Types of straight sofas for the kitchen and tips for choosing them

For a long time, many have been using sofas instead of chairs and stools in the kitchen: softly, the floor is not scratched by constant movements, safe for children, multifunctional. When choosing a sofa for the kitchen, each of us is guided by our own criteria, which depend on the size of the kitchen, the presence of small children and animals, the number of family members, the budget, the material and color used, and the availability of additional functions.

Indeed, not every sofa is suitable for such a room, because:

• the kitchen does not imply the permanent residence of family members here, which means that the place will not be super soft;
• the hostess spends a lot of time here, which means that the furniture should be comfortable to sit down and rest for a minute;
• the kitchen is a huge amount of smells, which means that special materials for upholstery must be used;
• during transformation, the sofa should not take up too much space;

• in a small kitchen, this type of furniture should serve as an additional storage space;
• with joint meals, several people will sit here at once, which means that the furniture must be durable;
• little lovers of drawing on everything or gnawing can ruin the sofa rather quickly, which means that the furniture must be non-brand and reliable;
• furniture should fit ergonomically into the interior so as not to create problems when approaching a table or stove.

And in this case, straight sofas have advantages over corner sofas, as well as over chairs and stools:

• the comfort of the soft seat and back;
• the possibility of transformation and transformation into a sleeping place;
• more compact design compared to the corner sofa;
• the opportunity to relax lying down and alone (especially important in a small apartment);
• the presence of a drawer or opening box for storing any things;
• the sofa in addition to the TV turns the kitchen into a living room.

The disadvantages of sofas in the kitchen include:

• reduced mobility in comparison with chairs;
• the difficulty of placing in a small kitchen;
• require more complex care due to food, dirt, grease, carbon deposits, as well as high absorption of odors.

If the future owners clearly understand for what purposes they need a sofa in the kitchen, then next you need to decide on the type of furniture.

All such designs are different:

• transformation mechanism;
• the material from which the frame is made;
• upholstery material;
• seat and pillow filler;
• various options.

All sofas, including those for the kitchen, differ in the folding mechanism.

Let's consider the most popular options.

• Sofa bench - the ideal solution for small and medium sized kitchens. Moreover, the bench can be either with boxes or just a flat surface covered with upholstery with a filler for softness. You won't be able to relax on a narrow bench.

• "Book" - the most popular mechanism because it is simple, reliable and has a low price. To turn into a sleeping place, you need to raise the seat until it clicks, and lower the finished bed.

• "Eurobook" - a more modern version of the "book". The difference is that you first need to pull the seat towards you, and then the backrest will take a horizontal position.The Austin bench with this mechanism is laconic. But its beauty is highlighted by the rich decoration.

• Roll-out ("baron") - is considered the most durable among modern sofas. Under the seat are hidden drawers across the entire width of the sofa. They move forward along the guides, and the back is lowered on them. The surface is smooth and reliable.

• "Dolphin" designed for daily use. It is enough to pull on the hidden loops, which look like hare ears, and the lower half of the sofa rolls out on wheels to its full width. For example, the Verona model is suitable for a medium-sized kitchen. In addition to the shallow seat, this model has no side walls, or it is one (model with an angle), which also saves space. By the style of execution "Verona" is a sofa-couch: laconic, but multifunctional.
• "French clamshell" unlike the "American clamshell" it is not designed for everyday use, as it has a lightweight frame.
• "Scissors" - an unusually simple, convenient way of transformation. Very suitable for kitchen sofas, as it is convenient to disassemble on the floor without carpet.

In the manufacture of the frame of this type of furniture, natural wood and chipboards of various compositions are used: chipboard, plywood, MDF, laminated chipboard. And also metal is used: steel, aluminum, titanium, chromium and various alloys.

Each model has its own material.

For the upholstery of kitchen sofas, the most durable materials of various colors are used:

• Genuine Leather - the most expensive option for a sophisticated interior;
• artificial leathernot very comfortable in hot weather, but able to protect furniture from moisture and grease;
• tapestry - embossed fabric, which is dense and durable, but is afraid of the sun's rays;
• as tight and reliable, but expensive jacquard;
• the most popular and inexpensive flock - blended fabric made of cotton and polyester, the fabric will last a long time, but very quickly rubbed;
• if the kitchen is made in eco-style, then the sofa can be made, like a table with chairs, rattan.

Even a narrow sofa bench will be comfortable if high-quality filler is used in the seat. The cheapest, perhaps, is foam rubber. But it quickly wears out and collapses. More durable, lightweight and comfortable PU foam. It adapts well to a sitting or lying person, withstands heavy loads. Holofiber - small fibrous, well-resilient balls that perfectly absorb moisture, take on and restore their shape when the load is canceled.

They are different in manufacturing technology. Used for wide sofas.

The kitchen sofa is primarily a seating area. Whether it will have the function of converting into a sleeping place depends on the wishes of the buyer and is an additional function. Optionally, you can pick up a sofa with drawers: they can be retractable or hidden under the lifting seat. Hostesses always welcome additional storage space.

Modern models of straight kitchen sofas can be equipped with side or hinged shelves. If the sofa is soft, it often has side walls. They can be thin wooden ones or they can be additional drawers lined with leather or fabric. Raising and lowering armrests will hide these boxes and make them even more comfortable.

The design of such furniture is such that it must be firmly supported. Therefore, deep sofas have one or two side walls.An example is "Bristol" - a solid sofa or mini-sofa.

But not everything is so simple: here, too, there are models without sidewalls. Another example of such a solution is the Tokyo lineup. In about half of the cases, the most beautiful and comfortable deep sofa does not have side walls, which does not prevent it from being an excellent storage due to the presence of drawers, as well as a comfortable sleeping place. Manufacturers offer options in the form of a niche for linen, a pull-out bar, shelves in the side walls. The mechanism of advancement is very diverse: tick-tock, dolphin, and others.

Of course, not every kitchen will fit a deep sofa. But if you want it to be just that, you can look for a suitable reduced copy.

For example, the Dublin mini-sofa of the "scissors" transformation system is a full-fledged deep sofa with a wonderful flat berth. But this model can also be a "dolphin" system. This very popular modern movement is used in many models.

To make your kitchen cozy, and every thing in its place, use the advice of designers on the selection of a kitchen sofa.

• The product must match the size and style of the room.
• Before buying, you need to carefully calculate the space required for furniture as a sofa for sitting and a sofa for sleeping (if it is a transforming sofa).
• With a small amount of space, it is better to buy a mini sofa.
• In a spacious room, this furniture can help zoning the kitchen and dining area.
• Placing the product along the wall saves space; when creating a triangle with the corner of the kitchen, the space is significantly eaten up. You can afford it in a large kitchen, and put a floor lamp in the corner.
• In a small kitchenette, it is better to put a bench or mini-sofa under the window. You should not buy furniture with sidewalls, as well as with a lot of details or too bright. On a small area, it is not recommended to put a copy of contrasting colors.
• The upholstery must be reliable and easy to clean.

Watch a video on the topic.