What is an American style sofa? The deep, plush look Gulf homes love

When people say American style sofa, they mean a sofa built around comfort and size. It grew out of the family room, the relaxed living space where everyone gathers to talk, eat snacks and watch television. The sofa there is not for perching politely: it is for sinking in, putting your feet up and staying for the evening.

Today the style has a modern form. It is low, wide and deep, with soft, plump cushions that look a little relaxed rather than perfectly tailored, often in calm, light colours. Many people call the softest version a cloud sofa; our guide what is a cloud sofa? describes that look in detail.

Compared with a compact, tailored sofa, an American style sofa differs in almost every proportion.

Both are lovely. A tailored sofa shines in a small apartment or a formal room; an American style sofa shines wherever comfort and togetherness come first.

The American style sofa feels at home in the UAE for good reasons.

• Large rooms. Villa living rooms and many apartments have the space for a generous sofa, and a small one can look lost in them.
• Big families. A deep corner or U-shape seats parents, children and grandparents together, with room for everyone to lean back.
• Long evenings. After sunset, and especially during Ramadan, the living room is where the family spends hours together. A plush, deep seat makes those hours a pleasure.
• A tradition of comfort. Like majlis seating, the style invites people to settle in, fold their legs and relax.
• Air-conditioned rooms. Cool, calm interiors suit the soft cushions and throws that go with this look.

An American style sofa is generous by nature, so measure first. Plan for the full depth of the sofa, plus about 40 to 50 cm to a coffee table or ottoman, plus 60 to 90 cm to walk past.

Even the 2-seater is deeper than a typical compact sofa, which is exactly what gives it that plush feeling. On every sofa page, the Will it fit? tool draws the sofa against your wall, to scale. Our guide to choosing the right size sofa has the full method.

• Calm colours. Soft whites, warm beiges and quiet greens and blues let the shape speak. Comfo comes in Chalk, Biscuit, Olive and Dark Navy.
• Big cushions. Choose large cushions, 50 to 60 cm, in two or three textures from the same colour family, rather than many small ones.
• A large rug. A big rug under the front of the sofa holds the whole seating area together. A small rug looks lost in front of a generous sofa.
• An ottoman as a table. A wide ottoman with a large tray works as a coffee table and a footstool at once, which is very much in the spirit of the style.
• Throws and warm light. A soft throw on the arm and a floor lamp beside the sofa finish the relaxed, welcoming look.

The deep seat is the heart of the American style. It lets you curl up, sit cross-legged or lie on your side, and it feels wonderful for long evenings.

For shorter family members, or anyone who likes to sit upright, a large firm cushion behind the back brings the seat forward. For grandparents who want to get up easily, a medium seat is often the more comfortable choice.

At Pufflo you choose the seat feel at the same price: Cocoon, very soft, so you sink in, or Classic, medium, so you sit on the seat and get up easily. Comfo starts in Cocoon, which is the most American feel of all. Our guide to soft or firm sofas helps you decide.

Soft, plump cushions are part of the charm, and a few easy habits keep them looking generous year after year.

• Plump the cushions when you tidy the room. A few pats on each side bring back their full, rounded shape in seconds.
• Swap the seats around every few weeks if your cushions or modules move, so everyone's favourite spot does not always get the most use.
• Vacuum weekly with a soft brush head. In the UAE, fine dust and sand settle into seams and corners, and a quick pass keeps the fabric fresh.
• Keep a throw on the favourite seat. It adds warmth on cool, air-conditioned evenings and keeps the seat looking new.

Our simple sofa care routine sets out what to do each week, month and year.

Comfo brings the American style to UAE homes. Its seats are 74 cm deep, its cushions are soft and plump, and its ottomans move wherever you want to put your feet up. It is fully modular, so the same sofa can start as a 229 cm 2-seater and grow into a U-shape of six modules, 457 cm wide.

Comfo is European quality, handmade locally when you order, and delivered and installed free in all seven emirates, 3 to 6 days after your order. For a size or shape that is not on the page, ask for a custom sofa: the team replies within 48 hours with a drawing and a price.