Soft cell: we’ll take a lockdown any day to cosy up on the hottest new sofas

Plus, we celebrate 20 years of Wallpaper* and delve into the archives to trace the most iconic sofas created in the past two decades. Pull up a pew...

Black sofas above metal mesh boxes

(Image credit: Thomas Brown)

From left, ‘Paul’ sofa, from £4,879, by Vincent Van Duysen, for Molteni & C. ‘Mosaico’ sofa, €1,935, by Yonoh, for Sancal. ‘Freeman Lounge’ sofa, from £5,080, by Rodolfo Dordoni, for Minotti. ‘Kerman’ sofa, from €8,100, by Philipp Mainzer and Farah Ebrahimi, for E15, from Viaduct.

Interiors: Matthew Morris. As originally featured in the October 2016 issue of Wallpaper* (W*210)

Grey seating in dim lit room and smoke coming from vents


(Image credit: press)

From left, ‘Isabel’ sofa, from €9,204, by Carlo Colombo, for Flexform. ‘Beam’ sofa, from £5,520, by Patricia Urquiola, for Cassina. ‘Viktor’ sofa, price on request, by Draga & Aurel, for Baxter. ‘Peggy G’ sofa, from €7,680, by Roberto Lazzeroni, for Ceccotti Collezioni. ‘Mia’ sofa, from €2,184, by Francesco Bettoni, for MDF Italia

Black and grey sofas on metal vents


(Image credit: press)

From left, ‘5047 Mellow’ sofa, £8,500, by Océane Delain, for Bernhardt Design, from Brands Ltd. ‘Drive’ sofa, £8,065, by Carlo Colombo, for Giorgetti. ‘Allison’ sofa, from £7,997, by Andrea Borgogni, for Porada. ‘Édouard’ sofa, from £5,523, by Antonio Citterio, for B&B Italia

Poster showing different models of sofa


(Image credit: press)

Sofa so good: we look back at 20 years of iconic sofas...

White seating with wheels and high back


(Image credit: press)

1996: 'Neoz’, by Philippe Starck, for Driade

Wooden framed sofa with white cushions


(Image credit: press)

1997: ‘Zanzibar’, by Flexform

White sofa with built in lamp


(Image credit: press)

1998: ‘Lazy Working Sofa’, by Philippe Starck, for Cassina

Wide cream coloured sofa with metallegs


(Image credit: press)

1999: ‘Elan’, by Jasper Morrison, for Cappellini

Abstract shaped blue sofa


(Image credit: press)

2000: ‘Victoria & Albert’, by Ron Arad, for Moroso

Reclining purple seat


(Image credit: press)

2001: ‘Glide’, by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, for Cappellini

Abstract shaped bold blue sofa


(Image credit: press)

2002: ‘Lewitt’, by Rodolfo Dordoni, for Minotti

Bright, bold blue sofa


(Image credit: press)

2003: ‘Hal’, by Norway Says, for Hjelle

Dark grey sofa with four metal legs


(Image credit: press)

2004: ‘Argo’, by Francesco Rota, for Paola Lenti

Cream corner sofa


(Image credit: press)

2005: ‘Tufty Time’, by Patricia Urquiola, for B&B Italia

Long orange leather sofa with black legs


(Image credit: press)

2006: ‘Kennedee’, by Jean-Marie Massaud, for Poltrona Frau

Grey curved sofa with pouf


(Image credit: press)

2007: ‘Moon’, by Zaha Hadid, by B&B Italia

Dark blue sofa with five different shaped and coloured cushions


(Image credit: press)

2008: ‘My Beautiful Backside’, by Doshi Levien, for Moroso

Pink fluffy sofa


(Image credit: press)

2009: ‘Cipria’, by Fernando & Humberto Campana, for Edra

Padded sofa on red metal frame


(Image credit: press)

2010: ‘Ruché’, by Inge Sempé, for Ligne Roset

Off white coloured sofa pads with dark wooden frame


(Image credit: press)

2011: ‘Rive Droite’, by Christophe Pillet, for Ceccotti Collezioni

Orange padded sofa with high back rest and arm rests


(Image credit: press)

2012: ‘Residential’, by Architecture & Associés, for Knoll

Bright, bold orange two-seater sofa with red metal frame


(Image credit: press)

2013: ‘Traffic’, by Konstantin Grcic, for Magis

Grey sofa with high arm rests


(Image credit: press)

2014: ‘Mariposa’, by Barber & Osgerby, for Vitra

Wooden based seat with grey cushion pads


(Image credit: press)

2015: ‘Grid’, by Pool, for Petite Friture

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.

Read more
Our design & interiors winners, gathered together in a shoot for the February 2025 issue of Wallpaper*. Interiors by Olly Mason. Photography by Leandro Farina. Set build by London Art Makers. LED screen installation by KitMapper. Floral designer, Alina Dheere. Photography assistant, Nick Howe. Interiors assistant, Archie Thomson. Production assistant, Ady Huq. Details for all products featured are listed below
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