How to Buy Upholstery Furniture
A great sofa or chair can make a beautiful room and beautiful memories. It can be the place you rest after a long day, a perfect nap location, or the center of a family gathering. Therefor even though the fabric and frame style may be the reason you fall in love with the piece, you must be willing to find out what's on the inside if you want to ensure a long term relationship.The frame and supporting foundation are critical to comfort because they are the underpinnings for the other components.
The Frame and Coil Constuction
Traditionally, the best frames were made of kiln-dried hardwood, which resists warping. Today, quality frames may also be made of steel, plastic, laminated boards or a combination of materials. As green design becomes more prevelent (not green the color, but sustainable green!) many more frames will be made of recycled materials versus wood.
Support can be provided by webbing, sling straps, slats, or springs of various types. The design, size and amount of support or softness desired by the designer will determine which type the designer uses. Springs can be single coil, double cone coil, or zigzag (sinuous S-type) and can be connected with twine, wire ties or clips.
Eight-way hand-tied coil springing has been considered a mark of quality for decades. In this method, each coil spring is placed in the seat by hand and a skilled craftsman ties the coil into place with twine and interlocks it with the other coils using an intricate set of knots. Each coil is set so it responds to body weight with the proper degree of resiliency.
Eight-way, hand-tied remains the standard of excellence but technological strides in coil development provide comfort and durability in seating pieces at highly affordable prices.
The Cushions
Cushioning forms the next layer in the comfort story. Cushioning materials include cotton or polyester, polyurethane foam, and, of course, down. Foam and polyester fiberfill wrap are much-used padding materials. These man-made materials are durable, resilient, mothproof, and mildew and fungus resistant. There are various grades of foam which lend themselves to various style applications. HC (High Comfort) foam and HR (High Resiliency) foam are excellent choices. Foam can be used as a solid unit, wrapped with a softer polyester material or chopped and blown into new shapes for arms and backs that would otherwise be difficult to pad.
Down and down wrapped cushions still set the standard for a soft plush seat. Although, exceptionally comfortable, down filled cushions require more plumping and care to keep a neat appearance. If you prefer a more tailored look and firm seat you may want to lean toward a high density foam cushion with a fiberfill wrap.
The Fabic Cover
Often the most exciting part of choosing new upholstery is choosing the perfect fabic that expresses your taste and defines your style. The colors, patterns and textures available in upholstery fabrics is virtually unlimited. But lifestyle and budget should come into play.
Basically, there are two types of fabrics; naturals and synthetics. Natures own are cotton, linen, silk and wool. Among synthetics are acetate, acrylic, nylon, rayon and polypropylene. Often fabrics are a blend of natural and synthetic fibers combined to provide the best qualities of each, unmatched beauty and lasting durability.
Generally, fabrics with tighter weaves and durable fibers such as polypropylene or nylon, stand up better to the hard use of an active household. More glamorous fabrics such as satins, damasks and brocades are dramatic and exciting, but should be reserved for seating where serviceability isn't a primary concern. Nature has given us leather, one of todays most popular upholstery materials. It now comes in a rainbow of colors and a range of textures, designs and styles from timeless traditional to avant garde contemporary. New methods of tanning and manufacturing also have brought leather into an affordable range for many pocketbooks.
The Fit
One of the most important aspects of choosing a new piece of upholstery is the fit. Be sure the height and angle of the back and depth of the seat are suited to your size and the size of the members of your family. If others are to use the seating often, they should try it, too. This is especially important when selecting a recliner or easy chair. It must be a perfect fit for the person who uses it most. That's another way of saying that the feel of comfort is an
individual matter. As you shop, you must sit and bounce and test the degree of softness and resiliency. Choose the feel that pleases you and matches your needs. Most important, if the seat isn't comfortable, don't buy it. A knowledgable sales associate should be able to help you find something with exactly the look you want, that's comfortable for you, and compatible with your budget.