Swyft Blog
Dogs and sofas, you may think they’re not the most obvious match. But, think again. We are often asked how the stain resistant fabrics used on our sofas perform with pets, so we thought why not put them to test with the team at Bangers & Mash.
Creativity inspires creativity, so here’s a brief glimpse into our world. We sat down with our Design Director, Head of Creative and Graphic Designer to understand what it’s really like working for a sofa start-up, how they got into the industry and what inspires them. Pour yourself a herbal tea and meet the team.
Introducing the latest addition to the Model 03 collection; Velvet, Light Grey.
Velvet, Light Grey is a simple yet beautiful staple colour. Its timeless appeal means it’s the perfect foundation to build your room from and can be placed with many existing furniture items. Although Velvet, Light Grey is a subtle colour it will still make a statement in any room due to its modern texture.
With the launch of Model 03 imminent, we sat down with our furniture designer, John O’Leary, to understand the design process behind the new collection. We ask what he was trying to achieve, where his inspiration came from and the challenges he faced. Pour yourself a cuppa, it’s time to get lost in the detail.
We teamed up with interior designer Luke Arthur Wells to launch a new collection of Model 01 armchairs and 3 seaters. The limited run of 26 pieces comes in Boucle Ivory, Steel and Natural. We wanted to get to know the man behind the limited collection, so we had sat down for a quick chat.
A comfy sofa is arguably the most important part of any living room. Giving us a soft, welcoming place to relax and unwind at the end of a busy day, the sofa is the one piece of furniture no home should be without.
As sofas are so ubiquitous, it’s all too easy to take them for granted. But have you ever stopped to think about where this beautifully designed piece of furniture comes from? And why is it that some of us sit on a sofa while others lounge on a settee or recline on a couch? To help settle the couch, settee or sofa debate for good, we decided to take a closer look at the origin of the sofa and find out exactly how it got its name.
These 4 questions will ensure that you choose a sofa that’s top quality and will stand the test of time.
You might have heard the name Ottoman mentioned in a few contexts. First, in relation to an ancient Empire that spanned much of Europe and the Middle East. Secondly, when people are discussing furniture. So, exactly how are these two things related and, more importantly from a design point of view, what is an Ottoman and what does it do?
This guide to all things Ottoman aims to answer these questions and focus on how and why we can use them in the home.
When buying a sofa, most of us focus on the colour, fabric and style of the piece. These are generally the most eye-catching elements of a sofa and are what define the look and feel of the furnishing. One thing that’s all too often overlooked is the sofa feet. An integral part of any sofa design, the feet help to support the rest of the piece and form the crucial meeting point between floor and seat.
Learning a little more about sofa feet will help you to find the perfect piece for your home and give you a new appreciation of this humble part of the sofa structure.
Wood, metal or plastic? What are sofa feet made from?
The material your sofa feet are made from will depend on its style and on the quality of the piece. Most good quality sofas have traditional wooden sofa legs. Wood is a naturally beautiful material and can be carved into almost any shape that’s required. Wood is also kind on your carpet, durable and hard-wearing.
Some sofas have rubber ends on their feet. These rubber additions are there to help prevent any damage to your carpet and to help prevent the furnishing from moving around. A great example of this is the feet of our Model 03 sofa. These turned wooden legs come with a specially designed rubber foot that uses suction to hold the sofa firmly in place. This unique feature ensures that your new sofa won’t move a millimetre once you’ve got it in the perfect position.
Showing a little sofa leg
The look of your settee feet will be more important if the design of the piece makes them clearly visible. This is especially common in beautiful mid-century modern designs like our Model 01 and Model 02 sofas.
Visible sofa legs raise the seat of the piece off of the ground and help to give sofas a lighter feel. This can be fantastic for smaller living spaces and homeowners that want to create an elegant, contemporary look.
If you opt for this style of sofa, try to ensure that the feet are made from high quality materials and are built to last. Poor quality legs will soon look tatty and bring down the appearance of the entire piece. In general, solid wood is the best choice for visible sofa legs as it’s attractive, long-lasting and classic.
Keeping your sofa feet flat to the floor
Another option is to choose a sofa that’s flat to the floor like our Model 03 designs. These types of sofas are perfect if you want your furnishing to appear grounded. Sofas that are almost flat to the floor often feel more like they’re part of the architecture of a room than a separate piece of furniture. This can be great if you’re going for a sculptural look in your living room or if you want the sofa to have a feel of permanence about it.
Sofas that are almost flat to the floor will still have small feet. These help to balance the piece and allow air to circulate more easily around your furnishing. Again, sofa feet in wood are probably the best choice, especially if they’re topped with a protective rubber end.
What colour should your wooden sofa feet be?
Even if you’ve opted for solid wood feet, you may well have a choice when it comes to colour. This is because wood comes in a variety of tones, with stains and oils available to enhance and alter natural shades.
In most cases, a dark colour is best for wooden sofa feet. This is because a deep, rich tone will hide any scuffs, dirt or other marks a lot more effectively than a lighter colour. Dark wood also works really well with most colour schemes and is good at fading into the background. This is a real bonus if you want your bright, bold fabric sofa to be the centrepiece of your room.
If you’re looking for a sofa with elegant legs and perfect poise, we can help. Find out more about our fabric sofas, and learn about the traceable, sustainable timber materials that make up our sofa legs.