What sofa is everyone buying in 2025? From curves to color, these are the top sofa trends designers are backing to help you on your hunt

2025.08.08

Shopping for a sofa is one of the biggest design decisions you can make in your home. Not only can they be expensive, but they are also the heart of the living room, where you host, unwind, and binge-watch TV.

But beyond comfort and size, it’s the style of a sofa that really sets the tone for a space. And in 2025, sofa trends are moving in a more expressive, personalized direction than ever before.

Whether it’s through luxury fabrics, bold prints, or bespoke upholstery, people are looking to make their living spaces feel uniquely their own in 2025. Which, up until recently, many furniture trends just didn't allow.

10 sofa trends to look out for in 2025

1. Rich fabrics with luxurious textures

'Rich colors are always a go-to for us as well when we're designing living rooms,' says Jenna Kincaid, creative director at Lulu & Georgia. 'Velvets in chocolate, terracotta, or sage always add a luxe feel and are especially big news in the sofa trends of 2025.'

'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 such as velvet, linen, and boucle are particularly favored 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 towards touchable textures and vibrant design is allowing people to express their individuality in every corner of their homes'.

2. Loose, skirted upholstery

For those looking for a less formal alternative to a structured couch, a loose linen upholstered piece – or one covered with a slipcover – can really change the look of your living room and create a more relaxed atmosphere in the space.

We have to give thanks here to the Nancy Meyers aesthetic, which was huge news in 2024, for bringing the slip-covered sofa back on trend. Because this is a style that feels comfortable and lived-in, it works particularly well for the rom-com-inspired home.

'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 help conceal dust and dirt, making them as practical as they are stylish.'

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

3. 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. With homes taking a softer, more laid-back approach to design, we want our sofas to feel approachable and inviting, rather than rigid and structured.

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

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

4. Soft and sculptural shapes

Fluid, sculptural sofa designs featuring elegant curves have been popular sofa trends over the last few years, and are still proving popular in 2025. Helping to create a more relaxing and calming atmosphere, these softer silhouettes come in all shapes and sizes, from grand three-seaters to compact and cozy loveseats, and create a cozy, cocoon 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 coming to a climax this year, from sectional sofas to dining tables to coffee tables. The curves lean more biophilic and biomorphic as we crave more nature. Mother Nature does organic shapes best, so it makes sense we’d want to pull that inspiration into our homes.'

We explore in our dedicated piece, are curved couches still on trend? Spoiler: it's a resounding yes.

5. 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 a new lease of life and feel super 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 and higher-end feel where even a neutral sofa can have an interesting edge with a complementary or unexpected piping detail.'

'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 of creating a striking look by emphasizing the lines of the sofa silhouette,' adds Andrew.

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

6. Earth tones

This year, the color palette for sofas is without doubt one derived from a palette of warm, rich, earth tones, and we've got this on pretty good authority that decorating with brown is set to endure in 2025 and beyond.

'I’m noticing a shift towards 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 such as brushed linen, these tones add a 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 with different cozy tones in chunky knits, distressed leather, and even hair-on-hide.'

7. 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 more subtle alternative to patterned wallpaper ideas, and 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 more folk-inspired prints and patterns in particular. 'Sofa trends for 2025 are showcasing 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 such as chain stitch and crewelwork are used to add texture and dimension to fabrics, creating a handcrafted look that stands out in any space.'

8. Custom upholstery

One of the biggest trends this year, across the board, sees interior designers embracing a movement towards custom pieces, allowing for more unique pieces that perfectly fit, pattern match, or align with their creative vision.

The reason this is gaining popularity is due to our shared desire to make our homes sing with personality in 2025. This means you can really look to show off your personality with a print or color that resonates with you – moving us away from mass-produced, matchy-matchy 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, and that has the exact color, texture, and size that you want is the best investment in your home decor that you can make,' she suggests.

'A high-quality custom-upholstered sofa goes beyond 'trend' – this is a timeless purchase that is going to save you money in the long run since you will be able to have it for years and years, and it's also more sustainable.'

9. Nod to nostalgic designs

Of course, many trends are influenced by designs and styles of the past, and one nostalgic trend that is back in a big way is an 80s influence on interior design. A fabric trend that has seen a resurgence across upholstery in homes both classic and contemporary, and that is synonymous with an 80s style, is charming chintz.

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

Martin Waller says, 'In fabrics, we are seeing a trend for vintage florals, which are relaxed and colorful, being punctuated with rich velvets for casual and comfortable living.'

10. Extra deep cushions

For many of us, the key thing we look for when purchasing a new sofa is how comfortable and cozy the design is.

Of course, these factors are not so much sofa trends, but more crucial requirements; however, this year we will see sofas that exaggerate these important features, with big, oversized designs with deep, plump cushions taking center stage. Gone are the uptight cocktail sofas that offer a stiff perch, replaced by deep, slouchy seating that's designed to make you kick up your feet and sprawl out.

Martin Waller suggests, 'The importance of curating a space to re-connect with friends and loved ones has been brought into focus in 2025. Whether it’s indoors or out, comfortable seating requires pieces big enough to lounge on, however many guests you are entertaining. Extra depth means seating is always relaxing.'