THE SECRET LIFE OF SOFAS

I’m guessing that you have a sofa somewhere in your home.

Most likely it is one of several focal points in the living room (the others being a fireplace or TV), and the one piece of furniture that everyone gravitates towards.

Perhaps it is incredibly comfortable, inviting you to cuddle up in a corner with a good book?

Then again, maybe it is the style of your sofa that is so appealing?

Or perhaps it’s the well-worn fabric and cushions, that have seated generations of your family before you?

Do sofas really have a secret life?

Well, maybe not in the sense that some people lead secret lives, but if your sofa has any kind of history, who knows?

Let me share with you a little bit about the origins of the sofa, and you will see what I mean.

Sofas have been a standard fixture in our homes for only a little over three hundred years.

The sofa made its first appearance during the reign of King Louis XIV, of France, during the late 17^th century.

The sofa was a French invention, ushering in a new age of greater comfort in home furnishings.

It wasn’t long before it became all the rage among the upper levels of society. Of course, the royal household benefited first with the Queen, herself, an avid promoter.

With the arrival of the sofa, this was the first time in history that an upholstered, padded piece of furniture was available that could actually seat two people!

At the time, this was considered incredibly daring.

The sofa developed a reputation of being rather racy.

It was seductive and sexy, inviting the kind of tete-a-tete that had not been possible before this time.

Even women’s fashions changed as a result, as it was not possible for a stiffly corseted woman, to lounge back on a sofa.

Women’s dresses thus became more relaxed, allowing for the body to move more naturally.

It is interesting to note, that across the pond in England, stiff, upright, and un-upholstered seating was still the norm. It took a while before the English finally succumbed and accepted this revolutionary new kind of furniture into their homes.

So let me ask you, do you love your sofa?

Does it envelope your body and invite you to relax at the end of the day, in complete comfort?

Or is it the opposite?

Have the springs and cushions gone flat?

Is the fabric frayed and worn and tired?

If that’s the case, here are my suggestions for remedying the situation. It really boils down to two choices, so here they are:

 

Re-Upholster Your Existing Sofa.

This really only makes sense if the sofa you currently own is of good enough quality to justify the expense.

I say this because re-upholstering your sofa could easily equal the cost of a new one, and the quality may not even be the same.

If your present sofa has ‘good bones’ there’s no need to replace it.

Selecting a new fabric and having the piece re-upholstered, will breathe new life into what you already have.

You will likely be pleasantly surprised and wonder why you didn’t do this sooner.

Plus, by recycling a good piece of furniture you will protect the landfills!

 

Replace the Sofa Entirely

If you paid very little for your sofa when you first purchased it, then it’s time for an upgrade.

If there ever was a time to splurge this is it!

Why is this so important?

Because the inexpensive sofa you purchase today, will likely need to be replaced a few years down the road.

You could spend many years and thousands of dollars replacing an entire series of inexpensive sofas.

Instead, be daring, just like the sofa in its’ heyday.

Focus your attention on quality construction, comfort, and of course style, knowing that this sofa will last well beyond your lifetime, and maybe even those of your children.

If you really want to go all out, pamper yourself with the luxury of a custom design.

Having your sofa customized to fit your body’s size and its’ various quirks, and perfectly sized to fit your room, is the ultimate design experience.

Go on, you’re worth it!