Between sitting and lying

We live in hectic times. Our daily lives are planned down to the very last detail. At work, one meeting follows the next, our inboxes are overflowing with e-mails, and the clock is constantly ticking on those deadlines. After work, it goes on: off we go to our language class, and then the gym. That's because a rolling stone gathers no moss, and the competition never sleeps – self-improvement is the order of the day.

A sofa seems like a relict from another time: a piece of furniture which exists only so its owner can put their feet up and relax. It is something which serves no specific purpose, something which is not targeted. In other words, the sofa has a completely different character to its down-to-earth relatives – the chair, which allows one to sit upright at a dining table or work desk, and the bed, which is only to be used at night and for sleeping in.

In truth, the sofa (the name derives from the Arabic word "suffa", meaning a bench for resting on) comes from a different age. Even the ancient Greeks had a type of furniture which was somewhere between a chair and a bed, and which they used when resting and dining. In Europe, sofas were manufactured from the 17th century onwards, initially for the aristocracy – who else had time for an extensive afternoon's rest?

THE EVOLUTION OF RELAXATION

In the early days, sofas were somewhat unimaginative in their form and design. But creativity and a spirit of inventiveness soon came to dominate: fine materials, adornments and elaborate details transformed sofas into truly eye-catching furniture. Their construction underwent constant development, as evidenced by the various variants such as the Ottoman, chaise longue and récamiere. And this evolution continues.

Sofas have long stopped being synonymous with luxury. But anyone who decides to go with a high-quality, stylish sofa will soon experience a sense of grandeur. This is exactly the aim pursued by the designers, constructors and upholsterers at Rolf Benz. The sofas must be aesthetically pleasing whilst offering the best possible relaxation, with optimal ergonomics and padding. They have to be true gems.

If only the modern world weren't so hectic. These days, are we even allowed to take time to recline on a comfy sofa, let our spirit wander and do nothing for a change? Yes! In fact, it's essential. Sometimes you just have to forget the world outside, take a rest, find your way back to yourself – this is exactly how to recharge your internal battery and gather your strength for fast-paced everyday life. So it's time to get on the sofa! And if you can't switch off: nowhere else is quite as comfy for using your smart phone and tablet than a good sofa.