Personal opinion here. Certainly if you look in most furniture show rooms you will see MOSTLY skirted. That said I just ordered a Non skirted Miles Talbot sofa and I am reupholstering some chairs I have to be non skirted as well.

I don't think that classic styles are ever dated. It is more a matter of design style you are after.

Perhaps the sales person's style preference is non skirted and so they steered you in that direction. [which makes them a bad salesperson]

I do however see more non skirted sofas in the pages of the high end designer mags right now.

No, skirted sofas are not dated anymore than a Chippendale chest or table is dated. Skirts are part of a traditional look and while it is true that there seem to be more contemporary and transitional sofas on the market these days, but it is purely a matter of personal choice.

I would find a new salesperson who can properly do his/her job: uncover your needs and then show you furniture which fits your needs.

I agree: Skirted sofas and chairs are classic, and, thus, are never out-of-style. When I reupholstered all of my furniture 3 years ago, however, I decided I wanted a different look, so I had them re-upholstered without the skirts. So, for the first time in 30 years, my furniture does not have skirts.

The reason I did this was because I wanted a different look, and I wanted the new hardwood floors to be seen under and through the furniture. It was strictly a matter of preference, as the skirted look still is wonderful.

As we say time and again, go with what you like -- the style that fits your preferences best.

One thing to look at while you are shopping for skirted sofas is the legs! I know it sounds strange but many of the skirted sofas will use less sturdy legs that screw in and are not as stable as the thicker legs on non-skirted sofas. Of course this isn't true with all sofas. Good luck shopping.

Well I say they are dated!

Just kidding though, like the other people above I'd also say its really a matter of the style you are going for when decorating your room.

A friend recently got a skirtless sofa which has some fantastic woodwork on the legs.

However, I've seen skirts in some cases being used in a way that I'd call contemporary.

Non skirted sofas will help make a small room look less crowded. But now you really have to clean under the sofa every time you clean the floor or carpet.

I do not feel they are dated. I feel the look is very classic and beautiful with complimentary furnishings and decor.

Dated or not dated, I don't care, but personally, I so wish I could go back & have a skirt added to the camel back sofa I had reupholstered a year ago. It's too late now, one can't be added, now I have a room full of "legs!" Chair legs, table legs, console legs! I skirted a round table to pull things down to earth, but if I'd skirted the sofa (tailored) the effect would be far more pleasing! Go for the skirt...the room will feel softer, cozier, more harmonic.

I hope not....where else would I hide the leaves to my dining room table?...LOL

I hope they are not dated, we just ordered one as well. I would agree that they are more formal and dressy and this one is indeed going in the formal living room and the club chairs in this room are skirted as well. The chairs and sofas we have in the family room are not skirted but the recliner and sofa are leather and so you would not expect those to be. The club chair is skirted but we are going to have it recovered and will likely not skirt it to match the rest of the family room (and it has good sturdy finished legs that would go either way).