Sofa trends revisit the timeless styles of yesteryear

Above image courtesy of Freedom Furniture   Classic comfort and a taste for nostalgia are the drivers behind this season’s sofa trends. Many of us visit our parents and grandparents and we sit on the same lounge that we sat, played and slept on as kids. (My mother-in-law still has the “night and day” that she bought when she first got married nearly 60 years ago.) But these days many people upgrade their sofas to keep pace with the changes in interior styles and trends. “The increasing popularity of renovation TV shows coupled with the buoyant housing market, means that interior styles are constantly changing and many Aussies are adopting a flair for interior decorating,” says Dare Gallery general manager Patrick Doyle. “Accordingly, ‘big ticket’ furniture purchases such as sofas are being refreshed and replaced much more frequently than in the past.” Patrick offers the following sofa trend tips to householders who want to get the latest look.   [caption id="attachment_2660" align="alignleft" width="690"] Image courtesy of Freedom Furniture[/caption]  

Leather

“A luxurious leather sofa is a classic piece,” he says. “Aged brown leather looks great in any home and is easy to maintain. Leather is cool in the summer and cosy in the winter and you can dress it with cushions and throws to create a different look depending on the season. Made from top quality Aniline leather with a wax finish, Dare Gallery’s Travolta Sofa, makes a stunning lounge room centrepiece. It features a duck feather filling for the ultimate in comfort and style. A two seater with chaise costs $5899.”  

Retro Style

“The retro look continues to be a popular theme,” Patrick advises. “Retro style sofas can add an instant ‘wow’ factor to a room, bringing it right up to the moment. Classic retro style features angled timber legs and button back cushions. Team with retro style coffee and side table to give your lounge room a retro makeover. Available as a two or three seater, Dare Gallery’s Bergman Armchair is popular choice. It features a classic retro look with deep comfortable seats and is available in a choice of colours. The two seater costs $999 and the three seater costs $1399.”  

Armless

Patrick says the armless designed sofa is also proving very popular right now. “It looks great and is also practical for smaller apartments and awkward spaces, as it gives a streamlined look. Dare Gallery’s Bradford two seater, no arm features deep comfortable seats and makes a great place to chill out at the end of a long day. It costs $1699.”   [caption id="attachment_2657" align="alignleft" width="690"] Image courtesy of Dare Gallery[/caption]  

Custom-made comfort

“If you have the space, you can’t go past a classic custom-made sofa with deep seats and comfortable arms with lots of cushions and a chaise for stretching out,” Patrick states. “The key to choosing this lounge room lovely is the fabric and style. Australian-made always stands out. Dare Gallery’s Spacey Sofa is made in Australia and comes in a choice of over 1000 fabrics plus a choice of arms, seat depths, legs and fillings. The Spacey six seat modular lounge is priced from $7969.”   [caption id="attachment_2658" align="alignleft" width="690"] Image courtesy of Dare Gallery[/caption]  

Staying neutral

Freedom Buyer Kylie Burgon is a fan of greys for this season. "Greys and neutrals have remained popular in fabric and leathers for the past few seasons, and still remain strong today," she says. "I have definitely seen a shift toward more natural fibres in fabrics like linen, which give the fabric a nice hand-feel. This season we have introduced printed fabrics to our upholstery collection for occasional chairs, and they are proving to be very popular. The recent Milan fair showed that red will trend in the near future, with multiple shades of reds combined with pinks. Bold patterns were also seen as a strong visual direction." Kylie adds that she's in love with slim sofa profiles this season. "Whether it’s a slim arm or slim leg, it is the simplicity that translates to the beauty of them," she enthuses. "A sofa can be a very heavy piece of furniture in a living space, which is why slim legs are a good idea. They allow the sofa to be lifted off the floor and give a heavy sofa a much more elegant look. It also helps to work with the positive and negative space in the room." She says the look is more mix and match this season, with three seater and four seater sofas paired with two single occasional chairs. "Gone are the days of having a matching three seater, two seater and armchair all in one living space," she says. "We’re adding colour and texture in the room via occasional pieces."   [caption id="attachment_2655" align="alignleft" width="690"] Image courtesy of Freedom Furniture[/caption]   Kylie particularly loves Clifford sofa for its slim profile as well as it full grain aniline leather upholstery. "It shows all the natural markings of each individual leather hide – you know you’re purchasing quality leather when you see all these natural markings left in their natural state," she says. "The other look I really like is the Benson Grand. Its over-sized, soft sink-in comfort invites you to want to sit down and enjoy many hours relaxing on the sofa. The fabric has the linen look and feel which I really love. The removable slip cover which is dry cleanable also is a great feature. Benson’s shape is simple and classic which makes it an easy sofa to work back into any existing décor."