Classic sofas for the living room: types and features

Classic sofas today are one of the most popular types of upholstered furniture. This is not surprising, since such living room interior items combine the best traditions of European and Eastern fashion, and they are intertwined so organically that sometimes it is even difficult to make out who, from whom and which details of the sofas were borrowed.

The main advantage of classic sofas is that they meet the aesthetic needs of a wide variety of people, so we propose to understand in more detail what are the features of this furniture.

It should be borne in mind the following fact: from the standpoint of designers, the definition of "classic sofa" in itself is incorrect, since the classic implies a large number of very different styles:

• neoclassicism;
• rococo and baroque;
• Gothic;
• empire style and many others.

Each direction belongs to one of the constituent elements of the classic direction in design, but with a considerable amount of originality. Despite the common roots of the main varieties of classic decors, upholstered furniture can be very different, therefore, we propose to consider in more detail the characteristic features of each type of classic sofas.

• Empire style sofa. This upholstered furniture simply cannot be confused with any other, as it is distinguished by luxurious lurid upholstery and many decorative elements. Such sofas are usually decorated with carvings, as well as overlays made of bronze or brass. They look so expensive that it may even seem as if such a sofa came into the apartment straight from the museum. That is why the Empire style is often called the palace style.Nevertheless, this direction is one of the branches of the classics.

• Neoclassical sofa. In this direction of the design of the premises, a “stake” is placed on the lightness and sophistication of objects. That is why classic sofas are more reminiscent of Old English furniture, and the only difference is that neoclassicism is not so bulky, it is distinguished by lighter and weightless forms.

• Gothic sofa... Like all attributes of this style, Gothic sofas are traditionally painted in black, purple or dark red, and velvet is most often used as upholstery. This is a strict, but at the same time sophisticated style, emphasized by the abundance of pointed details that are used in decorating the sofa. And although Gothic furniture is not as richly decorated as Empire-style furniture, there is still some luxury of accessories here - usually it is gilded stucco molding and forged curly legs.

• Baroque style sofa. Such pieces of furniture are characterized by smooth lines and at the same time massiveness. The exquisite intricate carving typical of this style cannot be confused with anything - it is the hallmark of the Baroque. These sofas are usually very comfortable, functional and practical. Quite often, Baroque furniture is made individually for the anthropometric parameters of a person, which makes rest on them extremely comfortable.

Sofas made in a classic style are considered the absolute leader in terms of price, since no other stylistic trend in interior decor can boast such expensive furniture. The reason is obvious - the classic assumes the use of expensive and high-quality materials, in the classical tradition there is no place for cheap plastic, chipboards and so on. For upholstered furniture of Russian production, cherry, boxwood, as well as pistachio and walnut are often used.

For upholstery, the most durable materials are used, resistant to mechanical damage, which are quickly cleaned, do not absorb foreign odors and are absolutely environmentally friendly. An alternative to them can be:

• arpatek and microfiber - these materials are resistant to fading and impervious to dirt;
• chenille fabric - characterized by high resistance to damage from the claws of pets;
• scotchguard - material with increased moisture, dust and dirt repellent properties.

Less practical but expensive fabrics are often used for upholstery - brocade, velvet or satin.

Like any other furniture, sofas made in a classic style have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Let's start with the pros.

• Classic sofas are a luxurious decoration for any living room. It is difficult to imagine a hall without them - the place where household members communicate with family and friends, relax in front of the TV after a hard day.
• Thanks to the sophistication of the decoration, such a piece of furniture is not ashamed to demonstrate even to the most discerning guests from the upper strata of society.
• Classic sofas are often made to order, so individual requests are taken into account, which makes the furniture not only harmonious, but also ideally comfortable.
• Classic-style furniture is purchased once and for all - it has served faithfully for many decades and can even be passed down from generation to generation as a family heirloom.

But do not forget about the minuses - classic sofas also have a lot of them.

• Sofas in classic decor often do not have the ability to transform, so they cannot be used as a sofa bed.
• If the upholstery materials fail, the furniture will have to be restored - such work will be very expensive.
• Sofas made of natural materials are difficult to move, most often such products are a single monolithic and very dimensional structure.
• The price of classic sofas is high. However, do not forget that the classic style as a whole is intended for wealthy people who do not spare the money to surround themselves with beautiful decorations.

Summarizing all of the above, we can say that owners of classic sofas can be proud of their purchases. Such products will require a lot of investment, but then they will serve their owners for more than one decade. This type of upholstered furniture has both advantages and disadvantages, but many of them are relative, so the choice is yours.

The video provides an overview of luxury, exclusive furniture.