If you're looking for love or happiness or Luann de Lesseps, money may not be able to buy it, but it's can Apparently, he will buy rich people's sofas. There's an audio clip circulating online claiming that your sofa's proximity to the wall is a big indicator of your wealth, and the internet has a lot of different ideas. “If the back of the sofa touches the wall, they are not rich,” the voiceover claims. “Wealthy people just put their couches outside. They don't touch the walls.”
While some are enthusiastic about the phenomenon and others are responding to the TikTok trend with a sense of humor, what do interior designers think? Well, the industry is crashing. “This is so ridiculous,” says Houston-based designer Alexandra Killion. “I've seen countless luxurious, expensive rooms where the sofa is pushed up against the wall.” Having more space around the sofa means the room is larger or has an open floor plan. However, Killion is quick to point out that bigger doesn't necessarily mean more comfortable. “I've seen apartments in Manhattan with living rooms that cost much more per square foot than giant living rooms in Texas,” she says.
Additionally, moving the sofa to the center of the room presents its own set of problems. “Having a sofa or sectional sofa perfectly floating in the middle of a space usually comes with some challenges,” says Molly Torres Portnoff of DATE Interiors. “Where do I plug in the table lamp on the side table or the standing lamp next to the sofa? A floor outlet is the best case scenario, but there is an additional cost to install it.”
Torres Portnov also points out that there are certain spaces, such as lounge rooms and dens, where the purpose of the room is to lounge on a plush sofa. she says: “Built-in sofas are perfect for spaces like this, but regular sofas work well too. In this scenario, they are often placed against a wall to create a cozy atmosphere.” Really According to Torres Portnov, it's the high-quality fibers like wool, mohair, and velvet that give the sofa a luxurious feel.
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Surely your sofa isn't need Although it requires a few feet from the wall, this TikTok trend contains a kernel of truth. “It's interesting, and it's not completely wrong,” says Torres Portnov. “In general, leaving at least a few inches of space behind the sofa instead of pushing it flush against the wall creates a more luxurious look.” Curling the sofa a few inches can create a more dynamic look, but it's also important to understand what you want in the room. After all, quiet luxury knows no limits.
“At the end of the day, 'wealth' is a state of mind,” Torres-Portnov concludes. “I live in a studio apartment with minimal space and a sofa pressed against the wall, but it feels beautiful, comfortable, and elevated.”
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