The Outstanding Italian Sofa Manufacturers
Posted on 17 December in Italian Furniture Online
italian sofas, Italian Furniture, Italian Design, Italian Furniture Guide, Italian Brands, Best Italian Sofa Brands, Best italian designer sofas, Best Italian sofas
Do you know the Best Italian Sofa Brands? We have selected the Best Italian Designer Sofa manufacturers for you. Understand which one is for your Dream Home.
Top 10 Best Italian Sofa Brands
Furnishing your living room is just a matter of style if you choose Italian design. The one piece of furniture that cannot lack from the living room is undoubtedly the sofa. It is a companion during solitary moments of relaxation, pleasant family evenings, and parties with your many guests. In each circumstance, the sofa is always one of the most fundamental furnishings of a home interior.
Choosing the right sofa can be a very personal choice, which depends on your lifestyle as well as the interior design project you want to achieve. There are many products on the market, and finding your way around the myriad options can be challenging. This is why we have selected the best Italian sofa brands among whose collections you can find high-quality products to furnish a home with luxury Italian furniture.
The Best Italian designer sofas for your home
Among the best Italian designer sofas are the B&B Italia collections, one of the most well-known brands internationally. B&B Italia sofas combine the products’ aesthetic value with maximum comfort, and their superior quality guarantees the longevity of all the components. With two or three-seater sofas, corner sofas with chaise longue or linear, in leather or fabric, classic or modern, B&B Italia offers solutions to suit every need. Among their best-known products is the Michel collection by Antonio Citterio, a timeless collection characterized by an aluminum structure and a seat cushion with a clean, minimalist design. An evolution of the Michel sofa is the Michel Club collection. A versatile proposal, consisting of 36 modular elements, five ottomans and linear sofas that allow for a wide range of configurations in a vast selection of finishes from the B&B Italia collection.
The latest new releases from B&B Italia also include proposals that aim for versatility and personalization. Among these is the Dock upholstered system by Piero Lissoni. Dock is a modular system that allows for as many as 84 combinations with double-sided, corner, chaise-longue configurations, with or without backrests. This versatility makes the sofa suitable to be positioned either in the middle of the room or, more traditionally, against the wall. But B&B Italia also offers more informal sofa solutions such as Husk-Sofa by Patricia Urquiola. Comfortable and snug, this sofa is available in two different sizes, the shorter version with a singular backrest and the longer version where the seat and backrest are divided into two sections. There is a wide array of solutions among the B&B Italia sofas, not only for the living room but also for the outdoors, such as Canasta and Fat Sofà, now two classics among outdoor sofas.
Arflex
The quality of the materials and innovative design are essential characteristics for a designer sofa. Firstly because once the sofas are purchased, they will have to last for years. Furthermore, since a sofa is used daily, it is essential that it is made of quality products that ensure maximum comfort, and this applies to all the elements that combine to define the ergonomics of the seat.Most of the best Italian designer sofas share these characteristics, including Arflex, one of the benchmark Italian brands in the industry. Among the Arflex collections are cult pieces of Italian design, including the Marenco sofa designed by Mario Marenco in 1970 or Strips created by Cini Boeri in the late sixties. Strips was awarded the Compasso d’Oro award in 1979. This sofa introduced a critical component for a sofa. Strips by Arflex is characterized by a completely removable quilted cover. Today this sofa is exhibited in various museums around the world, including the Triennale in Milan and the Moma in New York.
Arflex, one of the brands that produce the best Italian sofas, still collaborates today with the most successful designers on the international scene, like Jaime Hayon, who in 2017 designed the new Arcolor sofa, a modular system inspired by the classic geometry of the arch, or Claesson Koivisto Rune, creators of the Bonsai collection. This latest sofa collection is characterized by upholstered seats on a base made of either chocolate-stained wood or of black lacquered metal feet.
Maxalto
For those looking for a classic and elegant style and want to find a solution among the best Italian designer sofas, opt for the Maxalto collections. The brand, one of the Italian leaders in the upholstery sector, offers a vast array of modern sofas. The Italian furniture company Maxalto offers solutions suitable for interiors that are stylish and embellished with luxury furniture but don’t sacrifice modernity. For sofas, for example, there is Febo, a seating collection designed in 2008 by Citterio, with the characteristic visible festoon stitching, proposed in a single material version, fabric or leather.
Sophisticated and elegant style is also found in the Solatium sofa by Maxalto. It is a classic seating system, consisting of 140 elements. The contemporaneity of the product is due to its versatility. You can configure linear sofas with chaise-longue or dynamic corner sofas that can be combined with components with armrests, different heights of backrests, and poufs.
For each space to be furnished, it is wise to consider choosing the sofa model that is best-suited to the space available to better enjoy it and to enhance its form. For those looking for two- or three-seater sofas, among the latest Maxalto products, is Apollo, a line of upholstered sofas composed of three different types. The characteristics of the Apollo line are its compact and sinuous shapes that create a very comfortable sofa with a roomy seat.
Cassina
Cassina, one of the brands that made the history of design, could not be missed in the selection of the best Italian sofa brands. It began as a laboratory in 1927 and grew around the 1950s as a family business. Cassina has collaborated with notable names in Italian design such as Gio Ponti, followed by other designers such as Achille Castiglioni, Vico Magistretti, and Afra and Tobia Scarpa. In recent times, Philippe Starck, Piero Lissoni, Jean Marie Massaud and Patricia Urquiola have also designed for Cassina.
In the Cassina collections, you can find cult pieces, such as the LC2 sofa by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, and Charlotte Perriand. It was designed in 1928 and still represents the archetype of modern upholstered furniture. It is characterized by a steel structure and large removable cushions. LC2 has been re-visited by Cassina and produced exclusively since 1965.
Cassina’s I Contemporanei collections include products from the masters of Italian design, such asthe Maralunga sofa by Magistretti, awarded with the Compasso d’Oro in 1979. This sofa introduces a new level of comfort, thanks to the flexible headrest that can create a high or low back. On the occasion of its 40th anniversary, Cassina presented a renewed interpretation of the Maralunga sofa with fabric or leather upholstery and profile stitching outlining the border, and in a removable version.
On the subject of contemporary Italian sofas, among Cassina’s new releases, we find Dress-Up! by Rodolfo Dordoni and Cotone by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec. Dress-Up! is a sofa defined by details drawn from the art of dressmaking; for example, the stitching around the back/armrests creating an elegant crease on both the front and back, from which a zipper runs down to the sofa’s base, as with a dress. Its appearance is further enriched by a gross-grain profile around the seat cushions, available in black, white, gray, and milky white.
Cotone, on the other hand, is a collection of sofas designed by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec that sees the addition of a cozy sofa characterized by an extruded aluminum structure available in four colors: gray-blue, red, champagne, and graphite.
Flexform
In the top ten best Italian designer sofas is Flexform, a furniture manufacturer brand The Flexform catalog offers high-quality modular sofas, entirely Made in Italy, from linear sofa solutions with two, three, or four seats, to the classic sofa with chaise longue.
Among the corner sofas Flexform proposes, we have Pleasure and Cestone, solutions that can take on very different configurations and furnish large spaces. For example, Cestone, one of the best Italian sofas, has been designed to be placed in the center of the living area. The back and sides of the sofa, areas that usually remain hidden, are emphasized. In the Cestone sofa back and sides are made of metal frames covered in braided leather with an irregular weave. The weaving can be denser, thus forming a compact surface, or sparser, to allow the upholstery to be seen.
Among the new Flexform proposals, there are sofas of generous proportions with a design that strikes a balance between tradition and modernity. Like the Armand sofa with generously-padded back and armrests. The soft silhouette of the sofa is outlined by a gross-grain profile in either tone-on-tone or contrasting stitching. The Armand sofa is available both in fresh and modern fabrics such as cotton and linen, and textiles with a more decorative taste like velvet.For spaces where it is not possible to insert a large sofa, Flexform also offers sofas of smaller dimensions. Like Sveva, the sofa by Carlo Colombo that, thanks to its compact proportions, lends itself to furnishing residential spaces and hospitality environments with the same style and elegance.
Saba
The sofa’s design must be in harmony with the space where it will be placed. For an interior design directed towards a sophisticated and experimental contemporary style, among the best Italian design sofas are the Saba collections. It is a young brand born in 1987, which has since devoted its work to the culture of relaxation. For Saba, their key products have always been upholstered sofas that, in addition to meeting the needs of consumers, must also arouse emotions. Saba’s style is unmistakable, and their quality products are made with precision machinery. Nevertheless, experience in traditional craftsmanship remains fundamental.
In the collection, you can find designer solutions like Kepi by Emilio Nanni, a 160 cm two-seater sofa, whose lines are inspired by Nordic design. The supporting structure is made with painted steel tubes available in different finishes with double lumbar support and a single, fully-removable seat cushion. Kepi’s design is minimalistic, and this makes it perfect both for the home and for commercial projects.
In contrast, the Geo sofa’s form is large and generous. This sofa also features a metal frame available in a chrome or painted finish. This composition was designed to ensure that the voluminous seat and slender legs find the right balance.
Philo, a new proposal among Saba’s sofas, is also characterized by a metal structure. The metal wire gently hugs and supports the padded surfaces. This sofa is suitable for both residential and public spaces and meeting places.
Moroso
Moroso is undoubtedly one of the best Italian sofa brands that have done research and experimentation in the upholstery sector. Since 1952 Moroso has been producing upholstery and seating for high-end furnishings in collaboration with the best international designers.
Moroso represents the evolution of the Italian company built on the figure of the entrepreneur-craftsman, embodied until the nineties by Agostino Moroso. Moroso is a company open to comparison, who uses the idea of “doing and doing well”, the Italian Way of the post-World War II period, to combine the profound artisan and sartorial know-how with the industrial production processes. At the same time, they succeeded in identifying the common ground between design, contemporary art, and fashion, a strong element of uniqueness.
Among the Moroso collections, there are some of the best Italian sofas, many of which have also become iconic, like the famous Double Soft Big Easy designed by Ron Arad in 1991, an evolution of the sculptural steel armchair created by the designer in 1988, or Victoria and Albert Sofa, also by Ron Arad. The collection of V&A sofas, with its curved lines in a continuous flow, is born as a sculpture and becomes an object with an internal structure, padding, and upholstery.
But research also distinguishes the most recent collections like Gogan or the Heartbreaker sofa collection. The Heartbreaker sofas by Johannes Torpe for Moroso find their stylistic signature in the design of the armrest, which represents half of a heart that is playfully recomposed when sofas a placed side by side. The design of the sofa combines simple, unadulterated geometric shapes with extreme comfort, making the product, which was designed for heavy-duty use, also suitable for domestic settings.
Gogan, on the other hand, is a sofa that owes its name to nature and in particular, to Japanese stones that are polished by time and water, a source of inspiration for this project. The shapes are soft and irregular, with the seat slightly tilted towards the back to giving extreme comfort to the sofa. The fabric, recently rediscovered from the Moroso archive, is inspired by the 1970s and reproduces the surface of a river stone thanks to its rich bouclé texture. Gogan carries the name of Patricia Urquiola, designer of some of the most interesting Moroso collections such as the Gentry sofa and Gentry Extra Light, a project born from the search for thorough and measured comfort.
Molteni&C
In the wide range of Molteni&C sofa collection, there are also sofas and upholstered products which are undoubtedly included among the best Italian designer sofas. One of the company’s best sellers is the Chelsea sofa by Rodolfo Dordoni and the Paul seating system composed of linear sofas, corner compositions, chaise longues, and poufs with the unique singular seat cushion. The brand led by the artistic director Vincent Van Duysen has recently launched Gregor, a new modular seating system. It is composed of various rectilinear, corner, or peninsular elements that combine to give rise to different combinations suitable for a living space intended for conversation or reading. Among the features that distinguish this system is the steel base with a zinc finish, which is supported by feet and covered in fabric or leather, like the wing armrests, which support soft cushions and at the same time, act as a usable surface.
This new proposal by Rodolfo Dordoni for Molteni&C is, on the other hand, a two- or three-seater sofa. The proposal is called South Kensington. This sofa is characterized by rounded and enveloping shapes with a futuristic design but with a contemporary look and tailored details. The integrated seat and the medium height wrap-around backrest make it an “instant classic” suitable for both residential solutions and for lobbies and lounges in the hospitality sector.
Another innovation from Molteni&C destined to become of the best Italian designer sofas is the modular sofa system Surf, designed by Canadian designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg. These sinuous sofas have an outsize personality and are ideal for residential or hospitality projects. The seat is integrated with the base; the shapes are rounded and rest on enveloping backrests, slightly protruding. Rectilinear elements, chaise longue, corner, and ends partially without backrests can be cleverly combined to create multiple original compositions suitable for every type of situation. Each collection is accompanied by a vast selection of fabrics and leathers, chosen from the Molteni&C collection.
Zanotta
Among the brands that know how to best interpret Italian style is Zanotta, the contemporary Italian furniture brand, and star of contemporary design whose collections include some of the best Italian sofas. The collection includes products by the great masters such as the iconic Onda sofa, a monoblock composition with a steel tube supporting structure, and a removable fabric or leather cover. Onda was designed in 1985 by De Pas, D’Urbino, and Lomazzi, creators of Milano+, a recent upgrade of Milano, the sofa designed in 1982 and re-visited in 2019. This sofa has a rational, linear structure and is still a timeless design project. The new version allows for the creation of more articulated linear modular solutions thanks to the introduction of an elongated armchair and a rectangular pouf. These are the products that continue to make Zanotta one of the best Italian sofa brands.
The most recent collections of upholstered furniture design have been developed with established international designers. Like the Hiro sofa by Damian Williamson with minimalist, rigid shapes, whose body seems to be suspended from the ground, but is actually supported by natural or black polished aluminum feet. Or Kim by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba, a sofa with soft and enveloping shapes and a comfortable seat formed by a single cushion. In the catalog, there are proposals suitable for every residential context. For large spaces, for example, there is the Scott sofa by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba, a collection of modular sofas with large and voluminous shapes. Here the upholstered elements interact with furnishing accessories like tables or bookcases that liven up the space. The seats are low, wide, and spacious, perfect for creating multi-functional poufs.
Zanotta’s latest modular sofa proposal is Shiki, a sofa inspired by the Japanese futon. It is equipped with a large seat cushion, punctuated by a quilted motif, and embellished with the toggle fastener detail, which was made and applied by hand. The project becomes dynamic thanks to the alternation of different thicknesses and heights with different materials, finishes, and volumes that create a harmonious contrast.
De Padova
In the top 10 best Italian designer sofas, we cannot neglect the De Padova collections, a historic company founded in the 1950s as an importer of Scandinavian furniture and objects. The collaboration with Vico Magistretti was significant for the brand and began in the 1970s with the creation of office furniture and then continued into the 1980s with the first furniture items and products under the De Padova brand. Among these are sofas from the first “Edizioni De Padova,” which later became “è De Padova.” Some of the most celebrated designers such as Achille Castiglioni and Dieter Rams have collaborated with De Padova. Recent developments have seen the company be acquired by Boffi, and currently, the De Padova brand is part of the Boffi | De Padova Group. Among the collections offered in the catalog are some of the best Italian sofas, such as Chesterfield 16, a reinterpretation of the classic English club sofa, proposed in fabric or leather. The shapes and proportions have been updated and feature lighter stitching. The backrest and the armrests are accentuated by a capitonné finish while the seat is formed by a single soft cushion.Some of the other best Italian designer sofas in De Padova catalog are also products designed by Magistretti such as Raffles, a remarkably comfortable sofa, characterized by a deep, enveloping seat.
Among the most recent products, there are highly sought-after collections that make attention to detail and research of raw materials a distinctive aspect. Like Yak by Lucidi Pevere, a sofa that can be appreciated from any position. The solid wood structure acts as a loop for the continuous strip of leather, which in turn forms the back and arms. This creates an interesting primitive and artisanal effect that characterizes the product. The backrest is also a characterizing element for Étiquette by GamFratesi. In this case, the details of the backrest are enhanced by a metal structure, finished with leather straps and a wooden bar that add an unusual accent to the minimalist line of the sofa.
As you can see, there are many sofa solutions, so the important thing is to choose the one that best suits your Living Room Style. With the help of a professional, the choice is easier. So if what you want for your home are the best Italian sofas, contact us. Our team of Architects and Designers will help you select the best Italian sofa brands, and our interior design service will design your living room with a new modular sofa. Book now an exclusive shopping tour to choose the best Italian designer sofas for your home in person.
If you are a particular fan of sofas in leather, read our best Italian leather sofa brands selection.
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