An Interior Designers Guide To Choosing The Most Comfortable Couch
When it comes to designing a home that’s truly customized to you + your family — a home with everything you need + nothing more –– selecting the most comfortable couch can certainly feel like a challenging task. Not only are there infinite choices + decisions to be made around style, color or scale but you also really want to invest in a quality piece that you can use for years to come. Something you know will live up to the rigors of everyday life for your family.
As for agreeing on the most comfortable couch *welp* it’s subjective. Because everyone’s definition + ideal comfort level is different. Right?
From kicking back to binge the latest season of Jane The Virgin to curling up with your laptop for hours to do work, it’s safe to say that our couches are getting far more mileage + use NOW than ever before. Which is why getting crystal clear on defining what we truly want whenever we say ‘the most comfortable couch’ –– is kind of a big deal!
And it’s exactly why, based on our time-tested tried + true advice we created the ultimate guide to choosing the most comfortable couch for your home. Ready to dive in?
Identifying What A Comfortable Couch Means To You
Are you a cuddler? A keep it casual side leaner? Or a sleeping beauty couch hog? If we’re talking about the most comfortable couch, the final answer largely depends on how you define comfort. So, really the question boils down to –– what kind of couch sitter are you?
General Questions To Ask Yourself To Identify Comfort
Think about things like how does everyday life typically unfold in this area of your home? Is everyone lounging together (pets included) or is this more of an “adult-only” area?
How often is this space used — for special occasions + entertaining guests or is it more routinely?
How many people typically gather to spend time together in this area of your home?
Do they sit on the couch together or on separate sofas?
Does your sitting area need a sofa + chairs or is it better suited for a sectional?
Do you prefer having a space to lie down?
What about your feet? Do you prefer curling up + tucking your feet underneath you while you sit or are you more of a laid-back kick your feet up kinda person?
Do you prefer deep vs shallow seating?
Do you like loose cushions? Tight cushions?
How about functional use — Is this a reading area or a nap zone?
What about sticky fingers + dirty paws? Do you have pets + children to consider when making your decisions?
How about durability?
Are performance fabrics a consideration?
How do you feel about slipcovers?
Do you have any health challenges or concerns that need to be considered? Allergies or physical limitations that could play a pivotal role in uncovering exactly what the ‘most comfortable couch’ looks like for you?
COMFORTABLE COUCH DIMENSIONS + SCALE
Not only do couch dimensions determine the overall scale of your sofa (or sectional) but it also makes a H-U-G-E impact on comfort + defining style.
Traditional sofas or sectionals often have a high back + shallow seat depth which makes them a great fit for formal spaces. Whereas a more casual sofa or sectional typically has a lower back + seat height as well as often is a deeper cushion.
DESIGNER TIP: Ensure the sofa is the appropriate scale for your living space by taping it out on the floor prior to ordering to ensure you like the size of the sofa in your space. If it’s too large or too small, it really doesn’t matter what style it is — it's always going to feel uncomfortably off.
Couch Length:
The sofa or sectional length is going to be determined by the amount of space you have in your living area. A typical sofa length is between 72-96” in length while sectionals are more versatile + can be configured in a wide range of lengths.
Seat Depth:
Seat depth is different from the overall depth because it takes into account the thickness of the sofas back cushion.
The average seat depth is between 21-24” but take note that personal preference really plays a factor here. If a seat depth is too shallow for you — you’ll likely feel uncomfortable + unable to relax. While if the seat depth is too deep — you may not be able to put your feet on the ground (hello childhood *wink*).
If you love to sit upright then 21” is probably perfect for you while if you’re a tuck your feet up + lounge kind of gal then 23-26” is ideal.
DESIGNER TIP: A person's height will directly influence how comfortable a couch is for while sitting on the sofa — so really, spend some time here + consider what makes the most sense for you + your family. While there’s not a magic ‘seat depth-to-personal height ratio’ (because the most comfortable couch is subjective) as a general rule of thumb –– if you’re 6’2 or taller a seat depth around 23” is going to give you the best shot at being comfortable.
Seat Height:
Often seat heights are right around 17-19” from the floor to the cushion. And that holds true for chairs, ottomans, and sofas. Likely, the sofa you choose or have built will be in this range but there are still a couple of things to consider.
First, consider the fill material for your cushion. Now, we’ll talk about this a little bit lower but if you’re choosing down as your fill, it’s going to compress over time + you’ll need to fluff them every now + again.
Second, if you have a deep seat depth + a low seat height it’s going to make it difficult to get up + out of — right, dad?
Back Height:
The most comfortable couches have great back support but are they low-back or tall-back?
Well, that depends. In general, the deeper a sofa the more relaxed a person is sitting + the less height that is needed. In a more formal style sofa, a taller back is necessary because the seat depth isn’t typically very deep.
As you can see back height + seat depth go hand in hand.
DESIGNER TIP: If relaxing deep into the sofa is what feels most comfortable for you — then consider sofas with an angled back or pitched sofa back. Alternatively, if you have back problems a straight-backed sofa is more ideal for you as it’s going to provide the best back support.
Arm Height:
At least in our house anyway, the arm height should be nicknamed the “headrest” :)
We measure the arm height of a sofa from the top of the seat cushion to the top of the armrest. Typically, arm heights range from 6-10”. If you prefer to lean against the corner of the sofa then maybe a taller armrest is preferable. While if you like to lay down or lean against the armrest then an arm height on the lower side may be most comfortable.
COMFORTABLE COUCH CUSHIONS
Whether you’re building a custom sofa, which may sound overwhelming but really is more common than you think, or simply deciding from a handful of sofa’s you like, then deciding the number of cushions is important.
When we’re talking about sofa cushions there are three options:
Single Cushions:
A single cushion is exactly what it sounds like: one cushion. It’s often called a “bench seat” because it creates a simple streamlined look with no visual breaks that can typically seat more people without having anyone sitting in a crack between cushions.
Two Cushions:
A two cushioned sofa can still provide a modern look but depending on the overall length + the number of people you’re hoping to seat, might have someone sitting in the crack between the two cushions.
Three Cushions:
A three cushioned sofa shouldn’t sound like a bad thing. Again, depending upon the length + number of people who sit together — someone may be less comfortable because they're not supported adequately in between several cushions.
SELECTING THE RIGHT FABRIC + CUSHION MATERIAL
At Elegant Simplicity, function always precedes aesthetic. And idk, maybe it’s the professional organizing side of our design brains hard at work –– but choosing the right material for your sofa is all about functionality.
So when it comes to choosing the most comfortable couch boo, it’s more than simply visual aesthetic + ideal dimensions. While certainly, these things are incredibly important, it’s more about the fabric + materials being used to wrap that gorgeous sofa of your dreams
In fact, for most of our clients who have pets or kids or genuinely want things to wear well, fabric durability is the #1 focus when it comes to upholstery selection.
A quick breakdown of fabrics we recommend:
Leather
Leather is great for a variety of reasons. It easily wipes spills, handles natural scratches + ages well over time.
Crypton
Crypton is a strong nearly bulletproof upholstery fabric — that can withstand everything from Cheeto fingers to red wine *wink*. Not only is it stain + odor resistant but it’s also antimicrobial, which in this day + age is a-m-a-z-i-n-g!
Velvet
A surprisingly durable material, velvet also hides imperfections incredibly well.
Cushion Fill
Remember earlier, when I said we would revisit the “cushion fill” later. Well, here we are. Have you ever sat on a sofa (or chair) and thought, “wow this feels really comfortable?” What about the opposite, “wow, this cushion is awful!”
The reality was either the cushion fill for the seat + back were high-quality + offered you a great experience or they were noticeable + uncomfortable enough that you couldn’t envision yourself relaxing for a long time.
Well, the two fills we recommend are:
High-Density Foam
High-density foam provides a firm comfort without being too hard. The best part is — it doesn’t degrade as fast as low-density foam so your cushions will last longer. High-density foam cushions provide a more structured or formal look to things.
Down
If you like to sit-into your sofa, down is the cushion fill option we recommend. Down cushion fills create a more casual + relaxed look to your sofa. With down cushions, you do have to fluff your cushions in order to keep their shape over time.
Hopefully, we’ve got you thinking + you’re able to put some context around what the most comfortable couch looks like for you + all the things you should consider in selecting a sofa for your home.
And if you’re in the preliminary planning stages of your next project, let’s chat.
P.S. If you loved this article then you’re going to really enjoy the 4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home.