How to choose a couch for the kitchen?

A couch is usually called a compact sofa, which serves for gatherings at the table and a place for relaxation. This piece of furniture is often found in modern kitchens. A small couch is often purchased as an extra bed for guests. Such furniture is selected according to the style of the kitchen and a number of available advantages.

Many kitchens have long been equipped with corners with upholstered furniture for a convenient location in the process of eating and receiving guests. The couch in the kitchen is installed on a par with the dining table and is considered one of the main attributes of the furnishings. The first mention of this small sofa with a headrest dates back to antiquity. Then the couches were available only to representatives of the aristocratic class. Such a piece of furniture was inaccessible and incomprehensible to the common people.

A modern daybed is no longer a luxury item and is available to almost everyone. It owes its popularity to several features.

• Compact dimensions, allowing you to place a couch even in a small kitchen.
• The cost of furniture is more affordablethan the price of traditional sofas.
• Comfort. Even the most comfortable chairs are incomparable in comfort with a soft and cozy sofa. Compact kitchen couches fit perfectly into the room.
• Decorative characteristics. An extensive assortment of couches makes it possible to choose the most appropriate model for a specific decor. There are options for different styles and designs. For the manufacture of couches, not only wood and chipboard are used, but also metal, plastic, fabrics and various fillers to create soft seats.

It is easy to choose a couch for a certain interior, focusing on the required dimensions and purpose of the furniture. If space permits, you can purchase a spacious soft sofa and use it comfortably every day. Watching TV, accommodating a large number of guests - all this is available with an oversized couch in the kitchen. And if the conditions are cramped and the footage is being saved with all its might, a narrow kitchen model will do. A mini couch with a storage box is ideal. A practical solution is the folding design. But only if space permits.

Options with additional storage space for useful household items are considered among the most popular. It is very practical to have a place in the kitchen, away from prying eyes, where you can store tablecloths, infrequently used utensils, and more. To determine which type of furniture is most suitable, you need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each model. They all have their own outstanding qualities, which can be considered both pluses and minuses. It all depends on how and where you plan to place the couch.

Modern manufacturers offer various design solutions:

• standard narrow models with thin legs, equipped with a soft or hard seat, headrest, with or without armrests;
• specimens of fanciful forms with graceful carvings and low, thick supports;
• wicker sofas;
• models without headrests and armrests;
• couches in the form of a traditional bench made of wood or an artificial analogue of natural wood.

The size of the couch with a berth is:

• oversized;
• medium;
• small.

By form:

• corner;
• straight;
• semicircular.

The straight line is the most versatile, since such a structure can be placed in a room of any configuration. A straight couch can be placed not only under a window or against a wall, but also used for zoning space. The corner couch is most often located in the kitchen near the dining table. It repeats its geometric shape, which is very convenient for seating at the table. The corner sofa can be large or compact.

Thus, choosing furniture for the size of the kitchen is not difficult.

• Semicircular couch - optimal configuration if the dining table has an oval or round shape. Two semicircular sofas, placed side by side, will provide comfortable seating for a large family or a friendly company. In addition, if the kitchen has a rounded partition or wall, such furniture will be the only right solution.

• Convertible couch - a very comfortable type of furniture, especially for small rooms. There are several types of convertible couches.

• Folding sofas with extra sleeping area. This is convenient if, for example, you need to leave someone for the night. In this case, the back of the couch leans back and the seating furniture is transformed into a full-fledged berth.

• Semi-folding couch type. The transforming mechanism for such furniture is very convenient. The fold-down armrests, a fold-out or pull-out extra seat located inside the couch make the furniture very functional and popular.

• Modular couch. A constructor model that undergoes various transformations. According to the configuration, it can be in the form of a bench without a headrest and backrest, or with them and with one or two additional chairs, an attached ottoman for legs.

In a cooking room, the state of the furniture is influenced by factors such as:

• high humidity;
• temperature drops;
• pollution.

Therefore, the couch needs a particularly durable, reliable, easy-care upholstery.

Possible upholstery materials:

• natural - leather, velor;
• synthetic;
• combined;

Features of fabrics.

• Microfiber - a practical fabric with an aesthetic look. Does not lose color and shape even after repeated cleaning, but accumulates dust and static electricity.
• Combined fabric - a mixed version of the upholstery made of cotton, wool with an admixture of synthetics. As an upholstery, a couch-bench looks impressive and presentable. The only downside is that over time, the fabric loses its original brightness. This is due to the different structure of the threads in the fabric.

• Velours - durable, wear-resistant, but over time abraded material. Easy to clean and dust-free.

• Natural and artificial leather have a relatively high price tag, are sensitive to temperatures and are afraid of pet claws. And in terms of quality indicators, leather has no analogues among upholstery fabrics.

• Scotchguard - a material based on jacquard. It became popular due to its large palette of deep colors and pronounced texture. Designed for active use. The color fastness of the fabric and a special impregnation with a synthetic protectorate makes the upholstery dust-repellent, waterproof and grease-repellent.

• Folk - a mixture of 35% cotton and synthetics. Visually and tactilely it resembles natural velvet, but the pile is created on a polymer basis. This provides folk with excellent water-repellent qualities. Additionally treated with hypoallergenic impregnations and silicone. Of the shortcomings, only the susceptibility of matter to crushing can be called.

• Apatek - an excellent material for the upholstery of kitchen sofas. Composition: 33% polyurethane, 25% cotton, 42% viscose.It is characterized by extreme strength, the ability to withstand different temperatures. Does not wrinkle, does not fade, practically does not get dirty.

The seat and head of the couch are usually thinner. Therefore, they need a dense and soft filler. Taking into account the fact that the smells of cooking food are constantly hovering in the kitchen, the stuffing should not absorb them. Most often, foam rubber is used as fillers. But cold-formed polyurethane foam is much better in all quality indicators. With the right outer upholstery, there is no need for an additional polyethylene foam layer.

If you constantly monitor the cleanliness of the upholstery, the couch will serve as intended for a long time, retaining its aesthetic appearance. It is convenient to take care of fabric upholstery with a vacuum cleaner. If stains appear on the fabric, they must be washed immediately before the dirt has eaten into the fibers of the material. It is convenient to clean the leather upholstery with a sponge and soapy water. At the end of cleaning, the couch can be wiped with a mild vinegar solution. This will restore the brightness of the color to the skin.

The couch should harmoniously fit into the interior of the kitchen. Otherwise, the design imbalance will be too pronounced and tasteless. For a room in a classic style, as well as in a country or Provence design, a solid wood sofa-couch will be a real highlight. If you want to install a soft sofa in the kitchen, natural fabrics are preferable, monochromatic or in a small floral or checkered pattern.

In modern kitchens in the loft, avant-garde, high-tech style, couches made of metal and plastic are most often used.

A sofa with elements of forging will beautifully fit into the "semi-antique" interior, for example, baroque. Openwork forged elements look beautiful painted in white or "bronze". Velor upholstery or folk with a velvet texture looks especially impressive on them.

See below for more details.