The sofa is an essential piece of furniture that nearly every modern house around the world contains. Ask yourself – when was the last time that you visited a housed that didn’t have a sofa? Maybe you can’t even remember!

It originated in the time of the Renaissance period and back then they were quite simple, consisting of just of a wooden framework upholstered with leather. Nowadays however, they are more often than not a much fancier affair. They come with padding and spring cushions and, in addition to being upholstered in leather, a variety of other textiles can also be chosen from, such as linen, rayon, or even cotton.

There are various types of sofas for you to choose from. There is the British loveseat, which is meant for two people. There is the settee, which can typically accommodates three people, though settees for five can be found. There is the divan, which is has just a partial back rest, or even no back rest at all.

There is the chaise lounge, which one arm rested sofa that is longer than normal. There is the canape, which is a three seater than ranks looks over comfort. There is the ottoman, which is often mistakenly not called a sofa at all due to its lack of a back rest and arm rests.

You can also have sectional sofas, which are a pretty modern concept. Sectional sofas consist of two or three sections that come together to form a complete sofa.

The combinations that you can mix and match seem almost endless. You could go in for simple sofa padded with foam or cotton and upholstered with linen or, if you are in the mood for spending quite a bit, then you could go for a plush sofa with leather upholstery and spring cushions. Prices can get expensive at the top end but even on a tight budget you will still have thousands of options available to you.

Most people would agree though, that the key characteristic of a sofa should be the kind of comfort it provides to the person who sits on it. Afterall, what else will it be used for!