Brilliant Solution: The Curved Sofa
See how a curved sofa can enhance conversation, solve decorating dilemmas, and create a more welcoming room
One of the best things I ever bought for my own home is my curved sofa. My favorite thing about it is that five people can sit on it at once and talk comfortably without having to lean forward to see past each other. Brilliant! Not only do curved sofas provide a comfortable conversation area, but they can solve some snarly design dilemmas, too.
Curved sofas are so useful for defining an area — without necessarily making it feel divided. In this combined kitchen, dining and family room, the curved sofa helps to break up the long narrow room and define the family-room portion.
From the kitchen you can see that the curved sofa gives everyone a view of the fireplace, the TV and the outdoors.
When you need to float the sofa away from the wall, there is something a little more friendly about the back of a curved sofa. A straight sofa tends to visually create a barrier like a line in the sand. But the sweeping curve here just feels sculptural.
A curved sofa can also be a boon when arranging furniture to create space for circulation. A straight sofa here would have been very difficult to place and would have blocked the smooth flow of the path through the room.
A curved sofa can also be a boon when arranging furniture to create space for circulation. A straight sofa here would have been very difficult to place and would have blocked the smooth flow of the path through the room.
If you have a round room, what else would you put in there but a curved sofa? Now, I know that not many people have round rooms in their homes. This living room is pretty custom. But I am seeing a surprising number of homes that have a curved accent wall somewhere in the home. Consider using a curved sofa, loveseat or bench next to it.
This room is not round, but the unique oval display cabinets add a strong "curve" theme to the space. A curved sofa can echo curves found in the other pieces in the room. The circular area rug and coffee table strengthen the look.
This circular lit soffit just begs for something unique underneath it. The nearly semi-circle sofa echoes the shape beautifully, creating balance above and below.
If you use a curved sofa, you might need to curve another thing or two. It can be tough — make that nearly impossible — to find console tables or side tables that will conform to the curves of your sofa. Here, that problem was solved by building in a curved shelf along the back and side of the sofa. A beautiful idea.
Do you have a big bay window? These twin curved sofas nestled into these side-by-side bay windows provide a beautiful solution that highlights this architectural feature.
I love the way this custom sofa/bench slithers in and out of the giant support columns. If you live in a high-rise building with big columns like this, now you know how to work around them.
Sometimes a good reason for a curved sofa is simply to soften a room that is otherwise filled with straight lines and angles.
When it comes to an asymmetrical room or one with odd angles, a curved sofa is my secret weapon. It's amazing how much easier it becomes to place furniture in a room like this when the 90-degree corner of a sofa isn't there to fight with wider or narrower angles in the room.
This fireplace is not centered on the far wall of this room. The sweep of this curved sofa allows it to fill in the wider area to one side and maintain the overall sense of balance in the space.
Sometimes a curved sofa can just be for fun. What a great spot this would be for a party!
And then, sometimes a curved sofa simply creates a luscious and sensuous look.
Do you have a space that might work better with a curved sofa?
More: 6 Ways to Float a Sofa
How to Arrange Furniture in a Long, Narrow Room
A Study in the Classics: The Chesterfield Sofa
Browse sofas in the Products section
Do you have a space that might work better with a curved sofa?
More: 6 Ways to Float a Sofa
How to Arrange Furniture in a Long, Narrow Room
A Study in the Classics: The Chesterfield Sofa
Browse sofas in the Products section
Sponsored