Hotel Sofas and Armchairs: Upholstered Seating for Lobby, Lounge and Suite

Hotel sofas and hotel armchairs are where guests spend most of their waking hours in a property. They wait in the lobby before check-in, meet business partners in the lounge, linger at the bar after dinner and read in the suite at night. Every piece is used by many people each day, so contract seating has to be built and upholstered differently from a sofa for a private living room.

Casa Padrino has supplied luxury furniture from Essen, Germany, since 2007 and delivers worldwide to hotels, restaurants, architects and private clients. This page gives hoteliers, interior designers and specifiers guide values for seat height, seat depth and armrests, explains how velvet, leather and faux leather behave in hospitality use, covers upholstery construction, care and fire safety, and describes how we work when the same sofa or armchair is needed in quantity.

Dark blue velvet sofa with rounded armrests and wooden feet, 203 cm wide, as a hotel sofa for lounge and suite by Casa Padrino

A two-seater in dark blue velvet with wide, rounded armrests and wooden feet, 203 cm wide, suited to lounge, suite or waiting area. Pictured: Casa Padrino Luxury Velvet Sofa Dark Blue 203 cm

Where sofas and armchairs are used in a hotel

Each area of a property asks for different heights, depths, covers and weights.

Lobby and reception: seating groups for short waits, where guests sit upright and get up easily. A hard-wearing cover and a sturdy frame matter most. Large formats for this area are shown on our page about lobby sofas for grand hotels.
Lounge and library: longer sitting, deeper seats, club chairs and wing chairs, with side tables at armrest height.
Bar: compact armchairs and banquettes with easy-care covers, as food and drinks are served here.
Suites and guest rooms: a sofa, or an armchair with footstool, matched in size and colour to bed, curtains and carpet.
Waiting areas, spa and conference floors: many identical seats that look consistent and are quick to clean.

Styles: Chesterfield, baroque, Art Deco and contemporary

The Chesterfield sofa, with deep button tufting, rolled arms and a back at the same height as the arms, is the classic choice for bars, libraries and smoking rooms. In leather it ages gracefully, in velvet it looks softer and more festive. Our selection is collected under Chesterfield sofas. Baroque sofas and armchairs with carved, gilded or silver-leafed wooden frames suit castle hotels, historic buildings and ballrooms.

Art Deco pieces bring curved backs, channel stitching, plinths and brass details, ideal for bars and lounges with a distinct signature. Contemporary sofas rely on clean volumes, low backs and generous seats. Many are modular, so corners and long benches for the lobby can be assembled.

For armchairs, designers usually distinguish three types. The wing chair has a high back with side wings that shelter the sitter, a natural fit for fireplace rooms and libraries. The club chair is wide, low and fully upholstered, made for long conversations in the lounge. The lounge chair looks lighter, often with an open frame or slim arms, and works in rooms, suites and waiting areas where space is limited. The full range is listed under luxury armchairs.

Seat height, seat depth and armrests: guide values

The following figures are guide values that have proven themselves in hospitality projects. They do not replace a test sit on a sample.

Seat height: 44 to 48 cm in lobby, reception and waiting areas, so that older guests can stand up without effort. In lounges and bars 40 to 45 cm is common, very deep lounge pieces may sit lower.
Seat depth: 50 to 55 cm for upright sitting, 55 to 65 cm for relaxed lounge seating.
Armrests: roughly 18 to 25 cm above the seat. Wide, firm arms help guests stand up and serve as a surface at the bar.
Back height: lobby and lounge sofas with an overall height of 75 to 85 cm keep sightlines open. Wing chairs reach 100 to 115 cm.
Clearances: 40 to 45 cm between sofa and coffee table works well. Between seating groups in a lobby, allow 90 cm or more for circulation. Local escape route regulations always take precedence.

A three-seater of 220 to 240 cm anchors a living area in a suite, while a guest room usually takes a two-seater of 180 to 200 cm or a single armchair. Every group needs side tables at armrest height, and suitable models are shown on our page about console and side tables for hotels.

Covers for heavy use: velvet, leather and faux leather

Velvet gives a hotel sofa depth and colour. Contract velvets with a high share of synthetic fibres are used in hospitality because they hold their shape better and react less to abrasion and moisture than pure cotton or silk. More on this cover is on our velvet sofa page.

Genuine leather is the most durable cover in a hotel, provided it is cared for. Pigmented, protected leathers resist stains and suit bars and lobbies. Aniline and vintage leathers develop a patina but need more care. Faux leather is easy to wipe clean and a sensible choice for waiting areas, spas and conference floors, where hygiene comes before touch.

The abrasion resistance of an upholstery fabric is measured in a laboratory and stated by the fabric maker. Contract areas normally require higher values than domestic furniture. We state it for your fabric during sampling.

Upholstery construction: what lies beneath the cover

A hotel sofa is carried by its frame and filling, not by its cover. Proven frames are made of solid wood or plywood, glued and screwed, and on contemporary models also of metal. Suspension comes from serpentine springs, webbing or pocket springs, topped with foams of several densities. A higher-density core keeps its shape longer.

Loose seat and back cushions can be turned and plumped. Fixed upholstery stays tidier in a busy lobby. Feet and glides should suit the floor.

Chesterfield wing chair in antique brown genuine leather with button tufting and decorative studs for hotel lounge and library by Casa Padrino

A tufted high back, rolled arms trimmed with studs and a wooden base: a wing chair for fireplace room, library and lounge. Pictured: Casa Padrino Luxury Chesterfield Leather Armchair Antique Brown / Brown

Fabric protection, cleaning and housekeeping

Many contract fabrics come with a stain and water repellent finish. It buys time with a spilled drink but does not replace a quick response. Removable covers are not possible with every construction, for instance not with Chesterfield or baroque pieces.

Velvet is vacuumed or brushed regularly in the direction of the pile. Stains are dabbed with a slightly damp cloth from the outside in, never rubbed. Leather is wiped with a damp cloth and treated with a suitable leather care product two to four times a year so that it does not dry out. Faux leather tolerates a mild soap solution. Direct sunlight fades both velvet and leather. A short care sheet for each cover helps housekeeping.

Fire safety for upholstered furniture: a note for operators

Depending on country, building type and insurer, upholstered furniture in hotels, restaurants and public areas may have to meet requirements for the fire behaviour of cover and filling. The operator clarifies the required evidence with the fire safety consultant, authority or insurer. Please state the requirement in your enquiry. We will then check which covers and upholstery builds are available on request for the chosen model.

Colours in series, custom sizes and custom covers

A hotel rarely needs a single sofa. It needs twelve identical armchairs for the lounge, forty two-seaters for the rooms or a continuous banquette for the waiting area, and every piece of a series has to match in tone. Because fabric and leather batches can vary slightly, the cover for a series is produced from one batch wherever possible, and the colour sample is approved before the order.

Many of our models are available on request in other sizes, with another cover or in another colour: a sofa 20 cm narrower for an alcove, an armchair with a higher seat for the waiting area, a Chesterfield in the house colour instead of brown. Feasibility depends on the construction and is set out in the quotation. Current versions are shown in the luxury hotel sofas category.

For architects and interior designers

We work with the documents your project already produces. Send us floor plans, furniture layouts, elevations or a schedule with positions and quantities. We propose suitable models with dimensions and seat heights, and on request provide dimensioned drawings and data sheets for your tender.

Fabric and leather swatches and, where possible, a sample piece for test sitting are available on request. We coordinate the delivery date with your site management, including part deliveries by construction phase, and you have one contact person for the whole project. More information is on our page for architects and dealers, and furnished properties are shown in our hotel references.

How a project runs: five steps

Enquiry with dimensions and plans: you send floor plan, quantities, preferred style and location of use.
Selection and sampling: we propose models and send cover swatches, and on request a sample piece for test sitting.
Quotation: you receive a quotation based on your project, with dimensions, covers, variants and delivery date.
Production: once size, cover and colour are approved, the pieces are made, for a series from one cover batch.
Delivery: by freight forwarder, worldwide, on the agreed date to your site or property.

Frequently asked questions about hotel seating

What seat height is right for a hotel sofa?

In lobbies and waiting areas 44 to 48 cm has proven itself, so that guests can stand up easily. In lounges and bars 40 to 45 cm is common.

Which cover lasts longest in a hotel?

Well maintained genuine leather is very durable, and pigmented leather is particularly stain resistant. Contract velvet with a high synthetic content combines colour with good abrasion resistance. Faux leather suits areas with strict hygiene requirements.

Do you state the abrasion resistance of the covers?

Yes, the fabric maker specifies the value. We provide it for your chosen cover during sampling so you can compare it with your specification.

Does the seating meet fire safety requirements?

Requirements depend on country, building and insurer and are set by the operator. Tell us the requirement and we will check which covers and fillings are available on request for the model.

Can I order a sofa in a custom size or with my own cover?

For many models, yes. Width, seat height, cover and colour can be adapted on request. What is possible depends on the construction and is stated in the quotation.

Can identical armchairs be supplied in larger quantities?

Yes. A series is produced from one cover batch wherever possible so that the colour matches across all pieces. You approve the colour sample before the order.

Can I get swatches or a sample piece?

Fabric and leather swatches are available on request, and for many models a sample piece for test sitting.

Does Casa Padrino deliver internationally?

Yes, Casa Padrino delivers worldwide by freight forwarder. The date is agreed with your site or hotel management.

Enquire about sofas and armchairs for your hotel

Send us floor plans, quantities and the style you have in mind. You will receive a selection with dimensions, cover swatches and a quotation based on your project.

Request a project

Email: info@casa-padrino.de · Phone: +49 212 14912917