| A couch is an upholstered item of furniture
for the comfortable seating of more than one person and typically has an
armrest on either side. Couches are usually to be found in the family room,
living room, den or the lounge. They are covered in a variety of textiles
or in leather.
The most common types of couches are
the "loveseat"(or British two-seater), the settee or sofa (two or more
seats). A sectional sofa (often just referred to as a "sectional") is formed
from multiple sections (typically 2 to 4) and usually includes at least
two pieces that join at an angle of 90 degrees or slightly greater.
Other couch variants include the divan,
the fainting couch (backless or partial-backed), the chaise longue (long
with one armrest), the canapé (an ornamental 3-seater), and the
ottoman (generally considered a footstool). To conserve space, some sofas
double as beds (sofa-bed, daybed, or futon). There are also couches known
by genericized trademarked names, such as a davenport or Chesterfield (named
for the Earl of Chesterfield). Lofabed (low-fa-bed) a combination of a
davenport base and futon mattress resulting in a more comfortable, practical,
and economical alternative to the traditional sofa-bed.
The term three-piece suite describes
a furniture set consisting of a two-/three-seater couch, plus two armchairs. |
