If your home feels a little too sharp around the edges, you’re not alone. Interiors are moving away from stiff, boxy lines and towards soft, sculptural shapes: round coffee tables, arched mirrors, curved sofas and ottomans that look more like a piece of art than a footstool.
The good news is you don’t need to redo your whole living room to get the look. A few well-chosen curved pieces can change how a space feels. Here’s how to do it.
Start Small With a Curved Ottoman
An Ottoman is the easiest way to bring curves into a room, and our new Lima collection is made for exactly this. Lima comes in two silhouettes, Bean and Round, and each piece has a single top-stitch that traces the curve of the seat. It adds a tailored edge while keeping the shape soft and playful.
Lima Round comes in three sizes (Small 45cm, Medium 70cm and Large 100cm), so it suits almost any space. Some ways to use it:
- As a coffee table stand-in. Add a tray on top for drinks and styling pieces. The Large Round at 100 x 100cm works well in front of a sofa.
- As extra seating. When guests arrive, pull it over. When they leave, tuck it back into a corner.
- In a cluster. Group two or three Rounds in different sizes for a relaxed, layered look. Odd numbers tend to look best.
Lima Bean is a long, flowing shape that comes in Medium (140 x 55cm) and Large (180 x 70cm). It’s a good fit for the foot of a sofa, along a wall, or as an informal bench in a lounge, entrance or home office.
Bean and Round are designed to nest, arrange and rearrange, so you can pull them together for a lounge moment or spread them out for occasional seating. They’re available in our Classic and Premium fabric ranges, so you can match them to the rest of your room.
Mix Curves With Straight Lines
Curves look best when they have something to play against. If your room is full of straight lines (a rectangular rug, a media unit, framed prints), a round ottoman softens the whole space without the room feeling too “soft”.
Try placing a Lima Round Ottoman beside a sofa with a clean, structured outline. The contrast is what makes the room look styled rather than accidental.
Look for Softness in your Sofa
You don’t need a fully round sofa to get the curved look. Some of the best sofas bring in softness through details rather than shape.
Lira Luxe is a good example. Its overall outline is relatively structured, but the inside arms curve gracefully into the backrest, and the seat is made from CNC-shaped, high-density foam. The result is a soft, inviting look that’s mid-century inspired and timeless. Quilted cushion inners help the plush scatter-back and arm cushions stay full for longer. It pairs well with a Lima Round in front of it, and the curves on both pieces echo each other.
Onyx, from our Signature range, takes the curve a step further. A gently curved backrest flows into low-profile arms, and the contoured seat and backrest are built into the frame, with no loose cushions to rearrange. It’s finished in soft Deluxe velvet (Deluxe Olive or Deluxe Dune) and sits on 150mm matte black Trident legs, which give it a lighter, more architectural look. It works just as well with warm timber and plants in a living room as it does in a home office or boutique reception.
Style it With Texture and Colour
Curves already add visual interest, so keep the styling relaxed:
- Choose one hero. Let a single curved piece, like an Onyx Sofa or a statement Ottoman, lead the room.
- Layer texture. Velvet, boucle, linen and timber all look good against soft shapes.
- Keep a calm palette. Earthy, nature-inspired tones help curves look intentional and grounded.
- Leave breathing room. Curved pieces look best with a little space around them so the shape can be seen.
Soft Shapes, Serious Quality
Every Zorora Sofa and Ottoman is made locally in Cape Town, with no animal products and no toxic chemicals in our factory. Lima is built on a strutted plywood and solid pine frame, with a webbed seat base and firm cushioning, and sits on 30mm black glides. Because comfort doesn’t have to be square, it also doesn’t have to be fragile.
Ready to Bring in the Curves?
Explore the Lima Ottoman Collection, see the curved details of Lira Luxe and Onyx, or order free fabric swatches to see the colours in your own light. You can also visit one of our showrooms to feel the shapes in person.
Zorora - Furniture made for living
