Thinking of sofa styles and how they have been modified over the years, the common living room of today is now different from a conventional living room. While outdoor furniture trends have emerged and changed, some things for home furniture are still popular. Especially because they speak of history and keep the cultural roots alive. A fainting couch, popular from the Victorian era, is still a piece of interest for people of taste and style. Fainting sofa chaise lounge is important in style and luxury, especially for people who take aesthetics seriously in their home setup.
Though designed for indoors, many also opt for a fainting couch for outdoor patio décor ideas. And with the trend of modern fainting couches in the market, people are gaining more interest in this piece of furniture now. If you are not yet aware of what a fainting couch is and how to compare a fainting couch to a chaise lounge, below is a detailed guide on all you need to know about a fainting couch. So let’s read on and find out more!
What is a Fainting Couch?
A fainting couch that emerged in the Victorian Era is a modified version of a sofa. This piece of furniture is decorated with frills, laces, and velvet designs to add a luxury look. Unlike a regular sofa, a fainting couch has a backrest, armrests, and an elongated seat for the user’s comfort. These couches were a statement of style and luxury for the women of the upper class in the 19th century, and the name is suggested because they were placed in a separate fainting room instead of the regular lounge or bedroom.
History and Use of a Fainting Couch
There are many interesting facts and variations to know regarding the history of a fainting couch. Below are some common conceptions regarding the use of fainting couches and how they gained such a name. There were several rumors about the usage and intent of fainting couches throughout the Victorian era. One idea said that Victorian ladies frequently fainted or had fainting episodes due to wearing overly tight corsets.
According to studies, Victorian women who wore corsets had a 25% reduction in their normal lung capacity, making it difficult for them to breathe. Short breaths were the outcome, which can initially be alleviated by rest. Hence to prevent women from fainting and falling, these couches were a spot of relaxation where women could sit and catch their breath.
Also, sitting on a fainting couch meant a call for relaxation; hence the woman was ready to relax without socializing or indulging in any talks. These couches provided women some alone time to relax, close their eyes, or even sneak in a nap when they felt tired.
Another story regarding the idea of a fainting couch states that in the Victorian era, once the beds were made in the morning, they were only disturbed during night sleep again. Hence the lady in the room could only get in bed at the end of the day, to not disrupt the sheets and blankets throughout the day. In such cases, the fainting couch served as a respite and a relaxation zone for napping and resting.
And with time, Turkish fainting couches became increasingly prevalent in the 19th century when coil-spring technology and high-quality foams allowed for more comfortable designs. The Middle Eastern setting style, which had tufted accents and eye-catching cuts, was the model for the Turkish fainting sofa.
Another idea linked to creating the fainting couch was for relaxation and psychosis. Doctors would ask patients to unwind on a fainting couch when therapy sessions would last for hours. They did that to help people feel more comfortable discussing their problems.
Fainting Couch Vs. Chaise Lounge
Due to their similar design and structure, most people confuse a fainting couch with a chaise lounge and vice versa. While the differences are not huge, it is important to know the variances between these two and how they vary differently in functionality.
Fainting Couch
A fainting couch resembles a chaise lounge, but because it was traditionally featured in affluent Victorian homes, it frequently has extra ornamentation on its frame, including carvings and metal legs.
Typically, this piece of furniture also has storage below for blankets or other bedding accessories. A typical illustration might consist of four straight wooden legs supporting a seat made of leather or cloth. You can find a small fainting couch for a small room to large ones mainly designed for luxury and show. Though they are designed intricately and depict luxury, they are not suitable for the outdoors.
Chaise Lounge
A chaise lounge/ long chair similar to a foldable lounge chair is used for outdoor needs. They act as great poolside furniture for pool privacy ideas setup or just an outdoor relaxation space under the sun. Because there are no armrests, it is comfy but may not be as supportive as a sofa.
Because there are no arms for them to bump into while lying back or taking sleep accidentally, blending activities like reading books while resting may be easier. A simple pick for outdoor chaise lounges can be purchased all year round, or you can look for the best time to buy outdoor furniture to get a wide range of chaise lounge styles and designs for your backyard.
Design
Although many prefer using a chaise lounge and a fainting couch interchangeably, some features make both structures different. The first difference is design. Though both are elongated versions of sofas, a chaise lounge is more of a symmetrical structure, making it easier to be kept left or right side both.
On the other hand, a fainting couch is asymmetrical, with an arm on one end, making it either right-handed or left-handed. Secondly, a fainting couch is more cushioned and adorned with laces and buttons to add a catchy design, making it unsuitable for outdoor weather conditions. These major differences can make a fainting couch suitable for indoors while a chaise lounge remains relevant indoors and outdoors.
All in all, they provide great benefits, and you must add them to your living rooms for comfort, style, and elegance. So what are you waiting for?
