Legs or no legs – why this question matters so much when you’re buying a sofa
Your sofa has legs or it doesn’t. This may sound simple, but trust me, it makes a bigger difference than the colour, fabric or size of your new sofa.
To be honest, I thought I’d heard it all when it comes to interior design jargon. Until my friend, an interior designer, brought up shadow gaps over coffee. Wait, what? Has that something to do with painting? Nope. It’s the narrow space between a piece of furniture and the floor. The gap that lets light shine through. And suddenly it dawned on me that the shadow gap’s the main reason why I find some sofas prettier than others. I just wasn’t aware of it.
What’s a shadow gap?
A shadow gap is an intentional space left between two surfaces – a wall and the ceiling, a built-in cabinet and the floor or a sofa and the hardwood floor. The term comes from architecture where it’s used to create a visual separation.
Picture frames are a particularly good example for the effect of a shadow gap. Leaving a gap between the picture and the frame creates a sense of depth and makes it look like the picture’s floating, which is why this is called a floating frame. A well-designed floating frame changes the way you see a picture, all without being able to say exactly why. The exact effect works on a sofa, too. And because it’s such a large piece of furniture, the shadow gap makes an even bigger difference.
Why the shadow gap matters for sofas
A sofa with legs and a visible gap between the sofa and the floor lets more light shine through. As a result, the room feels more open, the floor appears to extend seamlessly and a rug gets more attention. Especially in living rooms smaller than 20 square metres, this can make the difference between the room feeling cosy and cramped.
Source: Kave Home
Source: Kave Home
Sofas with no legs
Sofas that sit directly on the floor have their own charm. They seem more solid and grounded – like something you can let yourself fall into. This works perfectly with some interior design styles such as Japandi, wabi-sabi or a maximalist boho living room, for instance. A legless sofa just sits there solid like a rock.
The downside? You can’t get, see or clean underneath it. And visually, it can make a room look imposing. Especially if it’s a dark three-seater.
It depends on the sofa, not the room
The real problem is that many people buy a sofa without ever thinking about the shadow gap. After all, everything looks great in product photos taken in huge locations. It’s not until they get home that they realise their new sofa makes the room feel tiny and cramped – or that they’d actually quite like to put something underneath it. That’s why it’s worth considering this question: does the sofa have legs? How large is the gap between the floor and the sofa? Does it have a base, or does it sit directly on the floor?
Two sofas, two philosophies
The Oaq sofa designed by Kave Home features a pronounced shadow gap, legs made of oak veneer, curved and straight lines and down-effect filling. It stands out clearly against the floor and makes the room feels airy.
The Anarela model, also from Kave Home, works differently. With generous dimensions, low to the ground design and strong presence, it lends the room a sense of calm and stability.
Both sofas are beautiful. Both are comfortable. But they transform a space in completely different ways.
What to consider before buying a sofa
- Room size: In small rooms, a sofa with legs usually works better. It appears to fill the room less, despite being the same size.
- Floor type: Got beautiful hardwood floors or a rug that you want all eyes on? Go for a sofa with legs.
- Cleaning: If you want to vacuum under your sofa regularly, you'll appreciate the gap.
- Interior style: Sofas with legs generally work better with Scandinavian or modern interiors. For Japanese-inspired or earthy interior styles, floor-level models are often the better choice.
- Seat height: Sofas with legs are usually taller, which makes it easier to stand up and sit down.
Like a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
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