Your sofa isn’t just another piece of furniture—it’s the heart of your living space. It’s where conversations unfold, memories are made, and your personal aesthetic truly comes to life. At DōMA Home Furnishings, we understand that choosing a sofa is not simply a practical decision—it’s a lifestyle choice. With hundreds of design-forward options at your fingertips, the journey to your ideal sofa can feel overwhelming. Consider this your compass.
Here’s what you need to know to choose a sofa that fits your space, your style, and your way of living. First lets list off some of the most popular styles for sofas:
A Curated Look at the Most Popular Sofa Styles
From tailored classics to adaptive contemporary silhouettes, today’s sofas offer a stunning range of forms that go beyond function—they set the tone for your entire space. Here’s an edited guide to the essential sofa styles that define interior living today:
1. Classic 2 or 3-Seater
Streamlined. Balanced. Adaptable.
This go-anywhere silhouette fits a wide variety of rooms and styles. With its familiar proportions and straightforward layout, the three-seater is the archetype of comfort—effortlessly stylish, yet universally practical.
Best Suited For: Everyday lounges, transitional spaces, minimalist setups.
2. Sectional
Expansive. Configurable. Commanding.
Sectionals redefine comfort with their generous scale and modular potential. Often composed of multiple segments—like chaises, corner units, or ottomans—they’re ideal for creating flow and delineating zones in open-plan living.
Best Suited For: Large-scale rooms, open floor plans, family living.
3. Sleeper Sofa / Convertible
Transformative. Sleek. Dual-Purpose
These cleverly engineered pieces shift from seating to sleeping in moments. Today’s sleeper designs have moved far beyond bulky pull-outs—they’re sophisticated, streamlined, and made to integrate seamlessly into your decor.
Best Suited For: Multipurpose guest rooms, compact apartments, stylish hospitality.
4. Power Reclining Sofa
Relaxation-Driven. Intuitive. Contemporary.
Tech-forward yet tastefully understated, power reclining sofas feature smooth, motorized adjustments concealed beneath clean lines. Think personalized support with elevated design—especially when upholstered in top-grain leathers or high-performance fabrics. Overall design and how extensive the reclining mechanisms will ultimately determine the final price on the piece. Also consider how accessible you are to an outlet to determine if you can have a direct plug or have the recliner battery powered.
Best Suited For: relaxed luxury living
Now that we have a small understanding of the different sofas that could possibly work for your space now you must ask yourself these questions. Or if you’re working with one of our great designers they will ask you these questions to make sure you get something perfect for your needs.
1. Start With the Space
Before falling in love with that plush velvet sectional or buttery leather loveseat, assess your layout. Are you furnishing a sun-drenched condo, a small cozy space, or a grand open-concept living room? The scale of your room should dictate the scale of your sofa.
- Smaller Spaces: Opt for clean-lined silhouettes or modular sectionals with open bases.
- Larger Rooms: Embrace generous proportions. A deep, low-profile sectional from Huppé or something stylish from Palliser makes for an impressive anchor.
Big room? Big style. The Tabor sectional by Palliser shown below is built to impress—and with clearance pricing and fast availability, it might just be in your living room by the end of the weekend!
Pro Tip: Use painter’s tape to outline the sofa’s footprint on your floor to get a realistic sense of scale.
2. Consider How You Live
Your sofa should fit your lifestyle just as much as your space. Ask yourself: How do you really use your living room?
- Busy, Everyday Living?
If you have kids, pets, or love movie nights, choose a sofa made with durable fabrics and sturdy frames. Look for performance materials that are easy to clean but still stylish. American Leather and Palliser are great go-to’s for comfort that lasts.
- More for Looks & Lounging?
If your space is more for hosting or showing off your style, you can go bold. Choose a unique shape, modern legs, or luxurious fabrics. Brands like Huppé and Calligaris offer designer pieces that make a statement.
Your sofa should work for the way you live—whether that’s cozy and casual or sleek and sophisticated.
3. Fabric vs. Leather: What’s Right for You?
This comes down to lifestyle, touch preference, and look.
- Leather: Ideal for sleek, tailored looks and easy maintenance. Our Ekornes/Stressless options provide comfort.. Looking for a sofa that feels as good as it looks? The Emily by Stressless/Ekornes delivers European style with soft leather that’s as inviting as it is beautiful. And for high traffic pieces, consider a fully protected leather. As a replacement for an unprotected or waxed leather which tends to show wear and is not as forgiving as a moderate or truly protected leather.
- Fabric: More textural, often cozier, and often allows for bolder color exploration. Choose high-performance options for durability without sacrificing elegance..
For a luxurious hybrid experience, consider sofas that blend materials—such as wood arm accents or metal bases. Or you could even combine Leather and Fabric to make a two tone look.
4. Don’t Forget the Details
The beauty is in the details—contrast stitching, custom leg finishes, cushion fill options. These subtle additions make your sofa uniquely yours.
At DōMA, we offer fully customizable sofas, from arm styles to cushion firmness to different fill options. Our design team works one-on-one with clients to refine every last detail. The result? A sofa that feels tailor-made for your life—and your living room.
5. Sit. Feel. Live.
Online images are lovely, but nothing replaces the in-person experience of sitting on a sofa. Feel the cushions. Test the depth. Recline. Lounge. Dream.
Visit any of our showrooms, where you’ll find not only our extensive inventory, but dedicated design experts ready to help you craft a space that feels curated and entirely your own. From iconic brands like American Leather, Dellarobbia, Bracci, Lazar, and Stressless,and so much more! Come in to find the sofa of your dreams!
And to make sure you get the right sofa for you. Sign up for a consultation from one of our great Designers here!
