As we say hello to the 21st century, designer sofas are becoming very popular as a growing number of people look to spend money on their home furniture. With a number of companies becoming extremely well known in the luxury market place, innovative new models appearing bi-annually plus a growing public interest in the field of interior design, this trend appears set to carry on in the coming years. But what exactly defines a designer sofa? To answer this question, it's wise to understand the history of designer sofas, their build quality and also their specific look and feel.
Curiously, it wasn't such a long time ago that the notion of a designer sofa was itself a misnomer. Certainly, the beginnings of the modern day sofa runs through the Pharoahs of Ancient Egypt to the prosperous merchants of the Italian Renaissance. It wasn't actually until the industrial revolution just over 200 years ago that sofas became an inexpensive mass-market household good. Prior to this date, each and every sofa would have been individually designed on a bespoke basis, by small artisan workshops making use of traditional manufacturing processes that had barely changed over the centuries.
It was only really with the arrival of the commercial age that the concept of designer emerged as sofas began to turn into commodities. What was once an exclusive item, was swiftly transformed into a standard fixture of the typical residence. With reduced cost, low quality merchandise flooding the market, a new demand came about for sofas built in classic designs with higher levels of quality as well as a much more developed visual appeal. These characteristics remain the crucial difference between designer sofas and mass-manufactured alternatives even today.
With regards to build quality, designer sofas are usually manufactured employing a far more labour intensive traditional technique rather than in bulk quantities. They will also generally use a larger percentage of premium quality classic materials including horsehair to upholster the sofa, which can be much more costly but results in enhanced comfort. This approach can also be carried forward when it comes to the cushioning of the sofa where organic feather and down is employed as opposed to less costly artificial padding such as acrylic and foam.
Designer sofas are also far more thought out in terms of look and feel where greater attention to detail is given to overall finish, individual appeal and discretionary detail. Unlike regular mass-production models, designer sofas are much more considered than mass-produced models which are mainly focused around a smaller sub-set of commercial styles. With more space for expression, further details including technical stitching, cushioned flutes or piping can be incorporated to finish the product with a flourish. This type of detail is just not incorporated if you buy a high street alternative, primarily due to the additional cost required.
Ultimately the option between designer sofas and high street models boils down to a question of taste. For some, the idea of paying a lot more for the same item will in no way appeal, especially when buying on a budget. Even so, for those who desire to express themselves by means of their household decor, designer sofas will always appeal for the reasons we have stated above.
Curiously, it wasn't such a long time ago that the notion of a designer sofa was itself a misnomer. Certainly, the beginnings of the modern day sofa runs through the Pharoahs of Ancient Egypt to the prosperous merchants of the Italian Renaissance. It wasn't actually until the industrial revolution just over 200 years ago that sofas became an inexpensive mass-market household good. Prior to this date, each and every sofa would have been individually designed on a bespoke basis, by small artisan workshops making use of traditional manufacturing processes that had barely changed over the centuries.
It was only really with the arrival of the commercial age that the concept of designer emerged as sofas began to turn into commodities. What was once an exclusive item, was swiftly transformed into a standard fixture of the typical residence. With reduced cost, low quality merchandise flooding the market, a new demand came about for sofas built in classic designs with higher levels of quality as well as a much more developed visual appeal. These characteristics remain the crucial difference between designer sofas and mass-manufactured alternatives even today.
With regards to build quality, designer sofas are usually manufactured employing a far more labour intensive traditional technique rather than in bulk quantities. They will also generally use a larger percentage of premium quality classic materials including horsehair to upholster the sofa, which can be much more costly but results in enhanced comfort. This approach can also be carried forward when it comes to the cushioning of the sofa where organic feather and down is employed as opposed to less costly artificial padding such as acrylic and foam.
Designer sofas are also far more thought out in terms of look and feel where greater attention to detail is given to overall finish, individual appeal and discretionary detail. Unlike regular mass-production models, designer sofas are much more considered than mass-produced models which are mainly focused around a smaller sub-set of commercial styles. With more space for expression, further details including technical stitching, cushioned flutes or piping can be incorporated to finish the product with a flourish. This type of detail is just not incorporated if you buy a high street alternative, primarily due to the additional cost required.
Ultimately the option between designer sofas and high street models boils down to a question of taste. For some, the idea of paying a lot more for the same item will in no way appeal, especially when buying on a budget. Even so, for those who desire to express themselves by means of their household decor, designer sofas will always appeal for the reasons we have stated above.
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