12 fabulous sofas for open-plan spaces

Thanks to its traditional button back detailing teamed with modern, clean lines, the St James sofa from One World Trading would not look out of place in contemporary or traditional settings. Priced £1,350, always buy the best-quality sofa you can afford. As the old saying goes: buy cheap, buy twice.

It may be cold outside, but bringing a splash of sunshine yellow into your living room will instantly warm up the space. This Perch & Parrow three-seater chaise in Tweety Bird cotton is £1,450. Team it with the Constanza armchair, also from Perch & Parrow, priced at £235.

Upholstered in sumptuous Isla Finch velvet, which successfully softens its sharp lines, the Shoreditch sofa from Neptune is designed to be admired from all angles, so why not position it in the centre of the room? Shoreditch is super comfortable, too. Pure feather and down back cushions are perfect for sinking into. Priced £1,520.

Take careful measurements of your future sofa as well as the space in which it will sit. Top tip: mark out the sofa’s outline on the floor in masking tape. This way you can make sure that the sofa is neither too big nor too small for the space. Also important is to check there is enough room to walk around it. Arlo & Jacob’s Crawford chaise in Plush Cotton Citron is priced from £1,690.

Inspired by the traditional Chesterfield, Loaf has given a contemporary twist to its Bagsie sofa with discs of fabric used instead of buttons to give a deliberately loose, laid-back feel. Bagsie also comes in a love seat version and is available in a choice of more than 150 fabric colours. Priced £1,795.

Spend time testing lots of sofas for comfort before you make your final decision. Always ask plenty of questions about quality, which will ultimately dictate whether the sofa will stand the rigours of time. This Albourne four-seater chaise in Linen Cotton Stone by Willow & Hall is made to order at its Wiltshire workshop, £2,004.

Why stick to matching sofas when you can create an eclectic look? In this living room, the Bradwell two-seater sofa in Mancini Aubergine, £1,727, strikes a colourful contrast to the Bradwell Grand sofa in Sky Silver, £1,861. The Derwent Collection by Parker Knoll is exclusive to Furniture Village.

Sold on leather? We are not surprised. A quality leather sofa will serve you well for many years. Top picks include the Caruso in earthy Outback tan leather from Barker & Stonehouse. We love the lived-in look it gets from the scars, colour variations and other markings on the leather. Priced £1,929.

A modern take on a vintage shape, what’s not to love about the Lexington, with its elegant sloping arms and deep seat. Available as a two, three and four-seater sofa – Lexington from Sofa Workshop is made for luscious lounging, priced £2,199 for the four-seater shown.

The new Brompton sofa by I & JL Brown (from £2,750) takes classic British details, such as button studding, and pairs it with a thoroughly modern fabric and sharper shape that allows it to work in a multitude of interiors. Available as a love seat, or two, two-and-a-half, three or four-seater sofa, the Brompton can work in any size space from a snug to an open-plan living room.

Jasmine Mallard velvet lends a dash of sumptuous Hollywood glamour to this three-seater Thornton sofa from Harveys, from £2,998. Add pops of gold and your living room will look like it is straight out of the Art Deco era.

A large corner sofa like Oscar from sofa.com offers enough room for the whole family to lounge. Upholstered in navy Belgium linen, it is perfect for those who are looking for a modern twist on the classic Chesterfield (cue hand tufting and rolled arms). Priced £3,880.