Who Made the First Couch and Sofa? The History of Modern Furniture

Over the past few centuries, the sofa has been given many names to become the most popular furniture item in the world. No home in the 21st century can be imagined without a large fabric sofa or leather couch. In urban and non-urban areas of Australia, the sofa is pivotal in shaping any home’s aesthetics. However, the couch was not always called sofa; many cultures pronounced it differently by naming it lounger, davenport, couch, or even Chesterfield. 

Sofas vary significantly in shape, color, and style. In different offices and homes, sofas are placed where needed the most, including corner sofas, three-sweater sofas near the television, two-seater sofas, or chaise lounges. Let’s not forget that these beautiful, cozy seats are perfect for romantic dinners and telling stories to your kids. But, not many people know about sofas historically, details like where they came from, how they became popular, and how people could not imagine their lives without sofas. 

If you still don’t know the answer to these questions, let’s increase your knowledge through this post by discovering the brief history of sofas in your house. 

Historically Speaking About Sofas

The first upholstery items we call sofas today came around the 18th century. These were the days of the dynasty of ancient Egypt when kings of Egyptian pharaohs were buried in large tombs with different items and goods. These goods were essential to making their transition to the afterlife more comfortable. 

For example 1922, archeologists found the mummy of the boy king Titan. Archeologist Howard Carter reveals that he was utterly surprised to find many precious things and treasures alongside the boy king’s dead body. Among those treasure items were the royal couches. History shows that these upholstery or sofas were specially created in those days to keep the king’s spirit in peace. 

While looking at the sofa’s pictures, the Egyptian furniture reveals that the makers innovatively crafted the couch using advanced techniques. Some incredibly skilled workers did a fantastic job placing the dead body and the furniture together; these items survived for centuries until they were discovered in the 20th century. Much of the information was put together and survived for centuries. This type of mastery is complex for modern-day furniture makers to achieve. 

Some people also believe that the name sofa originated from ancient Arabic, where people used the word ‘suffer’; it was called a long-form bench. After the Egyptians, the ancient Romans also started building unique loungers, couches, and sofas that became adorable upholstery pieces in many royal homes. The Roman household started using these upholstery items commonly, and a sofa became an accepted piece of furniture in every household. 

In the Western World

In the Western world, sofas and upholstery were developed slowly from 1500 to 1600. Most Western homes were small houses that contained no or very few furniture items. People used basic straw-lined beds in their living rooms to sleep at night, but the sofa was never accepted as a necessity in Europe. That means owning a sofa, couch, or lounger was surely considered a luxury in those days. 

The early sofa was designed similarly to the early settlers. Their formation mostly contained long oak sections and excellent carpentry. That helped the crafters develop new sofas styles that became a part of some of the most affluent homes and families. In 1620, church and gothic style and paneling became more famous. The settee or sofa was only adopted as a household furniture item in the later centuries when building materials and architecture rapidly improved in the Western world. Those were the days when people started building more structured and beautiful houses. The inhabitants of those houses often used tapestries; however, they preferred the closest items of upholstery, such as sofas or couches.

This proves that sofas and couches in the 17th century were long wooden benches. In later years, they were significantly improved to cope with cold and damp weather. With more robust building techniques and soundproof buildings in the 20^th century, fabric sofas and couches became more popular.

The Final Words

The fantastic history of sofas reveals that couch cleaning in Sydney is the most essential function of a modern household in Australia. Times have changed; nowadays, without upholstery steam cleaning and Curtain Cleaning Sydney professional services, you cannot keep your upholstery items in prime condition. Always hire Pro Sofa Clean as the trustworthy company to clean your L-shaped lounge cleaning company. We offer peace and satisfaction to clients.