How to Select a Sofa
When decorating a living room or family room, the sofa is usually the largest single piece of furniture in the space and is considered the "anchor" of the room. Befitting its "largest" designation, the sofa is also usually the most expensive, while also taking the biggest beating. Suffice it to say,
Posted — UpdatedWhen decorating a living room or family room, the sofa is usually the largest single piece of furniture in the space and is considered the "anchor" of the room. Befitting its "largest" designation, the sofa is also usually the most expensive, while also taking the biggest beating. Suffice it to say, the sofa is an important purchase and usually the starting place when purchasing furniture for the living room.
While we all start with how a sofa looks and how big it is, these are not the most important considerations. The most important elements of a sofa are largely unseen. A well-made frame will support all normal usage for decades. Poorly made frames quickly start to deteriorate under average use and may require replacing in as little as five years. The wood frame should be made from kiln-dried hardwoods as opposed to cheaper chemically treated woods. Natural woods need treating to rid them of unwanted pests and microbes. Kiln drying is a slow process that also creates a moisture equilibrium with standard indoor environments so there is no warping due to humidity. Chemically treated woods may be free of unwanted pests, but they are more subject to warping in the future and the chemicals can easily "off-gas" into your home. Kiln-drying is more expensive which does add to the price tag of the furniture, but doesn't need to be replaced as frequently.
The final "hidden" element of a sofa is how the corners and edges are wrapped. The hard wood frame needs to be well cushioned under the exterior fabric. Check the side corners, the back wall and the arm rests for any hard edges. If you can feel a sharp, hard edge it means that there isn't sufficient wrapping. This is more than just a comfort issue. The wood frame without sufficient wrapping will eventually wear down the outer fabric fibers from within and cause fraying and eventual tearing.