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.