Pros and Cons of a Scatter Back Sofa

Choosing a sofa is a big decision. This sofa will play an important role in your downtime over the next decade and as such, there are a lot of factors you need to consider before making the final decision. As well as size, material and colour, style is equally, if not more so, important.

Do you like the look of a contemporary or traditional sofa? Do you want a recliner option or maybe a chaise sofa? And do you prefer a scatter-back sofa or a standard back sofa? If you’re not sure which is right for you and your home, here are the pros and cons of a scatter-back sofa to help you decide.

What is a Scatter-Back Sofa?

Let’s start with the basics. A scatter-back is a sofa which has several large sofa cushions loosely stacked to provide both comfort and back support. The number of back cushions does not always equal the number of seat cushions; in fact, there are more back cushions that overlap each other. While a standard back sofa always has back cushions that match the seat cushions in number, size, and colour, the back cushions on a scatter-back sofa can be a different colour*.

What are the Pros of a Scatter-Back Sofa?

Is there anything better than sinking back into a sofa and watching your favourite film, reading a book, or just relaxing? A scatter-back is ideal for all three moments, providing you with the option to relax in absolute comfort. Not only that but most scatter-back sofas tend to be deep-seated offering more leg room, such as our Berkeley Range.

Another pro is the scatter-back cushions themselves. When styling your scatter-back sofa, they give you some additional choice, with the option of changing the colour of your back cushions, to further tie in and complement your aesthetic. Take the Kendal scatter-back, where you can choose the colour of the body of the sofa and then choose a different colour for the back cushions. Whether you choose different shades, for example, a dark grey scatter-back sofa, with light grey scatter-back cushions, or go for two different colours completely, it opens a lot of doors in terms of design and style.

So, What are the Cons?

There aren’t many negatives to a scatter-back sofa, just a few things worth considering before you decide.

• While a scatter-back sofa is great for relaxing back into, it may not offer you the support and structure you need if you have a bad back.
• In terms of maintenance, the back cushions will need regular plumping to keep their shape – this isn’t a difficult job or a particularly time-consuming one, but it will need doing every so often.
• In terms of choice, there aren’t as many scatter-back sofa designs as there are standard back sofas but there are plenty of size options, including a 2-seater, 3-seaters and 4-seaters.

Ultimately, whether you choose a scatter-back sofa or a standard back sofa, it’s all down to which sofa you like the look of and what will fit in with your aesthetic. Both will provide you with a stylish, comfortable seat, happy shopping!

*Not all scatter-back sofas offer different colour options for the back cushions.