high quality and beautiful. An interesting solution could be a sofa - a subspecies of the sofa, featuring a low back and armrests. In our country, it gained popularity relatively recently, so few people know about it.

The sofa is a type of sofa that appeared in the XVII century and was most common in eastern countries, especially in Turkey. Representatives of the aristocracy of that time spent their daily rest on it, drank drinks and tasted yavstv, but did not use it as a place to sleep. Now the sofa is equally popular all over the world. It is very similar to a sofa in its appearance and functionality (moreover, in Europe and America any sofas are called “sofa”), but it also has some differences. So, the sofa is characterized by the same height of the backrest and armrests, smooth right angles, relatively hard mattress and seats, and a large width.In each of these moments, you can find both pros and cons.

A large width of the seats and the sofa itself can accommodate a sufficiently large number of guests, and even straight and relatively wide armrests and back can be used as an extra seat. But such a “short” back can be uncomfortable to tall people who love the position of lying on the back - in this case, the head will not rest on the back.

Sofa, sofa, couch, couch ... So many completely different pieces of furniture that perform approximately the same function, and the names and structure are different. To decide and choose what you need, you need to know how they all differ from each other. Most often, the sofa is confused with the sofa, considering that this is just a smaller version of it. This is partly true. Yes, the sofa is smaller than a sofa, it has even corners and is rarely decorated with lace and ruffles.It is harder than a regular sofa, so it won't sleep with comfort - it has more rigid seats (unlike the sofa with its soft pillows).

The sofa is more minimalist and modest, suitable for the corresponding interior - for example, the eastern or classical, and can be installed both in the apartment and in a private house. By the way, in the hot eastern countries they preferred a sofa, rather than a sofa, and in the hot summer they drank tea on it. However, on the minuses - it is not as versatile as a sofa. Despite the fact that the sofa is also decomposed and can be used as a bed, in these functions it is good, but not an excellent pupil. This is really a good option for adults of small weight, as the sofa will probably seem too hard for children. This applies to using it as a bed. If you are going to use the sofa for its intended purpose, then it will be loved by everyone - both adults and children.

When unfolded, the sofa resembles, rather, an ottoman or a double bed. Differences from the first in that it is, in fact, just a bed without a back and armrests, but now they have ottomans with two and three long backs or several armrests.The ottoman or not folding mechanism, or it has a separate eponymous name. Initially, the ottoman was designed specifically for sleep, so it has a perfectly flat surface and a moderately soft mattress. Of the similarities can be distinguished common home - also Asia, and the presence of boxes for linen.

Couch - "relative" chair, it has a rather subtle frame and its purpose is more like an ottoman than a sofa. It is also possible to sleep on it - it is as a single bed in size, it does not have armrests and back, but it is equipped with a high headboard. The edges between the sofa, sofa and ottoman are gradually erased, and in many online stores they are all located in the "sofas" section, so do not be afraid to ask and learn how to define furniture according to its appearance.

Since the sofa itself is a subspecies of the sofa, its types also differ mainly only in appearance. So, for example, a double sofa is especially popular - it is even called a love nest, as it folds into a double bed that is perfect in size. The triple sofa is similar in size to a regular sofa, the four-seater sofa is correspondingly to a large sofa, and so on.

There is an orthopedic sofa - it differs from the usual mattress, and so has a fairly solid surface. It is, as the name implies, orthopedic, and can help people with a sore back to fall asleep. However, he may not be suitable for small children or elderly grandparents. The back of the sofa and its armrests can merge, it can itself have a more rounded shape and thin carved legs. Also, the backrest and armrests can be massive and square, and the mattress - perfectly straight. In the first case, the sofa has a purely decorative effect, it is itself a work of art, and it is unlikely that several people will fit on it. The second option is the classic one, ideal for gathering with friends and friendly meetings.

A classic sofa in any case will be less than the usual design, but it can be of different sizes and dimensions. In the case of a folding or rolling out sofa, it is worth considering that in the unfolded state it will be twice as long and will resemble a real single or double (depending on the width) bed. Even on the smallest sofa, three people can easily fit in, on the largest one - up to six, and this is not taking into account the armrests and the backrest, on which children can easily fit.The best and most common option is a sofa standard with the size of 120x200.

Initially, the sofa is a non-folding subspecies of the sofa. But progress does not stand still, and therefore, folding sofas have emerged long ago (in the form of a chest, with drawers for linen or stretched out into a full bed). They differ in transformation mechanisms. For rolling out sofas, drawout mechanisms are used (for example, a “telescope”). In this case, the back does not fall, but another place rolls out from under the seat. The size of such a sofa can reach a double bed. Unlike the folding sofas, sofa canvases are close to each other and do not cause discomfort when lying down.

There is also a clamshell with a lifting mechanism. Mechanisms are divided into "Italian", "American" and "French" cot. A berth in this case is a rather thin surface, which has three sections, pull over one - the others will open. As a rule, folding beds are not durable and do not have any orthopedic properties.

"French cot" - This is a classic for folding mechanisms.As a rule, it rises a meter and a half ahead, not more. Instead of a mattress here is a frame covered with thick fabric. You may need to condense it yourself, as its appearance does not cause confidence. Yes, the characteristic of a sofa with the “French clamshell” mechanism is not encouraging, and it would seem, why bother to talk about such a useless variant? And the point is that it is useless only as a bed. If you want to save money and are fully confident that you will use the sofa only when folded - pay attention to this mechanism, because it will not let you down.

"American folding bed" - This is an improved version of the "French". The mechanism is also extremely simple and easy - you pull on one seat, two more roll out and put on supports. However, the American mechanism is more durable due to more reliable materials for the frame, as well as the presence of a full-fledged mattress and spring blocks. You can even try to find a sofa "American cot" for about the price of "French".

"Italian folding bed" - double folding mechanism, as well as her two sisters. However, here the sofa is transformed by moving the back of the sofa forward.- Seats are not extended. It is necessary to raise the back and pull it over, lower and put on support. Thus, the armrests will be in the middle of the unfolded sofa, and the back will not. In the case of the sofa, this mechanism does not add a special place, as the back is so low, but the weight of this structure withstands more - it has strong enough supporting legs, and there are spring blocks on the sides. By the way, this mechanism is sometimes called the "flip" because of the turning back.

Always pay attention to the wheels and legs of the sliding part - so that they do not cling to the carpet and scratch the floor covering. By the way, it was to work around this problem. "Walking" mechanism. It kind of looks like Eurosofu or "Eurobook". However, unlike them, with it you do not need to worry about the wheels hitting the laminate - they simply do not exist. The seat here does not roll out forward, but rises and stretches, is set on the floor, and the back is laid on the vacant seat. Another name for this mechanism is "pantograph".

There is another very similar to the "pantograph" mechanism - "dolphin". In this case, you need to pull the lower unit under the seat and raise them one level. This mechanism does not have a box for linen, so you need to think about where to put the bed. And the back here also does not unfold.

"Puma" decomposed in two movements. The seat smoothly rises and moves forward, and the part located under it rises up in its place. You literally have to pull in one, and the second immediately appears under it. Efforts are minimal. This mechanism serves for a long time, but there are boxes for linen only at the corner sofas. The "dolphin", by the way, is the same.

"Conrad" very similar to “Puma". In the case of such a vykatny mechanism, you have to pull the lower unit, roll it out and put it on a support, and after it the other two will align. This mechanism is most often used in the case of large sofas, triple and long enough, because there are three blocks. Due to the fact that all the blocks are compactly packed, the model has drawers for laundry.

The sofa has a classic rectangular shape - all its corners are straight, it looks like a smooth smooth bar. The seat is located at our usual height, but due to the identical height of the backrest and armrests, it seems as if it is in a recess. Manufacturers do rarely experiment with sofa shapes. There are sofas of large sizes, one of the parts of which is longer than the others, on which you can lie down. For others, the base or the armrests are slightly rounded on the sides.

You can find a sofa with a carved back and armrests, you can with monolithic, looking massive blocks instead. This is the classic version. In some instances, the armrests and backrest are removed or they are located directly on the mattress and secured with velcro. It can be said that a corner sofa is a very rare beast in the furniture industry, but they also do that. It consists of two right-angled sofas of any size and looks like a classic corner sofa. And yet you can independently connect two sofas, putting them at an angle to each other. You may need to remove one of the armrests.

The color of the sofa is its upholstery.It can be made of leather, natural, eco or artificial, and in this case it has black, white, brown and other natural colors. In the case of any other material shades may vary. There are places to be different patterns, flowers and whole pictures on the back and seats, which is especially important for children. The color of the sofa should first of all match the color scheme of the room in which it is located. For example, for a design in the style of Provence, a dark, black or brown leather sofa will be unacceptable, and for hi-tech - a hot pink or a flowered sofa.

You can choose a sofa, focusing on the color of the walls. If you want to put it in the center, then it will be great to emphasize or contrast with them. The wrong decision would be to take a sofa of the same shade as the floor or ceiling. This will visually or bring the ceiling closer to the sofa, make the room visually lower, or force the floor to merge with the sofa. Often, sofas and any other furniture chosen in the color of the carpet or curtains, curtains, and it will also look very nice. Especially if the curtains or carpet - patterned and the sofa will be the color that prevails or creates accents on them. By the same principle pillows are selected.

Initially, the sofa was made of durable and expensive varieties of wood - mahogany, walnut, rattan, and pillows and frame upholstered with silk or brocade. Pillows were made from sheep's wool or horsehair, as in this case they were perfectly smooth and durable. Now for the manufacture of the sofa most often used conifers - pine, larch, fir. Other types of trees are also used, as well as plywood, plastic, laminated chipboard and metal.

Upholstery - the appearance of the sofa, appearance. They are upholstered with artificial and natural leather and various types of fabrics (pile and soft, made from natural and artificial threads), including mohair, wool, cotton, fleece and jacquard. Some upholstery coatings have a Teflon coating that repels dirt, water and is not subject to burning. They cost, of course, respectively. A sofa is stuffed with felt, quilted jacket, latex, polyurethane foam (PUF), foam rubber and cotton or synthetic fiber linings and other polymers, as they are more durable than natural materials.Also, of course, springs and various rolling out mechanisms are used.

No wonder the sofa is called a universal stylistic decision. It is minimalist - in size, and in style, and is suitable for virtually any design. Colors and shapes are selected based on your personal preferences. Since the sofa is originally from Turkey, it will ideally look in an apartment with an oriental design. It can be a bright, rich shade or subdued beige, the finish of such a sofa should be made of brocade or silk, as in ancient times, or from a similar material. There are places to be and patterns. In eastern countries, they dined and rested on the sofa, but didn’t sleep, but in the 19th century, the stylized sofa would look decent in its unfolded form.

If you urgently need a sofa in a high-tech apartment, pay attention to the sofa. It fully corresponds to the currents of this style - it has right angles and straight lines, the simplest geometry is available in various fashionable, but reserved colors, as an upholstery version - leather, equipped with modern pull-out and lifting mechanisms and fits perfectly into the metal design. This is a real sofa convertible.By the way, it is in the high-tech style that the sofa can be built in, since it is inherent in space saving. An excellent solution would be to place a sofa in a loft or studio apartment.

Provence is a province in France. On its territory there are beautiful plantations with grapes, the sea, as well as many plants and sunlight. This is a paradise for lovers of comfort and relaxation. And approximately in the same framework, the houses of the indigenous inhabitants of the province are decorated. The style is called - Provence. This is a light provincial comfort.

The sofa will suit here if you do not wish to focus attention on a berth or a sofa. In this case, choose light flowing materials, but not silk, it may look too pathetic. The colors must necessarily be pastel, but if white is not pure white, it cuts the eyes, but milky, creamy, creamy or light beige. It is here that you can have fun with the cushions - even though you lace them with lace, this is Provence! You can put statuettes on the armrests and backrest, and cover the mattress with the bedspread. Worn furniture will also perfectly fit into the style.

Good sofa will look in the classic interior.This style is characterized by clear and symmetrical lines, smooth forms, proportionality. The style has found wide application in England in the era of aristocracy. And the sofa, upholstered in leather or material under it, will perfectly fit into such a discreet look of the room in the style of "classic." It is necessary to give preference to dark shades - brown, black, the sofa should not be a screaming bright spot. Ideally, it should match in shade with wooden tables, chairs and side tables.

Sofa - a great option for interiors in "Old", for boroko or rococo, since then, when it was only brought to Europe, it was these styles that dominated it. This means that the back and armrests of the sofa can merge, have a wave-like bend, it can be almost single, upholstered with velvet or other fleecy fabric, and its legs can be carved. In this case, the interior of the room should be appropriate - imagine the theater of the eighteenth century. In everyday life, this sofa is quite difficult to see, as well as such furniture in general. Still, it echoes of aristocracy.

Most often, the sofa purchased for living rooms and halls.Because of its size and minimalistic look, it looks good both at official receptions and at friendly gatherings. It is used for receiving guests, sometimes as an extra bed. Teenagers can put a fold-out sofa into their bedroom — this is very convenient, as the nursery is usually small in size, and the folded sofa can be used to receive guests. However, this option is only suitable for adult children, since it is inconvenient for small children to sleep on such a hard mattress.

A small sofa can be put in the hallway or placed in place of a sofa in the dining room or in the kitchen. The same applies to the balcony and loggia - this is where the sofa will look optimally comfortable and is ideal as a corner for relaxation. The sofa can sometimes be found in various concert or banquet halls, in the offices of large companies or in restaurants - after all, this is quite a popular piece of furniture, and it is often recommended by designers.

First of all, when choosing a sofa, consider where you put it and pay attention to the size of the room and the sofa itself.Be sure to sit or even lie on the sofa - decide on the softness and toughness, is it comfortable for you, can you lie down on the mattress completely and how many guests, if anything, can fit there. Try also the armrests and backrest. You can easily save on upholstery, but also pay attention to whether this material is easy to clean. On some sofas are removable covers, which contributes not only easy cleaning, but also a change in appearance. In the case of the inability to frequently wash or if the upholstery is leather, wipe it with a damp sponge during each cleaning.

Of course, do not even talk about the size of the sofa. If the room is small, then you need to choose a sofa appropriate, and also remember that if we are talking about rolling out or folding mechanisms, then they need extra space. The sofa can easily replace the bed. It can also help to save space by drawers located in some models under the seat. There you can put at least bedding, even clothes, even unnecessary things. If your room is decorated in a certain style, first of all make sure that the sofa fits into the design.Believe me, you yourself will not like it, even though the sofa will be beautiful in itself, it will not look at all in the overall setting.

If you want to save on purchase, then pay attention to these tips:

• Upholstery can help you save. Just choose a sofa with a cheaper upholstery - for example, fleece, jacquard. The most expensive option is considered natural and eco-leather.
• Choose polyurethane foam filling instead of a mattress with independent springs. But pay attention to the fact that the material must be of high quality and not thin.
• You can save by buying a sofa in the online store. Perhaps the delivery will take some time, but you can "feel" the sofa live, and then order it in another store. So you will be as sure, and do not throw money away.
• Remember that the markup is often done for the brand - the more famous it is, the more expensive the product. Also, the price affects the country of manufacture - more precisely, the costs spent on shipping. Therefore, domestic undisputed brands will always be cheaper. They can meet you in any large furniture store, even in the corporate ("Alice", "Ikea", "Premium", Monica ").In the end, the main thing is reputation, not popularity.
• Stop on the spring-type mechanism or even on the hingesif the mattress and the seat are not too heavy.

Hauling may be necessary if the upholstery has faded under the sun color, the leatherette began to peel off and cracked. A cat, a dog or any other pet may scrape the upholstery, and spots or puffs and other mechanical damage may appear on it. All this makes even a new and sturdy sofa look miserable, and it needs restoration.

This is not such a complicated action, the main thing is to prepare yourself - take the upholstery, furniture stapler and brackets to it, anti-stapler, flat screwdriver, and also material for upholstery. It may be leather, but it is better to use fleece and jacquard - they are inexpensive and look pretty decent.

• First disassemble the sofa, remove all overhead parts (separate armrests, backrest, seats, the frame should remain completely empty)
• Using the antistepler and screwdriver, spare the sofa from the old upholstery. But take it off carefully, do not tear and do not throw it away at all - they will be useful to you as patterns for the pattern.
• Look inside the frame. It is possible that you will have to replace the spring blocks, as well as foam rubber - a new layer will not be superfluous.
• Now grab the pattern. Take the old parts and, using chalk or remnant, circle them on your new upholstery material. Remember that the pattern should be double and each part should have a stock. As an example, imagine the back. It is necessary to sheathe it both from above, and from the side, and in the center - from behind and from the front. The shape should get a cover, not bare pieces of fabric. After the pattern, sew.
• Stretch covers on the removed elements and fasten them with a stapler where necessary. Initially, fasten the fabric to a minimum, avoiding distortions, and in those places where it will unnecessarily puff up, allow yourself a few additional movements with a stapler. If you make a mistake, use the antistepler again, but be careful not to tear the fabric.
• Everything, now it remains only to assemble a sofa. Updated and beautiful, collected and covered with her own hands, it will delight you for a long time. And for practicality, you can throw a blanket on top or wear a cover.

In the next video - an overview of upholstered furniture: a sofa in the interior.