While we might love lazy mornings in bed or evenings spent around the dining table, there’s one piece of furniture that seems to steal the spotlight every time: the good ol’ sofa!

After all, the sofa is not just a piece of upholstered comfort to rest weary legs after a long day, it is a place to eat, sleep, socialise, scroll, watch, and work. In our humble opinion, it is the heart of the home – the comfy epicentre that we love spending time in.

But we wanted to know what you think. That’s why we conducted a survey to find out the many ways in which Brits use their sofas, and for how long.

Let’s jump into our favourite findings, below!

Is there anything better than queueing up a series to stream while you’re scoffing down a delicious dish?

Whether you like to unwind with a pizza and a sitcom or get through a gritty drama with a shepherd’s pie, dinnertime just does not feel the same without switching on the telly – at least, that’s what many Brits believe!

Our research revealed that 78% of Brits admit to often eating their evening meal while sitting on the sofa, with 19% admitting that they always eat their dinner in this manner.

But while sinking into the sofa might feel more comfortable than a dining chair, you could be affecting your posture in the long run if you’re hunched over a plate of food every night.

Don’t worry though, Dr Laura Knowles, chiropractor and posture expert, has some top tips for sitting on the sofa while eating:

“You’ll want to aim to sit with both feet flat on the floor, hips against the back of the seat, back as straight as possible. Ideally, you also don’t want to be looking down at your lap while you eat, as this adds undue stress to the neck. As such, try stacking a couple of cushions on your lap to help to raise your food higher and avoid putting that strain on your neck. What’s more, if you already suffer from low back pain, you can place a small cushion behind the curve of your lower back to help support your Lumbar spine in its natural curve!”

For more advice on maintaining good posture, head over to our how to improve your posture on the sofa blog post.

When it comes to family gatherings at Christmas, impromptu dinner parties with friends, or birthday celebrations with loved ones, your living room becomes the social hub of the house. And that means your sofa is the star of the show!

In fact, 43% of Brits said that they find it easier to chat with friends while sitting together on a sofa, while 32% love nothing more than socialising with their loved ones on the sofa. The question is, why do people feel so much more comfortable in social situations when they can sink into a sofa?

Well, we turned to Adrianne Carter, body language expert, to shed some light on why the sofa is such a great social setting:

“Naturally, sofas create a more relaxed atmosphere than more formal places to sit, such as dining tables or office desks. This makes it easier for people to be themselves and have casual conversations, where they can share stories, laugh, and talk about their own lives. One reason is that sofas are made to be comfortable. They often have soft cushions and ergonomic shapes that make it easy to sit back and relax, which makes it a great place to meet with people. After all, when people are comfortable, they are more likely to talk to each other and spend more time together.

“What’s more, the sofa’s central position in the living room makes it easier for people to gather around and talk to each other. Everyone will have the same chance to take part in discussions or any social activities. “In general, people feel closer to one another emotionally when they sit on a sofa because they are physically close together. Sitting side by side brings people closer together, making it easier to connect, keep eye contact, and read body language.”

If you’re looking for some advice on how to create the best social setting for your guests, take a look at our helpful hosting guide!

From eating evening meals to napping in the afternoon, pretty much every aspect of our at-home lives revolves around the safe sanctuary of the sofa.

According to our survey, the most common uses of the sofa include watching TV (87%), working on laptops (62%), scrolling on their phone (62%), eating snacks (61%), and chatting on the phone (50%). On average, this time totals up to 141 minutes (or 2 hours 21 minutes) spent on the sofa every day!

Sounds relaxing, right? Well, using your sofa too much could actually impact your ability to unwind after a long day, with your brain struggling to separate work and downtime. Fortunately, Dr Meg Arroll, psychologist and social scientist, has some simple solutions:

“With so much of our daily activity now carried out in the home, it is important to compartmentalise some aspects of our lives - especially when it comes to rest and relaxation. “For those who use their living space and sofas for multiple purposes (e.g., work, relaxation, socialising, eating), it is important to consider how we can ‘zone’ or switch up the same area in order to use the brain’s powerful associations and conditioned responses."

“For example, use brighter lighting when working, such as ceiling lights, and remove rest-enhancing objects from the sofa, like pillows or blankets. Then, when the working day is done, carry out a working from home commute transition from work to relaxation time. You can do this by putting all work-based paraphernalia (e.g., computer, notes, diary) out of sight in a closed cupboard or drawer, changing out of work clothes, stretching or another form of gentle exercise, and finally taking a brief break from the living room, before re-entering the space."

“Finally, switch from direct lighting to softer lamps to change the mood of the room and add comfy cushions and blankets onto the sofa. This triggers an association between the space and a sense of unwinding. Hence, you can engineer the same space for different aspects of life with a few simple changes and a specific routine.”

Want more advice on how to create a haven of relaxation in your home? Head over to our Inspiration section to find out how to create a feel good home. Alternatively, browse our collection of sofas and armchairs to find furniture to be the new heart of your home.