What Type of Furniture to Put With a Roll Back Sofa

The roll back sofa, or Chesterfield, has been a mainstay of interior designers since its development in the 19th century. Its perfect balance of function and form makes it a great addition to most rooms. However, its oversized details cause design challenges in smaller spaces. Chesterfield roll back sofas were originally very conservative in their designs, featuring leather with button details. Current roll back sofas come in every style, from shabby chic to modern. Does this Spark an idea?

Assess Your Space

Your living room is "primarily a place where family and friends can relax, so sorting out your seating arrangements should be your number one priority," explains Lorrie Mack in her book "Living in Small Spaces." A rollback sofa can offer ample seating, but it also eats up lots of floor space. The sofa has rolled arms as tall as it's back and its roll detail continues around the rear of the sofa.

Place a roll back sofa against a wall, and you lose floor space and create a dead zone behind the couch that will simply be an opportunity for dust and other debris to collect. The dead zone is also an unattractive element when seen from another part of the room. It will appear that your furniture was not chosen properly for your space.

A roll back sofa is ideal for "floating" because it has decorative details on every side. A floating sofa sits in the middle of a larger living room and is not placed against a wall.

Coffee Table and Chairs

A long coffee table is essential with a roll back sofa. Because the sides of the sofa are so tall, guests will not be able to comfortably place a drink on an end table to the right or left of the sofa.

Place two comfy chairs for seating across from your roll back, with a small table between them. Alternately, if your sofa will face an entertainment unit or other focal point, place your chairs opposite each other at the short ends of your coffee table.

A Floating Roll Back

Floating your roll back sofa essentially creates a room within a room. Place your sofa and other furnishings on a large area rug to define your space. Accessorize you roll back sofa's decorative back with a console table--a tall table meant to sit flush against a wall (often used in entries) or against the back of a couch. Some console tables have a flat edge that sits flush against an object and a rounded edge facing the room. Rounded console tables are more dramatic than flat ones.