How to Choose a Well-Constructed Sofa

The three main parts of an upholstered sofa or chair determine the longevity of the furniture: the frame, the suspension, and the cushions. Some manufacturers are more willing than others to know how their furniture is made, so it’s worth knowing as much as you can about these three elements. They are key to determining the likelihood of a new sofa shaking, sinking, or flattening.

1. Frames

Frame Material

Interior frames should be made of kiln-dried hardwoods or engineered hardwoods. The latter category has a wide range, so look for engineered hardwoods made from at least seven layers of solid wood pressed together – that’s what you need for a strong, warp-resistant frame. Avoid engineered products such as medium-density fiberboard (MDF), particleboard, or standard plywood.

Frame Structure

Just as important as the type of wood is how the individual parts are joined together. If it is not done well, the couch will start to shake. Frames can be assembled together using a variety of methods, so look for terms such as mortise, double dowels, and corner block reinforcement (with an extra piece of wood installed at the corner). Avoid decorative frames that are primarily held together with screws and glue, or those that use metal connectors attached to two pieces of wood.

Tip: Does this product have a lifetime frame warranty? If so, it usually means that the frame is well assembled.

2. Suspension

If you’ve taken the time to research how to make quality furniture, you’ve probably come across the term “eight-way hand binding.” This refers to the suspension, which is the part of the sofa that sits underneath the cushions and ensures that you don’t end up sitting on the floor. There are many different types of suspension, and there are many opinions on which suspension is best. That won’t stop us from trying to get to the bottom of it.

Eight-Way Hand Tie

For a long time, it was considered the gold standard for suspension, a labor-intensive and cost-effective option, and a sign of overall high-quality furniture (unless it’s fake, we’ll explain later). In this suspension, many coil springs are supported by metal or fabric webbing, and twine is tied by hand in eight different positions to hold it in place with each other. The twine prevents the springs from moving and ensures that the suspension doesn’t squeak over time. To see if the sofa is tied with eight-way hands, pick up the cushion and push it on the seat board; You should be able to feel the individual springs through the fabric.

Plug-In and Pocket Coil Springs

Plug-in coils are a labor-intensive version of spring suspension and are coils mounted on a metal frame to be added to furniture as a single piece. The system doesn’t have bottom support, so it starts to sag before other suspension types. There is a lot of metal-to-metal contact that can cause a squeaky sound. Remember when we talked about fake eight-way hand piercing? Some manufacturers will take these embedded systems and add twine, calling it an eight-way hand tie, even though they are not the real thing.

Pocket coils are similar to those inside a mattress: a bunch of coils are individually wrapped in fabric. There aren’t many manufacturers that use this type of suspension, and the jury is still out on it, but it seems to be of higher quality than the plug-in coil option.

Meandering Springs

You may come across the term “bent spring” instead of “eight-way hand-tied spring” because it is the most common suspension in low- to medium-priced sofas. This suspension device is made of zigzag-shaped pieces of metal arranged in rows perpendicular to the front of the sofa. For everyone who says eight-way hand ties are best, there are people who say it’s unnecessary, and that sinuous springs can achieve the same effect at a lower cost.

It’s true that sinuous spring sofas are less expensive than eight-way hand-tied sofas, and if made properly, they perform better than built-in spring systems or fake eight-way hand-tied suspensions. Just make sure the wire is at least size 8 and that at least two silent cable ties run through and clip to each spring.

Mesh and Webbing Hanging

Grid (or Flexolator) suspension is less common than other suspensions, but is available on some mid-priced offerings. These suspensions are made of wire grids attached to the frame, with springs on the sides (similar to how a trampoline is attached to the frame). If possible, avoid this pause, as the wires are not very quiet and customer reviews complain that they break.

Webbing hangers are made by weaving fabric or elastic strips into a grid-like pattern, which is usually found on the lowest quality furniture. While not recommended for use as a seat suspension, the webbing can be used perfectly to support the cushions.

3. Seat Cushion

As the most visible part of the sofa and the part that directly interacts with you, the quality of the cushions is very important. Whether or not your cushion will support or flatten like a pancake will soon become apparent. Both seat and back cushions are constructed in a variety of ways, which determines how well they can be supported.

Seat Cushion

They are usually foam cores wrapped in polyester or down. The foam core should be at least 4 inches thick. (The entire cushion will be thicker because of the wrapping material around the core.) Higher-grade saddles will have individually wrapped springs instead of foam cores. (Imagine a mini mattress.) This provides a sturdier seat that retains its shape for a long time. Avoid mats that are full foam (neither thick nor comfortable) or full down (simply not holding their shape).

Back Cushions

There is no foam on the cushions on the upholstery. Instead, it’s filled with polyester, down, or a combination of both. It should be made of lint-proof cloth and sewn with channels to ensure that the filling stays in place.

Tip: When shopping, unzip the cushions and look for passageways and make sure no feathers are sticking out.

A sofa is an expensive item – you want it to last for a while. With a little research, you can make sure that you’re not spending a lot of money on something that will break down quickly.