We believe home design should be stylish and distinctive. The clean lines and shelter style of a slipcovered sofa or the rich patina of top-grain leather upholstery are elements that help define a space, making it personalized to you. At Lulu and Georgia, our well-designed and thoughtfully-curated collection of living room couches are perfect for your home, offering both elevated style and individual personality. 

The perfect sofa or couch is central to establishing the look of your home's aesthetic and a great reflection of your personality. To help achieve your vision, we have designed and curated a selection that showcases multiple styles, scales, and upholstery options. The versatility of frames, fabrics, and colors lets you decide between timeless and tailored visual appeal or for a bolder, more dynamic direction that instantly transforms your living room. Plus, the thoughtful materiality and construction of each new couch reassure you of a long-lasting, heirloom-quality piece.

Browsing to buy a sofa online and not sure what style fits your look and home best? Don’t worry, we have got you covered. Check out a few tips below on inspiration when browsing, styling tips, and explore our line of statement-making and cozy living room couches. 

Consider Your Space

Living rooms come in a variety of sizes and styles. You may be working with a large, open-concept space, a small-space room that is multifunctional, or a traditional family room you will want to fill with lots of seating. So, you will first have to recognize how your living room couch will fit into your space. Are you looking for a cozy lounging spot meant to unwind after long days and weekends? Will it pair with an accent chair (or two) to foster conversation around a coffee table, like with the Maxwell Sofa? Or is it meant to be placed near a window or floor lamp to create a relaxing reading nook? With our extensive seating options, you will always have a pleasant seat to offer your guests and one to curl up in yourself.

Your living room's style and decor revolve around the look of your sofa. Along with its ability to tie the room together, a new couch can also allow you to add a splash of color and show your creativity with eye-catching forms and fabrics. When you buy couches online, you need to consider several options. What is the room in which they will be situated? Will they be central to you and your family's everyday life, or are they meant for more formal visits? Do you want a roomy sectional sofa, or would you prefer a sleeker-sized chaise? However you pick, you will have to recognize the space it is meant for and choose wisely on how this piece will get used. 

We are here to answer these questions so you can choose the living room focal point that works best with how you want to use it. First, we want to explain the differences between the terms couchand sofa. 

Spot the Difference: A Couch and A Sofa

“Couch” and “sofa” have become interchangeable over the years. However, there is a slight historical distinction between the two. Originally a sofa was a specific piece of furniture with a cushioned upholstered bench nestled between two arms. It was designed to seat four or more people comfortably. Meanwhile, a couch is understood to have a narrower bench seat to accommodate two people and usually has an armless silhouette. So, despite these terms becoming nearly synonymous, their use still carries slightly different undertones. If you are looking to buy a sofa online in a set to pair together, then most likely those pieces will be used in a sitting room or more formal living space. Conversely, if you are searching for a new couch, then the implication is that you want something that places a stronger emphasis on comfort, for example, in a den or family room. 

Seating Style Guide

Your living room is one of the most trafficked areas in the whole of your home. Many people use it to socialize with their families, entertain guests, or relax after a day at work. A comfortable sofa couch needs to be one that can suit your lifestyle and fit seamlessly into your space. Beyond traditional seating, here are a few more alternatives so you can confidently choose the right living room couch for your space.

Sectional

Sectional sofas are multiple pieces of furniture designed to accompany each other. Usually, a sectional features two or more components typically coming together at a 90-degree angle to create an L or U shape. Another type of sectional features a chaise lounge on either the right or left side of the sofa. Yet another couch sectional style is modular, which consists of several interchangeable pieces, like an ottoman, that can be rearranged in any manner to adapt to different living room dimensions. 

Loveseat

A loveseat, which is larger than an accent chair and narrower than a sofa, is designed specifically for two people and for smaller living spaces. If you are furnishing a smaller apartment or studio space, a loveseat is an ideal choice to add to your home. It blends the dual appeal of the comfort of a sofa without taking up too much space. 

Chaise Sofa

The allure of a chaise sofa, or chaise lounge, lies in your ability to stretch out on it and relax in both comfort and style. Thoroughly rooted in French decor design, chaises have two traditional styles—the first features an asymmetrical back and headrest, and the second is characterized by symmetrical raised ends that can serve as headrest and footrest. With a pillow-top cushion and bolsters, Elvie Chaise is a striking spot to lounge, read, or curl up on all day long. 

Daybeds

Similar to a chaise, a daybed can resemble a sofa couch when backed against a wall and has throw pillows layered on to provide support. Traditionally, daybeds are transitional pieces that function as a couch by day and a bed by night. Their most telling characteristic is a static frame that supports a standard twin-sized mattress.

Settee

A settee is a small-scale couchdefined by its slimmer frame. Its pared-back profile accommodates a narrower seat and a back that is set at a steeper incline. A settee makes for excellent accent seating when lined along the foot of your bed, placed in transitional spaces like entryways and hallways, or pulled up to a dining table as a stand-in for a bench.

Here at Lulu and Georgia, our living room sofas are available in several different styles, colors, shapes, and sizes, so there will always be an option to perfectly fit any room in your house. We design and curate plenty of options, from chic chaise lounges that make for elegant additions to formal sitting rooms or plush and roomy sofas that are part of your day-to-day life. So, if you have decided on your sofa style, then the next step is selecting the best material to fit in with your room's look. 

Upholstery Trends We're Currently Loving

If you are shopping to buy a couch, you know that fabric plays a critical role in the overall comfort and design. As new materials and fabric options have become more accessible, there are lots of exciting designs that add personality to your space. We are huge fans of upholstery that layer in a ton of tactile and visual style because they instantly transform your space. If you are having trouble deciding between different upholstery choices, read on for a few tips. 

Performance Fabric 

Perfect for a family with small children or pets, performance fabrics are an easy-care, long-lasting option for your casual seating options. Incredibly durable, they are fade resistant from exposure to the sun and withstand water spills, mold, and mildew. Performance fabrics also dry promptly, helping to prevent stains from penetrating the fabric permanently. We love this Myla Slipcover Sofa for its durable and easy-to-care slipcover and its inviting design.

Bouclé

Bouclé is renowned for its softness and durability and is characterized by its nubby appearance. It is from the little loops in the yarn from which it gets its name, translating as "loop" in French. A timeless trend, the fabric has recently undergone a resurgence as its cozy appeal has been paired with modern, sculptural forms to create luxe, statement-making sofas.

Leather

A favorite for both style and comfort, leather upholstery adds cozy warmth to every room. Leather is a premium sofa material, whether your couch is crafted from high-quality top-grain, or split-grain, or even suede. Plus, it will be extremely durable, and time will only enhance its visual appeal and character if tended to carefully. 

Leather couches can be styled to suit many different room design ideas. When arranged in a space with vintage touches and traditional design elements, the patina of a leather sofa highlights the old-world charm of a vintage-inspired room. On the other hand, these versions also shine in a modern space. The deep tones of well-cared-for leather create the perfect focus piece for an artistic room, adding layers of contrast and texture. A leather couch acts as the perfect centerpiece to tie together bold design elements with metallic or colorful nuances.

If you are browsing to buy a couch, select a soft, long-lasting material like cotton or leather that can stand up to regular use and is easy to maintain. An upholstered living room sofa with down or foam filling will offer the plush, cozy support you seek. Also, be sure to select a style with durable construction like a hardwood frame with reinforced joints so you can enjoy your furniture for years to come.

Curated Designer Collections

At Lulu and Georgia, we're proud of the company we keep. From up-and-coming makers to celebrated brands, we are excited by the relationships we have cultivated. That means we've been able to add to our selection with chic pieces from our Ginny Macdonald designer capsule you can now browse and buy couches online for. 

We were ecstatic to convince Ginny Macdonald, the L.A.-based British interior designer, to create an exclusive line of upholstered furniture pieces for us. The result is a capsule of tailored classics and elevated statement piece accent chairs, sofas, and beds. The collection beautifully blends its Victorian house inspiration with the fresh look and feel of modern California style. Our Coniston Linen Sleeper Sofa, upholstered in premium Belgian linen and showcasing a refined profile, also provides extra sleeping space with its pull-out mattress.

Small-Space Living Rooms

We recognize that for a lot of customers, a large living room is not a reality. Whether in apartments with just enough room for a loveseat or two occasional chairs and a compact accent table or if your coffee table serves multiple extra functions like your dining space and workstation, we have options that fit your style and space.

For those who can't fit much furniture in their living room, we love the idea of using swivel chairs, or similarly versatile occasional chairs, to pair with your loveseat or chaise lounger for extra seating. Plus, with a narrower, armless style, you can use either a tray or C-base table to easily convert your couch into a work or dining space. 

Outdoor Entertaining and Lounging

If you enjoy hosting on your patio or in your backyard or gazing up at the stars while lounging outside, then you will need seating that can withstand the elements. Think durable, weather-resistant materials like concrete, teak wood, aluminum, and synthetic fibers. However, just because you are choosing between sturdier pieces, that does not mean that you have to sacrifice any style.

As with an indoor sofa couch, those meant for outdoor spaces can maintain a balance between an eye-catching look and a functional, high-traffic piece. Even pieces that are constructed from similar materials are not limited in design or style. Think highly durable and weather-resistant materials like teak wood or all-weather wicker, and synthetic fabrics for the upholstery. Paired with chic and inspired designs, they create versatile pieces that look great in whichever room they are placed in. View and shop our outdoor lounge furniture collection to choose a set-up that is an extension of your interior home decor aesthetic.

How to Style Your Room with a Sofa

Your sofa is the focal point of your room, so you will want to make sure that it is properly styled and paired with the rest of your decor. Below, we have added a few tips on how to best style these pieces with other furniture and decor pieces. 

Think of what the throughline design-wise will be for your room. Are you intending for a modern or traditional look, or something entirely different? We recently styled our French Deco collection on the blog, speaking to mixing and matching statement-making pieces by taking a minimalist approach. The luxe textures, vivid colors, and alluring designs can flourish specifically because the room does not feel overstuffed with items. 

Adding texture into a space’s decor is an imaginative and expressive way to bring visual coherence to your room. To add dimension to your couch, you can add throw pillows with eye-catching patterns and materials to create an air of intention. With the proper selection of throw pillows, you can dramatically change or refresh the feel of a room. A range of textures can add a layer of warmth while adhering to one specific accent can infer a minimalist touch.

Whichever way you decide to style it, remember that your sofa allows you the flexibility to showcase your design aesthetic with little touches of nuanced design. Loved ones and visitors can then immediately get a sense of who you are by seeing how you have utilized this foundational piece to create and build on your design aesthetic.

When you shop online at Lulu and Georgia for living room inspiration, you will find pieces that complement the style of your space, but also make it feel more elevated. Whether you are looking to find a statement-making silhouette to stand out in your room or a timeless and tailored piece, we have a selection curated by design style, materials, and sizes to choose from. Check out our Living Room Shop by Room page for more ideas and inspiration on how to best create stylish everyday living spaces.