Chesterfields have recently enjoyed a return to prominence, and their revitalization is no mistake. They’re back in a big way, with designers far and wide eagerly putting their own twist on this traditional piece. 

The Chesterfield sofa is classy without looking like an antique, comfortable without emanating sloppy character and versatile without being bland. Your classic chesterfield design primarily has uniform characteristics, such as deeply tufted cushions and even height at the back and arms. Modern rendition retains the iconic tufting — and from there anything is fair game.

Chances are, a Chesterfield has caught your eye recently or likely will sometime in the near future. With so many different options to sort through and so much variation to lend favor, here are some things you should mull over when choosing your Chesterfield.

Keep comfort a top priority – A lot of these older designs get a bad rap because their lack of considerable support for your back and rear end. Their blatant uncomfortable nature is an injustice to their presence. New design seeking to mix the Chesterfield’s style with new school comfort come close, but often not close enough. Comfort should not be compromised in any aspect of your domain, and a couch should be the poster child for such a mantra. When shopping around, keep in mind that we’ve reinvented the Chesterfield for maximum leisure, without sacrificing their allure.

Our design ditches the straight formal back in favor for a slightly more rounded option, with multi-density foams wrapped in a channel stitched down/feather blend supplementing the rigid seat cushions of yore.  While some may favor traditional styling for its novelty or integrity, modern interpretation has successfully transferred much of the DNA of the old without sacrificing anything in the name of comfort.

Pick your material wisely – You’ve got millions of potential combinations through an endless number of mediums for customization. Given this capability, it’s easy to get a little overzealous and fuck your whole couch up. So, before you channel your inner Gio Ponti and start mixing contrasting colors and textures, do your homework. Common sense should also come into play. If you’ve got kids and or pets, and have a certain fabric in mind, make sure you choose one that’s durable and easily cleanable. If you’ve got a hankering for leather, make sure its quality is substantial enough to repel odor and retardant to fur and scratches. Use your head and think before you buy. Quality versions are built to last, but if you upholster them in the ‘wrong’ material, it could detract from both beauty and longevity.  

Design around the Chesterfield – Aside from the Eames Lounge Chair, a Chesterfield sofa might be the benchmark for accent interior design. Thus simply throwing it into your living room won’t have the same effect as strategic placement. Without a planned approach, a Chesterfield can turn from a conversational piece to one that simply steals the attention away from everything else in the room. It’s an accent piece by definition, but it shouldn’t detract from the other highlights surrounding it, rather it should simply be a focal point. For starters, don’t fear contrast. Experiment with different forms from rustic to minimalist, strong colors in art and additional furniture, or even throw it in an unconventional spot or color, such as the middle of the room. A Chesterfield is as conventionally powerful of an accent piece as you’re likely to find, and it’d be in your best interest to let it fulfill its potential.