In the market for a new sofa? There are literally thousands of choices in style and fabric, so you might not know where to begin. When you begin shopping, you’ll need to make decisions regarding arm, cushion and leg styles all before you choose a fabric. This glossary can be used as a guide for buying a sofa and should make your decision a little easier.
Arm styles
- Rolled arm – a smooth, rounded arm for both traditional and contemporary interiors
- Track arm – a straight arm that looks best in a modern or contemporary setting
- English arm – this is a rolled arm that has small folds along the front of the arm
- Panel Arm – another rolled arm style with a small panel at the front of the arm and is often used in traditional or formal designs.
- Tuxedo arm – this is a slightly flared arm that is the same height as the back of the sofa. Depending on the height of the chair, it can be very comfortable as in a club chair or it can be whimsical and unique with a high back and arms. The style, however, can be used in both traditional and contemporary rooms.
Cushion styles
- Box cushion – the seat cushions line up with the arm of the sofa providing a smooth line and clean look.
- T cushion – in this style the seat cushion wraps around the arm forming a ‘t’ shape. It offers a bit more leg room and is most often used with a rolled arm style in a traditional room.
- Semi-attached back cushion– this style features cushions that have been sewn to the back of the sofa.
- Loose back or box style back cushion – as the name implies, this style offers back cushions that are loose and can be removed. A box style cushion features wide sides that mimic the shape of a box.
- Tight back – this style really has no cushions. The fabric is stretched tightly across the frame of the sofa with no indentations, cushions etc.
Leg styles
- Tapered leg—this is a common shape used in many different styles. It is simply a block of wood that has been tapered to add shape.
- Bun foot – a small round piece of wood that looks like a bun, hence the name. It is often used in casual and country styles. There are many different versions of a bun foot; some with a low profile and others that offer a higher profile, carving, fluting etc.
- Spool leg – best used in the traditional design, a spool foot is a bun foot with a smaller spool placed in the center to add height, shape, and interest.
- Cabriole leg – this is a very formal style that is best used in traditional décor. It is slightly “s” shaped and is wider at the top and tapers to a narrow foot at the bottom.
These are some of the more commonly used terms in furniture making. Isn’t it nice to have options? Use this guideline to help shop and don’t be afraid to mix and match styles to meet your needs.