It feels like every day there’s a different name for a new type of sofa. From sectionals and recliners to chaises and swivels, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. In this article, we’ll discuss the different sofa types (and chairs), sectionals vs. sofas, and what configuration is best for your application.
Types of Sofas
Below are names, brief descriptions, and images of several of the most common sofa and living room seating types:
Sofas: Here’s your average sofa, for those who believe, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” You simply can’t go wrong here.
Sectional sofas: Perfect for large parties or sprawling out on your day off. You can add, remove, or rearrange different sections of it to make it your own.
Loveseats: What is commonly believed to be a seat made for two, it was actually designed in the late 17th century as a chair that would fit the elaborately large dresses of the time. But you can believe what you want.
Accent chairs: Sit on it, or don’t — that’s not the point of an accent chair. The best part of these chairs is that they don’t even have to match the rest of the room.
The Reclining Sofa: Uniting comfort and communion in one furniture piece. Sit back and relax with your family and friends as they do the same with you.
Recliners: Who said recliners were for grandpa? You can sit up and watch TV or kick back and take a quick cat nap with the pull of a lever.
Sleeper Sofas: Perfect for sitting on and sleeping on, sleeper sofas (or sofabeds) are great for guests or yourself in smaller homes and apartments.
Chaises: For the dramatic moments in life, fall back into this chaise and let the chair do the talking
“When you have a quality mattress, great sheets, and a good duvet with the perfect fill, it all works together to give you the perfect sleep.”
“What wood is the best for furniture?” As you likely know if you’re in the process of furnishing your home, this isn’t as simple of a question as it seems at first glance. The answer is dependent on your budget and expected usage. In addition to the wood type and quality used in a furniture piece, the process used to create the piece is another factor that greatly impacts the quality-level of the wood furniture you are considering.
This guide gives an overview on the types of woods used in furniture, the furniture-making process, and how different furniture woods affect price and quality.
Furniture Woods
Wood is the basic raw element used to construct furniture. Wood furniture begins with the raw materials used. Before getting into a discussion about wood quality, let’s look at the types of wood that is used to make furniture.
Types of wood for furniture
There are two primary types of wood materials: solid wood, which includes both hardwoods and softwoods; and manufactured wood, which is an engineered material that is often a composite of real wood and synthetic materials. Below are the basics of solid wood and engineered wood:
Solid wood for furniture-making
Solid wood is wood that comes purely from lumber and is, therefore, a direct product of a tree. There are two types of real wood used in furniture-making: hardwood and softwood. Below are their descriptions:
Hardwoods used in furniture
Hardwood is denser than softwood. Hardwood lumber comes from deciduous trees that generally grow more slowly. As you may have already noticed, the wood types that are seen most in high-quality wooden furniture are all from the hardwood family. The hardwood list below contains many of the common hardwoods used in furniture making:
Oak
Hickory
Teak
Maple
Beech
Walnut
Mahogany
Softwoods used in furniture
Less dense than its hardwood cousin, softwood generally comes from coniferous (or evergreen) trees that grow more quickly. The softwood list below contains many of the common softwoods used in furniture making:
Spruce
Pine
Fur
Engineered wood furniture
Although they aren’t solid woods, engineered or manufactured woods contain various types of wood and are also used in wood furniture making.
Manufactured wood types
Plywood: Considered the original engineered wood, is made by taking 3-5 slices of thin lumber and combining them with adhesive.
Particleboard: Often referred to as fiberboard, particleboard is made by using a wood-chipper to break down lumber into tiny fibers and gluing them together with adhesive.
