# What Is a Lawson Sofa?
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History of the Lawson Sofa
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The original Lawson sofa was layered with pillows and overstuffed all over. The original version was created for a rich Boston financier named Thomas W. Lawson (1857-1925). He liked his furniture comfortable and modern for the times, so the back of the sofa was layered with pillows and every part of it was overstuffed. Lawson had some rather scandalous escapades, giving this particular style of sofa an interesting historical setting. He was rather daring in his financial exploits and at one time ended up selling all of the furniture and his estate to pay off his debts.
Recreating the Lawson
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This red leather Art Deco style Lawson sofa has angled arms and a tufted back. Since the creation of the original one, furniture designers have gone from one extreme to the other to redesign the style, but they are still all Lawson sofas.
Southern Accents went long and lean with modern version that was square, covered in dark intense colors, and featured piping. Its lower profile worked well with many different styles of decorating.
The Cottage Furniture Lawson Sofa made its back, bottom, sides and legs in wood, with a classic fabric covering the inside of the back, arms and seat. The legs were tall and spindled so it looked more like a long Victorian settee.
Leather is a popular material. The styles range from a traditional look to modern and Art Deco. Companies selling office furniture have made the Lawson sofa into a leather style that is tufted all over for durability and easy cleaning. It looks classy and masculine.
Updating to Fit the Younger Genergation
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This bright blue color appeals to a younger generation. Other companies have kept the basic look, but updated the fabrics to today's styles. They can be linen-look textiles for classic decor or bright cheerful colors for a youthful look. The bright greens, oranges, blues, reds, purples and other cheerful colors that appeal to the younger generation look just as good on the Lawson sofa as the neutrals.
Everything Changes but Everything Stays the Same
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Will the Lawson of the future look metallic and space age in design? Even though furniture makers have had years to work with the design of the Lawson sofa and see if they can make it better, the basics of the design have never been altered. The squarish back with arms on a lower level are aspects of the style that people have enjoyed since it was first created and will for many years to come. The materials and other things may change, but even if it is designed for space stations and looks metallic, it will still be a Lawson sofa.
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