Chesterfield sofas are like the riding boots of the furniture world—they’ve got British roots, most famously come in rich brown leather, have been around for centuries yet continue to be relevant in both style and function, and are an object of the modern era’s fascination and as such have been reinvented multiple times in the past few decades.
The Chesterfield sofa is a distinctly recognizable furniture design—its high arms, and tufted leather upholstery the most notable features—that has been around for nearly 300 years. It’s spent most of its lifetime within the wood-paneled walls of English gentlemen’s clubs, aristocratic homes, and tony businesses (Queen Victoria and Sigmund Freud were both fans), but the Chesterfield sofa has become a more widely sought after piece of furniture, being adapted for more modern spaces in the last few decades.
What Exactly Is A Chesterfield Sofa?
The Chesterfield sofa is one of the most popular and well-known sofa designs. In fact, in Canada (receiver of many British exports), the term chesterfield came to mean a sofa of any design. But when you’re talking about the original, here’s what that means: Simply put, a Chesterfield sofa is a large couch with rolled arms that are the same height as the back. A quintessential Chesterfield is upholstered in a dark leather, with deep button tufting all over and nailhead trim. More modern takes on the sofa typically lighten up the hefty original with velvet or other cloth upholstery, taller legs, and a slimmer back and arms.
