According to Forbes, people either dear or loathe sectional sofas. Now loathe seems similar a pretty potent give-and-take for a slice of furniture, but I definitely autumn on the strongly dislike side of things. I accept friends who accept them, in addition to they’re ever singing their praises. But yous should likely know that these friends all accept multiple offspring who experience similar the sectional is to a greater extent than of a trampoline than a slice of furniture.
My disdain of the sectional traces dorsum to a recent unpleasant article of furniture shopping experience. With moving solar daytime approaching rapidly, I was gain to purchase novel article of furniture for my novel living room. I already knew what I wanted – an Italian leather sofa – but the saleswoman felt a sectional offered a superior choice.
That was the solar daytime I got my Ph.D. inwards sectional sofas. And subsequently beingness schooled for ii hours of my life I’ll never acquire back, I was edging closer to the “hate them” group. Here’s what I learned (and it simply powerfulness salvage yous from a futurity article of furniture disaster):
The History of Sectional Sofas May Surprise You
I’ve long sentiment the sectional sofa was an American creation. After all, we’re known for “super-sizing” nigh everything, in addition to nosotros routinely jump on board amongst the “bigger is better” idea. Turns out that’s non the case.
Sectional sofas genuinely describe dorsum to the Victorian era inwards Europe, when socializing meant lovely dinners in addition to romantic balls instead of sitting some glued to a smartphone. Sectionals at the fourth dimension were made upwards of ii or to a greater extent than sofas that could easily travel pushed together to gain a longer couch. Corner pieces weren’t oftentimes used at the time, which meant you’d involve a rather large infinite to suit these long pieces of furniture. They were probable placed against the walls of large ballrooms where the latest debutantes coyly sat waiting for eligible bachelors to inquire them for a waltz, or possibly a sneaky rendezvous into the garden.
The sectional sofa saw a resurgence inwards popularity inwards the 1950s, but this fourth dimension it came amongst a mid-century modern design. Pioneered past times famous designers of the time, such equally Ray in addition to Charles Eames, this novel vogue inwards article of furniture emphasized bold geometric shapes in addition to minimalist styling, in addition to the sectional offered a way to furnish a continuous work of seating that eliminated the involve for dissever couches, loveseats, in addition to chairs.
As a fan of some of the article of furniture to come upwards out of that mid-century modern era, I run across the appeal, but equally I mentioned, nosotros Americans seem to scream back everything’s ameliorate if it’s bigger, in addition to sectionals accept been no exception. Two years agone on Super Bowl Sunday, I constitute myself at a large Super Bowl political party amongst friends, in addition to 1 of these monstrosities took upwards their entire living room. These super-sized pieces of article of furniture are no friend to girls similar me who barely top 5 feet tall. My feet didn’t fifty-fifty acquit on the floor, in addition to when my squad scored that day, I couldn’t fifty-fifty jump upwards to cheer for them – I was lost inwards the couch. My squad lost, in addition to I yet harbor a wee flake of resentment towards that sectional. True story!
Significant Shortcomings of Sectional Sofas
Despite having a rather large fan base, especially inwards the U.S., sectional sofas accept some pregnant shortcomings I notice hard to overlook.
I’m a soul who loves rearranging the article of furniture in addition to redesigning the entire expect of a room, much to my belatedly husband’s chagrin. He wasn’t a fan of change, but I dear variety. And it’s something I’ve been doing since I was a kid. I’d acquire bored of my bedroom, my parents would take away heed a racket, in addition to they’d come upwards inwards to run across me shoving some a dresser 5 times my size.
Rearranging things becomes a no-go if yous accept a sectional sofa. Think of a sectional equally a commitment – a huge commitment (one that’ll probable final longer than 50% of Hollywood marriages). You’d ameliorate dear it in addition to the way it’s configured if yous purchase one. And if yous belong inwards Frequent Furniture Re-Arranger’s Anonymous equally I do, stick amongst a traditional sofa.
While I truthfully notice sectionals quite comfortable, there’s that corner spot to consider. No 1 wants to travel left sitting inwards that corner seat, especially when sharing the sectional amongst multiple people. That soul inwards the corner is left amongst ii choices – sit down on their legs (completely uncomfortable in addition to impossible for some people) or terminate upwards amongst their legs entangled amongst the people beside them. Not ideal inwards either case. In many cases, people won’t fifty-fifty bother trying to sit down on that corner spot – in addition to yous can’t blame them – which way it’s a waste matter of space.
Portability becomes a work amongst sectional sofas for ii reasons: the sectional’s configuration may non operate good inwards a novel infinite if yous move, in addition to they’re awkwardly shaped in addition to extremely heavy. They tin travel tough to maneuver through doorways, in addition to it’s pretty mutual to impairment door frames accidentally when trying to motion sectionals. If at that spot are stairs to bargain with, “may the odds travel ever inwards your favor!”
Just scream back dorsum to the unforgettably funny scene in FRIENDSwhen Ross has Rachel in addition to Chandler attention him motion the couch into his novel apartment, which simply happened to travel upwards a flying of stairs:
While I’m convinced sectional sofas are overrated, I grudgingly acknowledge they accept their benefits, too. For my friends amongst multiple kids that they involve to spot comfortably for a household unit of measurement painting demo night, it works. After all, the corner spot isn’t then bad if you’re 3 years old. If contemporary style appeals to you, sectionals convey a abrupt symmetry that looks fresh, especially when accentuated amongst crisp colors. And comfort – yous can’t fence amongst the comfort of sectional sofas. Love napping? Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sectional amongst a chaise lounge is your holy grail.
For me, I’m yet convinced they’re overrated. Perhaps I would accept loved sectional sofas had I experienced them inwards the Victorian days, sitting primly on the border inwards a stunning ball gown amongst a handsome gentleman bent over my hand. Sounds dreamy. But without the ball gown in addition to the handsome gentleman, all I tin run across is an enormous slice of article of furniture that 1 time tried to consume my petite frame, then I’m sticking amongst squad sofa.
By Joy Burgess. Joy is a freelance author amongst a passion for interior design, a dear for funky, unloved pieces of furniture, in addition to a vogue towards the snarky in addition to sarcastic.
Source: homestratosphere.com
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