SOME Tips for Buying a Great Sofa
A couch or sofa is a major furniture investment, and one you may live with for decades, so it’s important to make a good decision. Style preferences are a personal matter, but when it comes to choosing a good-quality sofa, there are objective criteria you can use to ensure you’re getting a sofa you can be happy with for many years.
When you are shopping for a new couch, follow these 11 tips to ensure a great purchase.
Check the Fit
There is no sense in considering a couch if it doesn’t fit you well. Seats should be comfortable for all members of your family. If you’re buying a Modular sofa, make sure it is comfortable in all the different positions.
The primary fit consideration is the depth of the seats. Select deep or shallow seats, depending on your height—the couch back should support your back adequately with your feet flat on the floor and the backs of your knees just slightly forward of the lower seat cushion. And if the couch is where you like to nap, make sure to lay out on the couch and see if it is long enough for comfortable snoozing.
Consider the Springs
The springs that hold up the cushions on a couch come in three levels of quality. Least expensive (and least durable) are those that are not springs at all, but just webbing or mesh. Avoid these couches if your goal is a quality piece of furniture.
Most couches use what is known as serpentine springs—sinuous pieces of snaking wire that span the gap between frame members. These offer good support, but they may sag over time if the metal isn’t heavy-gauge.
Luxury sofas are fitted with what is known as “eight-way hand-tied springs,” which are very comfortable but also expensive. Some experts dispute if hand-tied springs are any more comfortable than good serpentine springs, but you can be the judge of that.
Feel the springs through the upholstery. Good springs will be quite firm and spaced close together for good support. There should be good support without too much give when you sit on the couch.
Feel the Padding
The frame and all the corners of the couch should be well padded. Run your hand over all corners to make sure you can’t feel the edges of the frame through the upholstery. If you can, the upholstery may wear through quite quickly, and your couch will not be very comfortable to use.
