Comfort in Cologne: Sensational Sofa and Seating Trends from IMM 2016

Sofas and seats form the centre of the home and are some of the biggest furniture investments we make. A modern good sofa turns a house into a home, and at Cologne’s Furniture Fair IMM you couldn’t fail to find your dream sofa. The world’s largest exhibition of upholstered furniture invites you to sit down and take in the huge diversity of products on offer. Homedit selected some of the most sensational sitting options designed to meet the varied demands of sofa and seat buyers. We asked, what can inspire our individual search for comfort?

Multifunctional Comfort

New furniture is becoming lighter and and easier to move. Our increasing ability to multitask is reflected in furniture that adapts and transforms at different times of the day.

W Schillig is a classic German manufacturer with 65 years in the business. Their showroom occupies a huge part of the Comfort exhibition at IMM. The elegant lines of their ergonomic chaise rocker Woow catch the eye.

The Woow by W Schillig

Many of Schilligs sofa’s are adjustable to suit all bodies and relaxing positions. They also offer a range of modular sofas allowing easy reconfiguration of your lounge.

Namara by W Schillig
Namara by W Schillig

The blue velvet Namara is a new model which Schillig debuted at IMM. The head rest adjustment is especially comfy. The black leather Silena model also features remote control for easy adjustments without getting up.

Black Leather Sofa Silena W Schillig
Black Leather Sofa Silena W Schillig
The Nest showing chair and circular futon shape
The Nest showing chair and circular futon shape

Sitting on a comfy floor cushion or pillow? The innovative Karup Nest sofa chair is designed to form a circular futon bed from two chairs. This creative take on the traditional Japanese Futon is one of the comfiest sofa bed chairs on the market!

Cozy Nest Chair
Cozy Nest Chair
The Nest chair in comfy sheepskin effect finish
The Nest chair in comfy sheepskin effect finish

Danish firm Innovation living have a new fabric collection of sofa beds designed for sleeping comfort with high tech mattress technology and refined daytime style. Their compact models are particularly suitable for small apartments.

Blue Velvet Sofa Bed by Innovation Living
Blue Velvet Sofa Bed by Innovation Living
Neat Sofa Bed with Lamp and Swing Table
Neat Sofa Bed with Lamp and Swing Table
Grey velvet 'old school' sofa bed
Grey velvet ‘old school’ sofa bed
Grey velvet 'old school' sofa chair
Grey velvet ‘old school’ sofa chair
Grey Puzzle Lux sofa
Grey Puzzle Lux sofa

The Puzzle range comes with a choice of metal or wooden feet.

Comfort via retrospective design.

In uncertain times we’re drawn to classic and retro designs, they provide comfort in times of rapid change, like a reliable old friend. Many European manufacturers are especially tuned in to the popular mid century aesthetic.

with minimal white, grey or black leather trim for a sleek and understated living room.

L shaped Solo lift white leather sofa
L shaped Solo lift white leather sofa

The new look range has some less conventional base elements such as the Ego model.

Modern Grey Leather sofa
Modern Grey Leather sofa
Minimal style from Sofo
Minimal style from Sofo
Eggo black leather sofa
Eggo black leather sofa

For a chair with character the Bessa pure lounge chair has a unique retro charm mixing brass and leather.

Bessa Brown Lounge Chair
Bessa Brown Lounge Chair

Calia Italia offer luxurious classic sofas with original details like this red stitched mushroom/brown colour leather.

Calia Italia Brown sofa with a red
Calia Italia Brown sofa with a red accents on edges
Detail of red stiching
Detail of red stiching

If corduroy spells comfort to you then Lithuanian manufacturer Jacobsen Home can provide with this powder blue beauty.

Jacobsen Home Sofa
Jacobsen Home Sofa

Theca was formed in 2005 following a buy out of the upholstery division of BoConcept. Their grand Fresno model allows you to choose from a range of arm rest and cushion styles to make the piece your own.

Theca's Fresno model
Theca’s Fresno model
Grey small sofa with yellow pillows
Grey small sofa with yellow pillows

Individual Comfort

Individuality defines furniture trends. With more manufacturers leaving the decisions about details and finishings to the end user. Timeout by Conform allows you to make an individual statement with a customised statement armchair.

Timeout Chairs by Conform
Timeout Chairs by Conform
Classic Black and White leather Conform models with integral footrest
Classic Black and White leather Conform models with integral footrest

For those that prefer to express their own personality via a stand out or statement piece, the Actona stand was full of quirky options. The Nora chair could brighten up a monochrome colour scheme with it’s patchwork primaries.

Colorful Scandinavian chair
Colorful Scandinavian chair

A curvaceous Oooja chair from Scandinavian design might be the original touch you’re looking for.

Oooja Low Chair at Scandinavian Design
Oooja Low Chair at Scandinavian Design

Environmentally conscious comfort.

When making a big purchase, more and more of us are drawn to products that consider the environment and our own health with ecological materials and fair manufacture.

3C use the Blaue Engel certification so you can be sure that no toxic chemicals have been used in the manufacture of your sofa. The 3C Candy suite in jewel yellow really stole the limelight at their stand.

3C Candy in Yellow Velvet
3C Candy in Yellow Velvet
Yellow Velvet suite at 3C
Yellow Velvet suite at 3C

Comfort while dining

Our favourite place to dwell is often the dining table, lingering over a lengthy dinner rather than getting up and moving rooms. The furniture industry now produces a wide variety of individually combinable dining chairs. Koinor takes things a step further with their dinner sofas. Bella fit’s into a corner to give that American diner level of comfort to mealtimes but via a streamlined modern look.

Bella Dining Sofa by Koinor
Bella Dining Sofa by Koinor

Each year the Cologne’s Furniture Fair IMM provides an insight into the latest sofa and seating trends, and with the largest collection of upholstery seen anywhere in the world and row upon row of styles in one place, it’s an event that will leave you longing to spend the evening on your sofa.