Essay · · 6 min
The case for low furniture
Why sitting closer to the floor makes a room feel taller, calmer and more generous.
A room is measured by the eye before it is measured by a tape. When furniture sits low, the walls appear taller and the ceiling lifts. The space above the furniture becomes part of the composition.
Sight-lines
Low backs keep windows and views open. In open-plan homes they let one area flow into the next without the visual interruption of a high sofa back.
Comfort
Lower does not mean less comfortable. A deeper seat, a gently raked back and generous cushions make a low sofa the best place in the house to read.