| The couch is a piece of furniture that has been in | | | | sofas are the Camel Back, Channel Back and |
| existence since the days of the Greeks and | | | | Tufted Back. |
| Romans, over 2,000 years ago. In 2,000 years it | | | | Attached-pillow back sofas have softer seats and |
| has evolved somewhat, with varieties such as the | | | | backs. These filled pillows are sewn into the backs |
| davenport, the settee, the lounge and the | | | | of the sofas so that they are immovable. |
| chesterfield, and the sofa. These days, people use | | | | Because the pillows are permanently attached, |
| the words interchangeably. | | | | they can be difficult to keep clean, as the pillows |
| Just as the design of the couch has expanded | | | | can't be simply removed if they get stained.. |
| through the years, so has the amount of | | | | Loose-pillow backs are convenient, because the |
| materials used to cover the cushions for | | | | back cushions are usually reversible. The coverings |
| comfortable sitting or reclining. And one of the | | | | can be unzipped for re-stuffing and cleaning |
| most comfortable materials in which to cover | | | | purposes. |
| your furniture has recently been invented, the | | | | Multi-pillow back sofas, also termed scatterback |
| microfiber. | | | | sofas, have a larger number of back pillows than |
| Microfiber (or microsuede) is a synthetic material, | | | | seat pillows (which is different than the |
| known for its softness and for its ability to repel | | | | loose-pillow backs, which have an even number.) |
| liquids. Unfortunately, microfiber textiles are not | | | | This design is usually the most comfortable. These |
| only flammable, but they emit toxic gases when | | | | sofas are larger and deeper than the other style. |
| burning. They are also not biodegradable. | | | | In addition to the types of backs, sofas are |
| However for many people, the advantages of the | | | | classified by several other criteria. The type of |
| microfiber material outweigh its disadvantages, | | | | skirt can be either the "dressmaker" or the |
| and sofas upholstered in microfiber are becoming | | | | "boxpleat," the arms can vary, such as the "roll |
| more and more popular. | | | | arm", the "tuxedo arm", and the "Charles of |
| Once you've decided that microfiber upholstery is | | | | London" arm. The "Charles of London" arm is |
| right or you, what type of sofa should you get? | | | | named for an English furniture maker, of course, |
| There are many, many different designs, as | | | | and is heavily padded. |
| might be expected for a piece of furniture that's | | | | Then we've got the base on which the sofa rests: |
| been around for over 2,000 years. | | | | the upholstered foot or the plinth base. |
| Sofas are divided into two main styles: the | | | | The sofa is probably one of the most expensive |
| sectional and the sleeper. The sectional sofas are | | | | pieces of furniture you'll buy for your home, so |
| then divided further depending on the style of the | | | | make sure you visit as many furniture stores as |
| back: tight back, attached pillow back, loose pillow | | | | you can, so that you can try out as many |
| back and multi pillow back. | | | | different versions as possible. Not only must the |
| Tight-back sofas have a very firm seat and no | | | | couch itself be comfortable, but the covering also |
| supporting pillow. You save time because you | | | | - and that's where the new microfibers and |
| don't have to straighten any pillows, but they are | | | | microsuedes come in. |
| not that comfortable. Examples of tight-back | | | | |