A Glossary of Sofa Types: Loveseat, Sectional, Chesterfield and More
Furniture has its own vocabulary, and sofas have more of it than most pieces. Loveseat, settee, sectional, Chesterfield, divan, davenport — shoppers meet these words in listings and showrooms and often assume they mean more or less the same thing. They don't, and knowing the difference is the quickest way to search for what you actually want.
This glossary explains the main sofa types in plain language, based on how reference sources define them, and then maps them onto the sofas in our catalog so you can see each term in practice.
⭐ Key takeaways
- A loveseat seats two; a sofa has more than two seat cushions.
- A sectional is built from multiple sections — usually two to four — with at least two meeting at about a 90-degree angle.
- A Chesterfield is a deep-buttoned sofa, usually leather, with arms and back of equal height.
- Words like divan, davenport, and lounge are largely synonyms for sofa.
- Sofa beds, daybeds, and futons are sofas that double as beds.
The Core Types
Reference sources agree on a handful of basic categories. The Wikipedia entry for the couch defines them like this:
| Term | What it means | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Loveseat (two-seater) | A sofa that seats two people | Compact; suits smaller rooms |
| Sofa | Has more than two cushion seats | The general term |
| Sectional | Made of multiple sections, usually two to four, with at least two meeting at about a 90-degree angle | Wraps around walls or other furniture |
| Chesterfield | A deep-buttoned sofa, usually leather, with arms and back of equal height | Named after the 4th Earl of Chesterfield |
| Settee | Originally a smaller sofa; now generally a small upholstered seat | Usage varies by region |
| Fainting couch | Backless or partly backed | A decorative, lounge-style piece |
| Canapé | An ornamental three-seater | The French word for sofa, used for a style |
The same entry lists divan, davenport, and lounge as synonyms, and notes that in the UK and Canada the word Chesterfield once meant any couch. Regional vocabulary is part of the confusion: a “davenport” in one country is a “sofa” in another.
💡 Did you know? A sectional is built from multiple sections — usually two to four — with at least two pieces meeting at about a 90-degree angle, so that it can wrap around walls or other furniture, according to Wikipedia's couch entry — which is exactly why an L- or U-shaped sofa is called a sectional, even when it ships in only two pieces.
Sofas That Double as Beds
Some sofas are two pieces of furniture in one. The reference entry groups sofa beds, daybeds, and futons together as sofas that double as beds to save space. A sofa bed folds or unfolds from a seat into a sleeping surface; a daybed is a bed frame with a back and sides that works as seating; a futon is a flexible, often fold-flat mattress on a frame.
Which one you want depends on how often someone will sleep on it. Our guides to sleeper sofas for guest rooms and convertible sofas for small spaces go through the trade-offs.
The Catalog, Mapped to the Terms
Here is how the sofas in our catalog fit the vocabulary above. The mapping is our reading of the listings, using the definitions in the reference entry:
| Sofa | Closest term | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Person Sofa | Loveseat | Two seat cushions, 65.2 inches wide |
| Modern Sofa | Sofa (three-seater) | More than two seats; 87 inches wide |
| Cloud Sofa | Sectional | Two pieces forming an L with a 53-inch chaise |
| U Shaped Sofa | Sectional | Modular U-shape with two lounge chaises |
| U Shaped Sectional with Double Chaise | Sectional | U-shaped with a four-seat run and two chaises |
| Convertible Sofa | Sofa bed | Folds flat into a sleeping surface |
| Modular Sofa | Sofa bed | A single-piece sofa that unfolds into a bed |
Names on a product page don't always match the definitions. The Modular Sofa, for example, is a single piece that converts to a bed rather than a modular sectional, and the U Shaped Sectional with Double Chaise is a fixed sectional. When you are comparing listings, read the description, not just the name.
How to Use the Vocabulary
The practical value of the glossary is in searching. If you want a compact two-seater, search “loveseat.” If you want something that wraps a corner, search “sectional” and add “left-facing” or “right-facing” when you know the side. If you want a classic tufted leather look, “Chesterfield” will get you there. And if guests will sleep on it, add “sofa bed” or “sleeper” so that you see pieces designed for it.
For help choosing between the two most common sizes, see our guide to loveseats versus full sofas, and for how sectionals differ, our guide to U-shaped versus L-shaped sectionals.
Common Mistakes
| Common mistake | Why it backfires | Better approach |
|---|---|---|
| Using “sofa” and “loveseat” interchangeably | A loveseat seats two and is much smaller | Check the seat count and width |
| Assuming “sectional” means huge | Some sectionals are just two pieces | Check the overall footprint |
| Trusting a product name over its description | Names can be marketing | Read the dimensions and construction |
| Mixing up a sofa bed with a daybed | They sleep and seat differently | Check how it converts and its sleeping size |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a loveseat and a sofa?
A loveseat seats two people; a sofa has more than two seat cushions.
What is a sectional?
A sofa made of multiple sections, usually two to four, with at least two meeting at about a 90-degree angle.
What defines a Chesterfield?
A deep-buttoned sofa, usually leather, with arms and back of equal height.
Is a settee the same as a sofa?
Originally a smaller sofa; today it generally refers to a small upholstered seat.
What are divan, davenport, and lounge?
Largely synonyms for sofa, with regional differences in use.
Which sofas double as beds?
Sofa beds, daybeds, and futons are sofas that also serve as beds.
Key Takeaways
- Match the term to the shape: loveseat for two, sectional for corners, Chesterfield for tufted leather.
- Read the description, not just the product name.
- Search with the right word to find the right piece.
- Browse every sofa in Sofas, or see our loveseat vs full sofa guide.