There is nothing better than sitting down on a comfortable sofa and relaxing after a long day.  But what makes up the perfect sofa?  Below is everything you need to know about your sofa, from care and construction to style and accessories.

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THE INSIDE SCOOP

There are MANY ways to build a sofa, but to get a long lasting frame that holds up to the wear and tear of everyday use, you need high quality materials and good construction.  What does that look like?  First let’s start wit the frame, a hard wood (like Maple) is most desirable because of its dense qualities, but other hard woods like Poplar are slightly more cost effective and readily available.  The frame should be kiln dried to approximately 8% water content, this ensures that the frame will resist warping and breakage.

Next is the construction.  There are many new techniques on the market when it comes to springs.  Think of a mattress, essentially the frame of your sofa works the same way.  High end manfacturers still rely on the old fashioned eight way hand tied springs.  This has not only proven to last the longest, but creates even weight distribution throughout the entire surface of the cushion.  If you have a tight back or a tight seat cushion, Sinuous Spring is the go too method, sometimes refered to as wiggle wire because of its wavy shape.

Now lets get to the soft stuff.  Each cushion should have a foam core.  That foam core can be solid or it can have an inner coils system which allows give within the cushion but still allows the cushion to regain its shape.  What wraps around the cushion comes down to preference.  Some people prefer a firmer sit, in which polyester batting is used.  Others like a softer sit, and therefore prefer a down blend, wrapped around the foam core.  You would think the more the merrier when it comes to down but the opposite is true.  Down can become very compressed and hard if used alone, so using it in conjunction with other materials gives it lift and softness.  It also can be used in the back cushions to give the feeling that you are “sinking”.  Having high quality materials in your back and seat cushions allows to reshape them after repeated use, which gives longevity and life to your sofa.

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THE COVER STORY

What you put on your sofa is not all about looks and all fabrics do not wear equally, so choose wisely.  If you have kids or pets you’ll want a durable stain resistant material, maybe even a leather which not only resists stains but odors as well.  If you prefer a softer feel, go for a durable fabric such as velvet, which is not only in style at the moment, but also soft and luxurious.  Think of the way the fabric feels in your hand and how thick and durable it looks as well, and don’t forget the color, if you have kids maybe white isn’t your best bet!  Do your homework, fabrics consist of many materials such as synthetic blends, wools, cottons, linens, silks and more.  Know how your sofa will be used so that you aren’t looking at your brand new piece of furniture in 6 months and thinking it has aged 10 years.

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ALL SHAPES AND SIZES

You thought this would be easy to buy a new sofa, but after you cover quality and materials you still need to pick a style.  I always break my decisions into a few catagories.  First there is sit, do you want a tight back which give a firmer sit or a loose back?  Next decide on how many cushions, a bench seat, which is a single seat cushion, two cushions which gives a more casual look or three cushions which portrays a sense of structure and sometimes formality.  Once you have picked your cushions move on to the arms.  There are so many different arm styles these days, the most common are track, English, rolled and Lawson.  But don’t rule out the more trendy styles out here which are all variations of these more classic arm styles.  When choosing an arm consider if you like to lay your head on the arm or what overall style your room has.  This will give you clues as to which style will work best for you.  The final major detail comes down to showing some leg.  Do you prefer an exposed leg or a skirt?  If your  looking for a softer feel, opt for a skirt.  There are two main choices, a waterfall which falls from the bottom of the seat cushion and has no welt detail and a kick pleat which is a little more structured and traditional.  It is shorter skirt with a welt detail at the top of the skirt.  Looking for an exposed leg, pay attention to styles and finishes.  You can create anything from traditional to contemporary with your choices.

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IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS

Just a few more decisions and you have created the perfect sofa!  There are many “extras” that can complete your look.  Don’t over look details such as nail heads, welting, trim, and fringe.  My favorite way to customize a sofa is adding a contrasting fabric to the throw pillows.  This brings in texture, color and pattern and can break up an otherwise solid looking piece of furniture.  Co-ordinate this fabric with the rest of the room and you have really tied things together.

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When you get your new sofa in your home, add a luxurious throw and sit back and relax, you’ve earned it!

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aeolist design

Ralph Interiors

Custom Designs By Nancy

Robin's Egg Pink

31 July, 2010    | Published by House Of Peltier in Main