Decorating
Decorating: 10 Ways to Work an Iconic Chesterfield Sofa into Your Home
Discover ways to incorporate this design classic sofa into your scheme, whatever your interiors style
While the exact origin of the chesterfield sofa is lost in the mists of time, there’s no doubt this design icon has evolved over the centuries and has had many incarnations. Some say the name comes from the fourth Earl of Chesterfield, who was honoured with the gift of a chesterfield sofa in the mid 1700s, while others say it was a blanket term adopted in Canada and America at the turn of the century to describe all sofas.
Although there’s no official definition of what constitutes a chesterfield, it’s generally accepted to be a deep-buttoned sofa with arms and back of the same height. Traditionally made of leather, these days chesterfields can be found in an array of different fabrics, including velvet, tweed and linen, with many colours and patterns to choose from.
Traditional hammer and tack construction methods were used in the 18th century for the best-quality chesterfields. These would be made from eight-point, hand-tied, loose-coil springs, a coconut hair and horse tail filling, and a lambswool lining – a method still used today by some companies. Whether you choose an antique, reupholster a model that’s seen better days or opt for a modern reproduction, chesterfields are incredibly versatile and can fit beautifully into many different schemes, as these homes demonstrate.
Although there’s no official definition of what constitutes a chesterfield, it’s generally accepted to be a deep-buttoned sofa with arms and back of the same height. Traditionally made of leather, these days chesterfields can be found in an array of different fabrics, including velvet, tweed and linen, with many colours and patterns to choose from.
Traditional hammer and tack construction methods were used in the 18th century for the best-quality chesterfields. These would be made from eight-point, hand-tied, loose-coil springs, a coconut hair and horse tail filling, and a lambswool lining – a method still used today by some companies. Whether you choose an antique, reupholster a model that’s seen better days or opt for a modern reproduction, chesterfields are incredibly versatile and can fit beautifully into many different schemes, as these homes demonstrate.
Echo the buttons
Create a sense of seamless continuity by introducing other buttoned pieces of furniture into the room, too. An ottoman, banquette or stool would work well or, if your room is open-plan, go for buttoned upholstered dining chairs.
Create a sense of seamless continuity by introducing other buttoned pieces of furniture into the room, too. An ottoman, banquette or stool would work well or, if your room is open-plan, go for buttoned upholstered dining chairs.
Drop it into a midcentury scheme
Surround a design icon with other design icons and you can’t go far wrong. They don’t necessarily need to be from the same era, either. The chunky heaviness of the chesterfield provides the perfect counterpoint to the spindly legs of midcentury furniture. Keep the look fresh with shutters or blinds, as curtains could make the scheme a bit busy.
Surround a design icon with other design icons and you can’t go far wrong. They don’t necessarily need to be from the same era, either. The chunky heaviness of the chesterfield provides the perfect counterpoint to the spindly legs of midcentury furniture. Keep the look fresh with shutters or blinds, as curtains could make the scheme a bit busy.
Colour-match the wall
Painting the wall behind your chesterfield the same colour as the material in which it’s upholstered will make artwork really stand out. Take a swatch to get an exact paint colour match mixed up at your local DIY store. Choosing chairs in different colours and fabrics for the rest of the room will keep the room from looking too samey.
See how to choose and display art
Painting the wall behind your chesterfield the same colour as the material in which it’s upholstered will make artwork really stand out. Take a swatch to get an exact paint colour match mixed up at your local DIY store. Choosing chairs in different colours and fabrics for the rest of the room will keep the room from looking too samey.
See how to choose and display art
Choose a corner design
Try a modern take on the chesterfield with a sociable corner unit that makes the most of every inch of space. Echo its curves in other furniture, such as a round coffee table or ottoman, and curvaceous chairs.
Let your choice of fabric dictate the rest of the room. Here, the plush teal velvet exudes opulence, so the oversized mirror and glittering chandelier are a must.
Try a modern take on the chesterfield with a sociable corner unit that makes the most of every inch of space. Echo its curves in other furniture, such as a round coffee table or ottoman, and curvaceous chairs.
Let your choice of fabric dictate the rest of the room. Here, the plush teal velvet exudes opulence, so the oversized mirror and glittering chandelier are a must.
Work the industrial look
A distressed leather chesterfield is a great choice for an industrial loft feel. It works well in open-plan spaces as it looks great from all angles. Second-hand leather chesterfields in particular suit this look – the more battered the better – in muted, worn shades of green, blue or brown. Go for bare or painted floorboards and a pleasingly shabby old chest or suitcase as a coffee table.
A distressed leather chesterfield is a great choice for an industrial loft feel. It works well in open-plan spaces as it looks great from all angles. Second-hand leather chesterfields in particular suit this look – the more battered the better – in muted, worn shades of green, blue or brown. Go for bare or painted floorboards and a pleasingly shabby old chest or suitcase as a coffee table.
Consider exposed brick
Chesterfields look amazing against an exposed brick wall, but you’ll need to soften the look to avoid it feeling too stark. Add lots of cosy accessories, such as cushions and a large rug, and make sure some of your colours are warm to further cheer the warehouse look.
Discover how to bring out the beauty of bare bricks
Chesterfields look amazing against an exposed brick wall, but you’ll need to soften the look to avoid it feeling too stark. Add lots of cosy accessories, such as cushions and a large rug, and make sure some of your colours are warm to further cheer the warehouse look.
Discover how to bring out the beauty of bare bricks
Create your own gentlemen’s club
It’s a look that seems in no danger of falling out of favour anytime soon. The gentlemen’s club style with traditional brown leather chesterfield is a winner and difficult to get wrong.
Keep it tonal, sticking to autumnal colours, such as browns, creams and greens. Add a few hunting lodge touches – perhaps an antler mirror or chandelier – cosy it up with a sheepskin rug or fleecy throws, and add a couple of classic armchairs in houndstooth fabric or tartan to finish off this timeless look.
How to decorate with antlers.
It’s a look that seems in no danger of falling out of favour anytime soon. The gentlemen’s club style with traditional brown leather chesterfield is a winner and difficult to get wrong.
Keep it tonal, sticking to autumnal colours, such as browns, creams and greens. Add a few hunting lodge touches – perhaps an antler mirror or chandelier – cosy it up with a sheepskin rug or fleecy throws, and add a couple of classic armchairs in houndstooth fabric or tartan to finish off this timeless look.
How to decorate with antlers.
Think symmetrically
Placing two identical chesterfields opposite each other is a failsafe arrangement. Some might consider it a bit too formal – as the designer’s fastidious eye for symmetry continues through to lamps, vases and stools, too – but it’s the most sociable arrangement you can get if you want to create a room that’s conducive to chatting rather than watching TV.
Placing two identical chesterfields opposite each other is a failsafe arrangement. Some might consider it a bit too formal – as the designer’s fastidious eye for symmetry continues through to lamps, vases and stools, too – but it’s the most sociable arrangement you can get if you want to create a room that’s conducive to chatting rather than watching TV.
Bring one into the bedroom
With an array of compact versions now available, you can squeeze a chesterfield sofa into the corner of a bedroom to add some luxe appeal. Or why not have one at the bottom of your bed in place of an ottoman, chaise longue or chest?
TELL US…
How have you incorporated a chesterfield into your room? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
With an array of compact versions now available, you can squeeze a chesterfield sofa into the corner of a bedroom to add some luxe appeal. Or why not have one at the bottom of your bed in place of an ottoman, chaise longue or chest?
TELL US…
How have you incorporated a chesterfield into your room? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
Make your chesterfield the star of the show by opting for a bold colour, such as this beautiful mustard shade. Fuchsia, purple or teal will also look bang on trend, especially paired with the wall colour of the moment – deep grey – which will make your statement piece stand out even more.