Components or qualities of a good sofa

Most of the Kenyans when buying a sofa do not really pay attention to the components of a sofa. They just buy the couch cause may be its cheap or looks more appealing and end up regretting or complaining later. Here are some things you should be keen on when buying your sofa since they are quite expensive and therefore its best to choose the one with the best aspects after proper assessment. Quality aint cheap, a good quality sofa is more comfortable and durable.

1.       Frame

A sofa’s durability and its ability to maintain its shape largely depends on the frame. High quality wood, Hard wood, should be used in making the frame to prevent it from cracking. The skills the maker uses when making or constructing the frame also determines its strength.

A frame should never be made from green wood (wet wood) because it is unstable and it’s bound to shrink and crack once it dries. Soft wood is also not desirable in frame construction.

The joints of the frame are stapled, glued or screwed. The major problem with the frames arises when the joints are not well stapled. Its best advised to use adhesives as well as the stables to make the frame more durable. Nails are not satisfactory to secure the wood and the makers use strong adhesives as well. The corners of the frames are further strengthened by addition of reinforcing blocks to provide extra support.

2.       Coils/webbing

They are used to give the sofa the sofa the desired support. They are also the key to a sofa’s/couch comfort and durability. They are the least expensive support for sofa’s/couch cushions.

Coils

Ø  Gives the sofa noticeable bounciness

Ø   Are in variety eg. Single cone coils, flat or sinuous coils etc.

Ø  Are not commonly used nowadays

Ø  Common problem is that they offer permanent distortion

Webbing

Ø  Can be made of either natural or man-made fibers, and if used alone doesn’t make for very strong support.

Ø   It used with a tensioner that fastens the webbing securely to the frame.

Ø   The web suspension is the least preferable of the seating support options.

3.       Cushion fillings

With a ready frame which has been fitted with coils or has been webbed, pad the surface or stuff it with materials like cotton or polydacron. Padding is for the safety of upholstery fabric. Padding is usually done to prevent the fabric from coming into direct contact with the frame wood or coils and also to offer maximum comfort.

 Foam is commonly used for padding. It varies with density. The higher the density the firmer the cushion will be. Low density foam is poor quality and can start breaking down very easily. The foam can be wrapped in softer materials or cotton to make it softer.

4.       Upholstery fabric

The higher the quality of the upholstery fabric the more expensive the sofa or couch is likely to be. The simplest way to check the quality of the fabric is to slightly stretch the fabric to determine how tightly it is interwoven. The more the number of threads per unit area the higher or the better the quality of the fabric. Good quality fabric is one that is straight and does not crease.

The most opted fabric for furniture by people is cotton and linen. They are very durable but are sensitive to direct sunlight. Silk is very elegant and has the best looks. However, it’s very fragile and possesses great challenge when cleaning it. Due to its high maintenance it should be used in places that are not frequently used. Wool is durable stain proof but difficult to manage. Microfibers are the best in heavy usage areas, look attractive and are easy to clean. Textured fabrics show less wear and tear than smooth ones. Leather though quite expensive is best option if looking for durability. Nowadays there is a large selection of texture and color so one is not confined to tan or black.

Types of sofa

There are different types of sofas found in the Kenyan market today. most of  the couch /sofa designers slightly modify the original style/design to suite the modern fashion or the clients specifications. most designers after modifying the original couch design many brand it (change its name). Branding is way of generating more capital for the designers. However, branding may lead to a lot of confusion when buying your couches or sofas since the brand name may only be known to people from a certain region. Here are the original names of various couches/sofas so that next time you buying a couch or sofa it will be easy for you to describe it to your couch designer or carpenter

1.love seat- 

as the name suggests it only offers seating for 2 thus only has 2 cushion seats. however it may be prepared with large couches or other  set of couches and therefore should match the pattern and style of the other couches. its the best option  small apartments
2. chaise lounge
 

its designed for 1 person long enough to support the legs. rather than extending the sides to accommodate several people its extended forward to provide room for one to rest his/her legs. nowadays its mostly attached to one side of a sectional couch which is discussed below.
3.sectional couch.

its a large, multi-part sofas with or without armrest that can be partly or fully upholstered fitted with springs and tailored cushions. the cushion seat meet at a corner angle with on end functioning as a cushion and the other as a chaise lounge. its best for large living rooms or a seating lounge.
4.fainting couch

  its a backless couch with one end usually traditionally raised. it was mostly most used in the west in the olden days by women to make them more comfortable or during their pelvic massage. the back may be completely situated on one side of the couch or may be extended and wrapped around the entire piece according to a person preference. its best for your seating room, bed room or on your balcony

5.day beds

they are designed as a couch as well as a bed. they are small may have 2 or 3 sided couches. it functions well during the day as a couch to seating or reclining to relax and during the night as a bed to sleep. its frames are made of wood, metal or a combination of both.. they are best suited for lounges, dens and spare bed rooms




6.sofa beds

this are sofas or couches usually a 3 seater whereby underneath the seating couches there is a metal frame and a thin mattress that can be unfolded   or opened up to make a bed. they are found in a variety of styles and sizes. its most suitable when has so many visitors and few beds.
7.bean bag couch

its similar to a bean bag but its larger and instead of beans its filled with polystyrene pellets to make it moldable, lightweight and very comfortable. for durability, it consist of a muslin inner lining which is usually zipped for convience in filling the bag and an outer cover which is also zipped for ease in replacement, laundry or dry cleaning.the outer lining is made from medium weight fabric eg. denim, upholstery fabric or canvas. its best for lounging infront of the TV or curling up to read a book

8.futon

its a traditional Japanese design and thus they are very common in japan. it consists of a thin and flat mattress  ,stuffed with cotton wool, enough be folded and stored away during the day for those living in small rooms allowing the room to serve other purposes apart from the bedroom. eg. seating room. The mattress can be set against  the frame of a couch. the frame is usually designed in such a way that it can be unfolded into a bed. the difference between a daybed and a futon is that a daybed requires no movement when changing it from couch to bed while a futon has to be unfolded to sleep on. futons are popular in small apartments, dorms, guest rooms,small studio apartment.
9.Divan

Based on the middle east traditional seating, its a long and low couch or seat usually upholstered with tall pillows.its made of a mattress laid against the side of the room, upon the floor or upon a raised structure frame with cushions to lean against. They may have a low back and arms or none at all. they designed for lounging or sleeping