THE SOFA IS an important piece of home real estate. It takes up physical and visual space, and we all spend quite a lot of time with our buns plonked on the couch, reading, watching telly or chatting with family and friends.
Having lived for years with a sofa that hurt my eyes almost as much as it hurt my backside to sit, I’m painfully aware of just how important the right sofa is to a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing home.
It also ends up gathering a lifetime of stories during its tenure. If you’re in need of a dose of sofa inspiration, read on as these Irish homeowners and renters share how they tracked down their sofas, and what they love most about them…
1. Hackney Leather Sofa, DFS – Paula Doherty
Paula Doherty chose a leather number for her holiday home in Donegal, spotted in Dublin and purchased in a sister store in Derry.
When we first purchased our place in Donegal in 2007, we had painted the living room walls a pale yellow and were given a black second hand leather couch.
At the time I thought it was all lovely, but as the years went on I began to find the mix of yellow and black a bit cold and unwelcoming. I wanted warmer, cosier tones.
After trailing Pinterest and Instagram, I decided to go for sage green walls and a tan leather sofa. I spotted the Hackney in the DFS shop in Blanchardstown a few weeks before we purchased it and I visited the shop a few times before I made up my mind.
When I brought my other half in to see it, he was sold straight away. I knew from trying it out in the shop that it was comfortable – and the quality is so good (it wasn’t cheap!). As time moves on and with more use, it gets comfier and comfier.
2. Velvet Queen Anne sofa, second-hand from Done Deal – Karen Louise Daly
Karen Louise found the second-hand Queen Anne sofa of her dreams a few years back for €120. It’s moved from one rented place to another with her, and she dreams of finding it a permanent spot in her “forever home” soon.
The Queen Anne sofa always struck me as such a grown up piece of furniture when I was younger. When I spotted one on Done Deal a few years ago for an absolute steal I knew I had to buy it… and the following Monday it arrived outside our house in a van!
The man I purchased it from couldn’t quite understand why his wife was getting rid if it, but apparently she wanted a more slick and modern sofa. He explained it was only ever used in the “good sitting room” on special occasions. Such an Irish thing to do!
For the last two years we have been renting and moving around while we try to save for our mortgage. The sofa has been very much loved in our homes already. It has lived in the kitchen, the sitting room – and even featured in our wedding as a vintage-style seating area and photo op spot for our guests.
3. Windsor Velvet Sofa, DFS – Joanne Mooney
Colour-lover Joanne Mooney went all-in on a canary yellow sofa, a total change from the more muted furniture she had before.
I chose a yellow Chesterfield sofa from DFS in October of last year, and before this I had a grey corner suite. It was a huge change for the space.
Now, when I walk into my living room, I smile. The colour lifts me and cheers me up. Yellow is so versatile. I painted one wall dark blue and it gives my sofa that pop against it.
I think people are afraid to put a bright coloured sofa in their homes; they play it safe and go for a neutral colour. I love colour and I’m not afraid to use it throughout my home.
4. Roxy Four-Seater Sofa, Harvey Norman – Sinead Doyle
New homeowner Sinead visited ten different furniture shops before landing on a comfy four-seater, which they ordered to be there for moving day.
We bought our first house last year and after years of living with the (often tasteless) furniture choices of landlords, we were excited to be able to curate our own space. The sofa decision was up there on our essentials list. It was the one thing (other than a bed) that we really wanted for the day we were moving in.
We must have visited about ten different furniture shops. The spindly little peg legs on a lot of the statement sofas we saw didn’t look too robust, and also, they just weren’t that comfortable to sit on. They didn’t pass the ‘Can I sit here and imagine myself curled up on a Friday evening?’ test.
We eventually found the Roxy sofa in Harvey Norman and plumped for the four-seater. We’re both tall so it gives us space to stretch out… but seating four on it would be a bit of a push. Most importantly, it is just so comfortable.
The only thing I would perhaps change is the stuffing in the matching cushions alongside the arms – I’d love something easier to plump up.
5. Blue Velvet Chesterfield Sofas, Debenhams – Darran Heaney
Interiors aficionado Darran Heaney fell in love with his two blue velvet Chesterfields the moment he saw them, swapping out an old L-shaped leather couch for something more traditional.
Our previous couch was great to chill out on, but didn’t suit the style of the room. The Chesterfields are more in keeping with the old period features in our new living room. but the blue velvet gives them a modern twist.
I mapped their size out with sheets of newspaper on the floor to make sure they fit. This was helpful to visualize how much floor space they would take up. The velvet can be hard to maintain – dust shows up on it – but I’d never change them. I think that the shape and style of a Chesterfield sofa never goes out of fashion. And they are comfortable, too!
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