Finding the Sofa That is Right for You

Choosing a sofa can be one of those lovely yet slightly daunting decisions. It can become the place you’ll sink into at the end of a long day, the spot your family somehow ends up on come Sunday afternoon. And if you are a dog lover, it will be the one place they are absolutely not allowed and then somehow become their sofa more than yours.

One thing to know from the very start, our sofas are designed to live happily together, and they get along beautifully with other pieces you already own and love. There is no need to buy a matching set. I have always thought that a room full of things that have been chosen one at a time, over years, is always the loveliest sort of room.

Whether you are looking for something deep and soft to disappear into, or a shape that brings a sense of occasion to a room, I think you will find your forever sofa. Let me introduce you to our sofa family: Coco, Cocobella, Felix, Barton, Henrietta, Isobel and Sophia.

Which one will suit your room?

Each of our sofas has its own character. The shape of the arms, the depth of the seat, the style of the legs. They are often small things that can  help set the whole mood of a space. Here’s my introduction of each one to you.

Coco is our bestselling sofa. She is extremely adaptable because there are many different ways to dress her. For instance, you can choose a loose cover or a fixed cover, box edge cushions for a more formal look, or knife edge for a more casual, relaxed feel. Then there’s the different trims to the cushions, oxford borders, contrast piping or no piping and much more too.

It is this adaptability that has helped Coco become so loved all over the globe. If you want one sofa that simply works and effortlessly adapts to your style, start here.

Cocobella is Coco's younger cousin. The same laid-back charm, the same soft and generous proportions, with deeply padded arms and back cushions to sink into. She comes in a smaller range of fabrics and in set sizes rather than made to measure. The specification is also different from Coco, for more details on this see here.

Isobel is our quintessential old English shape with a softly curved back, low arms, a deep seat and separate back cushions. Isobel is based on an original design from Howard & Sons, the celebrated London makers founded back in 1820, whose sofas were found in all the best Victorian houses. She is entirely timeless, the sort of shape that quietly belongs in almost any room you put her in.

Felix is another variation on the classic Howard sofa, neat and elegant, with clean, tailored lines with an integrated upholstered back. Felix is a sofa that never overwhelms a room. Felix looks just as good dressed up in a formal sitting room as in a more casual room because it comes in either a fixed or a loose cover.

Barton is a classic English sofa, with rolled arms, traditional lines and one of the deepest frames we make. Based on a much-loved family original of ours, the Burnham, and has that same deep, enveloping quality that makes you want to curl up and stay. Our Barton loves a generous room and rewards anyone who likes to stretch right out, though plenty have found their way into cosy cottages and look perfectly at home there too. Country houses, period rooms, a room with a working fireplace, all of these and more work perfectly.

Salthrop is a variant of our Barton sofa, exclusive to John Lewis. Like Cocobella, it comes in a narrower range of fabrics and limited sizes options.

Henrietta is a faithful copy of a late 1800s sofa given to me by my mother, Lady Caroline Conran. She is the most formal of our collection and beautifully suited to a grander room. Traditional through and through, with ornate hand carved legs that give a real sense of her antique character. Fully sprung in the base and the back, with a fixed cover to keep those beautiful lines crisp.

Sophia is based on a late 18th century sofa that I have owned and loved for over 30 years. She elegantly goes where a fuller sofa might not be able to such as a hallway, the perfect dining sofa next to a table and even in a generous bathroom (it really does work). She is remarkably comfortable, with beautifully hand turned legs. She comes with a fixed cover, but if a loose one would suit you better, do ask and we can make one for you.

A small tip from me,  think first about how you actually live in the room and how you like to live within it, then let the shape follow. It is so much easier than the other way around.

Are they all as well made as each other?

Yes, every single one. They are all handcrafted here in the UK or in the USA by skilled makers who genuinely care, using traditional construction and lovely materials. There are small differences in how each is built, but the standard never wavers. The result is a piece made to last, in the way it looks and the way it holds up to years of being loved.

And which is the most comfortable?

The honest reply is that it depends entirely on how you like to sit. Some of us want a supportive seat that holds us up, others want to sink deeply into something soft at the end of the day. So here is how they feel.

Coco is for that soft, sink-in feeling with a gentle support underneath. A sofa made for comfort.

Felix is supportive and firm enough to sit up properly, soft enough to stay a long while.

Barton and Salthrop gives you that deep, enveloping, traditional comfort with proper plump cushions. They do like regular plumping  and they reward you handsomely for it.

Cocobella is built for relaxing with those generously padded arms and back cushions for easy family living.

Sophia is neat and upright, yes, but she still invites you to settle in.

And remember, that the cushion fillings can be tailored so that any of these sit exactly the way you like. Firm and supportive, soft and cloud-like, or somewhere in between. It is your sofa, after all. These features are not available with our Cocobella and Salthrop sofas

Can you make it your own?

This is where our collection really comes into its own

• Fabric: plains, florals, stripes and GOTS-certified organic options

• Cushion filling: feather, fibre, foam or a blend, chosen for the feel you want.

• Loose or fixed covers: Coco, Cocobella and Felix all come with loose, removable covers, easy to wash and rather lovely to change with the seasons. 

• Size and shape: everything from a single armchair up to a four-seater, with modular options on some designs.

At a glance

Design	Style	Comfort	Best for
Coco	Relaxed, casual, our bestseller	Feather-soft, made for lounging	Everyday family living
Cocobella	Cheerful and easy (smaller fabric range, set sizes)	Soft and well padded	Relaxed homes
Felix	Elegant, neat, tailored lines with a classical heritage	Balanced support and softness	Formal or relaxed rooms; loose or fixed
Barton	Classic English, rolled arms, very deep	Deep and enveloping (loves a plump)	Larger rooms, country and period interiors, and anyone who likes to stretch out
Henrietta	Our most formal; upright, ornate legs based on a 1890s original	Tidy and supportive, fixed cover	Grand, traditional rooms
Isobel	Classic Howard shape, timeless English	Curved back, low arms, deep seat	Almost any room
Sophia	18th century origin, compact and upright, curved legs	Comfortable well beyond her size	Hallways, kitchen tables, smaller spaces

If you would like a hand deciding

If you are at all unsure, send us a photograph of your room and we will help you choose your perfect sofa. We create complimentary floor plans and photorealistic renders of your room with our sofas. No obligation, just friendly help from people who do this all day and love helping you find your forever sofa.