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8 Reasons to Go for a Single-Cushion Sofa

A neat 1-cushion couch is nice to nap on, a good choice for compact spaces and crowd-friendly too

Laura Gaskill November 24, 2017

Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers

Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More

Comment33

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Shopping for a new sofa? If you love napping on the couch or are tired of dropping change (or crumbs) between the cushions, you might want to forgo the more common multiple-cushion couch in favor of a bench-cushion style. Read on for eight reasons why you might want to make your next sofa a single-cushion affair.

Regan Baker Design Inc.

1. A bench cushion is easier to nap on. If you’ve ever tried to nap on a couch with multiple seat cushions, you know it’s not the easiest place to get a good rest. A bench cushion, on the other hand, acts like a mini mattress: smooth and supportive, whether you plan to catch a 10-minute power nap or indulge in a leisurely afternoon snooze.

Amy Kartheiser Design

2. A bench cushion can help a small space look bigger. In small spaces, every strategy to make the most of the square footage counts. When it comes to your sofa, a style with a slim profile and bench seat will look sleeker (and smaller) than a bulky, rolled-arm double- or triple-cushion number.

Sun Soul Style Interiors

3. A bench cushion looks neater, even with lots of pillows. If you love a neat and tidy living room but also love your throw pillows, a bench-cushion sofa can be a good compromise. You still get to pile on the pillows, but the single cushion keeps things looking buttoned up.

Nick Noyes Architecture

4. A bench cushion means no more lost change between the seats. Getting rid of that center crack between cushions means that far fewer pennies, gummy bears, dog treats (and whatever else your family seems to have spilling out of its pockets) will end up below deck.

Huffard House Interior Design

5. Bench cushions can work well on sectionals. A sectional with lots of loose cushions can look messy, especially if your kids like to use the pillows for fort building. Loose bench cushions are still great for building forts, but they’re quicker to tidy up, and you can still remove the covers for laundering or (ahem) flip the cushions over to hide stains.

Tip: The longer the cushion, the more likely it is to develop a saggy middle over time. So if any piece of the sectional you’re considering buying is three seats or longer, you may want to make it a traditional multiseat affair.

Find single-cushion sofas

Contemporary Living Room Contemporary Living Room

6. Bench cushions make streamlined curving shapes possible. Have your heart set on a less-common sofa shape? A bench cushion (most likely attached) can be made to conform perfectly to the curves of your sofa, giving it clean lines and a graceful shape.

Andrew Heiser

7. A bench cushion makes it easier to squeeze in one more person. With one big cushion, you can squeeze in a crowd if you need to — without forcing anyone to sit over a crack. Will polite neighbors at your holiday open house squeeze in three or four people? Probably not. But for everyday family movie nights or watching a big game with good friends, it’s nice to have that option.

Urban Casa

8. A bench cushion is better for snuggling. If you like to cuddle up under a blanket while watching movies, you probably know what it’s like to try to get close — and end up in the sofa crack. Don’t let your sofa get between you and your sweetie — snuggle up on a bench-cushion sofa instead.

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Things You Need to Know About Buying a Sofa
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Comment33

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Comments (33)

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qofmiwok

I like 1 or 2 sections. 3 people never sit on a sofa, so either one works. Plus your butt doesn't end up at the crack when you lay from one end. But I have sat on one cushion ones where the other end bounced up. Hopefully most don't do that. I don't see them often so I'm not sure.

1 Like June 26, 2018 at 9:25PM

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User

If you get an "apartment" sized sofa - usually about 5' or under length - two people are puuuurrrrrrfect for it and no one sits in a crack. And doggie or cat can sit in your lap! LOL

Like June 27, 2018 at 6:54AM

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jtorow

Love single cushion couches!

1 Like July 15, 2018 at 8:16AM