I hate to sound pessimistic but I don't think that the type of speaker will make a difference. The laws of physics are going to get in the way. When the speaker radiates sound, whether it is floorstanding or whether it is stand mounted, the sound waves will bounce off the sofa, or at least some of them will. (Highs will be absorbed.) You will now have the same frequencies coming to your ears from the speaker and the sofa. This will cause a certain aural confusion, for lack of a better term, and will affect soundstaging and imaging. you will not be getting the performance your speakers are capable of. You either live with it, or you rearrange your furniture and/or speaker placement.
Choosing speakers for room w/ obstructing sofas
I have only one place for speakers-- on either side of a fireplace bumpout, and there are couches perpendicular to speaker locations with 32 inch high arms. Should I buy floorstanders with drivers (mids and tweeters, at least) clustered toward top of cabinet, in order to clear obstructing sofa arms, or put monitors atop stands, keeping in mind that stands would have to be at least 30 inches high, probably more. I have purchased a new cd player and integrated amp based on Audiogon feedback, but cannot finish putting new system together as I'm stumped by this speaker issue. Help!