9 Tips That Will Make You Guru In Sofa

How to Judge the Quality of a Sofa


If you would like to judge the quality of a sofa, go beyond what it looks like. Quality goes
Deeper than looks, and that is why two identical-looking sofas can vary so much in
price. What lies inside determines how your couch rates for quality.
The frame, seating support and filling not only determine your sofa's level of comfort
but also its ability to retain its shape and stability in the years to come.
Here's a closer look:
The Frame
How long a sofa will last and keep its shape depends mostly on the frame, and a highquality
Sofa always has a strong, sturdy one.
The best frame is made out of kiln-dried hardwood. The process of kiln drying

Long time period. A frame made from green wood can shrink or crack as it dries. Soft
wood can bend and break easily, while knotted wood is prone to cracks.
In a good-quality frame, the joints get special attention. They're glued, dowelled, and
screwed.

Generally speaking, plywood and particleboard frames are inferior, especially if they

If
You must choose a sofa with a plywood frame, make sure it has at least 11 to 13 layers
of plywood.
Seating Support
The seating support is also an important component in determining the quality of a sofa.
A sturdy frame provides an anchor for
Very good seating support and filling augments it.
Seating support by sitting on a sofa before you buy it.
It shouldn't sag, and it should provide good support in the seat and in the back.
The eight-way hand tied springs system is among the best support systems. The
craftsman connects each spring to the adjoining one with a strong twine. The twine
Passes front to back, side to side and diagonally in both directions, thus tying

Another method is sinuous spring construction. Sinuous springs are "S"-shaped and
run from the front of the seat to the back. These springs are supported by additional
wires that cross from side to side. This also makes for a strong seat, and it might be
The preferred option in a sleeker style or smaller frame since it requires less space.
The third option is web suspension, in which bands of webbing cross the seat and
back. These are then attached to the frame to make a platform for the cushions.
Webbing can be made of either natural or man-made fibers, and if it is used alone
doesn't make for very strong support. However, in better-quality sofas, it is used with
a tensioner that fastens the webbing securely to the frame. The web suspension is the
Least preferable of the seating support options.
Cushion Filling
Now that you have considered the frame and seating support, it is time to look at what
kind of filling is used for the cushions.
The most common filling is high-density polyurethane. Obviously, the higher the
density, the firmer the cushion will be. Foam can be wrapped in softer material or
cotton to make it softer. Dacron-wrapped foam is the cheapest option, but it won't last
as long.
Make Sure you are getting high-density foam because lesser-quality foam can
Start breaking down pretty quickly, causing sags, and the fabric doesn't stay taut
when that happens.
If you want a really soft seat, consider down cushions. These are considered to be the
premium choice, and as you might imagine they are also among the most expensive.
High-quality cushions have down-proof ticking under the upholstery fabric to prevent
feathers from poking through. Cushions filled just with down are high-maintenance
and can need daily attention.
Down used in combination with other materials is also a good option but also another
expensive option. Pads made out of a Dacron polyester fiber and down, known as
Blendown pads, are wrapped around high-density foam.
These pads can also be used with springs which have been wrapped up in foam. Highdensity
foam surrounds the springs, which are then wrapped in down pads. The result
is a soft surface with a strong, resilient support inside. This is a good option because
the cushions do not lose their shape easily.
Bottom line: Quality doesn't come cheap, but a good-quality sofa will stay more
Comfortable and retain its looks for quite a long time. So consider buying the best quality that
You are able to afford.