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Sofa buying guide: Helpful hints for your shopping trip

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you shop for your new sofa. Keep in mind that what is under all that beautiful new upholstery will make a difference in how comfortable and durable a sofa is in the long term. Take the time to “kick the tires” and understand what is underneath cushions before you make a decision.  

Frame

A sturdy frame is essential for a comfortable, high-quality sofa. The best sofa frames are constructed from kiln-dried hardwood. Green wood can shrink, crack or warp as it dries. Kiln drying removes the moister before the craftsmen begin to shape the frame, ensuring that the sofa will maintain its shape and stability over the long term. Quality frame construction also includes glued, doweled and screwed joints. Reinforcing blocks should be attached inside the corners of the frame for extra support. Plywood and particle board constructed frames held together with staples will not stand up over time and should be avoided. If you must choose a sofa without a kiln dried frame, then opt for 11 - 13 layer plywood over 5 - 7 layer plywood for better support.  

Seating Support

Eight-way hand-tied springs have long been considered the premium choice for sofa construction.  In this method a craftsman hand ties each coil spring to the other springs and to the sofa frame with twine. The twine crosses the frame from front to back, from side to side, and across both diagonals, thus creating the “eight-ways”.  

Other forms of spring construction can provide good quality support as well. Sinuous springs are two-dimensional “S” shaped wires that run from the front rail to the back of the seat, spaced every few inches.  Support wires cross laterally and provide additional stability and support.  A sinuous spring construction may be preferable in some cases.  For example, a sleek modern sofa sitting low to the ground is better served by sinuous spring construction since it requires less space in the frame.  

Web suspension is a form of seating support that may be used alone or with coil springs. Bands of webbing two to three inches wide cross the seat and back, and are tacked to the sofa frame to create a hammock-like platform for cushions. Webbing may be made of natural fibers such as jute, or man-made materials such a polypropylene. While web suspension alone is considered the least preferable frame suspension, there is a quality difference among web-only sofas.  High quality sofas that use web support structures are built with the use of a tensioner that securely fastens the webbing to the frames and ensures the stability of the deck.  

No matter the seating support choice, when you sit on the sofa it should feel stable.  Too much wiggle in the seat means that the springs are not attached well. If you choose a spring sofa, the quality and the quantity of springs are the best measure of a sofa’s construction, so compare the construction specifications before you decide.  

Cushions

Several different materials can be used to fill the cushions of sofas, alone or in combination with other materials. Down and feathers create the softest cushions and are considered by many to be the premium choice for cushions. High-quality down cushions should include down-proof ticking under the upholstery fabric. The ticking is a tightly-woven fabric that prevents the tiny down feathers from poking through the fabric and escaping the cushion. Cushions filled with nothing other than down require a great deal of maintenance with frequent, even daily, fluffing. They also carry the highest price tag. More commonly, down is used in combination with other materials.  Blendown is a mixture of down, feathers and polyester fibers. Pads of blendown are wrapped around high density foam or foam-encased springs. This creates a soft surface over the support materials.  

High density polyurethane foam is the most common cushion filler. The higher the foam density, the firmer the cushion will be. Foam can be wrapped in down, synthetic-fiber (Dacron) batting, or cotton for a softer seating surface. Dacron-wrapped foam is the least expensive option, but it will have a limited lifespan.  

Spring down combines the softness of down, the structure of foam and the resilience of springs. Coil springs are surrounded by high density foam edge supports, and then all is wrapped with down pads.  

Fabrics

A wide variety of upholstery fabrics are available today in a variety shades and textures. But before you choose the fabric for your upholstery, take some time to think bout your lifestyle so you can choose the best option for you. You may love the nubby texture of chenille, but if you have a cat with claws, you might want to reconsider. A household with children, pets, or adults who like to eat their dinner on the sofa should look for a low-maintenance performance fabric.  

Natural fibers such as cotton, linen, wool, silk and rayon are comfortable as upholstery, but often require more maintenance than synthetic fibers. Many natural fibers can be damaged by exposure to sunlight or mildew in humid climates. Blends of natural and synthetic fibers are a great way to get a soft feel, but improve the hardiness of your sofa.  

Synthetic fibers such as polyester, olefin, and nylon are strong, stain resistant options. However, olefin and nylon are susceptible to sun damage. If you choose fabrics made of these fibers you should use window coverings or low-e window coatings to prevent fading. These fibers are also apt to pill when they receive a lot of heavy use. If your natural / synthetic blend upholstery fabric contains more than 50% of these synthetic fibers, then expect it to pill. Microfiber fabrics (made of polyester or nylon) are a popular option for upholstery. They are soft to the touch and tightly woven, thus they are durable and stain resistant. Microfiber fabrics are available in a wide variety of colors.  

Pile fabrics, such as chenille, velvet and boucle, are popular for their ability to mask dirt and resist wear in high traffic areas. Cotton velvet does have problems with crushing and can show track marks. Denim and twill are great options for a casual feel that stands up to daily use.  

Scale

Before you even start looking at a new sofa you should take the time to measure the room where it will be placed. You should also take the time to measure any hallways, doorways or stairs that the sofa will have to travel through to be placed in the room, especially if there are odd turns and angles along the way. The best advice is to create a floor plan to get an idea of how the sofa will work with the rest of the furnishings in the room. Take the floor plan with you when you go furniture shopping to give sales associates an idea of what you are looking for.  

You should also consider how a sofa fits your body frame and those of your guests.  A low-to-the-ground frame might be difficult for some individuals to stand up from. A sofa with a deep seat may leave a petite person with their feet dangling several inches above the floor.  Consider the overall atmosphere of the room that the sofa will be in, and the room’s function. If you’ll sit on the sofa to watch movie marathons, then you might choose a deeply cushioned sofa that encourages lounging. If the sofa will be placed in a more formal room that is used primarily for entertaining, then a sofa that sits more upright would be the right choice.  

Styling

Custom order sofas allow you to combine everything you are looking for into one perfect piece. Quality furniture retailers can help you select the right combination of styling, construction and fabric for your budget and décor. Below are terms for different sofa style elements that can help you name what you want in a sofa:  

Rest easy: new options for sleeper sofas

Sleeper sofas are a great way to dual purpose a room for the occasional guest. The most important thing to remember when shopping for a sleeper sofa is to try it out. Open it up on the sales floor and lie down. If you are not comfortable, then your guests won’t be either. Many retailers now offer mattress upgrades for their sleeper sofas. If your sleeper will be getting frequent use, an upgrade is worth the extra money. Be sure to open up the sleeper yourself. Chances are if you can’t easily get it open in the store, you won’t be able to easily get it open when an overnight guest arrives.  

There are also some great new options on the market for sleepers in addition to traditional sleepers. New modern designs combine European styling with a futon’s functionality. Backs and arms lower to create a sleep surface, instead of a mattress being folded up inside a sofa frame.  

Some manufacturers now offer air beds that work with your sofa: just take off the seat cushions and slip in the air mattress for a raised bed option. It takes up less space than a regular airbed and a traditional sofa in the same room. This style of sleeper is easier to move than conventional sleepers since they do not require a heavy folding metal mechanism.  

Whichever option you choose be sure to measure the room and the doorway before you go shopping. Not only do you need the room for the day-to-day sofa, but you need to have the room to open the sleeper up for use as a bed. Measuring the doorway will let you know if you can get the sofa into the room.  

Get into motion:

Reclining furniture and theater seating

Remember Martin Crane (Frasier’s dad) and his favorite chair? That eyesore is what many people think of when they hear the word “recliner”. Contrary to that image, motion furniture today is available in many fashionable styles that can be included in almost any setting. Hidden release mechanisms, tucked-away foot rests, and wall-away construction provide great function without compromising style.

The options in reclining furniture are virtually endless. In addition to the motions of recline rock, swivel, and glide, some manufacturers include features such as built-in massagers, heating pads, cup holders, storage cubbies, phones, laptop computer sockets, and even coolers.  Power mechanisms, long the norm in Europe, are becoming more common in the US market.  

New designs in motion furniture have been created for home theater settings.  In addition to reclining sofas, loveseats and sectional sofas, one of the latest trends is found in a modular approach that allows you to join together individual reclining units at the arms. These arrangements can align flush to one another, or they can form an arch for optimal screen viewing.  

Regardless of the options you choose there are some things you should keep in mind while shopping.  Scale varies, so measure the spot you plan to place the recliner to be sure it fits and to be sure there will be enough room to operate it. Test out the mechanism. It should be easy to operate and sturdy. The sturdier the mechanism, the longer the recliner should last. The mechanism should also be securely attached to the frame. The footrest should be well padded for comfort. Think about the motions you want the chair to have; if it will be placed near the center of a large room, consider a swivel chair so that it can be used in multiple conversation areas. Many recliners hide features and controls under the arms, so be sure to have the sales associate demonstrate the recliner’s features for you.  

      

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