Purple Couch Sofa
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
2010s Portuguese Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Leather, Wood, Walnut
2010s Italian Sofas
Textile
2010s Spanish Modern Sofas
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Sofas
Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Sofas
Upholstery
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Sofas
Upholstery
Vintage 1970s English Post-Modern Sofas
Fabric
2010s Italian Sofas
Leather
2010s Spanish Post-Modern Sofas
Steel, Chrome
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Oak
Vintage 1970s American Modern Sofas
Steel
2010s Sofas
Fabric
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Sofa Tables
Elm
2010s Portuguese Other Sofas
Metal
Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Sofas
Textile, Upholstery
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Sofas
Upholstery
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sofas
Velvet, Foam
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Chrome, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Sofas
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sofas
Wool, Leather
2010s Dutch Sofas
Metal
Vintage 1970s French Post-Modern Sectional Sofas
Fabric, Foam
2010s American Other Sofas
Wenge
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Brass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Iron
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
20th Century Modern Sofas
Cotton, Upholstery
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Sofas
Metal
2010s Sofas
Wool
2010s Sofas
Wool
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Fabric, Oak
2010s Italian Post-Modern Sofas
Other
2010s American Other Sofas
Fabric
Early 2000s American Modern Sofas
Metal
2010s Sofas
Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Organic Modern Sofas
Leather, Wool, Cotton
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Organic Modern Sofas
Leather, Wool, Cotton
2010s Italian Sofas
Velvet
2010s Chinese Modern Sofas
Cotton
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sofas
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Chrome
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Brass, Steel
1990s German Post-Modern Sofas
Leather
2010s Dutch Sofas
Upholstery
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Sofas
Upholstery
2010s American Modern Sofas
Steel
2010s American Modern Sofas
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
2010s Italian Sofas
Velvet
Early 2000s Italian Modern Sofas
Steel
Vintage 1980s American Bohemian Sofas
Rattan
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Sofas
Textile
2010s French Modern Sofas
Fabric
2010s Austrian Sofas
Leather, Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Organic Modern Sofas
Textile
2010s Italian Post-Modern Sofas
Other
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Purple Couch Sofa For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Purple Couch Sofa?
Finding the Right Sofas for You
Black leather, silk velvet cushions, breathable bouclé fabric — when shopping for antique or vintage sofas, today’s couch connoisseurs have much to choose from in terms of style and shape. But it wasn’t always thus.
The sofa is typically defined as a long upholstered seat that features a back and arms and is intended for two or more people. While the term “couch” comes from the Old French couche, meaning to lie down, and sofa has Eastern origins, both are forms of divan, a Turkish word that means an elongated cushioned seat. Bench-like seating in Ancient Greece, which was padded with soft blankets, was called klinai. No matter how you spell it, sofa just means comfort, at least it does today.
In the early days of sofa design, upholstery consisted of horsehair or dried moss. Sofas that originated in countries such as France during the 17th century were more integral to decor than they were to comfort. Like most Baroque furnishings from the region, they frequently comprised heavy, gilded mahogany frames and were upholstered in floral Beauvais tapestry. Today, options abound when it comes to style and material, with authentic leather offerings and classy steel settees. Plush, velvet chesterfields represent the platonic ideal of coziness.
Vladimir Kagan’s iconic sofa designs, such as the Crescent and the Serpentine — which, like the sectional sofas of the 1960s created by furniture makers such as Harvey Probber, are quite popular among mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts — showcase the spectrum of style available to modern consumers. Those looking to make a statement can turn to Studio 65’s lip-shaped Bocca sofa, which was inspired by the work of Salvador Dalí. Elsewhere, the furniture of the 1970s evokes an era when experimentation ruled, or at least provided a reason to break the rules. Just about every area of society felt a sudden urge to be wayward, to push boundaries — and buttons. Vintage leather sofas of that decade are characterized by a rare blending of the showy and organic.
With so many options, it’s important to explore and find the perfect furniture for your space. Paying attention to the lines of the cushions as well as the flow from the backrest into the arms is crucial to identifying a cohesive new piece for your home or office.
Fortunately, with styles from every era — and even round sofas — there’s a luxurious piece for every space. Deck out your living room with an Art Deco lounge or go retro with a nostalgic '80s design. No matter your sitting vision, the right piece is waiting for you in the expansive collection of unique sofas on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 20, 2024The difference between a couch, a sofa and a lounge is often design. Technically, couch, sofa and lounge are synonyms and can generally be used to describe an upholstered seating solution designed to seat two or more people. However, some people do differentiate between the words. Among those who do, a couch is normally simpler and less formal than a sofa. A lounge can be a longer sofa designed to provide more space for laying down, or a chaise longue, a one-person sofa with a backrest on one end that enables users to sit with their feet elevated. Find a large collection of sofas, couches and lounges on 1stDibs.
- Who says sofa vs. couch?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024Who says sofa vs. couch comes down to geography and profession. In the United States, many people commonly use the word couch, though some also say sofa. American interior designers and those working in the U.S. furniture industry tend to use the word sofa, which is the preferred term in the UK and Canada. Couch is also the more common name in Ireland, South Africa and Australia. On 1stDibs, explore a wide range of sofas.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Today, the words couch and sofa are used interchangeably. In reality, however, a sofa and a couch are different types of furniture. A sofa is defined as an upholstered bench with cushions, two arms, and ample seating space, whereas couches are quite small, armless, and are used to lie down.
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