Sofa, couch, sectional, loveseat, settee—whatever we call them—we all need them in one form or another.
The term “couch” originally came from the French verb coucher, which means “to lie down,” while the term “sofa” is derived from the Arabic word suffah, meaning ledge or bench. The main difference is in formality, with a sofa more appropriate for a living room and a couch for a more informal family room.