Home > categories > Furniture & Décor > Rattan Sofa Set > What to look for in buying a new sofa?
Question:

What to look for in buying a new sofa?

I am looking for a sofa for my new place, I have never bought one before and have no idea what to look for when buying one. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm going to buy a NEW one, so it will not be second hand. I see listings in catalogs with things like no-sag springs and high density foam in seat cushions is this good? bad? any info will help! thanks!

Answer:

First, you need to decide what you want out of your sofa. Do you have anyone that is extremely heavy in your family that will be sitting on it regularly? If so, you will want a piece that is more solid and built to take the weight. Are you looking for comfort? For style? For a certain color? Do you have pets or children? Finding a fabric that is easy to clean up is usually a #1 concern in purchasing a sofa. I purchased a micro-fiber sofa a couple of years ago. It is an off-white color which was a really bold choice for me since I have a dog, a wolf and 3 cats that are all indoor animals. The first day I brought it home, someone sat on it with an ink pen in their pocket. Blue ink right across the middle of the cushion! I had my sofa specially treated for stains and all I had to do was wipe the sofa with a white rag with distilled water on it and the ink came right off. Yes, I allow my grubby beasts up on the sofa and it is still white. I even eat spaghetti sauce and chips and salsa while sitting on it. Determine what you want out of your purchase and then ask the sales reps at your local furniture stores what they suggest. Go (or call) to several (if not many) stores to compare brands, quality and answers. Do not get suckered into the 5 pieces for $599 furniture groupings. Yes, its ok to buy a group, but when the prices are that low, the pieces won't last at all.
Look for frames that are made with a combination of hardwoods or engineered wood that are assembled with mortise and tenon joint construction, glue and tacking. This will ensure superior quality in the internal structure and longevity of the furniture. Corner blocks annd support blocks give additional strength and durability. Seat foundations should be constucted with either 8 way hand tied spring seating, heavy guage sinuous wire or synthetic webbing. Foundations should be connected together by cross wires to provide leveled support and superior comfort. Back foundations should feature heavy guage sinuous wire support as well. Double layers of springs should be used on all arm ends to reinforce strength in that area. Springs and clips used throughout construction should be coated with a protective finish to prolong the longevity of the sofa. Seat cushions should have high density foam cores wrapped with layers of feather/down blends and then fiber. This will provide longevity and a beautiful crown to give the ultimate in seating comfort and durability. Fabrics should meet tests recommended by the American Society for Testing and Materials to ensure seam strength, wearability and stretch tolerance. Upholstering of fabrics to frames should consist of an application that coordinates both horizontal and vertical pattern to ensure a finished design. Fine, quality furniture manufacturers offer warranties on upholstered pieces. They should cover the life of the original fabric on the frame to be free of defect or workmanship. Seat backs and spring constructions should also be warranted. Cushioning and padding materials should be warranted agains loss of resiliency under normal household use at least for a period of five years. Seam separation, shrinkage, dye transference, fabric failure and failure to provide normal wear and tear should also be covered.
Microfiber sofas are the terrific sofas for resistance from solar only because of the fact of their guy made longevity. Their hues are actually not in lots of cases vivid, so if the colour fades slightly it wont seems dwindled, in ordinary terms a splash lighter.
comfort, durability, beauty and size...for me personally , i will not buy a sofa out of the catalog, i want to sit and feel it first then look at the specs....
construction of the ''bones'' of the sofa, sofas that are heavy are typically built better then the lighter ones. ask if they(manufacturer) use staples versus wood dowls, buttjoints versus mortis/tenen. And a good high density foam and cotton padding versus polyesterfiber padding, and last , a durable fabric that can withstand wear and tear.

Share to: