Are Backpack Sofas the Next Big Thing?

While it’s not unusual for sofas to be multi-purpose (think sofa beds…), this one caught our eye because we feel it takes multi-purpose to whole new level.  As Dave LeClair writes in Gizmag.com:

“For anyone who has a ton of stuff in their house that they just cannot find a place for, this new Eastpak sofa might be right up their alley. It’s sort of like a backpack and couch combined into one piece of furniture. It has pockets for your tablet, laptop, remote and almost anything else you could want to store in your couch.

This couch might look a little odd, but for people in small spaces where storage is at a premium, it could be a useful fix.” [Read the full article here]

The Eastpak certainly appears to be functional and is guaranteed to be a conversation starter, but we really don’t feel it will be featuring in the majority of living rooms any time soon.

We’re not saying that the Eastpak doesn’t have a market.  Though the price is a bit steep for a piece is a bit steep for many people who reside in smaller living spaces (based on the assumption that, if money were no object, then larger accommodation would be sought), we can see such these sofas being popular outside the lounge, e.g., teenagers’ rooms or even family rooms where clutter is often a risk.

However, we strongly believe that a lounge is for lounging, and there are other sofas on the market that fulfill the needs of those with smaller living areas more adequately.

For example, when space is limited, sectional sofas like the one pictured above are well worth considering.  Though the Rieti is not as versatile as some, it can still fully utilise the corner of a room, without taking up valuable space with ‘arms’ in the way that other seating options do, and the chaise is reversible so you’re not restricted to a particular corner, etc.

Basically, these sofas (often known as corner sofas) tend to offer more seating for less floor space, without compromising on the sort of comfort we expect from a sofa that’s fit for a lounge.

Small leather sofas for multi purpose rooms

Do you have a home office that could double as a guest bedroom with the right choice of furniture? If so, you’re not alone! As Lynn Underwood points out in article ‘Turn your home office into a holiday-guest bedroom‘ for The Taunton Daily Gazette:

“For most of the year, they function as flex spaces for offices, playrooms, dens or craft rooms. But when overnight guests descend for the holidays, it’s time to transform those spaces into quiet sleeping quarters as warm and cozy as a fleece robe.” (Click here to read more)

Small leather sofas are great options for home offices. They create an air of sophistication and professionalism, while being sufficiently compact to fit into a limited space. And the good news is that you can buy small leather sofas with built in beds!   We’ve had a look some small leather sofas with sofa bed options that are available online and would invite you to check out the Hilton 2-seater sofa bedfrom Harveys, pictured below, which has a big discount on the price at the moment (a £773 saving on the after event price).

  These small leather sofas have arm pads that are cushioned, which means they are both stylish and comfortable at the same time! Also, there are a number of neutral colours available for this one. We’ve shown the Brown shade in the image above. The ‘Extra Comfort’ cushions have centre stitching feature and are filled with fibre.

As well as some great deals at up to half price in the Harvey’s sale, online customers can get an extra 5% off selected products until 4th February 2013.  The voucher code for this discount is AFFJAN13 and please note that it can’t be used in conjunction with any other offers/promotions.   The code applies to the following ranges:  This code applies to the following ranges: Monty, Clarissa, Cassie, Maine, Leo sofabeds, Oasis, Juno, Liberata, Modena, Vesuvius, Astoria, Charlie, Mica, Devon, Manhattan sofa bed and Francisco.

Another option for a room with limited floor space is a corner sofa, or sectional sofa, and it is possible to find these small leather sofas with sofa beds included in the structure. The advantage of corner sofas is that you don’t waste space with arms in the way that you do with a more traditional sofa.  The video below shows some examples of small sofas, which includes corner sofas.

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If you’ve ever been in the position where you have unexpected guests and no spare beds, then you’ll understand how sofa beds can be an absolute blessing.

It can happen to anyone…

Friends come round for dinner, at some point they make a decision to get a taxi home so the proposed driver can have an extra glass of wine or a beer, and before you know it you hear yourself utter those immortal words: “Why don’t you stay with us tonight?”

This is quickly followed by a ‘fairly silent but deadly’ argument with your partner in the kitchen as you’re dishing up dessert, where:

a) he accuses you of not being able to resist keeping your mouth shut when they would have been quite happy to call a cab,

b) you wish you’d bitten your tongue and not asked them, but refuse to admit it,

c) you consider ‘accidentally’ dropping the dessert onto his best shirt,

d) he wonders how he can get away with ‘accidentally’ spilling the bottle of red wine he’s opening (for your guests, neither of whom now have an alcohol limit) down the back of your best dress, and

e) as if by magic, you each plaster on a smile and pretend everything’s fine from the exact second you are in ear shot of your diners.

So it’s turning into a great night for your guests, but by morning you just know you and your other half will be black and blue from sharing undersized beds with your kids – while the other couple has the luxury of sleeping in yours!

Sofa beds to the rescue!

Now… if only you’d thought about sofa beds when furnishing your lounge, you could have offered your guests a suitable option for a good night’s rest and kept some normality in your own sleeping arrangements.

Sofa beds are a very common option when purchasing sofas these days, and are available in many styles, shades and patterns, so you are bound to find one that fits your home perfectly. It might seem unnecessary when you don’t have guests very often, but there is not usually a huge difference in price – and it could save you a ‘fairly silent but deadly’ argument or two in the kitchen if an invite slips out at the last minute by mistake!

It may be tempting to knock down walls, leaving an open space that flows throughout your home, but small rooms can have a special charm of their own that is impossible to create in a larger area.

Small rooms can be warm and inviting…

Small rooms can be cosy and make it easy to define living accommodation. With careful attention to wall colour and furnishing with small sofas and armchairs that create a real ‘wow’, you could find yourself with a bijou home of your dreams if you follow a few simple rules.

When decorating small rooms…

Avoid darker colours on walls because they can easily ‘shrink’ a room. Opt for lighter colours instead to give an impression of space.

Multi purpose furniture

Multi purpose furniture, such as sofa beds, can help you to make the most of living areas that would often be thought of as restricted. A library room may not have room for a sofa, but armchairs are definitely worth consideration, especially as the right armchair can make a real statement in a room.

Small sofas work well in small rooms

Rather than opt for a traditional 3 piece suite, small rooms are often better able to accommodate a couple of small sofas. The most common combination for 3 piece suites is a 3-seater sofa and a two armchairs. Small sofas can work better because less space is taken up by the arms than would be the case with armchairs. One option is to have two small sofas placed at a right angle towards the corner of a room, with a square lamp table in between. With the right lamp, this can be a very effective use of space, providing a cosy lighting solution that can be a statement in itself.

Good colours for small sofas and accessories

If you are thinking about having a couple of small sofas in your room, a lighter neutral shade would be a good choice, giving you an opportunity to add some colour into the room through choice of cushions and curtains. These days, you can get lots of cushions and curtains with a light base colour that uses stronger colours within the pattern. These designs are fantastic for adding a host of bold colours into a small room while maintaining a bright and airy feel.

If you have a small room decorated in neutral shades and are opting for a single piece of furniture, such as an armchair or one small sofa, you can follow the same guidelines as with cushions and curtains, i.e., choose a fabric with a light base colour and strong pattern, which should give you the ‘wow’ you are seeking without darkening your living space.

When looking at sofas for sale, there are many interesting options to consider.To find out about a few of these options, read on

Have you thought about leather sofas?

Yes, if you want some luxury, why not look out for leather sofas for sale?Leather sofas for sale can be found in a wide range of colours and styles.

A few of the sofa designs readily available include classic leather sofas for sale with straight backs,sofa beds, corner units and recliners, offering buyers a good number of options.This availability means potential customers will be able to try out lots of sofas for sale and explore the advantages and disadvantages of choosing leather, before making a final purchasing decision.

Faux leather sofas

If you are on a low budget but love the look of leather, you could look at faux leather sofas for sale instead.

You will find that these faux leather sofas for sale have many of the advantages of real leather, including their aesthetic appeal and the ease with which they tend to fit in with existing décor, etc.However, when looking at any sofas for sale, you should be considering how easy your choice might be to maintain in a good condition.

Will it fit in?

Often, the choice you end up making is down to the space you have available. Even if you’ve seen sofas for sale that you really like, you should never purchase something before you know for sure that it will fit in with your home décor and be the right size for the room where it will be situated.

Corner units offer flexibility for smaller spaces

If space is an issue, you might want to look at a corner unit, which splits into sections, thereby allowing your seating to be arranged way that fits into your room.

This choice could be particularly good if your room is an odd shape or too small for a larger sofa.  Also, if you have a larger room and would benefit from defining the space for different use, e.g., lounge area and dining area, you might find it useful to check out some different styles of sectional sofas for sale.

Multi-purpose sofa beds

Another popular option is the bed settee or sofa bed.

The advantage that this option has over other sofas for sale is that it has a dual purpose, and can accommodate guests at the last minute if you do’nt have a spare bedroom.  However, you will need to think about how often your sofa bed will be used for slumber before you buy as this may well have a negative impact on the durability of some products available.