The biggest and most important piece of furniture you'll buy for your living room is often the sofa. Not only does it anchor the room, but it's its center, too — the place you sit, congregate, and hang out. All of this is to say, it's important that the sofa you pick is a comfortable one. And what's more comfortable than memory foam?
We most commonly see this material used for mattresses and mattress pads, as traditional memory foam offers an array of sleeping benefits such as pressure relief, contouring support, joint stress reduction, and advanced cooling and breathability. When it comes to finding the best sofa, wouldn't you want that same level of comfort? And at what cost?
There are plenty of sofas that will bring maximized comfort and style to your living space, but why not indulge in a little extra padding ahead of cozy season? Below is everything you need to know about memory foam sofas to work out whether it's the right choice for you.
Firstly, What Actually Is a Memory Foam Sofa?
A memory foam sofa inherently means that you're investing in some of the most comfortable furniture, but it's important to understand how memory foam differs from regular foam and other common materials that sofas are made from.
Chris Cooke, design mentor at sofa brand King Living, explains, "Memory foam is designed with advanced foam that contours to your body by responding to heat and weight. This creates personalized pressure relief, improving circulation and reducing stress on the joints. Unlike regular foam, which compresses and rebounds quickly, memory foam has a slower response that creates a weightless, supportive feel."
Whether this type of filling sounds like something you need honestly depends on how you plan to use your sofa. A memory foam fill contours to your body and provides that sought-after pressure relief, making it a great choice for long periods of sitting or lying down.
Plus, where regular foam can lose its shape in just a couple of years, quality memory foam is known to last somewhere around five to seven years before you start to notice signs of wear.
These sofas will often come in the form of a loveseat, sofa bed, or napping couch because of their more compact and cozy nature. If you are looking for a sofa that you can sink into after a long day of work or the perfect seat for a movie night, then a memory foam sofa could be a modern living room game-changer.
This mocha brown loveseat would make the perfect addition to any media room or small apartment living room. When delivered, it comes compressed in a box. But like with all memory foam products, the sofa quickly expands to its original form within seconds of unpacking, and full recovery takes 48 hours.
I've seen several sofas in this style making headway in contemporary sofa trends, and I love this colorway available on Furniture Maxi. The bolster cushions are removable, and the sofa extends into a sleeper bed; it's perfect for hosting guests.
If you are curious about the idea of a memory foam sofa, but want to keep the sophisticated style of a traditional sofa, King Living has some stellar options. The brand's best-selling Jasper sofa has a memory foam filling option for maximized function with all of the form.
Is a Memory Foam Sofa Worth It?
If you are tight on space or shopping for a sofa for a smaller space, then a memory foam sofa could be a great choice. Most of the memory foam sofas I found in my research leaned more towards loveseat-style sizing — make sure to always check the dimensions before you buy online, as knowing what size couch you need for your living room is crucial.
While memory foam is known for molds to your body while sitting, this may be a downside for people who like a firmer foam or fiber fill. In this case, opting for a memory foam topper (see below) rather than a sofa made entirely of memory foam gives you that comfort without feeling stuck in your decision.
Before you invest in memory foam, be sure you are investing in quality. Check details like the foam density (higher is typically better), the number of layers (around two inches of memory foam is the sweet spot), and the type of cushion covers (you'll want removable cushions for breathability and maintenance).
And, of course, try before you buy! If you aren't quite ready to invest in the real thing, the memory foam toppers below will give you a good idea of what it will feel like.
You can be sure you will be investing in quality with this thick memory foam upholstered cushion from GoTo Foam.
Two inches is a standard thickness for memory foam to add a slight bit of height and maximum comfort. Just remember to check the measurements before buying to ensure you have enough to cover your seats.
These seat boosting, memory foam cushions, while practical for comfort, are not always the most attractive when placed on top of the sofa. I would recommend styling them under a sofa cover for a more streamlined and stylish look.
For more practical support when choosing the sofa that is right for your home, be sure to check out Livingetc's guide on how we test sofas.
