Sofa Quality
Updated 9/20/22
It’s the lesson that so many of us learn the hard way: Buying a cheap sofa is one of the most expensive home furnishing mistakes we can make. A cheap sofa will quickly sag and lose its shape. Durable sofas from Bassett, however, retain their quality for years, saving you money (and more couch shopping) during the years ahead.
A couch should last between 7 and 15 years, so shopping for one can feel daunting. It’s not only about finding the piece that’s perfect for now but finding one that you’ll continue to love—and find comfortable—for more than a decade to come. This article provides helpful tips on what to look for in order to identify quality furniture, including important materials and quality sofa construction.
While it’s easy to judge a sofa by its style, it’s a little harder to judge one by its quality. Here are a few tips for finding a durable sofa:
1. Quality sofas have sturdy wood sofa frames
A sturdy frame is the foundation of a durable sofa. The most durable frames are made from thick, laminated hardwoods. Look for a couch with an interlocking frame, which has fewer joints and fewer (but larger) pieces of wood; this minimizes the stress points on your couch. This is important to remember when comparing sofas vs. sectionals. Obviously, sectionals are bigger and therefore will have bigger frames than small spaces sofas. If you decide to go with a sectional you should keep in mind sectional configuration and shape as well. See information on our quality upholstery here.
2. Look for sinuous springs
Springs are crucial, but as the frame, they’re invisible to shoppers. How, then, can you tell if a couch has heavy metal springs? Test them for yourself. Sit on a couch, and get a feel for the springs within it. Do they feel firm and tightly spaced together? Or do they feel weak and offer too much give? Beware: Weak springs with too much distance between them are a sign that the couch will weaken quickly with wear.
But remember, heavy springs should mean a quality couch, not an uncomfortable one. Even the comfiest, sink-in-your-seat couch can have a sturdy frame and heavy springs. A case in point is our Allure series, which offers pieces that form customizable sofas in whatever configuration you need.
3. The best couch cushions are made from high-density foam
You may be tempted to go for the cheaper polyurethane foam, but go for the HR filling instead. You’ll find that it makes your couch more durable and comfortable, retaining its shape long after other couches begin to sag. You should also keep in mind the depth of your sofa when deciding which cushions are right for you.
4. Choose the best fabric for a sofa
You have many options between natural fabrics and synthetics that offer durability, but you may have a harder time than you think distinguishing the two. Durable synthetics—like solution-dyed acrylics and blended polyester—can be made to look and feel like natural fabrics. Even outdoor fabrics are making their way indoors, offering high durability and stain resistance in fabrics that look and feel surprisingly natural. This recent development is really important for pieces that experience a lot of wear and spills such as reclining sofas, fabric reclining sofas, and sleeper sofas.
To see just how many fabric options you have, look at our Wellington series of living room furniture. Each piece comes in a wide variety of upholstery and leather. For even more options, our Custom Upholstery pieces allow you to customize nearly every aspect of your sofa. Learn more in our Fabric Workroom.
A note to pet owners: If your pets have charmed their way to a spot on the sofa, you’ll need to be extra careful in your fabric selection. Consider Ultrasuede: It’s soft and easy to clean (and, for some reason, most cats aren’t interested in scratching it). Although it seems counterintuitive, leather is a good choice for pet owners as well. Leather’s durable resists odor and pet hair, and it’s easy to clean. Learn more in our Leather Workroom.
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Find your perfect couch. Whether you're looking for fabric sofas, leather sofas, office sofas, or small sleeper sofas, shop Bassett Furniture, which has a century-long tradition of furniture craftsmanship, offering quality pieces that last for years to come.
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