The debate over quality construction of upholstered furniture

Okay, debate may be overstating it. Nevertheless there are a lot of opinions about what features to look for in quality upholstered furniture. Just how do you compare quality when shopping for sofas, sectionals, recliners, chairs and ottomans?  Here is our take:

We get the consumer’s problems:

1. You can’t see inside a sofa to see how it is put together.
2. The industry jargon doesn’t mean a darn thing to you.
3. Will it be as comfortable in a year as it is today?
4. Will the fabric last as long as the frame?
5. Will the cushions flatten?
6. And on and on…

We’ve looked on the web for consumer information on quality construction. And like all things on the web there is a lot of it. But, much of it is simple cut & paste journalism. Most of these “knowledgeable” people have searched the web for articles and simply regurgitated the standard pap:

“look for kiln-dried hardwood frames”

“Make sure the corners are blocked”

“buy only 8-way hand-tied spring frames”

“Custom-made sofas feature padding of horsehair and burlap, which retain their shape, topped with layers of goose down.”

This information is badly outdated! Besides, any list of even the best techniques can lead you astray. Because, in the final analysis, shoddy execution can ruin the best design. Your first defense is still to do business with someone you trust who offers great warranties. But, good construction does matter – so here are some things to look for as well as some expert information for you engineer types:

1. TAKE A LOAD OFF

• Sit on it. Each and every cushion. For a while. 5 minutes or so. Curl up if that’s your thing. Here comes the technical part: is it comfortable?
• Wiggle the back rail and arms. There shouldn’t be much.
• Give the frame a little twist by lifting at one front corner while someone holds down the opposing arm. If it twists very much – shout.
• Stores may have a cut-away section or an illustration of their construction techniques showing corner blocks, glue, screws and nailing details. If you are buying a floor model, you can probably get someone to remove the bottom dust cover near one leg so that you can see these details. Legs are screwed into the frame are fine. Legs that are part of the frame may be stronger but are harder to repair.
• As we said above, kiln-dried hardwood or furniture-grade plywood can denote high-quality materials. But they can’t make up for poor workmanship.

2. GIVE IT A SQUEEZE

• Run your hand along all of the “edges” of the piece: rails, corners, and arms. There should be a layer of padding to keep you from feeling sharp edges.

3. CUSHIONS – WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD

• Unzip a seat cushion and peek inside. Go ahead, you know you wanna. You should see foam covered with polyester batting, enclosed in a muslin or nonwoven pillowcase.
• Removable back cushions that contain loose filler should have a casing that is stitched into multiple compartments to minimize fill settling.

4. SPRING FORWARD, FALL BACK

(I always get that mixed up, like feed a cold, starve a fever. ??)

• Press down hard on the deck (the area under the seat cushion) to sense if seat springs are evenly spaced and equally resistant to pressure.
• Silence is golden — you shouldn’t hear any squeaks.
• “Eight-way hand-tied springs” are no longer synonymous with comfort or high quality. Other types of springs–coil, cone, S-shaped, and grid–can be just fine; they mainly influence how comfortable the sofa feels to you. We’re in subjective land here. The only thing that matters is your opinion.

5. TAILORED PERFECTION

• The best tailoring costs you more in three ways. 1) It takes longer to execute. 2) It takes more highly skilled, expensive workers. 3) It uses significantly more fabric to attain that flow-matched look. Your choice, but you need to know what that extra degree of excellence is costing you.
• Stripes and plaids should appear straight while other patterns should flow from one part of the sofa to the next.
• Welted seams should be straight, skirt pleats evenly spaced, zippers hidden or color matched to the upholstery.

Wood Industry site

by Design wants to help you create a room that expresses your personal style.  But how do you know what that is?  Here are a few tips that will help you think about style.  Take a little time with this process, then work with your designer to put the entire profile together.  Remember, the process is a conversation — don’t rush it!

1.  Discover your personal style. Read the shelter magazines and cruise design sites on the web.  Start a style and idea folder of rooms that you love.  Don’t be afraid to incorporate items (furniture, art, whatever) from different design styles — mix and match. This eclectic look enriches the look of a room. Learn what inspires you. And, refuse to categorized. This relates directly to the next point:

2.  Its all about you. Though you want to be proud of your room, don’t worry about your neighbor. While styles and trends are great ways to get new ideas to spruce up a room, don’t base your entire design around what you think will impress your guests. Consider your hobbies, activities and passions.  Do you have existing furniture or possessions that should be incorporated?  Make sure that your style is uniquely yours. Remember-you have to live with your design choices every day, not your neighbors!

3.  Don’t settle. Don’t just buy things to fill the room.  Better to do without for a short period of time than put the wrong piece in and then have to live with it.  It will be well worth the wait when you’ve assembled a room made up of things you love.

4.  Work to a plan. Using an accurate floor plan and then adding in all the elements of your design plan is the best way to ensure a great design.  It allows you to spread out your purchases and still achieve the cohesive look that you’re after.  However, military strategists say that no plan survives the first moments of battle.  You too should be prepared to be flexible over the course of your room project.

5.  Embrace color. Color is one of the best ways to to add warmth and personality in a room.  Find what shades make you happy and use them to add some life to your room.  Small rooms are a great place to make a dramatic color statement.

6.  Don’t worry about the Joneses. Like most everyone, we love to work with the new colors and fabrics.  Make sure that your style is uniquely yours. Remember — you have to live with your design choices every day, not your neighbors!

7.  Lighting is crucial. In addition to the functional aspects, lighting also helps to set the mood or add design to a room. Try different types of lighting, such as incandescent or halogen, or use lighting fixtures, such as sconces and chandeliers as part of your design theme.

8.   Consider your options for your walls. Wall art doesn’t need to be expensive — it needs to please you.  Framed personal photographs tell about people and places that hold great meaning for you.  Incorporate art.  Many homeowners think expensive price tags when they think of art. However, art doesn’t have to have a high monetary value as long as it has high personal value.  Framing personal photographs of your favorite vacation can add a beautiful statement to a room, while making it uniquely your own.  Even a unique faucet and sink as the focal point of a room can be considered art!

9.  Ceilings need love too. Add crown molding, paint the ceiling a slightly lighter shade of the same color. If you’re like most homeowners, when it comes to decorating, you only think about the four walls and floor of a room.  But don’t forget the ceiling.  If there is no crown molding in a room, there is no reason to not extend the color on the walls into the ceiling to create a cohesive, never-ending look to the room.  Just be sure to choose a ¼ lighter shade of paint on the ceiling since horizontal planes tend to look darker than vertical planes.  Also, be sure to choose quality surfaces for your flooring.  As the most used surface in a room, quality that will withstand foot traffic is essential.

10.  Consider flow. Open floor plans make color flow and design flow more important than ever.  No room is an island.  Some colors complement each other and work wonderfully together.  Others just seem jarring and uncomfortable when used together.  Help with color families is widely available on the web.
Design styles should also flow from one room to another.  All surface textures and finishes should be considered in your plan and be used to draw the design elements of one room into another.

Coming Soon: What you need to know about wall art!

Coming Soon: What you need to know about rugs!

Coming Soon: What you need to know about recliners!

Coming Soon:  What you need to know about leather furniture!

Coming Soon: What you need to know about dining room furniture!!

Coming Soon: What you need to know about color!

Coming Soon: What you need to know about accessories!