Yellow Chesterfield Couch
Antique 1860s British Chesterfield Sofas
Leather
2010s North American Victorian Sofas
Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Sofas
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
20th Century English Chesterfield Sofas
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Chairs
Steel, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Bouclé, Wood, Oak
Mid-20th Century English Chesterfield Living Room Sets
Leather
Early 20th Century Hungarian Industrial Industrial and Work Tables
Oak
2010s Greek Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Sofas
Wood, Down, Feathers, Velvet
20th Century English Kilim Armchairs
Upholstery
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Sofas
Fabric, Beech
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Sofas
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Art Deco Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Marble, Brass
20th Century Hollywood Regency Sofas
Fabric, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Sofas
Leather
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s American Hollywood Regency Sofas
Velvet
Antique Late 19th Century English Chesterfield Sofas
Velvet
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Velvet, Wood
Antique 19th Century American Chaise Longues
Vintage 1960s American Loveseats
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Settees
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Lounge Chairs
Leather
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Velvet
Late 20th Century American Modern Sofas
Textile
Finding the Right sofas for You
Black leather, silk velvet cushions, breathable bouclé fabric — when shopping for antique, new 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. 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.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
Julien Sebban’s energetic design collective is radically reshaping the look of 21st-century European furniture and interiors.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Rock Your Cares Away on This Sunny Hand-Crocheted Swing
The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.
Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
What happens when you do something to a piece of furniture that you shouldn’t? It becomes an entirely new object.
Eileen Gray’s Famed Cliffside Villa in the South of France Is Returned to Its Modernist Glory
After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.