From sofa to settee to couch, there’s a lot of names for the heart of our homes. We return from work to perch upon it, and we spend our lazy Sundays camped out there – so what is the difference between sofa, settee and couch? We’re here to discover the differences between the three and explore where their different origins.
What is a Sofa?
Starting strong, the sofa is a term primarily used in the UK – take sofa.com! A sofa is defined as an upholstered bench or seat featuring arms and a back, allowing people to sit comfortably. This is the most common word used nowadays to describe the comfy piece of furniture we all relax on in the living room.
What is a Settee?
The difference between a sofa and a settee is practically non-existent. Some say sofa, some say settee! However, there are some interesting roots to the settee. The settee originated in the Middle Ages, and whilst it had a design more similar to the sofa as we know it, was typically made from wood, and typically featuring an elegant and intricately carved back. Upholstery was not included in original settees, and were added during the middle ages for comfort.
What is a Couch?
Across the pond, ‘couch’ is a much more popular way to describe a sofa. The couch originated in French interior design in the 17th century, and consisted of a lounge seat with supports at both ends, but with no back support, unlike a sofa as we know it today. Instead, a couch was very similar to a traditional daybed or chaise longue.
Sofa, Couch or Settee: Which is the Correct Word?
Is there a correct word between sofa, couch or settee? The short answer is no. But, in modern day terms, sofa is the most popular word used to describe that big, comfy piece of furniture in your living room, but the words couch and settee do mean the same thing, and are certainly interchangeable today. Back in the 1950s, the author Nancy Mitford wrote a guide to words that were suitable for the aspiring upper class, and words that were used by the aspiring middle class. According to Mitford, the upper class tended to use simpler terms, similar to the working classes, whilst the aspiring middle class would opt for more pretentious language. In terms of sofa, Mitford suggested that ‘sofa’ was the correct term, whilst ‘couch’ and ‘settee’ were the more pompous terms used by the aspiring middle class.
Where Does the Word Sofa Come From?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word ‘sofa’ originates in the eastern Mediterranean with the Arabic soffah, which is ‘a part of the floor raised a foot or two, covered with rich carpets and cushions, and used for sitting upon’.
In 1625, Samuel Purchas was the first person to write about a sofa, which he noted during his travels to Arabia, calling it a ‘sofa’, whilst in 1637 Sir George Courthop described a ‘sopha’ as a place raised about a foot to sit on.
In the 17th century, the sofa as we know it came to England from France and became a popular piece of furniture in homes of the wealthy, and by the 19th century the spelling had been settled on – it was officially a sofa!
Where Does the Word Couch Come From?
The word couch originates from the French verb ‘coucher’, meaning to lie down – very fitting! However, the couch evolved from a day bed to, what we know it for today, as a place to sit.
Where Does the Word Settee Come From?
An old English term, ‘setl’ referred to a long wooden bench with a back, as we mentioned earlier. The ‘setl’ transformed into the settee, a slightly smaller, more decorative and upholstered seat.
Different Types of Sofas
So now we know, the super comfy piece of furniture in your living room is called a sofa! But what type of sofa do you have? From the standard sofa, to chaise sofas and corner sofas, there is still plenty of variation!
Standard Sofa
The standard sofa comes in a wide range of different styles and sizes – here at sofa.com we have 2 seat sofas, 2.5 seat sofas, 3 seat sofas and even some 4 seat sofas.
Chaise Sofa
A chaise sofa consists of a standard sofa, but with an extended seat cushion and extra legs on one side of the sofa, allowing you to put your feet up and stretch out in style.
Corner Sofa
A corner sofa is the perfect choice for busy homes and larger households! A corner sofa tends to consist of two sofa sections that are joined together at a right angle, allowing the whole family to sit down together to relax for a movie night or spend the afternoon together.
Sofa Bed
Sofa beds are the perfect choice for those with limited space, or if you are partial to sleepovers! A sofa at first glance, our sofa beds are equipped with smooth and seamless mechanisms, turning your sofa into a bed in seconds. With a choice of foam or spring, you can customise your sofa bed to your personal preferences.
Loveseat
While we use the term loveseat today to describe a cross between an armchair and a sofa, a seat that would accommodate 2 people at a stretch, or one person with plenty of room, the term loveseat was originally used to describe a seat that comfortably sat two people. Whilst the name suggests an element of match-making, the loveseat was originally designed for ladies to be able to sit comfortably whilst wearing wide dresses.
Chesterfield
The Chesterfield is a name that many Canadians still use to describe any type of sofa, but here in the UK the term is mainly used to describe a large, overstuffed, button tufted sofa, often upholstered in leather and reminiscent of the sofas you’d find within gentlemen’s clubs in Victorian London. Our Patrick sofa is a great example of a refined version of the classic chesterfield sofa, with a deep button tufted back and comfy seat cushions.
How to Choose a Sofa Type
Choosing the perfect sofa for you can be a long process, dependant on your space, needs and personal style. You must also consider the size, comfort, design and colour that you are looking for. However, this process can be made a lot simpler with the tips and tricks of our experts! Head to our Inspiration Corner for more advice, such as our exploration of the most comfortable sofas, or order your free fabric samples and get one step closer to finding the one with sofa.com.
So, there you have it! By learning about the origins of the sofa, settee and couch, you can begin to understand why each name is still bandied around to this day. To find your perfect sofa, settee or couch, shop our entire handmade to order range today, customisable in over 100 fabrics!
