The sofa

A sofa is a chair for two or more. It grew out of the bench, with a back, arms and padding added, and it moved into the living room when homes got one.

The frame decides how long it lasts. Solid wood and honest joinery hold for decades. Padding and covers wear first, so choose ones that can be replaced or re-covered.

• Depth: a deep seat suits lounging, a shallow one suits sitting up.
• Arms: low arms make it easy to stretch out, high arms give you something to lean on.
• Back: a high back supports the shoulders and the head.