In your living room, you probably have a TV, a sofa, some coffee tables and maybe some chairs. Wait, did you say sofa? I bet you don’t even know what type of sofa you have. Do you have a sofa or a couch? A chesterfield or a Lawson? If you don’t have the answer to these questions, then you came to the right place.

First of all, the difference between a sofa and a couch: A sofa is usually long, upholstered, has a back and arms. A couch is basically the same thing – I am the master of deceit, if you didn’t know. In the days of old, people used to describe a couch as a sofa without arms, but nowadays people use them interchangeably. Some even say that a sofa is a just fancier way of saying a couch. 

Now to the good part. We will be talking about the three main types of sofas that are found in American homes – Lawsons, sectionals and sofa-beds. A Lawson is that most classic type of sofa that is found in most American homes. Created by Thomas Lawson in the 20th century, it was a simpler version of the delicate and ornate Victorian style sofas of the time. It looks like the sofa from the Simpsons for lack of a better description. Haven’t heard of the show? Please, Google it, it will be worth the look.

A sectional is a regular sofa, but one corner of it has been stretched forward, so that part becomes sort of a lounge section. There’s nothing else to say about sectionals, so a sofa-bed is, as its name suggests, a sofa that turns into a bed. Sofa-beds are some of the most secretive types of sofas as they look exactly like regular sofas. However, if you pull out the compartment underneath and complete some moves that will make people think you work at IKEA, you magically create a “bed.” Obviously, you’ll have to add sheets, blankets and other things, but if that’s not one covert type of sofa, I don’t know what is. Keep in mind that you can also mix-and-match sofas. For example, you don’t need to buy a sectional and a sofa-bed separately, furniture stores like IKEA give you the option for buying sectionals that are also sofa-beds. Just imagine the possibilities.

Lawsons have many perks. They are classic, comfortable and they don’t take up much space. They are easy to configure with other living room furniture and have endless styles to choose from, making sure that you get a sofa that matches your aesthetic. However, for people who like to make a statement in their living room furniture, the bland, simple Lawson’s are probably not for you.

Sectionals are inherently modern, looking like what Doc and Marty McFly (from Back to the Future) would expect to see in 2021 – not everything falling into anarchy. Since sectionals have the extra section, they can let a person stretch their legs or fit an extra person onto the sofa. The  hollow underside of the extended part of the sofa can also be the perfect place for storage due to its larger capacity. Sectionals take up a lot of space though, so if you wanted something small and easy to move, they are not the amazing sofa solution you need.

Sofa-beds are pretty awesome sofas to have. They can be any type of sofa, such as the ones previously stated, but they still have the ability to transform into a “comfortable” place to sleep. Don’t get me wrong, they are tolerable, but I would definitely prefer my own mattress, thank you very much. They are perfect if you have any guests over because you can just pull out the bottom, again do some cool maneuvers, and you’ve got a bed for them to sleep on for the time that they are there. If a person is low on space in their dorm/apartment, then they can just get a sofa-bed to be both their sofa and bed. Satisfying most needs since about 1982.

In conclusion, sofas are cool. All of these sofas are pretty great to have, but it really depends on what you need in your life. Lawsons, sectionals and sofa-beds can fit a majority of people’s lifestyles, but in my “professional” opinion, I would recommend checking out your local IKEA – totally not sponsored. Due to COVID-19, you probably shouldn’t go in-person, but IKEA has an incredible website that you can check out. Now, enjoy hanging out on your sofa as you might already be doing reading this column.