History lore tells us that the Earl of Chesterfield considered himself a leader in setting fashion trends in the nineteenth century England. Through his commission and influence, a particular style of sofa began appearing throughout British society from private homes to the wide variety of London social clubs. This sofa was of high quality, made of leather, and featured high arms and backs and deep buttoned upholstery. A reporter on the fashion of this time ascribed their appeal to their versatility as what came to be called Chesterfield sofas bring sophistication to and look great amongst any decor.

Evoking a sense of timeless class, glamor, and plush comfort, the Chesterfield sofa is once again appearing as a featured element in the interior designer's tool chest. The look of the Chesterfield conjures up images of a bygone era where a nobleman might sit in a special room at the back of the pub sipping scotch and smoking a fine cigar. Fast forward to the twenty-first century and you might see that same sofa in a local wine bar or coffee house among locals who are sipping strong coffee and discussing the news of the day.

The recent resurgence of the Chesterfield began in fine European hotels and social clubs where designers were looking to bring some classical elegance back to their common areas. They felt that the more modern styles were lacking some of the elements that cause patrons to gather together to relax, talk, and spend more of their leisure time at these establishments. The metal and foam minimalistic designs of modern sofas and couches have their place but weren't inspiring customers to linger so inspired designers looked to the Chesterfield sofa as the centerpiece in their attempt to bring back a sense of sophistication and timelessness that had been lost over the years.

Given the increasing popularity of the Chesterfield sofa, it would seem that they've succeeded in reminding us of the luxurious feeling of sinking into a plush leather sofa with a fine beverage and the evening paper or a good book. Thankfully, with the wide variety of models, fabrics, and accessories available on the internet for Chesterfield sofas, you can easily find a design to fit your decor and your wallet and bring that same sense of sophistication and style to your own living room today.

The leather chesterfield sofa typically comes in three styles of leather. Antique leather which is blacked before it's applied then hand rubbed to buff off the black and reveal the richness of the leather underneath. The leather is then hand sealed for protection and further buffed to mimic the style and appearance of an antique chesterfield sofa perfectly.

Premium leather sofas are made with a finer grain of leather and pre-treated with often proprietary blends of natural finishers to give a luxurious and supple look and feel to your sofa. The look is typically slightly distressed and textured to create slight variations in leather color as it hugs the curves and contours of the sofa frame.

Perhaps even more premium than premium leather varieties are the line of hand dyed leather chesterfield sofas. Hand crafted by a professional leather worker using time tested traditional tanning methods then sealed to lock in the dye, these sofas feature deep rich color over soft and pliable leather that will develop the characteristic hand dyed leather patina as it ages.

No matter which leather chesterfield sofa variety you choose, it's hard to go wrong with this classic choice. That next dinner party, book club meeting, or simple get together with friends is sure to be an even more special occasion when it happens around your elegant new leather chesterfield sofa.

The first and perhaps most obvious is an online auction site like eBay. There are typically several dozen sofas available at any one time from a mix of private sellers and specialty retailers. Assuming you find one you like and that matches your decor (and that you bid high enough to win the auction), you'll have to pay shipping and rely on the seller to get your antique chesterfield sofa out the door and on its way to you in an expedited manner. Auction sites are hit or miss with the styles and fabrics that are available at any one time but, if you persist, you may just find that diamond in the rough that's a perfect fit for your living room or den.

Another potential source for antique chesterfield sofas are online classified sites like craigslist or those offered by local newspapers. You'll again be limited by what individual sellers have available over the time frame in which you're looking but prices will typically be less than you might find on an auction website. Add in that you'll probably be dealing with a more local seller and, assuming you're lucky enough to find a sofa you like at a reasonable price, delivery is probably only a short drive in a pickup truck away!

If you don't want to deal with unknown sellers or the hassle and uncertainty of bidding on your antique chesterfield sofa and are willing to accept an antique look on an otherwise modern sofa frame, getting a sofa custom made by one of the variety of online specialty sofa stores is a good option for you. In fact, due to the popularity of the chesterfield style, there are several websites that deal exclusively with this model in its various fabrics and versions. Just choose an antique leather fabric (many even come aged or with patina) and custom order your sofa in exactly the style and color you want. Although not an official "antique" you'll get that antique chesterfield sofa look in the perfect color and style to exactly match the rest of your interior design.

However, if you have your heart set on mixing the classic style of the chesterfield with a modern sofa bed, you do have an option. There are multiple online specialty furniture retailers that can hand make furniture to your exact specifications. There are even sites dedicated exclusively to the chesterfield sofa that offer dozens of color, fabric, and design combinations and may even be willing to custom design a chesterfield sofa bed for you. Your best bet is to contact the manufacturer behind one of these websites directly and inquire about the possibility of putting together the custom version of the chesterfield look that you desire.

Another option (and one which most purists would endorse) is to forget the idea of creating a chesterfield sofa bed entirely and simply add a beautiful fabric or leather chesterfield sofa to your room instead. Get a three or four person version and, should a guest require lodging, hand them a pillow and blanket and let them overnight among the deep recesses and soft fabric of a more traditional chesterfield design. They won't wake up with a sore back because of the sofa bed bar and you won't have to compromise your decor for those rare occasions when a sleeper sofa is required.

Chesterfield sofas have long been the standard by which other couches and sofas are judged. Evocative of a simpler time when old friends gathered together to enjoy a drink and conversation in an old English pub or townhouse den, it would be difficult to put together a classical themed room without including the chesterfield in the mix. With its flared armrests and deep sitting surface, settling in with that good book or fine cigar just isn't the same on any other style of sofa.

Although the leather chesterfield sofa is the most notable and popular variety, chesterfield sofas are available with a wide variety of fabrics and prints. Also available in multiple styles like Derby, Buckingham, Essex, and Stafford, you'll find a wide variety of looks within that classic chesterfield style to match any interior design. Add a chesterfield style chair and ottoman to the mix and you may never want to leave your den again!