Traditional Sofas

Traditional sofas balance classic elegance with contemporary comfort – high backs, deep seats, densely filled cushions and the proportions that have defined English upholstery for centuries. Our collection takes design cues from country-house drawing rooms and tailored Mayfair townhouses, built to last a lifetime in households that use rather than display them.

  • +62
  • +58
  • +60
  • +63
  • +13
  • +12
  • +60
  • By Carl Hansen & Son
    From £7,129
  • +55

High back (over 90cm), tight rolled or scrolled arms, deep seat (at least 60cm), feather-filled cushions, fabric or leather upholstery to the floor without exposed legs. Buttoned backs, skirt details and turned wood feet are common; the piece reads as substantial and considered rather than light or modern.

They're often more comfortable for long sittings than contemporary alternatives – the deeper seat and higher back support the body better over a two-hour film. The trade-off is visual presence: a traditional sofa anchors a room more heavily, which suits some interiors but not minimalist ones. For a family-first living room with classical character, traditional silhouettes are usually the right answer.

A well-built traditional sofa with hardwood frame, hand-tied springs and feather cushions should last 25-30 years. The frame and structure rarely fail; the fabric needs replacing every 12-15 years on a heavily used piece. Re-upholstering at year 15-20 is the standard refurbishment that extends the working life by another two decades.

Tonally yes; identically no. A matched suite (sofa plus two armchairs in the same fabric) reads as showroom in a domestic setting. A traditional sofa with two slightly different armchairs in coordinating fabrics reads as collected and considered. The same logic applies to mixing periods – a Victorian-style sofa can sit happily next to a 20th-century wing chair.