What is the most comfortable type of sofa?

[shelldockley]

Last time we bought a new sofa (only a couple of years ago) we went for a recliner after trying some friends' and finding them comfortable. Now we've had it for a while, I've really gone off it. It's comfortable when I'm reclining, but not for sitting up, it's ridiculously heavy with all the metal work underneath (which of course doesn't matter until you have to move it!), it's also pretty ugly, they don't make recliners in very attractive styles!

So I'm just pondering what the most comfortable type of sofa is? Do you have one you'd recommend? Is a deep seat comfy? Soft bouncy cushions? Firmer feather cushioning? Any experience and reviews welcome!

[haggisaggis]

Don't get one which has loads of loose cushions for the back. Looks great in the shop but you can never get them to stay put. Also, don't buy a sofa that's too deep. You end up slouching as your feet can't touch the ground. (we ditched that one and bought a corner group with recliners...!)

[shelldockley]

Thanks for the tip! I was thinking deep would be good for curling up? Ours isn't deep enough to curl up, I suppose it depends how you usually sit too.

[DooWhop]

Definitely deep! Ours is the older version of this and still going strong 5+ years later.
You can curl up on it, sleep on it, it feels almost as wide as a single bed. Soooo comfy!

[nooka]

Lol. We have a very deep sofa with loose cushions at the back. It is very comfortable and we still love it coming up 15 years after we bought it (although it no longer fits all four of us, the dog and the cats now our children are 6' teenagers )

Which all goes to show that comfort is a totally personal thing! We have a deep sofa because I like to curl up and more importantly because dh is 6'5" and so he has very long legs. It's also very comfortable to sleep on if needed.

It's a traditionally made sofa (originally bought from John Lewis) with very solid cushions to sit on and heavy ones to lean on at the back. We will be reupholstering it at some point but I expect to keep it for many years to come.

We also have a second hand reclining armchair (LazyBoy) and are thinking about buying this nest.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

When you say curling up, do you mean siting on one side with your legs tucked up next to you? That's not a habit you want to get into, I developed acute back pain a few years ago and the physio guessed straight away that I sat that way on sofas as my pelvis had ended up higher on one side than the other. For that reason (and because we're both short) we don't like deep sofas.

[MistyMeena]

Feather filled cushions are very comfortable but after a while the feathers start to escape and will drive you mad!

[Monica101]

I think a high back so you can rest your head. Not too deep so your legs can't easily touch the ground.

Having looked for ages I found g plan had the comfiest sofa for me. They are not the most modern or greatest looking sofas though.

At the moment I have a deep sofa and I find it really uncomfortable as I can only curl up in. Not comfortably sit on it.

[wowfudge]

Agree that a high back which supports your neck and head is the best bet. Foam filled seat cushions last better and are more supportive than other crappy cheaper fillings which are sold as being comfy and squishy, etc.

[shelldockley]

I love those nest chairs! Maybe one of each is needed, a deep one for curling up, one for sitting up, and one for laying down! I think in future I'd rather a foot stool than a recliner.

[Monica101]

I agree recliner are too heavy so make any moving of them very stressful. I came close to buying one and so glad I didn't.

[Sgtmajormummy]

Our last sofa had quite high armrests (about 25cm from the seat) in what I call an upholstered "curl". Just right for resting your head and shoulders when you lie down on your side to watch a film. We all miss them!

[ouryve]

It depends on you, unfortunately. DH's legs are 5" longer than mine, so we find different things comfortable. I don't like a sofa that you sink into because I can't stand up again, but some people find that sort of sofa ideal.

[Sgtmajormummy]

Ahh! We even had visitors who, having tried the pull-out double bed, preferred to sleep in it as a sofa (although they were the casual "make your own bed when you're ready" type of guests!).