| When tourists walk into the lobby of a fine hotel, | | | | between them. They provide an inviting and |
| they notice the interior decorating immediately. | | | | comfortable place to sit down and relax. |
| Plush carpeting, a bank of elevators to one side | | | | The ancient Egyptians reserved such fine furniture |
| of the reception desk and a color-coordinated | | | | for the pharaoh and other royalty. A hard bench |
| grouping of furniture lend a welcoming appearance. | | | | provided seating for two or more Egyptian |
| Draperies, tables with lamps and contemporary | | | | citizens. In the West there was no upholstered |
| sofas for hotels seem to invite guests to relax | | | | furniture before the sixteenth century. Eventually, |
| before going up to their rooms. | | | | fabrics were used for furniture and the cushioned |
| Now sofas come in various sizes. A formal | | | | pieces evolved from there. |
| grouping would include a sofa, loveseat and chair, | | | | Germans used horsehair padding as stuffing, which |
| all upholstered in the same fabric. It may be | | | | is used to this day in modern upholstering. The |
| patterned, solid or rich leather. No matter what | | | | English used dried sea moss for padding. In the |
| materials are used, it is basically a long, | | | | meantime, the Italians introduced backrests and |
| upholstered seat, typically having a back and | | | | arms to the furniture during the Renaissance. |
| arms. | | | | Upholstered chairs became popular and the couch |
| Good furniture gives the appearance of | | | | was simply a longer version of the soft chair. |
| permanence, whether in the hotel lobby or in a | | | | Now, contemporary sofas for hotels and homes |
| home. It can be a three-piece conversation group | | | | everywhere are comfortable, pleasant to look at |
| of the sofa, loveseat and chair, or an interior | | | | and made in a large variety of styles and covered |
| decorator may place two identical contemporary | | | | in all types of fabric. There is one to fit every |
| sofas facing each other with a coffee table in | | | | possible setting. |