Shakespeare said 'a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet', of course, he was talking about a name, and I am talking about sofa, here! The fact of the matter is that people will judge a lot about you by your sofa when they come into your home. A nice leather sofa, says that you are successful, and well, not a vegan. A big comfy couch tells people that they are welcome in your home, and ushers them in to stay a while. A sleek and modern sofa however, might just do the exact opposite. Sometimes cold, and a little intimidating in style, the modern look just does not beckon people over to sit; rather it looms over the room, commanding respect and daring toddlers to muss it with their sticky fingers.



In the late seventies and early eighties, the prefab furniture business was booming, and people bought sofas that were basically wooden frames filled with cushions. They were not very stylish, nor were they very comfortable. They were cheap to buy, and cheaply made, judging by how often they needed to be replaced. How many people would sit on those sofas and find themselves either wedged into the back, or sliding helplessly toward the floor as family and friends tried not to laugh at them?

What exactly is the purpose of the sofa anyway? It is not merely furniture, the same as the side chair or the coffee table are. The sofa sets the tone for the whole room. It can be a comfy nest for a blissful nap; or a launching pad for a romance as two nervous lovers sit side by side for the first time. It can be the family dog house, as one spouse is banished to sleep there after a spat. It can be the landing pad for the family gymnast, perfecting her tumbling routine as she flips over the arm rest. A good sofa can make a bad room seem better; a bad sofa can throw off even the best designed room.

And what is the worst of all the sofa types? The hybrid: the sofa bed. Ugh, who wants to even think about those atrocities? They are not comfortable as couches, and they certainly do not improve once you open them up and use them as a bed. I am amazed that they are even still made, considering the other products on the line that are vastly superior, but they are still made and sold. I guess there really is no accounting for some people's taste, is there?

Give me a nice, cushy couch, a warm blanket and my sweetie to cuddle up with and you are near to perfection. Add in a good vampire movie, some salty popcorn and a cold soda and you are nearing the stage of nirvana. Now, if the power should fail, and a summer storm pops up, we might actually be talking about a little bit of heaven right here on earth.