Your home is for sharing. If you take pride in your house, the way you’ve decided to decorate it, and the carefully chosen pieces of furniture in it, there’s simply no better payoff than seeing the delight of your nearest and dearest when they pop round for a visit.
Whether you’re a real social butterfly who entertains every weekend, or a busy parent hosting frequent playdates for the kids, you can be sure that your living room will be at the heart of any social occasion. As well as choosing a design that you’re going to love coming home to every night, you’ll want to consider making sure your guests will feel comfortable every time they visit too. That’s why we’re here to guide you through the key points to consider, including the best sofas to choose for each kind of hosting style.
For the informal host
For lots of us, having family and friends around doesn’t always mean a big, fancy affair. Maybe you live alone (and like it that way) so you just need to make sure you’re prepared for those weekends where your besties come round for a few drinks and a gossip.
Wondering how to choose a sofa that works well for a quiet night in with friends? Go for total comfort – it’s the best way to make sure everyone feels relaxed, at home and like they’ll never want to leave (even if you’re ready to send them home after a few hours).
The ultra cosy Majestic corner sofa is the perfect choice. With 44 colours to choose from, you can pick a shade that adds a splash of your personality to your living room. The best bit? If you add the matching footstool this super comfy corner sofa turns into a double bed – which is going to come in handy after a couple of drinks when your friends can’t be persuaded to leave.
For the house proud host
If you’re at the opposite end of the hosting spectrum, maybe every visitor gets the royal treatment. You’ve invested serious time and effort into making your home a masterpiece of elegant design, and that deserves to be shown off. Impress your guests with your culinary skills in the kitchen, and move through to the living room when the dinner party’s over. Your guests will love kicking back and relaxing with an after dinner drink, while they reflect on the delicious meal you’ve just served up.
If elegance, sophistication and timeless class is the theme of the night, the Liberte is one of the best sofas you could choose as the centrepiece of your living room. Sumptuous velvet and a vintage feel, high backed design will have your friends and family green with envy. Prefer leather? Choose the Mazzini in full nubuck – it’s unbeatable for softness and absolutely full of character.
For the host who thinks the more, the merrier
Is your front door open to all? If you’re the friend whose home is everyone else’s home from home, you’re definitely going to need to consider where all those guests are going to sit when they congregate at yours on a Friday night. Whether it always turns into a big party, or everyone prefers to chill out in front of a movie, with that many people coming and going, you need to think about how to choose a sofa that will last.
Comfort is always key, but what sofa is the most durable? The best sofas for busy households like this have to have resilient foam at the core of their seats. You’ll want to avoid more delicate fabrics like velvet and chenille, and stay away from aniline or semi aniline leather which is softer and more easily scratched. The Parma is a great choice. It’s available in a super durable fabric option, along with lots of colours of pigmented leather, which wipes clean easily. It doesn’t compromise on comfort, with a power recline mechanism that lets your guests recline to their perfect movie viewing angle.
For the host where the kids rule the roost
Maybe your hosting habits are all about the kids. This could be because your little ones are still very little and your home is a refuge for lots of new parents and their babies, or you’ve got a couple of teenagers who insist their mates come round every night. With a house full of kids, you’ll need your living room set up to deal with the ensuing chaos. From sticky fingered toddlers to awkwardly clumsy teenagers, your sofa will need to stand up to a lot. You’ll need to buy a sofa that will last, and make sure you’re armed with the knowledge of how to clean upholstery, in case of a spillage emergency.
Not only is the Edgware completely cosy and super stylish, the fabric is designed to be durable, so it won’t let you down when all your guests are gathered on it. The corner group has deep seats and loads of space to relax – the teenagers are going to love this one. Set them up with some snacks and a games console and you’ll be guaranteed a quiet evening.
