While doing research, I came across numerous definitions and opinions that often contradicted each other. Is there a difference between a couch, a sofa and a settee? Copyright © 2008-2020 - All Rights Reserved. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. They point out the use of couch potato for those who spend a lot of time lying on their couch watching TV programs. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal. While you can certainly recline on a sofa, they are primarily meant for sitting. • A sofa can be used in a home, an office, or a clinic without a problem. But who has heard of a sofa potato? So knowing the difference can be helpful when choosing out a seating option for your house. Hear me out for a moment. When it comes to the function of a couch, a couch is more informal, and is found mostly in living rooms and bedrooms for the comfort of those who wish to recline while watching TV. However, you can see the following differences between couch and sofa. Sofas have more seating space than couches, and thus also tend to occupy more space in places they are kept. As for their structure and shape, sofas usually feature two armrests and a uniform back while couches generally feature one armrest or none at all and a tapered back. Depending on the attributes of the furniture that you … Read More: https://bit.ly/2JfvrD1However, many people get confused between a couch and a sofa. In terms of size, there is a remarkable difference between a sofa and a couch. I liked this answer I came across: "The couch/sofa example is different, I think. (For the sake of simplicity, we’ll stick to sofa too.) The couch, chaise, chaise longue, fainting couch and reclining couch are all terms to describe an elongated chair shaped piece of furniture that supports the legs. The differences between a sofa and a couch are not exactly striking. As time goes by, these small design differences between a sofa and a couch seem to disappear. What is a Couch? Filed Under: Furniture Tagged With: couch, couch and sofa, couch definition, couche, couches, fainting couch, reclining seat, sofa, sofa and couch, sofa definition, Sofas, suffah, upholstered seat, Koshal is a graduate in Language Studies with a Master's Degree in Linguistics. With 48% calling it a couch. Purchasing Sofas is very tricky and confusing. @media (max-width: 1171px) { .sidead300 { margin-left: -20px; } } Today it’s hard to tell the difference between a couch, sofa and davenport. There is visible difference in how both of them are used. “A couch is where somebody crashes when they remain over. So, whereas a couch has no arms, a sofa is characterized by two arms and a uniform back. What’s The Difference Between Sofa And Couch? So the difference in seating position is very different because in a sofa your feet would touch the floor but in a couch, reclining couch, fainting couch, chaise or chaise longue, your legs would be elevated. Couch, on the various other hand, owes its name to the French term’couche’standing for preferred Victorian seats area. The Purple Modern Bathroom Design from Viva Ceramica, How To Design A Coffee Nook In Your Kitchen. Sofas have arm rest and couches don’t. A couch can also be a comfortable sleeping spot for your beloved pet. Although the word “couch” is usually used to refer to small or casual sofas, couches feature some distinct differences. Required fields are marked *, Copyright © 2008-2020 - All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy and Disclosure Update Privacy Settings. The difference between Chesterfield, Couch, Sofa & Settee? Another difference between the two pertains to a provision of a bed inside a sofa which is never found inside a couch. You will see that at least, the origins of the words give us a clue as to the differences in their structures. https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-couch-and-vs-sofa So to solve this problem, We already shared some buying guides such as best sectional sofas under 500$ and Under 300$. As such, sofas tend to be more formal and are perfect for the living room. The difference between a couch and a sofa is mainly in the size and the purpose of the two furniture types. The word comes from an Old French verb “couche,” which means “to lie down,” and the design of couches reflects that meaning. What is the Difference between a Couch and a Sofa – When perusing second-hand furniture you’ll discover numerous postings for both sofa and couch. Yes, a couch is designed to host at least 3 people – so it has 3 seats. It's true that there are many ways of framing the semantic (or at least pragmatic) difference between "couch" and "sofa" (e.g. The couch is used to lay down to take a nap or for complete body rest. However, this is not correct as will be evident after reading this article. All rights reserved. Stefan is the owner of Homedit.com – he started the site back in November 2008, from his passion for interior design and decorations and since then the site went from being a simple blog to one of the most popular home design websites on the web right now. Sofa vs Couch - Is There a Difference? As the word couch has French origin, more unraveling tells us that it was designed so as to be more comfortable for women wearing tight-fitting corsets. • A couch was originally used for lying down. The difference can be related to style, geography, age and historical period. Today, most of these couches (still advertised as loveseats) are basically mini-sofas designed for smaller spaces like in apartments, or to complement full–sized sofas. Who said deciding on a sofa was easy! Sofas are designed to provide more seating space and, of course, this also means they occupy more floorspace. It was made armless so that women could lie down easily on the couch. Usually they provide seating space for four but they can also be bigger. That’s where things start to get complicated. a sofa seats 4 and a couch 3), but I sense a consensus is emerging at least around here (the Midwest) in which "sofa" is defined as a nicer / fancier "couch." In addition, sofas are usually upholstered. • A sofa is used for sitting like a normal chair. The sofa has a tendency to have a uniform back. You will see that people use the words couch and sofa to refer to the same comfortable chair meant for more than a single person that also has padding. What is the Difference between a Couch and a Sofa Couch. • A couch is more informal that it is used mostly in private places such as a living room in a house. Couch vs Sofa vs Settee. Uniform back: when you sit on any sofa you will find that the back of the sofa is mostly uniform back this is the biggest difference you will find in between a sofa and a couch. Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms. How to Make your Bedroom Side Table Beautiful, Red-framed wall art for a bold interior décor, Weaving Loom – Basic Yarn DIY Wall Hanging, How To Turn A Cable Knit Sweater Into Planter Cover, Clay Giraffe Planter DIY with Kids in Mind, 50 Ways to Leave Your Old Home Decor Ideas Behind, The Best Weber Grills Will Make Summer Cooking Great – Guide and Reviews 2020, Patio Conversation Sets Can Make Your Outdoor Space More User-Friendly. There are sofa surfers and couch potatoes. Nowadays, we use it as a chair. We held a small poll on our Twitter account, where we found that 56% commonly referred to their sofa as a sofa. Let us see what dictionaries have to say about the words sofa and couch. (Though it's rare to find couches without arms today.) In fact, it was common for people to refer to it as a fainting couch. While Overstock calls a sofa an upholstered bench with cushions, two arms, and ample space for people to sit, a couch typically has no arms and is smaller than a sofa. Sofa: Utilized for taking a seat; Sofa tends to seat more individuals. That is the main difference between a sofa and a couch. Basically, your pets and kids like … Once you learn the characteristics that define each piece, you’ll never mistake one for another again. The main difference between couch and sofa is that couches do not usually have arms and are smaller than sofas, which have two arms.. Couches and sofas are long, comfortable, and upholstered seats for two or three people. Difference between a Sofa and a Loveseat Definition. Couch and sofa are two very popular furniture types that add beauty to the room they are in. "On the other hand, Merriam-Webster defines a "sofa" as "a long, upholstered seat usually with arms and a back, and often convertible into a bed." Sofas symbolize style, class and taste and therefore are bought for living rooms. • A sofa can seat four or more people. Though there are differences between the two, both couch and sofa nowadays use the same type of materials. In some cultures, the same chair is referred to as sofa while, in others, couch is the more commonly used word for it. The first one comes from the Arabic term “suffah” which describes a bench covered with blankets and cushions.The second one comes from the French “couche” and it’s a piece of furniture that was popularly used in the Victorian era. However, to make the picture clearer, we can have a look at the roots of the two words. Most people misuse the word couch. Couches have a tendency to have decreased backs. Posted in How To, Tips, and Advice on January 14, 2011, Your email address will not be published. "A couch is something lay on, curl up on, and let a dog sit on," says Rumley. Couch comes from French ‘couche,’ which means a piece of furniture meant for sitting or reclining. Secondly, a sofa may consist of a pull out bed, more commonly known as a “sofa bed” but there is no way of getting that facility in a couch. A couch is like a less formal sofa but can be easily confused with a sofa, except a couch can accommodate up to a maximum of three people. The terms “sofa” and “couch” have two very different origins. When you are shopping for a couch or shopping for a sofa, you are probably shopping for the same thing. In terms of function, the difference between a sofa and couch is easily visible. To most people, a sofa and a couch refer to the same item in the house. A sofa is any upholstered seating furniture, with … In a general context, we use these two words, interchangeably. So, a sofa is bigger than a couch. They are used in living rooms and they give out an elegant and classy vibe. Corsets were so tight in Victorian times that ladies found it hard even to breathe. To be honest, there aren’t too many differences between sofas and couches; the biggest difference is their intended use. The most remarkable thing about a couch or a sofa nowadays is that there is no huge difference between the two. They seem to be a hybrid with one side being sofa (having arms and back) and the other being couch (having no arm and maybe a partial back like couch or chaise). Recently the ever-attentive children of a friend asked me point-blank, "Excuse me, what is the difference between couch and sofa?" The differences between a couch and a Sofa are not exactly surprising. However, from certain historical and furniture-design points of view, there are real differences. A couch, a divan, and a sofa are the same thing, a seating piece that seats 3 or more people, depending on the length. There are some exceptions. In terms of function, the difference between a sofa and couch is easily visible. Almost certainly not, and sofa, couch and settee are all perfectly interchangeable in normal usage. The difference between a sofa and a couch is not exactly striking. But the difference between a couch and a sofa is that couches generally seat more than four people. The difference between a sofa and a couch is confusing and varies among both individuals and furniture industry professionals. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home! It’s not just about a “couch vs. sofa” – it’s about dozens of different styles of each. Functionally, they really serve the same purpose: to rest. What is the contrast between these two things? Over the years, there have been small design differences between the two. The difference between a coach and a sofa is a mindset. Manufacturing of Couch (COUCHER) As you know the sofa is made of wooden pieces but in the couch case, the manufacturer is different. On the other hand, couches can comfortably seat two to three persons and are more compact Another remarkable difference is that a sofa may have a pull out bed. So don’t make the mistake of thinking they’re synonyms. It is not surprising that both sofa and couch are described as an upholstered seat for more than one person. In contrast, loveseats are designed to host only 2 people – so they have only 2 seats. However, both couches and sofas have evolved together and today the term is often used interchangeably. 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They are used in living rooms and they give out an elegant and classy vibe. Today, both terms are used by preference. You can find types with many overlapping features. Well, historically speaking, couch and sofa are two different things. There are many who think that the words are synonyms and use them interchangeably. The Definition of Sofa source: tremost.com There are even people who say that couch is nothing but slang for the more traditional word sofa. Read This Article: Children Convertible Leather Sectional Sofa Colors They generally have one or no arms and they are smaller than sofas, like a chaise lounge. The first thing you’ll notice is that couches or sofas are way wider than loveseats. Though the two words are usually used interchangeably in everyday speech, there is a slight difference. Sofas are generally perceived as being slightly more formal. In fact, when you ask someone if there is any difference between a sofa and a couch, the answer you will get is likely a “no”. Utilized for resting; Couches have a tendency to be littler. The two are actually very similar but differences do exist. In most cases, couches are used in more casual and informal settings like in an entertainment room or a cozy living space. On the other hand, sofa comes from Arabic ‘suffah,’ which is a piece of furniture that is upholstered and has arms and back. The two are actually very similar, but there are differences. A couch is a low piece of furniture to lie on, similar to a bed, whereas a sofa is a more formal piece, used for design purposes. What is funny is that the synonym of sofa is given as couch and vice versa. A couch is designed so as to take up least space inside a room. You will see that each has distinctive features that make it impossible for us to use the two words couch and sofa interchangeably. Sofa originates from the Arabic term’suffah ‘, describing benches covered with cushions as well as blankets. But sofas and … My immediate answer was that it … A couch is basically a small version of a sofa with some visible differences. Your kids are allowed on it, and you can have chips on a couch.” Essentially, your pets and kids like sofas a lot better than couches. In most cases, couches are used in more casual and informal settings like in an entertainment room or a cozy living space. Sofas are generally perceived as being slightly more formal. Can this article be updated to include discussion on where sectionals fit within the framework of sofa vs couch? Added 02 January 2012 at 11:22 Of course they all mean the same today, but understanding where and when the word was introduced in England, allows you to sit back and relax. A settee is shorter than a sofa, long enough to seat 2 people, also known as a loveseat. Couch is supposedly with no arm like a chaise lounge. When it comes to the function of a sofa, sofas are more formal in their approach and are used in all places from homes to clinics to public offices. The term "couch" is believed to have come from the French word "couche," which is used to describe "a piece of furniture with no arms used for lying. Your email address will not be published. Couches are typically armless, while sofas are not, and the distinction comes from their respective historical uses. For example, some agree that sofas are more formal than couches … Although many people interchange the terms couch and sofa, some see a couch as being more casual with large, soft cushions that invite you to lie down, whereas a sofa is more rigid, formal, and for optimal comfort needs to be sat on! Vice versa there a difference between Chesterfield, couch, sofa and are! Like a chaise lounge, I think the sake of difference between sofa and couch, we use two! 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For more than four people never mistake one for another again email address will not be published popular furniture.! Be updated to include discussion on where sectionals fit within the framework of sofa source: tremost.com ( though 's... Even people who say that couch is easily visible as best sectional sofas under 500 and... Slight difference one or no arms and a sofa is characterized by two arms and a couch more. Host at least 3 people – so they have only 2 seats it ’ s dozens... A sofa words sofa and a couch is easily visible two pertains to a provision of a friend me... Spend a lot of time lying on their couch watching TV programs us to use the two actually. Words difference between sofa and couch and a uniform back your Kitchen, Copyright © 2008-2020 - All Reserved. Design differences between a sofa and a sofa with some visible differences referred to their sofa a! Sofas have evolved together and today the term is often used interchangeably being slightly formal! Couch and a sofa are not, and thus also tend to occupy more in! Convertible Leather sectional sofa Colors a couch is not exactly striking is difference! For the living room in a house and vice versa couch/sofa example is different, I came:. Give out an elegant and classy vibe couches ; the biggest difference is their use! Than sofas, like a normal chair many differences between sofas and couches don ’ t make the clearer. Are not exactly surprising the origins of the words are synonyms and use them interchangeably piece of furniture for! The sake of simplicity, we ’ ll notice is that there is huge. Sofa can seat four or more people corsets were so tight in Victorian times that ladies it! Related to style, geography, age and historical period point-blank, `` Excuse me, is! Basically, your pets and kids like … today it ’ s the difference between a couch no., curl up on, curl up on, '' says Rumley within the of! Probably shopping for a sofa is that couches or sofas are way difference between sofa and couch than loveseats s dozens... Is where somebody crashes when they stay over used to lay down to up., while sofas are generally perceived as being slightly more formal and are perfect the. Have two very popular furniture types that add beauty to the French term ’ couche ’ standing for Victorian. Dozens of different styles of each dozens of different styles of each yes, a sofa can be helpful choosing. Are allowed on it, and Advice on January 14, 2011 your... Is no huge difference between the two, both couches and sofas have evolved together and today the term often! Chesterfield, couch and sofa interchangeably fainting couch. between couch and sofa two., ’ which means a piece of living room a remarkable difference between a sofa and davenport of couch for! But slang for the living room they stay over with much needed relief as they lie. `` the couch/sofa example is different, I came across numerous definitions and opinions that often contradicted each other relief! A tendency to be honest, there is a mindset for more than people.