The name of this site is:
I like the way that sounds. Its alliterative.
But should I properly have named the site Cover the Sofa?
Throughout Cover the Couch’s posts and pages, I have used the words “couch” and “sofa” interchangeably, as if they were synonymous. But are they?
What’s the difference between a couch and a sofa?
What's covered: Definitions The experts weigh in Definitions of other upholstered pieces • Sectional • Loveseat • Settee • Chaise Lounge • Divan • Armchair • Recliner • Wingback Chair • Ottoman and Ottoman Footstool • Pouf
Definitions
Let’s first consult some basic reference materials – the Merriam Webster online dictionary, Wikipedia, and Britannica.com.
Merriam Webster defines the noun couch simply as “an article of furniture for sitting or reclining,” giving its first known use (in this sense) as in the 14th century and tracing its etymological origins to the Middle English word couche (meaning bed). Merriam Webster defines sofa (which only has a noun form, unlike couch which may also be a verb) as a "long upholstered seat usually with arms and a back and often convertible into a bed” giving the first known use of the word "sofa" as in the 17th century and tracing its etymological origins to the Italian sofà, Turkish sofa, and Arabic ṣuffa (meaning carpet or divan). Wikipedia describes a sofa as a type of couch with more than two seats (distinguishing it from a loveseat, which Wikipedia identifies as another type of couch, one designed for seating just two people). Wikipedia further notes that the word “couch” is more commonly used in North America, Australia, South Africa, and Ireland, while the word “sofa” is used more commonly in the United Kingdom and India. Like Wikipedia, Britannica.com describes couch as meaning the same as sofa in modern use, noting, however, that in the past a couch was more of a “long, upholstered seat for reclining, [with] one end sloping and high enough to provide a back rest and headrest.”
When searching Britannica.com for sofa, the online encyclopedia returns “settee,” indicating that a settee is just a sofa by another name and, in both cases, “an upholstered seat with back and arms (sometimes upholstered), designed to accommodate two or more people in a sitting or reclining position.”
So, according to dictionaries and online encyclopedias, it seems I am on fairly solid ground using couch and sofa interchangeably (though sofas may sometimes be distinguished from couches by the presence of arms and a back).
The experts weigh in
What does the modern design industry have to say about the difference between a couch and a sofa?
Southern Living
“[A]t the end of the day, a sofa may just be a more formal idea of a couch.”
Published since 1966, Southern Living is a lifestyle magazine that emphasizes culture, recipes, and home and garden design trends and traditions of the American south.
Southern Living describes the modern-day distinction between a couch and a sofa as largely a matter of informal versus formal.
Noting that technically couches and sofas are different – distinguished historically by whether the piece had arms (sofa) or not (couch) – Southern Living concludes that in modern use the terms are virtually interchangeable with people in the design industry leaning a bit more toward calling a sofa a sofa and denizens of man caves leaning more toward calling it a couch.
MarthaStewart.com
“While couch and sofa are sometimes used synonymously there are a few subtle differences between them.”
Founded by Martha Stewart, MarthaStewart.com is a lifestyle site that provides recipes, beauty advice, and health news; ideas for DIY projects, gardening, and entertaining; and tips for home cleaning and design.
Both couches and sofas, writes MarthaStewart.com, are “upholstered piece[s] of furniture designed for seating multiple people.” But while the site concedes that the terms “couch” and “sofa” are often used interchangeably, MarthaStewart.com points out that there are some differences (albeit subtle):
- Sofas almost always have armrests, while couches may not.
- Sofas often exhibit a more structured design, while couches are more casual.
- Sofas are more formal than couches (because of their structured design) and consequently tend to occupy more formal spaces, like a formal living room. Couches, on the other hand, are more often found in more casual spaces, like a den.
HGTV
“You can search big box stores for ‘couch,’ but all of the search results are going to come back with products described as ‘sofas.’”
Founded in the nineties (and originally named the Home, Lawn, and Garden Channel) Home & Garden Television (known commonly as HGTV) is an American media platform for real estate and home improvement programming and content.
In an article titled, “How to Tell the Difference Between a Sofa and Couch + 3 Things to Consider Before You Buy,” HGTV.com contributing writer, Beth Braden offers observations about the differences between couches and sofas that resemble those of Merriam Webster, Southern Living, and Martha Stewart.
Braden, however, goes on to emphasize that “‘sofa’ is definitely the preferred industry term,” noting that you can try shopping local, big box, or online furniture stores for a couch but all such “article[s] of furniture for sitting or reclining” are going to be called sofas regardless of price point or style.
The Spruce
“[Y]ou should feel free to use whichever word comes most naturally to you.”
Leading online lifestyle brand, The Spruce, echoes all of the above, particularly Martha Stewart and HGTV, emphasizing that within the design industry “sofa” is the term more commonly used and certainly when describing a “more formal piece primarily placed in a living room or family room.”
Conversely the term “couch” is used when describing “a casual, lounge-friendly piece” placed “in a bedroom, office, or library.”
(I love that The Spruce thinks I am going to put my casual couch in my casual library. Truthfully, my Dad actually has a library … but I bet he’s in the minority. Me? I just have books.)
The Spruce concludes that “the terms are commonly accepted as interchangeable by most people” and “you should feel free to use whichever word” feels most natural.
(Thank you, The Spruce. I will.)
Definitions of other upholstered pieces
Now that we have a better understanding of the differences between a couch and a sofa, such as they are, let’s consider a few other pieces of upholstered furniture.
Here’s a short list of common (and also a few less common) pieces.
Sectional
While a traditional couch is one piece, a sectional sofa consist of two or more pieces joined together. These pieces – which might include a combination of one-armed or armless sofas, loveseats, and chairs, floating ottomans, corner pieces, and consoles – can be variously arranged allowing for a different configurations.
Sectional sofas are well-suited to larger spaces. If couches are for comfort, these upholstered pieces are for comfort on hyper-drive.
Loveseat
Like a couch, but smaller. Though loveseats do come in a range of sizes, these upholstered pieces are designed to comfortably seat two people at most.
A form of loveseat known as a “kissing bench” became popular in the 19th century as a piece of furniture on which two persons could sit and converse intimately while still retaining the Victorian era’s requisite modesty.
Settee
We actually already mentioned settee above which, according to Britannica.com, is just another name for “sofa.”
The Spruce distinguishes between settees and sofas, however, observing that settees are generally smaller than sofas, sit on raised legs, have high backs, and are not meant for lounging, and quotes designer Malka Helft, who helpfully suggests to think of a settee as “’sofa meets bench!’”
That’s a good visual.
Chaise Lounge
A chaise lounge is a long chair that allows you to stretch out your legs without needing an ottoman.
Who knew (not me!) that the Anglicized “chaise lounge” is a total revamp of the French “chaise longue” meaning "long chair" (and not lounge chair). Apparently, in the 18th century, when English speakers brought this new style of sofa over from France, they altered the name (or so sayeth Wikipedia).
And why not? The letters in “longue” and “lounge” are the same, after all. Just move them around a bit.
Plus, one can certainly lounge on a chaise longue.
Divan
Divans are essentially a couch without a back.
This upholstered piece of furniture is best recognized as the stereotypical “couch” on which a psychiatric patient lies while telling his or her story to his or her therapist.
Armchair
This upholstered piece is simply a chair with armrests, a part of the chair on which a person can rest their arms.
You have to admire the autological naming of furniture. (The focus of this site, slipcovers, are autologically named too!)
Recliner
Referring to an armchair, or even an entire sofa, a recliner is an upholstered piece that may be tilted backward or reclined. In addition to leaning back, recliners often include an extendable footrest that allows occupants to elevate their feet.
According to Wikipedia, the first recliner was owned by Napoleon III (the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte) who was both the first president (1848 – 1852) and last monarch (1852 – 1870) of France.
Wingback Chair
These are high-backed upholstered chairs (often with exposed wooden legs) that feature side panels or wings. These wings – which typically, but not always, stretch down to an armrest – were intended, originally, to funnel the heat from a fireplace toward the chair’s occupant or to protect the chair’s occupant from drafts.
Clever.
The basic design of wingback chairs has remained unchanged since they were introduced in England in the 1600s.
Ottoman and Ottoman Footstool
Originally describing a low wooden platform piled with cushions, which originated in the Ottoman Empire of Turkey (where it served as important residential seating), the ottoman is an armless, backless piece of upholstered furniture.
Its close cousin, the ottoman footstool, is a four-legged upholstered footstool often sold with couches and armchairs as a coordinating piece.
Both now are typically simply referred to as ottomans.
Pouf
As couch is to sofa, pouf is to ottoman (ottoman footstool, to be precise).
Ottomans typically have four legs and a firm and tailored construction, which is stable enough to allow them to serve as coffee tables.
Poufs, on the other hand, while still offering a place to rest your feet, are typically pillowy and legless.
I think its fair to conclude that the terms “couch” and “sofa,” while having somewhat different origins and meanings, can safely be used interchangeably.
And while those in the design industry may be sensitive to the spectrum of formality occupied on one end by couch and the other by settee, so long as you and I remember to search for sofas (and not couches) when furniture shopping, we can otherwise refer to this upholstered furniture as we like.
Know something interesting about your favorite piece of upholstered furniture?
Please share your insights (and definitely any cool trivia) in the comments below!