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Frame
A sturdy frame
is essential for a comfortable, high-quality sofa. The best sofa
frames are constructed from kiln-dried hardwood. Green wood can
shrink, crack or warp as it dries. Kiln drying removes the moisture
before the craftsmen begin to shape the frame, ensuring that
the sofa will maintain its shape and stability over the long
term. Quality frame construction also includes glued, doweled
and screwed joints. Reinforcing blocks should be attached inside
the corners of the frame for extra support. Plywood and particle
board constructed frames held together with staples will not
stand up over time and should be avoided. If you must choose
a sofa without a kiln dried frame, then opt for 11 - 13 layer
plywood over 5 - 7 layer plywood for better support.
Seating Support
Eight-way hand-tied
springs have long been considered the premium choice for sofa
construction. In this method a craftsman hand ties each coil
spring to the other springs and to the sofa frame with twine.
The twine crosses the frame from front to back, from side to
side, and across both diagonals, thus creating the "eight-ways".
Other forms
of spring construction can provide good quality support as well.
Sinuous springs are two-dimensional "S" shaped wires
that run from the front rail to the back of the seat, spaced
every few inches. Support wires cross laterally and provide additional
stability and support. A sinuous spring construction may be preferable
in some cases. For example, a sleek modern sofa sitting low to
the ground is better served by sinuous spring construction since
it requires less space in the frame.
Web suspension
is a form of seating support that may be used alone or with coil
springs. Bands of webbing two to three inches wide cross the
seat and back, and are tacked to the sofa frame to create a hammock-like
platform for cushions. Webbing may be made of natural fibers
such as jute, or man-made materials, such as polypropylene. While
web suspension alone is considered the least preferable frame
suspension, there is a quality difference among web-only sofas.
High quality sofas that use web support structures are built
with the use of a tensioner that securely fastens the webbing
to the frames and ensures the stability of the deck.
No matter the
seating support choice, when you sit on the sofa it should feel
stable. Too much wiggle in the seat means that the springs are
not attached well. If you choose a spring sofa, the quality and
the quantity of springs are the best measure of a sofa's construction,
so compare the construction specifications before you decide.
Cushion
Several different
materials can be used to fill the cushions of sofas, alone or
in combination with other materials. Down and feathers create
the softest cushions and are considered by many to be the premium
choice for cushions. High-quality down cushions should include
down-proof ticking under the upholstery fabric. The ticking is
a tightly-woven fabric that prevents the tiny down feathers from
poking through the fabric and escaping the cushion. Cushions
filled with nothing other than down require a great deal of maintenance
with frequent, even daily, fluffing. They also carry the highest
price tag. More commonly, down is used in combination with other
materials. Blendown is a mixture of down, feathers and polyester
fibers. Pads of blendown are wrapped around high density foam
or foam-encased springs. This creates a soft surface over the
support materials.
High density
polyurethane foam is the most common cushion filler. The higher
the foam density, the firmer the cushion will be. Foam can be
wrapped in down, synthetic-fiber (Dacron) batting, or cotton
for a softer seating surface. Dacron-wrapped foam is the least
expensive option, but it will have a limited lifespan.
Spring down
combines the softness of down, the structure of foam and the
resilience of springs. Coil springs are surrounded by high density
foam edge supports, and then all is wrapped with down pads.
Fabrics
A wide variety
of upholstery fabrics are available today in a variety shades
and textures. But before you choose the fabric for your upholstery,
take some time to think bout your lifestyle so you can choose
the best option for you. You may love the nubby texture of chenille,
but if you have a cat with claws, you might want to reconsider.
A household with children, pets, or adults who like to eat their
dinner on the sofa should look for a low-maintenance performance
fabric.
Natural fibers
such as cotton, linen, wool, silk and rayon are comfortable as
upholstery, but often require more maintenance than synthetic
fibers. Many natural fibers can be damaged by exposure to sunlight
or mildew in humid climates. Blends of natural and synthetic
fibers are a great way to get a soft feel, but improve the hardiness
of your sofa.
Synthetic fibers
such as polyester, olefin, and nylon are strong, stain resistant
options. However, olefin and nylon are susceptible to sun damage.
If you choose fabrics made of these fibers you should use window
coverings or low-e window coatings to prevent fading. These fibers
are also apt to pill when they receive a lot of heavy use. If
your natural / synthetic blend upholstery fabric contains more
than 50% of these synthetic fibers, then expect it to pill. Microfiber
fabrics (made of polyester or nylon) are a popular option for
upholstery. They are soft to the touch and tightly woven, thus
they are durable and stain resistant. Microfiber fabrics are
available in a wide variety of colors.
Pile fabrics,
such as chenille, velvet and boucle, are popular for their ability
to mask dirt and resist wear in high traffic areas. Cotton velvet
does have problems with crushing and can show track marks. Denim
and twill are great options for a casual feel that stands up
to daily use.
Scale
Before you even
start looking at a new sofa you should take the time to measure
the room where it will be placed. You should also take the time
to measure any hallways, doorways or stairs that the sofa will
have to travel through to be placed in the room, especially if
there are odd turns and angles along the way. The best advice
is to create a floor plan to get an idea of how the sofa will
work with the rest of the furnishings in the room. Take the floor
plan with you when you go furniture shopping to give sales associates
an idea of what you are looking for.
You should also
consider how a sofa fits your body frame and those of your guests.
A low-to-the-ground frame might be difficult for some individuals
to stand up from. A sofa with a deep seat may leave a petite
person with their feet dangling several inches above the floor.
Consider the overall atmosphere of the room that the sofa will
be in, and the room's function. If you'll sit on the sofa to
watch movie marathons, then you might choose a deeply cushioned
sofa that encourages lounging. If the sofa will be placed in
a more formal room that is used primarily for entertaining, then
a sofa that sits more upright would be the right choice.
Styling
Custom order
sofas allow you to combine everything you are looking for into
one perfect piece. Quality furniture retailers can help you select
the right combination of styling, construction and fabric for
your budget and decor. Below are terms for different sofa style
elements that can help you name what you want in a sofa:
attached back sofa
- sofa with the back cushions attached to the body of the sofa.
box cushion - cushion
with four sides connecting the top and bottom. A welt frequently
runs the perimeter of the top and bottom.
box pleat - a flat
double pleat made by folding under the fabric on either side
of it to create an inverted pleat.
box pleat skirt - an
upholstery skirt with alternating high/low folds of fabric to
create a dentil pattern.
braid - a flat, woven
trim used for decorative edges on upholstery to cover staples
or tacks.
bullion fringe - a
thick fringe composed of long, twisted loops of yarn covered
in gold or silver thread.
bun feet - foot in
the shape of a flattened ball, often with a slender ankle above.
button tufting - upholstery
treatment in which buttons (usually fabric-covered) are sewn
through the surface and tied down to create a tailored, sometimes
undulating, surface.
camelback - sofa or
chair style in which the back is raised in an arch in the middle,
similar to a camel's hump.
chaise - a long chair
for reclining. May have one arm, two arms or no arms at all.
chaise recliner - a
recliner with a fully-padded extending footrest.
chaise sectional -
a sectional sofa that incorporates a built-in raised footrest.
channel back - an upholstered
chair or sofa back having deep vertical grooves.
Charles of London -
style of arm on upholstered furniture which is low at the back
and slightly raised and curved at the front. The inside of the
arm is usually well padded and curves over the edge of the arm
in the front, contrasting to a flatter treatment on the outside
of the arm.
chenille - a soft thick
fabric usually made of cotton or silk with a raised pile, that
is used to make furnishings and clothes.
chesterfield - overstuffed
couch or sofa with upholstered ends and no exposed wood. Back
and arms are usually of one continuous curve.
chintz - printed and
glazed cotton fabric, often in bright colors.
colorways - multiple
variations of color combinations in which a fabric pattern is
available.
couch - sofa or daybed.
cuddler - a large,
frequently armless, component of a sectional that typically connects
two additional components together at a corner.
damask - a light fabric,
often silk, that depicts patterns, florals or other designs in
the weave with a tone-on-tone or two-tone effect. Use for draperies
or upholstery.
deck - the surface
directly under the seat cushions on an upholstered piece of furniture.
denim - a coarse twill
fabric made with cotton.
doweling - a construction
technique in which wood corners are reinforced with glued dowels
through the joints.
down - fine, soft feathers
from the breast areas of ducks and geese; when used in seat and
pillow cushions the effect is luxuriously soft.
down-proof ticking
- a tightly-woven, inner lining of a cushion that prevents the
migration of tiny feathers to a cushion's exterior.
dressmaker skirt -
a skirt that extends from base of the cushion to the floor on
upholstered furniture. Also known as a waterfall skirt.
eight-way hand-tied
- construction technique used in upholstery in which individual
seat springs are tied to the frame with twine running vertically,
horizontally and diagonally.
fauteuil - upholstered
arm chair with open sides.
gimp - a flat decorative
trim or braid that conceals upholstery fastening points, such
as staples or tacks.
jacquard - fabric with
an intricately woven pattern. Damask and brocade are both fabrics
produced on a jacquard loom.
kick-pleat skirt -
a straight upholstery skirt that with smaller skirts placed behind
the skirt vents at the corners and other skirt divisions. The
smaller skirt may be straight or shirred.
Lawson arms - a low
profile rolled arm that is of a modest scale.
loose back sofa - sofa
with the same number of back cushions as seat cushions, but are
not attached to the sofa body.
love seat - a small
sofa or double chair that seats two people.
micro suede - a variety
of Microfiber fabric that displays a distinct nap that makes
it look and feel like suede leather.
Microfiber - fabric
made from extremely thin synthetic fibers. It is appreciated
for its soft hand, durability and stain resistance.
mop head fringe - a
thick fringe composed of long, twisted loops of yarn resembling
the head of a mop.
nailhead trim - the
decorative use of a line of tacks at fabric / leather attachment
points on upholstered goods.
pile - cut loops of
yarn forming surface with upright tufts. May refer to fabric
or carpet. Velvet, ultra suede and corduroy are examples of fabrics
with a pile.
pillow top - cushion
filled with batting attached to a sofa seat or arm, or to the
top of a mattress.
pleated arm - arm of
upholstered sofa, love seat, or chair with the front plane covered
by fabric continuing from the inside of the arm; the excess fabric
on the front plane is pleated in a arch.
plinth base - box base
for upholstered furniture, in lieu of legs.
plisspe - fabric with
a puckered finish.
pub back - a soft,
gathered and billowing cushions attached to the back of an upholstered
sofa, chair or love seat.
recliner - arm chair
that reclines and extends a built-in foot rest.
rolled arms - arms
on upholstered seating that curve outward into a rounded form,
extending horizontally beyond the supporting post.
saddlebag arms - exaggerated
pillow top style cushion attached to the top of the arm on an
upholstered piece.
scatter back sofa -
sofa with more back cushions than seat cushions.
sectional - upholstered
seating consisting of two or more sections arranged together
(and sometimes joined through brackets) to create a larger piece.
Frequently sectionals incorporate a directional change, forming
the shape (when seen from above) of an "L" or "U".
semi-attached back
sofa - sofa construction in which the back cushions are attached
at the top but loose at the bottom. Often, a hidden zipper in
the lower portion allows access to the cushion for fluffing and
the repositioning of fill materials.
settee - small sofa
or love seat with exposed, wooden legs.
sinuous spring - construction
element of some upholstered furniture that uses a running s-shaped
spring along the length of the deck (seat support).
skirt - fabric running
along the lower perimeter of upholstered furniture, designed
to hide the legs.
slipcover - a removable,
fitted fabric cover for upholstered furniture.
slipper chair - a high-backed
upholstered chair with short legs.
snuggler - an oversized
upholstered chair. Also frequently called "a chair and a
half."
T-cushion - cushion
of an upholstered sofa, love seat, or chair on which the arms
are set back from the front edge; the cushion extends from the
from edge of the seat to the front of the arm. The resulting
outline is in the shape of a letter "T".
theater seating - modular
reclining chairs that can be joined at the arms, either flush,
or in an arch and are designed for optimal screen viewing in
a home theater.
theater sofa - a large
sofa curved in an arch when viewed from above. Designed for use
in a home theater, a theater sofa is intended to provide all
of the individuals sitting on it a good view of the home theater
screen.
three-over-three -
a sofa with three back cushions and three seat cushions.
tight back - upholstery
with a padded back directly over the frame of the piece, without
additional back cushions.
tight seat - an upholstered
piece on which the fabric covering the seat is attached directly
to the frame and does not have a removable seat cushion.
toile - a white or
off-white fabric printed with one color, commonly red or black,
depicting classical or pastoral scenes.
topstitching - a single
or double row of stitching close to the seam or edge on the outer
side of the fabric.
tuxedo arms - slightly
flared arms that are the same height as the back
twill - a sturdy weave
of fabric that is distinguished by diagonal parallel ribs in
the surface.
two-over-two - a sofa
with two back cushions and two seat cushions.
wall-away recliner
- a recliner that shifts the body forward as it reclines, instead
of leaning the body back. Wall-away recliners require less rear
clearance space and may therefore be placed closer to a wall.
waterfall back - two
or more vertical layers of gathered and billowing cushions attached
to the back of an upholstered sofa, chair or love seat.
waterfall skirt - on
a sofa love seat or chair, a skirt that extends from base of
the cushion to the floor. Also know as a dressmaker skirt.
webbing - the foundation,
composed of interwoven strips of synthetic material, attached
to the wood frame of upholstered furniture.
welt - fabric-covered
cord used as a trim in the seams of upholstery or toss pillows.
wingback chair - a
high-backed, upholstered easy chair with panels or wings projecting
forward from the sides of the back and curving downward to meet
the roll arms.
© Weiss
Furniture, Inc. 2008
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