Important Points to Consider When Buying a Sofa
The highest quality sofas look better, feel better and last much longer than their counterparts. The price tag will reflect the differences, but investing in a quality sofa is a wise choice. There are several factors that go into a top quality sofa, including the framing, seat structure, cushion and fabric. You’ll need to take a closer look to find the best quality sofa, but the differences are obvious with a little knowledge.
Solid Frames
Kiln-dried hardwood is the optimum choice for a sofa frame, as opposed to pine framed sofas which use the softwood to produce a cheaper product. The very best frames are screwed together and use corner bracing to keep the sofa sturdy. Less expensive models have stapled frames and may not have any corner bracing at all.
Sensational Seating
The best sofas have well designed seating with the proper amount of support and cushion. Wire coils are often found in cheaply made sofas while the best styles have tied springs that are made to last. Find out whether the furniture shop displays a cut out or image of the inside of the seat cushion, which will give you an idea of how the support is put together.
Cushions also come in a variety of styles and some are much better than others. Foam cushions are on the bottom of the list, although they are found most often. Many prefer down cushions for comfort. This style is warm and has fantastic give, but the feathers have to be fluffed often and may settle in one area forming a lumpy seat.
A good option is actually a combination of the two – down pads surrounding a foam cushion at the core. This offers well distributed support that also has the warmth and softness of down. If you’re wondering what a cushion is made of simply unzip the cover and have a look.
Covers Are Key
Quality sofas also come with top notch covers in fabrics that are comfortable, easy to clean and highly durable. Leather is a popular option that will last for years, but there are many high end upholstery fabrics out there as well.
Corduroy is cosy but wears easily and velvet is soft but won’t last very long. Look for a colour that will not fade. If you have pets, try choosing a mid-tone sofa so that the pet hair doesn’t show as well. Microfiber are growing in popularity, is supremely easy to clean and can be dyed to almost any colour.
Whether you are looking for sofas online or on the highstreet you need to consider which one is the right for you. Your choices include corner and leather sofas as well as much more.