Are Settees And Couches The Same As A Sofa?

Settees and couches; although most commonly referred to as a sofa, you may have heard the words “settee” and “couch” thrown around too. With many alternative ways to refer to our favorite piece of living room furniture, and so many different styles to choose from, it can be hard to keep up with what’s what.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines couch, sofa, and settee as long, upholstered seats for multiple people to sit on, making these terms interchangeable. Therefore, there isn’t necessarily a correct term for the comfy seat in your sitting room.

The History Of Sofas, Settees, And Couches

Throughout history, a lot have things have been determined by class, like settees and couches. While nowadays, the word sofa is the most popular, couch and settee are both perfectly accurate ways of referring to the same item. However, it wasn’t always this way.

Back in the mid-twentieth century, both a working-class person and an upper-class person would use the simple term “sofa.” On the other hand, middle-class people aimed to be different and would use the word “couch” or the word “settee.” Which is where the terms settees and couches comes from.

Why Do We Call It A Sofa?

A sofa is defined as “a long comfortable seat with a back and arms, for two or more people to sit on.” The word actually originated in the eastern Meditteranean, from the Arabic word “soffah,” which referred to a part of the floor, raised by about a foot, that was covered in carpets and cushions so it could be sat on.

The word “sofa” was first written in English by an English man named Samuel Purchas in 1625. He writes of his travels in Arabia and the “sofa with sumptuous carpets of gold.” Famous literary authors over the years picked up the word sofa, as you would find them in the drawing-room of many wealthy, English households after they came over from France.

Why Do We Call It A Couch?

These days, a couch is defined as “a long upholstered piece of furniture for several people to sit on.” While this term isn’t frequently used in the UK and is far more prominent in America, it is still a word we can use to describe our sofas.

Upon their creation, they were practically the original sofa bed. They were a structure covered in soft fabrics, meant for people to lie down and sleep on. The word “couch” comes from the French “coucher” which means ‘to sleep.’ In early writings, the word couch was used to describe a place that one could sleep, however, by around 1500 it was being referred to as a seat.

Unlike sofas, which are typically more formal and strictly for seating, couches tend to be less formal and can be used for lying on.

Why Do We Call It A Settee?

A settee is particularly similar to a sofa. Its definition is “a long comfortable seat with a back and arms, for two or more people to sit on,” so is pretty much the same thing as a sofa. However, the origins of the word differ.

A settee is referred to as a variation of a settle, which was a bench made of oak from the Middle Ages. So, the settee originated from benches with a soft seat, becoming popular throughout the 17th and 18th centuries until they eventually evolved into what we now refer to as a sofa.

Different Types Of Sofas

As we have established, “sofa” is the most popular term in the UK for that comfortable piece of furniture in our lounge that we just love to relax on. There are many variations of the sofa, settees and couches that come in all different shapes and sizes, to accommodate a range of different requirements.

Standard Sofa

A standard sofa is nothing too complex: back, arms, legs, and seat cushions. At Chill Sofas, we have some stunning standard sofas available, as both two-seaters and three-seaters.

Corner Sofa

A corner sofa is a fabulous choice for houses with a larger amount of people to accommodate. Corner sofas take on a few forms including l-shaped sofas and u-shaped sofas, to ensure they can fit meet the needs of different households.

Chaise Longue Sofa

Essentially, a chaise sofa is a combination of a standard sofa and a corner sofa. Taking on the l-shaped quality of corner sofas, as well as the surplus of seating options, a chaise sofa is a standard style sofa with one extended end, that allows you to kick up your feet and chill out.

Conclusion

When it comes to settees and couches, ultimately, the important thing is that we have a seating option in our sitting room that we can come home to after a long day and relax on. However, if you’re interested in the definitions and origins of settees and couches then hopefully you’ve found this informative and have a better understanding of the various types of sofas.