What Is Sofascaping? Inside The Conversation Pit Trend

For far too long, the TV has ruled our living rooms. Sofas and armchairs are oriented towards the silver screen, while all feng shui is sacrificed in a bid for the ultimate Netflix experience. But thankfully, this latest interiors trend is bringing sofas back to the fore, as people are increasingly centring their living rooms acround socialising rather than home movie nights. As screens are banished to dedicated home cinemas and media rooms, the sofa is finally taking centre stage. But how do you best arrange your sofas to optimise your space? 

Sofascaping: Why Are Gen Z Obsessed With Sunken Sofas?

What Is Sofascaping?

For those of you unfamiliar with the latest phrase in the ‘scaping’ universe (landscaping, soundscaping, manscaping, fridgescaping etcetera), put simply, sofascaping places the sofa at the heart of a room’s design. According to Cult Furniture interiors expert Laura Migales, this means treating your sofa than more than just a piece of furniture, but a focal point from which to build your room around: ‘Like how landscaping shapes the flow of a garden, sofascaping uses the placement, style and dressing of a sofa to set the mood of your living space,’ she explains. This could mean using decorative cushions and throws to curate a cosy vibe, or opting for statement lighting and geometric lines for a more striking effect.  

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How To Sofascape Like A Pro

Opt For An Accent Sofa

To make your sofa the focal point of your room, a statement settee is a must – whether through a bold colour, a luxurious fabric, or a sculptural silhouette. While sofas should first and foremost be comfortable, don’t be afraid to treat them like a piece of art too: think curved sofas surrounded by round coffee tables and mushroom lamps; mid-century modern sofas paired with angular furniture, slim-leg tables and a retro colour palette; or plush boucle and velvet fabrics mixed with pared-back accessories and warm lighting. Either pair a statement sofa with neutral surroundings to let it shine or coordinate with complementary tones, textures and wall art. 

While a patterned sofa is the perfect way to make this statement, you need to ensure that it doesn’t clash with your surroundings. ‘The key,’ explains Lovesofas interior designer Paulina Wojas, ‘is to use the patterned settee to enhance the room’s aesthetic and create an eclectic harmony with the rest of the room.’ For example, if the room has a soft, neutral-toned colour scheme, the sofa can be used to introduce colour and patterns to the space, or – in a more eclectic and maximalist space – it can complement the more vibrant-toned room. 

Get In Position

To really achieve the ‘scape’ in sofascaping, you need to carefully consider the position of your settee – not only can this affect how your room looks, but how it feels too. Migales recommends, ‘lean[ing] on feng shui principles by placing it against a solid wall with a clear view of the door, creating calm, control, and flow’. A successful layout supports relaxation and connection, so ensure there is plenty of breathing space available and avoid pushing your sofa too far into a corner. 

In open-plan or broken-plan homes, a centrally positioned sofa can also act as a divider to visually separate zones and draw attention to key architectural features. ‘Choose one with a low back if you want to keep sightlines open,’ suggests Migales, ‘or go bold with a high-backed piece for privacy and drama.’ And don’t forget about what lies behind the sofa too. If your sofa is sitting away from the wall, adding in a slim console table can help create the feeling of a purposeful zone. Both functional and decorative, style out the console table with stacked books, trailing plants or sculptural ceramics. Or, in more compact spaces, consider a book, storage unit or narrow bookshelf. 

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Get Styling

Cushions, layered textures, and seasonal pops of colour (right now, we’re loving sunset hues) can transform your sofa into a cosy and relaxing retreat. Adding in other features such as footstools, an ottoman with a tray, a console with coffee table books, plants and sculptural side tables can further elevate the space. And don’t forget the lighting: create a relaxed and ambient vibe with floor lamps, wall sconces or slim table lights. If, however, your sofa is already intricate in design, you don’t want to overdo it with the accessorising. ‘Over-styling with cushions and throws, especially patterned or soft furnishings, can overwhelm a sofa and lead to a cluttered look,’ explains Wojas. ‘Avoid this mishap and stick to a less-is-more approach to allow the patterned sofa to become the room’s focal point.’ However you choose to style your sofa, a rug is an absolute must: useful for both delineating the space and creating the effect of a dedicated cosy corner. 

Sink Into Conversation Pits And Sunken Sofas

While Gen Z may be shunned as the screen-loving generation, they are increasingly (and ironically) turning to TikTok and Instagram to celebrate their love of TV-free sunken sofas and conversation pits. ‘Conversation pits combine two things Gen Z’s already drawn to: nostalgia and impact,’ explains Barker and Stonehouse head of product and displays Magdalena Gierasinska. ‘They’re retro enough to feel aspirational, but also adaptable to today’s interiors. You get this glamorous, sunken space that breaks away from the standard sofa-and-coffee-table formula, and it makes a home instantly feel more curated and unique.’

Heals

As with all trends, everything comes back into fashion eventually – and for interiors, right now the 70s are experiencing a particularly big revival. ‘Think warm, inviting colour palettes, modular seating, and playful patterns,’ says Heals furniture buyer Hannah Armstrong. ‘It was only a matter of time before sunken sofas and conversation pits made their return.’ 

In case you’re unfamiliar with the 70s-inspired trend, it is pretty much what it says on the tin: sofas arranged in-the-round and sunken to a lower level to make a dedicated socialising space. ‘In design terms,’ explains Furniture Village accessories buyer Shelley Cochrane, ‘conversation pits flip the hierarchy of a living room. Instead of orienting everything toward a television, the seating itself becomes the focal point. That’s now resonating with younger homeowners and renters who want to prioritise socialising and hosting friends.’ To get the full-on 70s look, lean into shag carpeting, vintage pieces, earthy oranges and browns, plus opt for togo sofas and mid-century modern aesthetics.

Andrew Martin

Even if you’re not able to dig down into your floor to create a literal pit, there are other ways to bring conversational seating into your home. As Andrew Martin CEO, Mike Durbridge, explains: ‘While sunken sofas may be trending, placing two sofas opposite each other with a coffee table in between creates a more similar effect for more compact spaces.’ Both intimate and open, the set-up naturally encourages guests to face one another and engage in dialogue. ‘They key is balance,’ adds Durbridge, ‘keeping seating at a comfortable distance, avoiding barriers that disrupt eye contact, and using soft textures to create warmth and a relaxed atmosphere.’

Or to more literally mimic the 70s design, Armstrong suggests opting for modular furniture which can be arranged into a square or U-shape to encourage connection. ‘Another bonus,’ adds Armstrong, ‘is that most modular pieces sit low to the ground, so you can capture the look and feel of a sunken sofa without committing to any major renovations.’ Using pieces from a large modular sofa, alongside footstools, armchairs, ottomans and side-tables, these pieces can be positioned in-the-round to create the perfect conversational hub.