We are loving that the chunk is back. The cycle of trends has led us from the sleek and square of midcentury design into what is decidedly the opposite. While 70’s interior design has been back for a long time (possibly even before this huge 70’s fashion trend), we are finally seeing furniture that feels modern instead of retro, and forward with just some flashback elements. Before you light your 1960’s Paul McCobb chair on fire don’t fear, beautiful furniture is always on trend no matter what style it is. But if you are someone who has been dying to dump yourself in a big, low, and chunky sofa then you, and your butt, are in luck.
Think really low, square sofas with low backs, super deep cushions with short-ish legs, and a really heavy thick bottom cushions or frame. These are not for everyone. My in-law’s, for example, don’t like how deep our family room sofa is, and they put a pillow behind their backs to make it more comfortable for them. These sofas are decidedly for people who want to curl up, while chatting and sit with all legs/feet on the sofa. Brian loves this, but I could see how a lot of grown men wouldn’t be down with going criss cross apple sauce on a strangers living room sofa, so instead they feel the need to sit uncomfortably on the edge.
I myself, can handle, and even have come to prefer such deepness. It’s like hugging your big Italian grandma when you are a kid – it just feels safe and trustworthy.
There are a couple details worth calling out. First off, we welcome back the knife cut cushions, not instead of, but in addition to the boxed cushions.
Image Source | Image Source
There are some arms so squared off and chunky that they act as the sofas own side table. Such is the case with our sofa arms, and many a water glass has been rested on said arms.
There is also less piping and welting, more curving over what is typically seamed, which takes away some of the detailing that normally gives sofas a tailored look. The curving instead adds to this relaxed “I don’t even wear a belt” sort of attitude.
The types of fabrics seem to be all over the place – linens, velvets, and leathers are all welcome, with patterns taking a back seat (yes, pun intended). You could go for a really subtle tone on tone that looks more like a texture, but anything bold or graphic should be feared with such large real estate to cover. It can be done, but be careful.
Make sure to mix this sofa with some mid-century, modern, or traditional elements so it doesn’t look generic and style-less.
These sofas don’t want too many pillows – they are already adding a lot of softness, looseness, and texture to a room, so be careful to about throwing on too many eclectic pillows, or it could easily look messy and haphazard.
Also, if you are going to go for some legs on your chunky new friend then make them super square or round, and stay away from tapered or turned legs. Again the simpler the better.
These sofas can go bad if they aren’t good, so to help you with your trigger pulling we’ve rounded up 54 chunky low sofas of different price-points, and even different styles and colors. Almost all of these come in a plethora of fabrics and finishes so you should be able to find just the right piece for your home.
1. Linen Amersfort Sofa | 2. Cloud Track Sofa | 3. Dante Italian Leather Sofa | 4. Marenco Sofa | 5. Aviator Velvet Sofa | 6. Sitka Gray Sofa | 7. Anderson Sofa | 8. Prostoria Cloud Sofa | 9. Essex Sofa | 10. New Standard Sofa | 11. Velvet Kettleby Sofa | 12. Urban Sofa | 13. Jackson One Arm Sofa | 14. Interior Define Gray Sofa | 15. Norsborg Sofa | 16. Johnny Sofa | 17. Muuto Pink Sofa | 18. Blvd Sofa | 19. Neo Sofa | 20. Urbn Liam Sofa | 21. Jaxon Maxine Sofa | 22. Interior Define Ainsley Sofa | 23. Sackville Nova Sofa | 24. Togo Sofa, (similar found here) | 25. Fold Sofa | 26. Harding Sofa | 27. Pacific Heights Sofa | 28. Aida Sofa | 29. Uno Sectional Sofa | 30. Piazza Sofa | 31. Melo Sofa | 32. Bobby Sofa | 33. Liam Sofa | 34. Prostoria Sofa | 35. Fulham Upholstered Sofa | 36. Sessan Sofa | 37. Cube Modular Sofa | 38. Cleon Sofa | 39. Walton Sofa | 40. Palau Sofa | 41. Kivik Sofa | 42. The Family Sofa | 43. Old Hickory Leather Sofa | 44. Anderson 3-Piece Sofa | 45. Bienal Jasmine Sofa | 46. Relax 2-Piece Sofa | 47. Uno Single Arm Sofa | 48. Reid Sofa | 49. Grant Sofa | 50. Bolton Sofa | 51. Hilear Modular Sofa | 52. Allen Sofa | 53. Highlands Sofa | 54. Belgian Linen Tassa Sofa
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Really love this round up and I am a huge fan of this comfy trend. Thanks!
Hi Emily! talking about resting your glass on your sofa, this is the one we ended up with (but in a different colour) because my husband likes to eat on the sofa and I didn’t want him putting his plate/glass etc on the material haha http://www.kingliving.com.au/sofas-modulars-and-armchairs/jasper/#DRKbydIsXsUVcQZ7.97
I have it in a fairly smallish living room and it also saves on needing a coffee table for the moment! (especially as I have a one year old starting to bump into things). Would be interested to know your thoughts…. 🙂
I love this sofa! We don’t have a lot of space for side tables and I desperately want a sectional. Is it comfortable? Are you in the States? Thanks!!!
Yea, that’s awesome. I wish more sofas came with a tiny shelf on the back so you could put wine/coffee away from littles. The amount of lurching forward to get it out of hands (and mouths) is way too much. xx
Hi Tori, it is so comfortable but I’m sorry it is in Australia 🙁
I have been eyeing that sofa for so long! Love King Furniture!
Criss cross apple sauce lol. These look so comfy I would literally never get up again.
We have a chunky low sectional and I love it. It goes really well with the danish teak furniture in the room. The more chunky shape/modern lines help to keep the space from looking like a 60’s movie set.
We have this one from EQ3, but ours has an extra chair section to make it 12ft long
http://tinyurl.com/hw8pdux
You being able to break down this post in an interesting and entertaining way is why you are one of my favorite blogs to read. And this is coming from a stay at home mom of soon to be four in the Midwest. I have no practical or social need for this knowledge but now I do and I’m happier for it.
Thank you. That made my morning. xx
Love chunky sofas and doing all I can to resist the urge to buy a new couch, which I definitely don’t need…!
Wanted to add that the IKEA Nockeby sofa is a decent chunky-style sofa for a great price – and it’s really comfortable.
Also: about a year ago, I bought the Dante leather sofa (#3 above) and it arrived with some damage to the wood, so I had to send it back to Overstock – who were really great to work with and have terrific customer service. But I mention this only because it has a really unique shape and is clearly a statement piece. I wish I could have kept it.
Ditto all the kind words about this blog. It’s so educational! Question about these lovely low sofas: does having one affect what height the other seating in the room needs to be? I have a few rattan chairs and a Barcelona chair in my living room.
That is an interesting question! I’d think it’d be awkward to have conversations if others are deep in deep couch city, and others perched higher up?
I love the look of these. I would never have one. I have been following Katie Bowman and pretty much everything about 70’s furniture is bad for backs. It feels comfortable until it isn’t. I can see some of these working if you have the discipline to change your position often. Otherwise it is just more slump which most of us get too much of already at work.
I do think that this looks would be really good for rooms with low ceilings. It would make the ceiling feel higher.
I’m not really a fan of these style sofas. Most of them look too plain or generic to me. I think it’s because they lose a lot of those details, like you said. Still a great post.
love the roundups! would love to see an office chair round up. so many options (wheels vs no wheels, upolstered vs not) and was wondering what is trending right now!
I’ve love the RH cloud sofa, and am probably getting. Would love to see some side/end tables. I just have no clue what it is I want.
Here’s another image of the leather couch on the dark walled kitchen (2nd picture) above: http://www.frederikvercruysse.com/content/frederichooft_181108-034775.jpg
and the couch: http://www.bebitalia.com/en/products/sofas-le-bambole-07-113.html
Hmm, well….. I am no longer 20 and am short besides. I would not be able to get up out of any of these – especially if the cushions are very soft.
I enjoyed the post though.
This can’t be said often enough!
So glad you put the prices right on the graphic! In the past, it’s been a real bummer to get all excited about a piece, then click through on the link and find out it’s way out of my price range.
We have a sofa that’s very chunky (but not that low) and hate it, BUT it’s also plain beige and a microfiber. It just feels too…. flopsy? Boring? However, that sofa in red is AMAZING. I would love it! Comfortable but still a statement piece!
I’m actually a fan of the Kivek sofa from ikea. It is a low and chunky sofa and I love the Isunda Grey uppholstery. We have littles too who love to snuggle and it’s nice that you can take off the covers and wash them! Great post Emily!
I have been trying to get my husband on the low deep sofa idea like this and he’s solidly against it. I sent this link on to further my case! He’s not loving my judgment since I bought a sofa from Joybird and it turned out to be complete dreck…
Love this round up! Maybe a round up of bookcases? I’m on the hunt!
I second the call for a round up of bookcases; built ins and freestanding.
Also, btw are they timber vertical blinds in the photo with the red sofa?? I have just moved in to a late 1980’s townhouse that has faded apricot-coloured vertical binds on every window. I know they are hideously out of fashion and I am gradually replacing them but boy they are practical and do the job! I wondered if they will ever be on trend again?… now I know.
Emily!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been googling “low modern sofa” “low modular sofa” “fat low sofa” for a week now, going how the f@#* am I going to find one! Many thanks for all the options.
Love these sofas. All are very nice.
Thanks Emily for your every blog. 🙂 (y)
Emily love your blog.
Love!! I really love the pink couch pic. Can you tell me where that couch and side table are from?
Oh my goodness, while browsing my local classifieds (in Utah) I found the chair version of your comfy 70’s couch. There are two, one for each of your littles. They would be perfect in your home! I don’t know if they are leather or vinyl, but they look like cool, comfy, 70’s deliciousness. I tagged you insta, because I felt you should see them somehow 🙂 Here is a link, if you want to check them out.
Ran out of room. Here is the link.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=39221388
I meant to say they match the couches from your blog post, but they could certainly live in your house. Don’t worry, I am not trying to sell them, they aren’t mine. I just thought they were cool.
Great post! I am actually getting ready to pass this information. It is very helpful my friend. Also great blog here with all of the valuable information you gave. Keep up the good work you are doing here.
I love my low chunky tufty time sofa. Ive loved that “look” since i was a youngster and fell fortunate that I have been able to afford one. I dislike the idea of promoting “trends” since the idea of a “trend” implies disposability. Lets face it, Sofas are EXPENSIVE. It feels irresponsible to promote “trends” in home design. Rather the idea of promoting self expression. People should be presented the options about what fits their lifestyle and we should encourage their homes to represent what best suits them. Not just what’s “HOT” for the moment.
Just wow Emily!!!! no words .
Whoa! That navy Aviator sofa has my heart. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it also has lucite legs! So yummy. But unfortunately it’s now, out of stock. 🙁
I love this simple, big sofas!