The Traditional But Still Cool Sofas I Told My Friends To Buy For Their Living Rooms (Where They Also Watch TV – It’s A Challenge)

Here’s one of the best/worst things about me: I have a shopping addiction (all stylists do – it’s an occupational hazard like a bartender with alcohol) and right now I have nothing that I NEED to put in the cart (as we are mostly done decorating the farmhouse). That means my Saturday mornings are empty, and my dopamine levels are low unless I’m shopping for someone else (or say, working out or cold plunging, LOL). Lucky for me/them I have not one but two friends who recently moved and are in dire need of new living rooms that fit a particular mold: Traditional (both 1920s white homes with black shutters), but not huge meaning no sectional (living rooms weren’t big back then), that need to be comfy (because they are also the TV room) and yet they don’t want boring/suburban/generic (duh, they are rad). So I got to work and pinned all my current favorites that I felt were good contenders (most are readymade and fast to ship). There are so many others that are cool and more contemporary that didn’t make the list for a variety of reasons, but these did.

Eleanor Sofa

The bench seat (read = comfy) and the arm detail make it both cozy and comfortable. I love this sofa and it comes in a lot of different fabrics, too. It’s been on my list of “must sit on and try” since it came out. SO GOOD (and I trust Lulu and Georgia’s construction and comfort from experience).

Mardones Velvet Sofa

SO PRETTY. This is a real contender right now for one of my friends who likes a Soho House vibe. I just ordered the fabric sample in both this camel and in a dark gray velvet. That arm swoop is SO PRETTY. CB2 is just KILLING it these days.

Niven Sofa

This came up over and over and over. That bench cushion (modern) with the arm swoop (pretty, inviting, and traditional) makes this a very top contender for me. The seat depth is shallow with the second layer of cushions but deep if you take them off. And that cognac color is PERFECT.

Fabienne Sofa

We have two of these in our living room and I love them so much. They check the “traditional” and also the modern box really well. The turned legs obviously read classic, but the single bench and back are simple and modern (see a pattern here?). If only our silly dogs would stop sitting on the TOP CUSHION as if they are birds and it’s their nest. PUNKS!

Marconi 3-Seater Tufted Velvet Sofa

This sofa almost won out but the room that we are putting this in already has so much green. The leg detail on the side is SICK (the leg is exposed halfway up the sofa, sexy lady). The color and wood base are PERFECT. I haven’t sat on this and wondered if the tight upholstered seat would be too bouncy and not “sink-in-able” enough, but that green velvet is so pretty.

Giroud Sofa

Another sofa with more traditional tufting and possibly not the most comfortable tight back, but with a few pillows it would just be so pretty. I love a mixed material and the wool + tuft + wood base/arm is really pretty (and avoids the generic label quickly).

Durant Velvet Sofa

While this sofa is decidedly more contemporary, I think the simplicity lends itself to a traditional home because you can layer on the more decorative pieces (and the $1,799 price is pretty insane). I almost bought two of these for our living room but the lead time was too long. I think that arm swoop keeps it from being too boxy and chunky and it just looks soooo comfortable.

Rupert Sofa

Again, I know this sofa is more contemporary but I’ve seen it in the homes that Sara Sherman Samuel’s has designed and it just looks so comfortable and cloud-like. And remember, simple sofas are easy to layer on fun/decorative things. I think being in this rather delicious cognac velvet is what helps lend itself to a more traditional space (whereas a linen would feel colder with less texture/reflection).

Malea Velvet Sofa

This sofa is a new one that I’ve been eyeing – that slight rolled arm is so good and we all know that a double cushion, double back combo is SOOOO comfortable. I’m also super drawn to these warmer tones but unsure if this one veers to orange for me (or maybe just a really pretty rust tone?).

Bacio Leather Sofa

Neither of my friends wanted leather (it’s cold in the PNW) and those cushions admittedly look really bouncy (not cushy) but it’s such a pretty sofa! That narrow arm swoop is so good.

Westlake Sofa

I love so many of Rosa Beltran’s sofas and now they have a quick ship line! She has so many with such pretty shapes and she is a wonderful person. If you can wait, she can also customize anything at a great price and super high quality. We love so many of her designs.

Sinuous Curved Sofa

I went in person to sit on this for our own home. I LOVED sitting on it and only wished that it weren’t in bright white. I’m hoping they make it in other colors (the burnt orange velvet was a bit too extreme/shiny for me). The shape is so pretty and the curved front felt so special. It’s gorgeous. Athena’s collection for Crate & Barrel is excellent.

Crawford Slipcovered Sofa With Box-Pleated Skirt

This is another one where I LOVE the shape of the sofa, just wishing that it were in a more forgiving fabric (not cream linen). This comes in a really pretty brown, too, but that’s not right for either home. We’ll see if they make this Jake Arnold x Crate & Barrel sofa again in more “life living” colors. The shape is so pretty and the pleating is gorgeous (and such a nice reprieve from traditional skirted sofas).

Hornsby Sofa

Here we go back into the mid-century world – a little boxy but not too stuffed (what with all the cushions). Mid-century is coming back BTW as the year of the curve (or 5 years) is likely to wane. This sofa is pretty much the midcentury version of our more traditional sofa (the Fabienne). He is very handsome.

Burrard Sofa

Speaking of mid-century, I love this sofa from Article and have owned the sectional version. My whole family loved it. Basically, I know it’s super comfortable and perfect for watching TV.

Ginny’s Rivington Sofa

I love an English roll arm so much and was so delighted when Ginny (a former EHD designer for 5 years – WE LOVE GINNY) designed this sofa with Lulu and Georgia. It’s so pretty and classic and is a real contender in my friend Robyn’s living room.

Opening Image Credits: Design by Emily Henderson and ARCIFORM | Photo by Kaitlin Green