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Main Parts

Here’s an overview of the main couch components:

Sofa arms: Raised padded sections on both sides where arms can rest
Sofa backs: Top padded part above the seat with backrest cushions
Sofa seats or cushions: Padded pieces to sit on, usually with three sections
Sofa construction or interior: Hidden inner structures like frame, springs, and padding
Sofa exterior: Outside arms, back, cushions, base, and feet

The style or type of sofa arm plays an essential role in the function and overlook of a couch.

Pleated arm: A pleated sofa arm is like a rolled arm with front pleating.
Lawson arm: A Lawson arm is a modestly scaled version of rolled arms because of high rolled or squared arms.
Rolled arm: Like the Bennett Roll-Arm Sofa from Ethan Allen, the rolled arm curves outward.
Tuxedo arm: Unlike rolled arms, tuxedo arms are slightly flared arms with the same height as the sofa back.
Square arm: Also known as box arm, a square arm has notable straight lines and angles.
English arm: In contrast to the clean lines of square arms, these have a low and set back from the seat’s front edge. This makes it ideal for low-profile furniture setups.

The sofa back comes in different shapes, height levels, and cushion materials. This significantly influences sofa style and comfort level.

Attached back: Clip, sew, or fasten an attached back cushion to the sofa’s back.
Camelback: Sofa back looks much like a camel.
Loose cushion: Unlike an attached back, loose cushions get separated from the back of the sofa.
Curved back: The back of a curved-back sofa curves all the way around. This design creates a single solid piece with arms that are not attached separately.
Channel back: Unlike loose cushions, a channel back features deep vertical grooves.
Tight back: A tight back has a firm feel because of upholstered construction.
Pillow back: A pillow back provides a softer feel with more pillows than cushions.
Waterfall back: A waterfall sofa includes two or more gathered and billowing cushions. They attach to the sofa back.

Sofa seat cushions are among the most important parts of couches as they affect your comfort.

Cushioned seat: Square or rectangular cushioned seat covers generally support a person’s weight. This IKEA SMEDSTORP cushioned sofa is a good example. A cushioned seat can also be removable.
Tight seat: A tight seat lacks separate seat cushions, unlike a sectional sofa.
Single-cushion seat: A single-cushion seat offers a tidy, minimal look. The solo sofa cushion and pillow back is also called a bench seat.

Traditional and modern sofas have many different exterior parts.

Arm panel: An armrest with either an inset or raised panel covering the front of the arm.
Backrest: Supports a person’s back when seated.
Cushion boxing: Typically made up of two or three cushions to support the weight of the the person sitting.
Cushion reverse: The cushion boxing’s bottom part.
Front skirt: Fabric or cushion material covering found at the front by the sofa’s foot.
Inside arm and back: The frame without the cover or upholstery.
Outside arm and back: The upholstered parts.
Pillows: For comfort and decorative purposes.
Seat cushion: A soft padding for comfort.
Side skirt: Fabric covers the sides by the foot of the sofa.
Skirt panel: Pleated parts along the sofa’s front and corners.
Sofa cover: Material such as leather or upholstery fabric covers the couch.
“T” seat cushion: The seat cushion resembles a chunky letter “T”. Cushion extensions cover the sofa’s front sides and armrests.
Welt: A fabric-covered rope stitched along the seams of an upholstery.

The sofa construction or internal parts are largely responsible for durability and longevity.

Composite Splint: Makes the framework of the arm and side of a sofa.
Crest rail: Top rail of a chair back.
Deck: This is the surface found underneath the seat cushions.
Density sponge: Adds support and durability underneath.
Doll cotton: Spray-bonded cotton.
Down-proof ticking: Made of cotton or linen, ticking fabric serves as the inner lining. This tightly woven material keeps down feathers from moving to a cushion’s exterior.
Eight-way hand-tied springs: Interconnected springs for support and durability.
Filling: Padding or foam padding for comfort.
Fixed sponge: Placed at the bottom level of the inside of the sofa.
Frame: The sofa bed frame is the couch’s skeleton. It provides not just the shape but also the quality and function. The foldable bed frame rests below the cushions for a futon or a sofa bed.
High-density resilient sponge: Couches with high-density sponge make a cozy and durable seating.
Parallel hardware: Steelwork underneath the inside of a sofa.
Parallel net: Inside net placed parallel along the wood frame.
Plinth base: Box-like base on contemporary sofas.
Serpentine spring: Spring that runs from front to back or from top to bottom.
Foot: Raises the sofa from the floor.
Webbing bridge: Used for holding webbing to flat surfaces.