The Invention And Evolution Of The Couch

Couches are conspicuous pieces of furniture present in most homes. They play a major part in our lives and are even present in popular culture; fans of the Friends television sitcom remember the iconic orange couch featured in every episode. This is no surprise, as the couch is associated with socialization and spending time with family and friends – even if it is the same place where we munch on snacks while watching TV alone.

All the activity taking place on couches leads to accidents and staining, so using the services of a couch cleaner every once in a while is a must.  Before you reach the phone to contact upholstery cleaning, you can spend a few interesting moments reading about the history of the couch.

When Was the Couch Invented?

The first couches can be traced back to the 7th century BCE in Ancient Greece.  This piece of furniture was called a ‘kline’ and resembled a rectangular block supported by four legs. The Ancient Greek version of the couch was used by several people at a time. The Romans evolved alongside the Greeks and had a comparable civilization, although with some differences. 

In wealthy Roman homes, everyone had their own couch, but the one in the middle, called the ‘lectus medius’ was reserved for the most important person. The sofa placed in dining rooms was called the ‘triclinium’ and was a place for nobles to lie down and eat. Women, children, and slaves were not allowed to use the ‘triclinium’, but fortunately things have changed a lot since then.

The Couch Throughout History

The word ‘sofa’ comes from the Arabic word  ‘suffah’ which means, more or less, ‘bench’. The Arabic world had upholstered sofas long before Europe. Introducing upholstered furniture in European homes became possible only after the 16th century when weatherproof housing was first constructed, allowing upholstered sofas to be preserved in good condition.  Unfortunately, people from that era could not benefit from couch cleaning services. The 16th century marked the moment when the French court was equipped with seats similar to the Greek ‘kline’. 

We can easily notice that the word ‘couch’ derives from the French word ‘se coucher’, which means to lie down. Before the Industrial Revolution, the couch was considered a luxury product, affordable only to the rich and the fortunate.  Gradually, the couch became a common feature in the homes of the newly-developing middle class in the Western world. During the Regency period (1811-1820), couches gained popularity and began to appear in homes in large numbers. London furniture maker Thomas Chippendale greatly contributed to the popularity of the couch, and soon, Americans adopted his style, creating  couches that were affordable enough to be found in the majority of households.

The couch acquired a new significance in the early 20th century as a symbolic décor piece for therapists (think Freud’s couch). Post World War II, the couch underwent another revolution, becoming a medium of self-expression characterized by clean lines and modern materials.  By the end of the 20th century, the sofa even entered politics due to Tony Blair’s so-called ‘sofa style’ of government. Symbolically, replacing  the table and the desk,  the couch paved the way for informal decision-making within the government, with political advisors more or less sitting on sofas to discuss policy ideas.

The Sofa in the 21st Century

The sofa is constantly changing, from small two or three person seaters in the living room to large sectionals that can seat a whole family. Pull-out couches, sofa beds, and futons are a reflection of a changing culture that is more transitional and possibly less financially secure. Even though the design, function, and materials vary over time, one thing remains the same. This sofa is a staple in many households and a beloved piece of furniture in the home.

What Are the Different Styles of Couches?

The fact that couches have been developed separately in different regions of the world and cultures has led to multiple variations of this type of furniture,  including ottomans, loveseats (two-seat couches), modular sofas, sofa beds, round arm sofas, steam sofa, square arm sofas, rounded wedge arm sofas, armless sofas, straight back sofas, round back sofas, camelback sofas, wingback sofas, and many others. Regardless of the style you prefer, make sure you find a reliable couch cleaner in NYC to keep your furniture in good condition.

What’s The Difference Between a Couch and a Sofa?

The two terms have different etymologies that we explained earlier, and are used interchangeably. However, do they refer to the same piece of furniture? “Couch” and “sofa” both denote the same object but in different styles. Sofas are typically used in informal living spaces, often for receiving guests, while couches are more informal and are used for sleeping, watching TV, or spending time with family. In reality, the same piece of furniture can fulfill both types of needs, and it doesn’t matter which word you use.

Is It Difficult to Clean a Couch?

The answer depends on multiple factors. When choosing a new couch, be careful about the upholstery material. Some fabrics are more difficult to clean than others or can be easily deteriorated through couch steam cleaning. For instance, viscose upholstery is a nightmare for any upholstery cleaning NYC service because this semi-synthetic material can shrink and is difficult to clean stains from. 

If you have the right equipment, such as water extractors, you can clean your couch regularly, removing stains, dust, dirt, and mites. While vacuuming alone may not be the best upholstery cleaning company method, it is still better than not cleaning at all. If you want to keep your couch clean and hygienic with minimal effort, you will need assistance from an upholstery cleaning Brooklyn company such as PristineGreen Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning.  Preferably, the cleaner should also be proficient in area rug cleaner in NYC as well, enabling them to handle multiple cleaning tasks in your home simultaneously.