The traditional furniture style will always stay in fashion no matter how the trends change. Elegant, classy and sophisticated, this style has the power to make any room look perfect without much decorating effort.
If you’re one of those people who enjoy playing it safe with this type of interior decor, then surely you’re looking for the right pieces of furniture for your living room. Symmetry and balance is the first thing that people think of when it comes to traditionally decorated living rooms. When thinking about a traditionally decorated living room what immediately comes to mind is a large fireplace, mirrors, classic pieces of furniture such as traditional sofas and armchairs, and grand chandeliers.
When it comes to pieces one can’t omit in any living room, the sofa is inevitable. However, one of the most common decorating mistakes is getting the wrong sofa. Even if you have all the above-mentioned elements of a traditional living room, the wrong sofa will ruin the whole picture. That being said, here are the classic sofa designs that will fit your idea of a perfectly decorated traditional decorated living room.
Chesterfield
The Chesterfield design is immediately recognisable when scanning the wide range of traditional sofas on the market. Mostly made of luxury materials and featuring deep buttoning, a low back and high arms, this classic style was once reserved for gentlemen’s glubs and luxurious British Empire homes.
So how did it become worldly popular? The name Chesterfield was used to describe the sofa-like furniture back in the 1800s. It is said that the style was commissioned by Lord Philip Stanhope, the fourth Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) (hence the sofa’s name). Lord Philip Stanhope was an honoured writer and politician, and one of Britain’s wealthy aristocrats. He was widely known as a trendsetter of his time. His idea was to have a place to seat where he won’t crease his suit. He hired a local craftsman to create a suitable solution. And the final result was this sofa.
In the early 1900s, the Chesterfield sofa became widely associated with psychotherapists rooms. Sigmund Freud was asking his patients to lie on such a sofa and talk about their troubles. With the growing popularity of psychotherapy, the sofa eventually found its way into modern living rooms.
Today, the Chesterfield is a classic look that can be added to your traditional decorated living room without messing up the balance of a minimalist and contemporary style. This design is gorgeous, takes dedication to be made and you can expect it to be on the pricier side. You can pick one in a neutral colour for timeless sophistication, or go for a bolder hue that will instantly add drama to the space.
Camelback
If your choice is opulent traditional sofas that scream luxury, then the camelback design may just take your breath away. This type is recognised for the backrest with a unique silhouette, its exposed wooden legs and exposed wood on top of the back and arms (although this isn’t always the case).
The camelback sofa goes back to the late 1700s. It was a product of the Thomas Chippendale furniture design studios in Great Britain. During the era, English aristocracy adored the Camelback sofa for their homes, mainly because of the expert craftsmanship for which Chippendale was famous. His furniture was crafted in a modified Rococo style.
This is an elegant, light and curvy sofa that oozes class and aristocracy. It’s a great option for living rooms, but also for waiting rooms, studies, or even lush boudoirs.
Mid-Century Modern
The beloved mid-century style is kicking hard today, so no wonder many people decide to decorate their entire home in this design. And best of all, the mid-century sofa designs look and feel amazing. The simple lines and the minimalist elegance can make every room look fresh and as if a designer was helping you decorate it.
The mid-century modern style developed between the 1930s and 1970s. The advances in technology allowed for the creation of new materials. People started appreciating sleek and clean lines made of plastic, vinyl, wool or velvet. Today these same materials, design and colours can fit contemporary homes as well.
Bridgewater
This type is a comfortable and casual sofa with slightly rolled arms to the side, set lower than the back. This design was once known as birch-arm or English three-seater. It was characterized by low, a bit rolled, low set-back arms, padded and loose cushions and tailored skirt that hides the legs. Today you may find designs that show the legs. The great thing is that it can fit various living room styles such as Boho, French provincial, modern and traditional.
Knole
The Knole sofa dates back to 1640. It had a regal purpose – it worked as a double throne chair in which the king and the queen could seat by each other when receiving important guests. The Knole sofa was acquired by the Sackville family which are responsible for its popularity. Charles Sackville was a Lord Chamberlain and Masters of the Great Wardrobe in the royal court of King William and Queen Mary. He would remove any furniture he found to be outdated and add a piece to his liking.
However, some deem Knole’s popularity to be due to the fact that it was perfect for accommodating women’s fashion at the time – wide and big dresses. Others claim that the sofa was placed in the lady of the house’s bedroom (to offer her some privacy with her lover).
If you’re looking for a statement piece that looks regal and powerful and want your living room to be entirely different than what you’re seeing nowadays, then the Knole sofa is the right choice for you.