Once in a while, an interiors shift comes along that feels nothing short of seismic. Forget notoriously capricious color trends – these are ideas that speak to wider notions about the way we live, work and decorate.
A case in point? Curves.
Just as arched windows and doorways appeared in architecture projects everywhere, furniture has been embracing a softer, squishier aesthetic. Organic, sensual and wonderfully nurturing, it's little wonder that these curvy lines have lingered on in the design zeitgeist. Has a right angle ever felt so wrong?
Top designers are turning to curved sofas in living rooms in increasing numbers. "The best part about choosing a curved sofa is how easily they float in a space," says Tara Marshall of Fort Architecture.
To have one yourself, first secure the square footage. "Curved furniture takes up space a bit differently than a conventional sofa or sectional," explains Jamie Hewitt, who used one in a refresh of a cabin you'll see below. "Make sure you measure the area you have to work with and simulate the shape beforehand to see if the space allows enough room for the piece to fit properly. Because the curves are seemingly more bulky, you may be surprised at how much larger it is once it's in."
We've hand-picked ten rooms that utilise a curved sofa brilliantly, and asked their designers for a few pointers on positioning and pairing with other living room furniture.
10 clever ways with curved sofas
1. Pair a curved design with other rounded shapes
Living room by Stéphan Bidoux & Julien Villeneuve
There's hardly a hard line to be found in this Paris apartment – a collaboration between designers Stéphan Bidoux and Julien Villeneuve – bar the beamed threshold that separates this chic living room from a home office.
"The shape of a curved sofa is softer and less formal," explains Julien, who says this elegant white modular sofa, upholstered in a cosy wool bouclé, was designed as a bespoke piece for the project. "This kind of sofa also drives you to choose other round pieces, like the coffee table or the lounge chairs in this room." Note how even the artwork mirrors the same organic shapes – this is a sofa trend that sets the agenda for the whole rest of the scheme.
There's something to be said for supersizing, too. "The idea was to create an enveloping environment where all the family can sit together," he adds.
2. Utilize the dead space behind a curved sofa
Living room by Chused & Co
A curved sofa is a smart solution for townhouses, which have long, rectangular rooms that are "notoriously tricky to furnish" says Jenna Chused, the founder of New York interior design firm Chused & Co. "In this particular room, we also had the extra challenge of an off-centered fireplace and a doorway that landed into the front seating area. This gorgeous serpentine sofa turned up in an auction, and I grabbed it."
Clocking the newly-created gap at the back, she came up with a way to free up precious mug-and-magazine space on the side and coffee table. "I designed a custom curved table to fit perfectly behind and hug the sofa's curves, which allowed me to place lighting behind the sofa and created an area that felt more considered as I pushed the sofa back into the corner. The result is a more inviting open seating area that felt welcoming and sat twice as many people as a standard sofa."
3. Soften compact spaces with a sweeping curve
Snug by Studio DB
While we seemed to have reached a consensus that a snug is the best use for an awkward box room, few are so appealing as this space designed by Studio DB.
There's more than meets the eye to the elegant sweep of the sofa. A rectangular design wouldn't make effective use of the limited square footage, but the sofa dimensions of a standard L-shape would encroach too much. The answer then, is this custom piece, which utilises a precise silhouette to balance the room brilliantly. Note the straight back – here where space is tight, it makes sense for the sofa to hug the corners of the room. The round cushions help soften those sharper angles.
Much like those forest green walls and ceiling, the design brings a cocooning, indulgent feel to what could easily be an uninspiring small bedroom or home office, all without sacrificing on features like the fireplace.
4. Break up an open plan area
Living area by Lilla Norr
A louche vintage design was just the thing for Ashley and Jamie Hewitt, who have smartly used its curve to create a boundary between different zones at Lilla Norr, their Scandinavian A-frame house in the northwoods of Minnesota.
"This vintage 1980s sofa breaks up the floorplan to define the rooms – where the open-plan kitchen ends and the living room begins," explains Jamie. "A modern sectional would've been too uniform with sharp 90 degree angles, whereas this sofa is more welcoming in the space with its U-shaped curve."
It certainly ticks some important boxes. "It allows for conversations in groups when seated, space for relaxation and stretching out for movie viewing, and it really offers the best seat in the house from any angle. The shape hugs the travertine stone coffee table, allowing access to a nearby surface."
5. Swap in for a hallway bench
Entryway by Barrie Benson
"Foyers can be so tricky and formal," laments Barrie Benson, the founder of her eponymous North Carolina-based interior design studio.
Her solution? A 1950s Roche Bobois couch, upholstered in a gorgeous burnt orange, which offers shoelace-tying practicality where a utilitarian bench wouldn't do justice to this Georgian home's entryway. "While this one certainly makes a stylish statement, it’s also a fun design element which reflects the personality of our fun-loving clients."
It's also about increasing linger time in an area of the home that's certainly earned it. "I hate the thought of not using a beautiful room for function. This semi-round is adjacent to the library lounge and is perfect for overflow seating."
6. Bring a curved sofa into a busy room
Living room by Cat Dal Interiors
There are plenty of features that could fight for attention in this living room by Cat Dal Interiors, from the painterly wallpaper to the contemporary glass chandelier.
Instead, the curved sofa – even upholstered in a rich emerald green velvet – offsets some of the inherent drama by bringing a softer, more organic shape into a space where color and texture are hardly in short supply. Dressed with a couple of pillows, it looks right at home in this space which embodies eclectic style.
It's also a perfect foil to the sharper lines of the fireplace, area rug and Crittall doors, which sequester this characterful sitting room from the entryway while allowing light through.
7. Improve flow in a high-traffic area
Bedroom by Charles & Co
Anyone who has entered a room only to be abruptly faced with the back of a sofa or side of a wardrobe knows that a good layout is key to creating an elegant living room and comfortable home. An unexpected benefit of a curved sofa? No more skirting around a sharp corner (or mystery bruises at knee-height).
"A curved design helps a floorplan when you need to position it in a place that is passed around often," says Vicky Charles, the co-founder of New York interior design firm Charles & Co. "The lack of corners make it softer".
She's a big advocate for bringing a curved sofa into a bedroom, as organic lines lend themselves to comfort and restfulness. "It's kind of like a hug."
8. Use curves to create intimacy in a seating area
Living room by Kimille Taylor
Tracing the curve of a circular rug, this slender sofa forms one side of a well-planned seating zone. "This classic Vladimir Kagan curved sofa has a delicate midcentury scale that was perfect for creating an intimate moment in the smaller half of the double living room," says interior designer Kimille Taylor, who describes it as a "super sexy" piece of furniture.
Where a standard sectional sofa would create an awkward intersection with the area rug and likely block a little more of the painting (spot the curvy shapes here too), the rounded design suggests a sense of visual continuity. The slimmer back creates a gentler stepped transition to the floor.
The sofa also had to do a decent job of drawing guests into this second seating area, says Taylor. "It creates a dynamic moment in the room that makes you go ooooh – I want to sit there!"
9. Conquer awkward corners and angles
Living room by Fort Architecture
"We were so excited when a client showed us a picture of a classic channel tufted sofa that she loved," says Tara Marshall, a principal architect and interior designer at Fort Architecture.
"The unusual angles of this space required us to think outside the box of the standard sofa layout. When dealing with awkward corners or large spaces you can really float this furniture piece like an island. Because there are no sharp edges, it doesn't necessarily feel like it has to align with walls and changing angles." It holds its own in this striking midcentury space, where slighter furniture might be swallowed up by that soaring wood-panelled ceiling.
"We love how it adds a very organic modern, softened form into a room full of angular shapes," she adds.
10. Place two sofas opposite each other
We've always said that those suspicious of rapid-fire trends should look to designers' own homes for inspiration – that's where you'll see tried-and-tested layouts that the experts are happy to live with everyday.
So to the home of Dara Huang, where you'll find not one but two sinuous sofas in the living room. "A curved sofa just looks more elegant in the space," suggests the American architect and designer. "I especially like to put them facing each other. A symmetrical layout can make the room look more grounded.”
Is a curved sofa a good idea? This would definitely suggest that yes, it is. A naturally sociable set-up, it's a smart approach for larger living rooms, with greater wall space not given over to radiators, doorways and fireplaces. Try a round coffee table that replicates the curve of the sofas to tie it all together.
The best curved sofas to buy now
As for where's the best place to buy a couch, these three should start you off perfectly.
Don't worry, it may be white but it's upholstered in stain-resistant fabric to keep it looking box fresh.
As snaky as its name suggests, this seductive sofa arches across your living room layout smoothly.
Yes, you read that right, Walmart does a cool curved sofa. A sectional that looks totally organic.
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