Sofa Back Styles: Loose, Attached, Tight and With a Headrest

Short answer: Cozey's Ciello, Gaia and Orian have loose back cushions that lift off. Our Atmosphere, Cassini and Neptune have backs built into the module. Only Neptune offers an optional headrest.

The back decides how a sofa feels when you lean, how tall it looks and how much upkeep it needs. This page explains the general back styles, then shows which one each of our collections uses, with figures you can compare in a table.

On This Page

1. What are the main sofa back styles?
2. Which Cozey sofas have loose back cushions?
3. Which Cozey sofas have backs built into the module?
4. Which Cozey sofa has a headrest option?
5. How do the back styles compare across our collections?
6. How does the back change how a sofa feels and what you need to do?
7. What should you check before you choose a back style?
8. Our recommendation
9. Explore our sofas

What are the main sofa back styles?

Four terms come up when you shop for a sofa, and they describe how the back is built, not how soft it is.

• Loose back: the back cushions are separate and lift off the frame, so you can reposition, fluff or wash them.
• Attached back: the back cushions are fixed to the frame, often sewn or fastened on, so they stay where they are put.
• Tight back: the back is one smooth upholstered surface with no cushion to move.
• Headrest: an extra piece above the back for the head and neck, either built into the sofa or added as an option.

These are general sofa terms, and our modular sofas do not map onto them one to one. All of our sofas are built from modules, so each back is its own module that connects to a seat. The more useful question for our collections is whether the back cushion is loose or built in. A built-in back sits between an attached and a tight back: its cushion does not lift off the way a loose one does.

Which Cozey sofas have loose back cushions?

At Cozey, three collections have loose back cushions, and each gives a different lean.

• Ciello: soft, loose back and arm cushions in two styles. The Original back is 33 inches high on Regular and 34.3 inches on XL, and the High Angled back is 37 inches high and leans further back. We introduced High Angled after customers told us the Original back felt low. Our Ciello guide has the full figures.
• Gaia: one back style, taller than Ciello's Original, with loose cushions that are 7.9 inches thick and an overall height of about 39 inches. Our Gaia guide covers it, and Ciello vs Gaia compares the two.
• Orian: a lower back, 28.7 inches high, with soft, loose back cushions over a firm seat. It has no headrest option. See our Orian guide.

Loose backs feel relaxed because the cushion gives when you lean, and you can push it into the shape you like. The trade-off is upkeep: on Ciello and Gaia we recommend fluffing about every week or two, and a loose cushion can shift out of place. Our guide to keeping sofa cushions plump covers the routine, so we do not repeat it here.

Which Cozey sofas have backs built into the module?

At Cozey, three collections have backs where the cushion is part of the module, so there is nothing to lift off and reposition.

• Atmosphere: the seat and back cushions are built into the modules, and the backs use D30 foam. You choose a square back, 29.1 inches high with a seat depth of 27.5 inches, or a round back, 30.9 inches high with a seat depth of 29.5 inches. Loose lumbar and decorative cushions are optional extras. Our Atmosphere guide explains the choice.
• Cassini: layered-foam backrests that all share one height, 27.8 inches, so the sofa looks low and even. The seat depth is 26.5 inches and the seat height is 17 inches. See our Cassini guide.
• Neptune: integrated seat and back cushions in layered foam, a back 33.9 inches high, which is the tallest of our sofa beds, and a lumbar pillow with each seat. The seat depth is 22.5 inches. Our Neptune guide has the rest.

Built-in backs feel more structured, and they hold their shape without a fluffing routine. You press and smooth the surface by hand, and you fluff only the loose lumbar or decorative cushions. If you want a firmer lean and less upkeep, this is the group to start with.

Which Cozey sofa has a headrest option?

Neptune is the only Cozey collection with an optional headrest. It is a separate extension that slides on top of the back and connects with two metal spokes, so it sits between the back cushion and the backrest. You can add one to a seat, and corner seats have their own corner headrests.

We offer the headrest for extra upper-back and neck support when you lean back to read, work or watch television. That is a comfort option, not medical advice, and it is easiest to judge by sitting in one. It is a good match for the upright, firm feel that Neptune already has.

Our other sofas do not have a headrest option. Orian has no headrest, and on Ciello, Gaia and Atmosphere the way to get more back support is a taller back: Ciello High Angled or the Atmosphere round back.

How do the back styles compare across our collections?

The first table shows how each back is built and cared for. The second shows the heights and depths to compare before you choose.

How do the back styles compare across our collections?

Heights run from the floor to the top of the back and are taken from each collection's product guide, so check the exact module on its product page. Seat depth is measured with the back cushion in place, so a different back changes it slightly. For how seat depth and height work together, read our seat depth and height guide.

How does the back change how a sofa feels and what you need to do?

Softness and construction are linked. Our loose-back sofas have the softest backs: Ciello and Gaia are the softest, and Orian pairs soft back cushions with a firm seat. Neptune has the firmest back. Our sofa comfort guide ranks the backs from softest to firmest, so this page does not repeat the ranking.

Care follows the same split. Loose backs need an occasional fluff and reshaping, and built-in backs need a press and smooth. All six collections have removable cushion covers, and the cover care steps, such as washing cold on a gentle cycle and air drying, are on each product guide and in our guide on how often to wash sofa covers.

What should you check before you choose a back style?

Work through this list. The first two points are general advice, not a product specification.

• Sit back and look at the height: the top of the back should land where you want to rest your head or shoulders, so compare the back height in the table with your own seated height.
• Pick loose or built in: loose is softer and easier to reshape, and built in is firmer and needs less upkeep.
• Choose the height or shape: Ciello offers Original or High Angled, and Atmosphere offers square or round.
• Decide on a headrest: only Neptune offers one, so choose it if neck support matters to you.
• Preview the build: Cozey Studio shows your sofa on screen with its overall dimensions before you order, and our Cozey Studio guide explains the steps.

Our recommendation

At Cozey, we suggest choosing the back by how you lean. For a soft, relaxed lean, choose a loose back: Ciello with the High Angled back if you want more support, Gaia for a taller back, or Orian for a firm seat and a lower, softer back.

For a firmer lean with less upkeep, choose a built-in back: Atmosphere, Cassini or Neptune. If you want a headrest, choose Neptune. Our guide on which Cozey sofa is right for you helps if you are still undecided.

Explore our sofas

• Sofas
• Sectional sofas
• Sofa beds
• Ciello collection
• Neptune collection

Product specifications can change. Check the current dimensions on the product page before ordering.