Furnishing a new home and redecorating takes a designer eye, spatial skills, product knowledge and patience. We all want to have peace of mind that our money is being well spent and the pieces we purchase will last. I have always found that quality and comfort are the most important things that our clients are looking for. Often, it is a little easier for people to recognize a quality casegood piece, such as a dining table or a buffet, while determining the mark of well-made upholstered furniture is more complicated.
With upholstered furniture, it’s not “What you see is what you get”. It is “What you don’t see that determines what you get”. The wood, frame construction, springs, padding and cushion material all determine the quality of the piece and, ultimately, the life of the furniture.
To make it to the point, I have listed some of the characteristics that a better-quality upholstered furniture includes:
1. Frame is constructed of kiln-dried hardwood, which prevents warping of the wood.
2. Frame has double-dowelled joins with glued and screwed corner blocks.
3. Springs that are inside the frame. Traditionally, 8-way hand tied coil springs were a sign of a high quality piece, however not to the exception of other spring systems which are just as good. The backs of upholstered pieces are typically sinuous wire springs.
4. Layers of padding (polyurethane foam) on a nicer piece are attached to the frame, so you cannot feel the frame when running your hand along the piece.
5. Quality of the foam is crucial to the longevity of the piece! High-resiliency cushions with a density of at least 1.8 pounds per cubic foot are typical (density is measured by weighing a 12”x12”x12” block of foam). Ask the manufacturer about the foam density.
Your preference of sitting comfort, whether you prefer a softer or firmer sit, is customizable with better manufacturers as they offer a variety of cushion types including standard, extra firm, blend down and spring down.
When selecting a sofa, it is also important to know your upholstery fabric. The fabric must have appropriate abrasion rating to ensure longevity. Moreover, performance fabrics have gone a long way and are a great option as they have the benefits of fade/UV resistance, durability, ease of cleaning and are pet and family friendly. They are available in a variety of materials, construction and colours that make them truly versatile.
I find good quality furniture is harder to come by nowadays. Luckily for our clients, we have access to some of the highest quality brands across North America and can find the perfect piece for your lifestyle and budget.
