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59 of the best designer sofas to invest in now
Three-seater or two-seater? Classic or maximalist? Cosy or cutting-edge? Find your new dream sofa
Be honest, it’s probably the place you spend the majority of your waking time at home. It’s also the piece of furniture that people spend perhaps the most hours (/days/months...) deciding on.
Do you want a sofa that makes a real design statement? A classic piece that will never go out of fashion? A timeless reissued icon that has long had pride of place on your Pinterest board?
Whatever the answer to these questions, we have the right sofa for your space. All you need to do now is put your feet up, sit back and scroll…
‘Amanta’ sofa by Mario Bellini for Hay
Originally designed in 1966, the ‘Amanta’ sofa was catnip for interior aesthetes, quickly becoming something of a rare treasure to get hold of. That’s all changed now thanks to Hay, which has re-issued the classic with an updated shell made from 99 per cent post-consumer recycled electronic waste. £3,450, hay.com
‘Roger’ sofa by Andrea Parisio, Meridiani
If there was a sofa that says ‘warm hug’ it would be Meridiani’s ‘Roger’. All soft edges, generously sized seat cushions and enveloping arms, it is made for movie nights and afmily gatherings. £5,770, meridiani.it
‘Flap’ sofa by Francesco for Edra
Versatility is the name of the game for ‘Flap’, a piece by artist and longstanding Edra collaborator Francecso Binfaré. The nine backrests can be reclined at six different angles, allowing for full horizontal relaxing (ideal for afternoon naps) as well as sitting upright. Price on application, edra.com
‘Diesis’ dormeuse by Antonio Citterio and Paolo Nava for B&B Italia
Antonio Citterio and Paolo Nava designed this sofa over four decades ago, though you would be forgiven for thinking it was created this year. It’s defined by its slender metal structure and extra pillowy cushions, and can be upholstered in a choice of leather or fabric. £5,841, bebitalia.com
Minotti, Saki sofa by Nendo for Minotti
Flowers in bloom were the inspiration behind the ‘Saki’ sofa, which has an undulating form. Thoughtful details including piping around its perimeter and curved aluminium feet make it a sophisticated addition to the living room. £15,183, minotti.com
‘Ernest’ sofa by Jean-Marie Massaud for Poliform
There are countless configurations you could employ for the modular ‘Ernest’ sofa, from modern L-shaped options to a linear style with deconstructed volumes (as shown). £7,060, poliform.it
‘Dune Diwan’ system by UNStudio for Poltrona Frau
Middle Eastern Majlis – sitting places where community groups gather – were the inspiration for the ‘Dune Diwan’. More of a seating system than a sofa, it is composed of several upholstered modules, which can be used individually or stacked. Price on application, poltronfrau.com
‘Joel’ sofa by Marco Acerbis for Turri
Architect and a winner of the ADI Compasso d’Oro award, Marco Acerbis, designed this sofa to complement the similarly comfortable bed from the same ‘Joel’ family of furniture. Like every piece in the collection, the contrast between the fabric and the leather provides visual intrigue and a contemporary edge. £12320, turri.it
‘Treboli’ sofa by Jaime Hayon for Arflex
Reminiscent of old cinema seating, this sofa screams 1970s glamour. It’s full of clever details including four-leaf clover-shaped legs and rounded arms. Price on application, hayonstudio.com
‘Camelot’ sofa, Flexform
Antonio Citterio’s ‘Camelot’ features a barely there frame that allows the plumpness of its goose-down padded seat and back cushions, complete with elegant contrast stitching, to be shown off to full effect. From £30,175, flexform.it
‘Gruuve’ sofa, Moroso
Patricia Urquiola’s design for ‘Gruuve’ – an extension to her armchair that was an early nod to the modern love for 1970s forms – adds dynamism to any living room, thanks to its continuous lines and rounded edges. From approx £7,520, moroso.it
‘Canto’ sofa, Sancal
Trust rebellious brand Sancal to release one of the most playful sofas of the year. For ‘Canto’, it enlisted quirky Valencian studio Mut Design to create a modular system that is billed as ‘a lesson in geometry’. From £3,780, sancal.com
‘Lorentz’ sofa, Living Divani
Smartly designed to incorporate a table in its middle and a side table along its arms, ‘Lorentz’ by David Lopez Quincoces meets all your living-room-furniture needs, as it can be tailored to suit your space. Approx £20,490, livingdivani.it
‘Pylon’ sofa, Sedilia
Handmade (right down to its individual springs) in Sedilia’s London workshop, ‘Pylon’ takes notes from the simple shapes found in ancient-Egyptian architecture, with an interlocking blocky design that tapers up from its wide feet. £18,066, sedilia.com
‘Aura’ sofa, Baxter
Milan-based designer Hannes Peer looked to California for the inspiration behind this leather sofa, the ‘Aura’. Its seat cushions rest on a slightly raised metal platform that extends to also function as a tabletop. From approx £16,655, baxter.it
‘Dambodue’ sofa, B&B Italia
The ‘Dambodue’ sofa may appear all straight lines, but is unexpectedly comfortable thanks to designer Piero Lissoni’s careful consideration of functionality. It’s our favourite of his ‘Dambo’ sofa family to date. From £11,383, bebitalia.com
‘Conversation’ sofa, Roche Bobois
As its name suggests, Philippe Bouix’s modular ‘Conversation’ sofa for Roche Bobois is intended to prompt discussion and interaction between sitters – consider it an easier-to-achieve version of the conversation pit. £5,890, roche-bobois.com
‘Orbis’ sofa, Poliform
Emmanuel Gallina’s ‘Orbis’ seems tailor-made for spending evenings catching up with friends. With its embracing curved lines, it invites conversation and provides a cosy space within the living room. From approx £5,720, poliform.it
‘DS-909 Flow’ sofa, Desede
Created for modern-day living, in which the TV is no longer the focus and working from the sofa isacceptable, the ‘DS-909 Flow’ by Yonoh Creative Studio allows the backrests to be positioned for a bespoke setup. From approx £26,020, desede.ch
‘Haven’ sofa, King Living
Comfort is central to King Living’s new ‘Haven’. Each part – from armrests to backrests – can be adjusted, while you can change the orientation or add modules to create a lounging space to fill even the biggest room. From £2,690, kingliving.co.uk
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