You may think, who wants to wait weeks for an expensive sofa? I can buy a sofa today that can be delivered tomorrow, along with the free end tables, lamps, cocktail table and matching loveseat, all for under $2,000! Do you really think that’s a bargain? How well constructed do you think that furniture is? Plus, do you really want all that matchy-matchy furniture and a living room that looks like thousands of other people’s living rooms? Wouldn’t you rather invest in a sofa that will last for years? A sofa with "good bones" will last much longer and can be reupholstered when the fabric is worn instead of ending up in the landfill. 

Shopping for a new sofa can be daunting. There are so many options available and factors to consider. What is the best style and size for your room? Should you go with fabric or leather? Tight back or loose cushions? All elements should be considered thoughtfully as a sofa is an important piece of furniture in your home. Sofas get a lot of use and abuse by a family and a well-constructed sofa can last a long time, if cared for properly. Remember my post from August with my 5 tips for keeping your sofa looking new? You may remember I touched briefly on some features of a well-constructed sofa with a promise to elaborate more on those in a future post.  Well, here it is!  I’m going to share with you the construction features you should look for when buying your next sofa. These are features that set a high quality sofa apart from the rest. There are many reasons that you should expect to pay more for a higher-end sofa. A high-end sofa is handcrafted by a team of skilled craftspeople. This team consists of the person constructing the frame, someone that carefully hand-ties each spring for the spring system, a finisher that will hand-apply your chosen finish, a fabric cutter, experienced seamstress, a skilled upholsterer that will ensure any pattern in the fabric will flow smoothly over the entire piece, and a quality inspector to confirm that everything is perfect before it ships. Most quality upholstery is still made in the USA. The brands I work with and specify the most are still made here in North Carolina, just a couple of hours away!

It All Starts With The Frame

You want to look for a frame made of kiln-dried hardwood which makes the wood more stable and kills all insects, eggs, and fungi. For maximum strength and durability, legs should be a part of the frame. All joints within the frame should be connected using double dowel rods and glued for strength. Corners should be reinforced with wooden blocks that are glued then screwed to reinforce the joints. These details provide your sofa with a strong and durable base to build upon. Sofa frames that are mass-produced are usually glued and stapled together, and lower-quality sofas can be made of plywood or pressed board. You should not expect a long life from a sofa constructed with these inferior methods.

Next Up Is The Spring System

A solid webbed base is added in conjunction with reinforcing steel bands that run from front to back of the frame base. This provides additional support and a stable foundation for the spring system. I’m sure you’ve heard it many times before, the best upholstery pieces feature eight-way hand tied coil springs. It offers the most stable, comfortable foundation that will not sag. Eight-way hand tied is a construction method where each coil is either sewn to the webbing or attached with a metal clip. Each coil is then tied by hand (not looped) with secure knots from front to back, side to side, and diagonally, eight times (hence the name). Each coil is also tied to the one next to it. They are tied symmetrically, providing even suspension. This method provides a stable base and prevents side-to-side shifting. These coils are built into the bottom of the frame. Some manufacturers claim to employ this method, but use a drop-in coil unit that is pre-assembled and is not the quality of a traditional eight-way hand tied system. Quality manufacturers employ a skilled tradesman to build this spring system for each individual piece. Another quality feature is a resilient spring edge along the front of the sofa to support and extend cushion life. A sinuous spring system is another type that is sometimes used by manufactures. These are s-shaped springs that run front to back of the frame. These are often used on low-profile, contemporary sofas that don’t have enough depth for the coils used in traditional eight-way hand tied systems. Sinuous springs are not bad, but do not provide the even wear and comfort of eight-way hand tied. Now that the spring system is in place, a synthetic covering is added on top to protect the spring base and a dust cover is added underneath to protect and hide the springs. The arms should be padded well and the deck and back of the frame should be covered and padded.  You should not feel the wood frame when you press down on the arm.

Now Let’s Talk Cushions

You should be given some options here. Quality manufacturers offer choices as far as materials and firmness levels. Foam wrapped in a fiber and encased in a ticking is typically your standard seat cushion. You want to look for a manufacturer that uses a high-density foam that is resilient and springs back after you’ve sat on it, retaining its shape. Another seat cushion option that is offered is a high-density foam wrapped in down and feathers. This offers the best of both worlds, the comfort of down and the resiliency of foam. Many manufacturers offer a seat cushion with an innerspring core set within a urethane core that is then surrounded by down, feathers and dacron all encased in a downproof ticking. This cushion provides a firmer seat and a tailored look. You’ll want to pair up appropriate back cushions to complement your seat cushions. Back cushion options usually consist of either all fiber backs, blendown backs (feathers, down and fiber) or down backs. Each manufacturer will have different names for their cushion options, but these are some of the typical choices you will find. In my opinion, a sofa with loose cushions is going to wear better since you can flip and rotate the cushions for more even wear.   

Take a look at this graphic from Wesley Hall outlining some of their quality construction features.

Is It Safe For My Family?

One other very important consideration when purchasing a new sofa is whether or not it is manufactured responsibly. Many higher-end manufacturers take this very seriously. This commitment to responsible manufacturing is not a cheap endeavor, which is another reason why you can expect to pay more for a quality sofa. Less expensive upholstery can be made with foam and glue that can contain toxins that off-gas in your home. For more information on responsible manufacturing take a look at Wesley Hall’s pledge to source quality, safe materials for their manufacturing process. Hickory Chair and LEE Industries are two other manufacturers that share this commitment to quality and responsibility in their upholstery construction. 

Upholstery Options

Last, but not least, you want to give careful consideration to the material you choose to cover your new sofa. Fiber content, durability and abrasion resistance are important factors to consider. Color and pattern are also important. If you invest in a quality sofa you want to make sure it is something you can live with for years to come. I would caution you to stay away from anything too trendy as far as fabric or the style of the sofa goes. I generally like to use solids or textures on sofas and add color and pattern with pillows. A large scale floral pattern on a sofa may get old very quickly. You don’t have to stick to neutrals if they bore you to tears. I was at a client’s home just the other day remarking on her green sofa that she purchased from me eleven years ago. It still looks great and she is still very happy with it. We are currently replacing the pillows to give it a fresh, new look. Remember, you are investing in a piece of furniture that you will use a lot! If you do your research and make wise choices, you will purchase a sofa that will serve you well for many years to come. 

I hope this information makes you feel better equipped on your next sofa shopping excursion. As an interior designer it is my job to guide you through this type of decision making process.  A designer will help you determine the best style, size, options, fabric and colors for your sofa, as well as optimum layout of your furniture. Thanks for reading!

Until next time,