Which Sofa Are People Choosing in 2025? From Curves to Color, These Are the Top Sofa Trends Designers Recommend to Aid Your Search

Buying a sofa is one of the most significant design choices you’ll make for your home. Not only can they be costly, but they also serve as the centerpiece of the living room, a place where you entertain guests, unwind after a long day, and binge-watch your favorite shows.

But beyond comfort and size, the style of a sofa truly sets the mood for a space. And in 2025, sofa trends are moving toward a more expressive, personalized direction than ever before.

Whether through luxury fabrics, bold patterns, or custom upholstery, people are seeking to make their living spaces feel uniquely theirs in 2025. This is a shift from recent years, when many furniture trends offered little room for individual expression.

So, if you’re in the market for one of the best couches, I’ve talked to interior designers and furniture experts to uncover the fabrics, shapes, and styles dominating living rooms right now. And trust me, comfort doesn’t have to come at the expense of style.

10 sofa trends to look out for in 2025

A sofa is one of the most important furniture pieces you’ll buy for your living room. As a general guideline, your chosen design should be comfortable and supportive to sit on, made from durable, long-lasting materials, and ultimately look beautiful while reflecting your personal style, this is a purchase that requires careful thought and consideration.

We know that interior design trends can come and go, but many of these designer-approved sofa trends will remain relevant long after 2025.

Rich fabrics with luxurious textures

“Rich colors are always a go-to for us when designing living rooms,” says Jenna Kincaid, creative director at Lulu & Georgia. “Velvets in chocolate, terracotta, or sage always add a luxurious feel and are especially big news in 2025’s sofa trends.”

“2025 is shaping up to be a year of bold, tactile interiors where layering patterns and textures take center stage,” agrees Andrew Cussins, CEO and design director at Sofas & Stuff. Materials like velvet, linen, and bouclé are particularly popular for their ability to add depth and dimension to living spaces.

“We’re seeing a growing desire for fabrics that bring richness and depth to spaces, with velvets—particularly patterned velvet—becoming a defining feature across upholstery and other soft furnishings,” he adds. “This shift toward touchable textures and vibrant designs is allowing people to express their individuality in every corner of their homes.”

Loose, skirted upholstery

For those seeking a less formal alternative to a structured couch, a loose linen-upholstered piece or one with a slipcover can completely transform the look of your living room and create a more relaxed atmosphere.

We have to credit the Nancy Meyers aesthetic, which was huge in 2024, for bringing slipcovered sofas back into trend. Because this style feels comfortable and lived-in, it works especially well for homes inspired by romantic comedies.

“Sofas are getting a more expressive and layered look this year, with a resurgence of fringe bottoms and skirted bases,” says Kailee Blalock from House of Hive Design. “Skirts (whether tailored or loose) help create a grounded, refined silhouette. These elements also conceal dust and dirt, making them as practical as they are stylish.”

Perfect for a coastal living room like the one by Serena & Lily shown above—Kirsty Williams, the brand’s chief design officer, says: “Skirted sofas have always had enduring appeal as people seek to incorporate softness and layers into their living environments in a tailored way. Both dressmaker’s skirts and box-pleated skirts strike a balance of subtle, thoughtful details that add depth and character without overpowering the piece’s silhouette.”

Relaxed silhouettes

“We’re loving seeing the return of more relaxed sofa trends like skirted sofas or roll-arm styles,” adds Jenna Kincaid from Lulu & Georgia. As homes adopt a softer, more laid-back design approach, we want our sofas to feel approachable and inviting rather than rigid and structured.

These styles are made for sinking into after a long day. Taking loose covers a step further, there’s something inherently comforting about a roll-arm sofa or one piled with pillows instead of a more traditional shape. Gaining attention for its casual design, a pillow-back sofa features many loose, oversized cushions that create an inviting seat to sink into.

These low-profile couch styles offer flexibility, as you can arrange the cushions to suit individual comfort preferences. However, it’s important to note that the loose cushions may need regular fluffing and adjusting to maintain their appearance.

Soft and sculptural shapes

Fluid, sculptural sofa designs with elegant curves have been popular in recent years and continue to be in 2025. Helping to create a more relaxing and calming atmosphere, these softer silhouettes come in all sizes from large three-seaters to compact loveseats and create a cozy, cocoon-like sense of comfort.

Vermont-based interior designer Joshua Smith says, “We are seeing more sectionals become curved instead of square. Curves reemerged in the past few years but are reaching a peak this year, from sectional sofas to dining tables to coffee tables. The curves lean more biophilic and biomorphic as we crave more connection to nature. Mother Nature does organic shapes best, so it makes sense we’d want to bring that inspiration into our homes.”

Contrast trim

For a fun way to elevate a traditional sofa, adding contrast trim like piping, fringe, or box pleating is a great way to give it new life and feel on-trend for 2025.

“Fringe adds a sense of movement, softness, and a touch of vintage glamour, but beyond fringe, we’re seeing a rise in contrast welting and piping,” Kailee continues. “Instead of relying solely on accent pillows to bring personality, designers are integrating color and contrast directly into the upholstery. This allows for a more customized, high-end feel even a neutral sofa can have an interesting edge with complementary or unexpected piping details.”

“Contrast piping is another trend we’re seeing as people look to create statement pieces that feel personal to them, it’s an effective way to create a striking look by emphasizing the lines of the sofa’s silhouette,” adds Andrew.

Adding a subtle pop of color or texture to your sofa with trim, like piping, helps highlight and accentuate the overall look. This small yet impactful detail lets you introduce additional color and dimension into the living room without overwhelming the existing decor.

Earth tones

This year, the color palette for sofas is undoubtedly derived from warm, rich earth tones, and we have good reason to believe that decorating with brown will endure in 2025 and beyond.

“I’m noticing a shift toward deeper, earthier tones like terracotta and umber—hues that instantly evoke a sense of warmth and grounding,” says Lucy Uren, founder & creative director at Rowen & Wren. “When paired with tactile fabrics like brushed linen, these tones add beautiful depth and richness to a room.”

Designer Kathy Kuo agrees, suggesting this can also be introduced with smaller items like cushions and blankets. “Try adding warm earth tones like terracotta, sienna, and mahogany and mixing different woven textures together,” she suggests. “I love the idea of adorning your sofa with a mix of throw pillows in cozy tones, featuring chunky knits, distressed leather, and even hair-on-hide.”

Personality-packed pattern

The great thing about adding a patterned sofa to your space is that it allows you to be more expressive and show your personality—think of it as a subtler alternative to patterned wallpaper. Depending on your chosen style, the effect can be both bold and understated.

Designer and co-founder of Andrew Martin, Martin Waller, is seeing a resurgence of folk-inspired prints and patterns in particular. “2025’s sofa trends showcase a vibrant blend of cultural influences and artistic expressions, with a notable emphasis on folk-inspired embroidery and South American textiles,” he adds. “Embroidery techniques like chain stitch and crewelwork are used to add texture and dimension to fabrics, creating a handcrafted look that stands out in any space.”

Custom upholstery

One of the biggest trends this year, across the board, is interior designers embracing custom pieces, allowing for more unique items that perfectly fit, match patterns, or align with their creative vision.

This trend is gaining popularity because of our shared desire to make our homes burst with personality in 2025. This means you can truly showcase your personality with a print or color that resonates with you—moving away from mass-produced, matching sofas.

“I am officially shouting from the rooftops that everyone needs to invest in a custom-upholstered sofa,” says designer Kathy Kuo. “Spending a little more upfront for a sofa that is fully customized for your lifestyle and needs, with the exact color, texture, and size you want, is the best investment you can make in your home decor. A high-quality custom-upholstered sofa goes beyond ‘trend’—it’s a timeless purchase that will save you money in the long run, as you’ll have it for years, and it’s also more sustainable.”

Nod to nostalgic designs

Of course, many trends are influenced by past designs and styles, and one nostalgic trend making a big comeback is 80s-inspired interior design. A fabric trend that has resurged across upholstery in both classic and contemporary homes, and is synonymous with 80s style, is charming chintz.

Chintz is often defined by beautiful patterns of lively, colorful florals and can be a wonderful choice for both curtain ideas and living room seating—especially for an English country decor look.

Martin Waller says, “In fabrics, we’re seeing a trend for vintage florals, relaxed and colorful, paired with rich velvets for casual, comfortable living.”

Extra deep cushions

For many of us, the key factors when buying a new sofa are how comfortable and cozy it is.

Of course, these factors are more like essential requirements than mere trends, but this year we’ll see sofas that emphasize these features, with large, oversized designs and deep, plump cushions taking center stage. Gone are the stiff cocktail sofas that offer only a rigid perch; they’re replaced by deep, slouchy seating designed for kicking up your feet and sprawling out.

Martin Waller suggests, “In 2025, the importance of creating spaces to reconnect with friends and loved ones has come into focus. Whether indoors or out, comfortable seating requires pieces big enough to lounge on, no matter how many guests you’re entertaining. Extra depth means the seating is always relaxing.”