A plain sofa is not a problem in itself. The problem is when it starts to disappear into the room, when it becomes background rather than something you actually want to sit on. A well chosen duvet cover thrown over the back or draped across the seat does something surprisingly effective. It adds colour, texture, a sense that someone thought about the space. Not in a staged way. In the way that makes a room feel lived in rather than just furnished.

We have been paying close attention to weight and weave because a cover that looks good folded in a photograph can feel limp and unconvincing in real life. What you want is something with enough body to hold its shape when casually arranged. Pattern matters too. The ones we have picked here work with a range of sofa colours rather than demanding a specific match.

These are the covers that earn their place on the sofa rather than getting quietly moved to the spare room.