Interior designer Bobbie Snow O'Neill shares tips on buying upholstered furniture.
- The first thing to do when you're in the market for upholstered furniture is determine your needs. Do you need a sofa, a chair, an ottoman? Take into consideration the room in which the piece will be located, in terms of both use and size. Then analyze your lifestyle and the use the furniture will get, whether it will be in a casual setting and used by children (and pets) as well as adults, or in a more formal venue.
- At the showroom, try out several pieces of furniture to see what you like. Ask to see how a piece is constructed; many stores have cutaways that show the construction of a piece (generally a chair). When looking at a piece, the most important part to consider are the coils, which provide seating support. Look for eight-way, hand-tied coils, which indicate a high quality piece of furniture. Also look at the springs. They should be sturdy and made of high-quality metal.
- Check the firmness of support. Some pieces are made to give a lot of support, while others are made so that you can sink down into them (for example, pieces filled with goose-down). The best way to determine the firmness of a piece is to give it the "fanny test.
- The frame is the element that gives strength to the furniture. The best wooden frames are kiln-dried. Kiln-drying pulls the moisture from the wood so that it won't warp or crack. The preferred wood for this process is oak. Since the average life span of an upholstered piece is seven to eight years, it makes sense to buy the best quality you can afford.
- When you're deciding on fabrics, keep in mind the kind of use that it will get, as well as whether it will have to endure the kind of punishment that children and pets can provide.
- There are many patterns and weaves on the market today: stripes, florals, tapestries, jacquards, etc. Be sure that if you choose a patterned fabric, the pattern (whether floral, geometric, or whatever) is well matched on the furniture. Most fabrics are treated for stain resistance. Be sure to have them coated again when the furniture is cleaned (the treatment should penetrate the fibers, not just coat them). The best way to clean upholstered furniture is with steam.
- Sofas come in several different styles: tuxedo (with loose cushions and arms set at a comfortable height); traditional (with tight back cushions sewn to the frame); bench-seat (with a seat comprising only one cushion); and chaise lounge (a very popular style right now).
- Lastly, be certain that you look at a piece of furniture you're considering from the back. You might decide to float it in the room, and you want to be sure it looks good from all sides.
