Shopping for a Fabric Sofa? Start With This Buying Guide
Your sofa will last a long time if you understand the selection and make your choice wisely
Fred Albert
17 September 2017
Houzz Contributor. Fred has written about architecture and design for many Web sites and magazines, including Houzz, Metropolitan Home, House Beautiful and Style 1900.
Houzz Contributor. Fred has written about architecture and design for many Web sites... More
A sofa is one of the biggest furniture investments you’ll make – and one of the most permanent. Before you know it, a decade or more has passed, and that impulse purchase has become part of your life. So give some thought to it before you buy. Then buy the best-quality sofa that you can afford. Your purchase will be amortised over many years.
How to Spot a Quality Sofa
Test its sturdiness
Quality sofas should feel solid and heavy. Flop around on one to test its sturdiness, then lift it up by the corner and shake it a bit. If it feels light or wobbly, take a pass. Look for a frame made from a kiln-dried hardwood such as oak, alder, birch, maple or, alternatively, high-quality hardwood plywood or marine plywood. Eight-way, hand-tied springs are a hallmark of fine furniture, but sinuous S-shaped springs can provide nearly as much comfort. Drop-in coil springs are a less costly alternative.
Consider the cushions
Most cushions have a core of polyurethane foam; the denser the foam, the heavier it is and the longer it will last. In the cheapest furniture, the cushion is filled with just the polyurethane foam core. In better furniture the core is wrapped with Dacron batting. Higher-quality options include poly-down cushions, which have down mixed with the batting; spring-down cushions, which feature a core of springs surrounded by foam and feathers; and all down, which is all feathers (and all work, so avoid this).
Check the joints and frame
The best sofas have joints that are double doweled and fitted with corner blocks that are both glued and screwed (not stapled) into place. Quality pieces have legs that are part of the frame, not just attached to it (although removable feet do make it easier to get items through doorways).
Test its sturdiness
Quality sofas should feel solid and heavy. Flop around on one to test its sturdiness, then lift it up by the corner and shake it a bit. If it feels light or wobbly, take a pass. Look for a frame made from a kiln-dried hardwood such as oak, alder, birch, maple or, alternatively, high-quality hardwood plywood or marine plywood. Eight-way, hand-tied springs are a hallmark of fine furniture, but sinuous S-shaped springs can provide nearly as much comfort. Drop-in coil springs are a less costly alternative.
Consider the cushions
Most cushions have a core of polyurethane foam; the denser the foam, the heavier it is and the longer it will last. In the cheapest furniture, the cushion is filled with just the polyurethane foam core. In better furniture the core is wrapped with Dacron batting. Higher-quality options include poly-down cushions, which have down mixed with the batting; spring-down cushions, which feature a core of springs surrounded by foam and feathers; and all down, which is all feathers (and all work, so avoid this).
Check the joints and frame
The best sofas have joints that are double doweled and fitted with corner blocks that are both glued and screwed (not stapled) into place. Quality pieces have legs that are part of the frame, not just attached to it (although removable feet do make it easier to get items through doorways).
How to Make It Work With Your Room
Contemporary sofas tend to have cleaner lines, fewer flourishes and understated upholstery. While traditional sofas have rolled arms, a contoured back, skirting or tufted cushions. Consider the proportions of the room and determine what height, length and depth of sofa would look best in the space.
If you’re uncertain, mock up a footprint on the floor using masking tape. Or consider ‘building’ a sofa out of empty boxes – then live with it for a few days to see how it feels.
If you plan to spend a lot of time lying on the sofa for reading or naps, make sure it has enough space between the arms. Don’t rely on overall length alone, as the width of the arms will affect the space between.
Contemporary sofas tend to have cleaner lines, fewer flourishes and understated upholstery. While traditional sofas have rolled arms, a contoured back, skirting or tufted cushions. Consider the proportions of the room and determine what height, length and depth of sofa would look best in the space.
If you’re uncertain, mock up a footprint on the floor using masking tape. Or consider ‘building’ a sofa out of empty boxes – then live with it for a few days to see how it feels.
If you plan to spend a lot of time lying on the sofa for reading or naps, make sure it has enough space between the arms. Don’t rely on overall length alone, as the width of the arms will affect the space between.
If you’re short on space, think about buying a sofa with low arms or no arms – it’ll make your room look larger.
Shop for sofas and sectionals
Shop for sofas and sectionals
How Many People Do You Want to Seat?
That might sound like a silly question, but the truth is, nobody likes sitting on the crack. So if you get a sofa with two cushions, expect just two people to use it. To accommodate more people, get a sofa with three cushions or a single long cushion, called a bench cushion.
Sofas generally come with one of two types of backs: a pillow back, which has removable cushions or pillows along the rear; or a tight back, in which the upholstery is tailored to the contours of the sofa’s back.
That might sound like a silly question, but the truth is, nobody likes sitting on the crack. So if you get a sofa with two cushions, expect just two people to use it. To accommodate more people, get a sofa with three cushions or a single long cushion, called a bench cushion.
Sofas generally come with one of two types of backs: a pillow back, which has removable cushions or pillows along the rear; or a tight back, in which the upholstery is tailored to the contours of the sofa’s back.
Pillow-back sofas are generally considered more comfortable and inviting, but there’s a downside: Unless you’re diligent with your fluffing, the cushions will usually look slightly askew.
If you’re the kind of person who is driven to distraction by something like that, you might want to consider a tight back.
If you’re the kind of person who is driven to distraction by something like that, you might want to consider a tight back.
When it comes to sofas, one size does not fit all. The depth of the seat and the angle of the back will influence how comfortable you feel.
How do you know what depth is right for you? Let experience be your guide. If there’s a sofa or chair that you find particularly comfortable, measure the distance from the inside of your knee to the spot where your lower back hits the back of the sofa, then buy a sofa that has similar dimensions.
How do you know what depth is right for you? Let experience be your guide. If there’s a sofa or chair that you find particularly comfortable, measure the distance from the inside of your knee to the spot where your lower back hits the back of the sofa, then buy a sofa that has similar dimensions.
Think About the Long Term
Since sofas are such a big investment, you’ll want yours to stay in fashion as long as possible. Given that, it’s often best to stick with a neutral fabric. You can always add colour and pattern with cushions. Plus, cushions are easy and inexpensive to change if you decide to redecorate.
Refresh your sofa with well-chosen cushions
Since sofas are such a big investment, you’ll want yours to stay in fashion as long as possible. Given that, it’s often best to stick with a neutral fabric. You can always add colour and pattern with cushions. Plus, cushions are easy and inexpensive to change if you decide to redecorate.
Refresh your sofa with well-chosen cushions
If you have kids and a neutral sofa sounds like an invitation to disaster, consider a darker colour or a sofa with a subtle overall pattern.
As a rule, synthetic fabrics are more durable, colourfast and cleanable. Tightly woven fabrics and fabrics that are heavy will stand up to wear and tear better, as will leather. Avoid satins, brocades and damasks unless the sofa won’t get much use.
As a rule, synthetic fabrics are more durable, colourfast and cleanable. Tightly woven fabrics and fabrics that are heavy will stand up to wear and tear better, as will leather. Avoid satins, brocades and damasks unless the sofa won’t get much use.
Whatever fabric you choose, ask the store for a sample or cutting that you can take home on approval before you buy. (If no sample is available, ask for a cushion.) That way you can see the material under the light in your room and with other pieces of furniture. When you’re spending this kind of money, the last thing you want is a surprise.
TELL US
How did you pick your sofa? Share your sofa shopping tips in the Comments below.
MORE
How Low Can You Go? Living With a Low-Down Minimalist Sofa
TELL US
How did you pick your sofa? Share your sofa shopping tips in the Comments below.
MORE
How Low Can You Go? Living With a Low-Down Minimalist Sofa
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I would also add that we purchased a 2nd hand leather Hancock & Moore sofa and although not as heavy as the design center sofa (it's also slightly smaller), it's plenty heavy and still looks terrific years later. And the level of comfort is amazing.
Thanks for including our work!
Wow! A ten year old thread....
Here's verbatim what I wrote ten years ago:
"All of life ( and sofas!) is choice. You can keep dogs off a sofa, you can toss an inexpensive quilt on one so your kids/dogs don't get it grungy, you can vacuum it, you can turn the cushions regularly and rotate them. OR NOT. But there is no magic. No matter what you spend, whether leather or fabric, high end or low end, it is going to last, and look as good as the care/maintenance you devote to it, and the quality and comfort you purchased. End of short story : )
In ten years.................?
We've seen factories consolidated, companies merge, we had a pandemic that literally killed a huge percentage of skilled labor in the upholstery sector. Some indeed , after months of shut down or layoff, decided they had enough. Others passed away. The wait time went from 12 or 14 weeks , to nearly a year. Pricing? We used pay those dollars for an AUTOMOBILE in my younger days!
But,nothing fast is good, Nothing good is ever fast, and nothing good AND fast will EVER be cheap - even if it's doable.
I resorted to scrounging fabulous previously owned and recovering.... after finally growing so exhausted from the ceaseless wait. A lack of seating? No room can progress! It is the core.
Has it gotten much better? No.........it has not. Nor has the quality FULLY come back to level of ten years ago, even at the high end.
The advice is the same...buy the best you can afford to pay for. Just do not expect miracles from any. Those days are sadly........gone. Your couch looks good for the next seven or nine years? Call that a miracle, AND your due diligence for care.