North Carolina Discount Furniture
Upholstered Furniture
Of course the appearance of any upholstered piece is important in your purchasing decision, but sometimes what matters more is what you can’t see. There are three basic parts to any upholstered piece, each with important standards for quality: the frame, the supporting foundation and the cushioning/padding.
The frame is more than just the shape or outline of your sofa or chair. It is the backbone of the piece that supports the weight and maintains the shape of the piece. Different types of joints used in the construction of frames also determine how durable a frame will be over time (see the section titled “Joinery” for more information on the best methods of joinery for a high quality frame). Frames have traditionally been made from kiln-dried hardwoods due to their nature to resist warping. Today, however, a number of quality frames may also be made of steel, plastic, laminated boards or a combination.
The support system of an upholstered piece is the area between the frame and the cushions and determines a great deal of the piece’s comfort. Three common types of support are straps, slats or springs. Straps and slats are commonly used in lower quality pieces while higher quality furniture is constructed using springs. Springs can be single coil, double cone coil or zigzag (sinuous “s”-type) and can be connected with twine, wire ties or clips.
Eight-way hand tied springs have long been the mark of high quality. In this method, each three-dimensional coil spring is placed in the seat by hand and tied into place with twine, interlocking it to the eight surrounding coils via an intricate set of knots. Each coil is set so it responds to body weight with the proper degree of resiliency.
Sinuous or zigzag springs are two-dimensional “s-shaped” wires that run from the top of the front rail down the back of the piece every few inches. This method results in less support than a three-dimensional spring but is less costly.
The cushions, or pillows, determine the remaining degree of comfort. Some common materials used inside cushions are cotton, polyester, polyurethane foam and down. The synthetic or man-made materials, such as polyester, are more resilient than natural materials (cotton) and are mildew resistant. High Comfort (HC) and High Resiliency (HR) are two good grades of foam that are commonly used in cushions. These foams can be in solid form, like a pillow, or shredded and blown into the arms and backs of furniture pieces to produce a unique padded shape.
Fabrics are a great way to personalize your furniture to match your style while adding to the overall comfort of the piece. Fabrics vary widely in colors, patterns and texture which allows you to choose from hundreds of choices to select the fabric that best suits your style and your needs. Fabrics can be either of natural or synthetic origin, and commonly are a mixture of the two. Natural fabrics include cotton, linen, silk and wool and despite their beauty are known to have a short lifespan of durability. Some common synthetic fibers used in fabrics are acetate, acrylic, nylon and rayon. Synthetic fabrics have great durability but are traditionally not as attractive or ornate as natural fabrics. A mixture of both types of fabrics yields the best of both types: beauty and durability.
The tighter the weaves (the higher the thread count) of any fabric is also another important indication of quality. Tighter woven fabrics will stand up better than less densely woven fabrics against continuous wear and tear. Keep thread count in mind if you are purchasing furniture that you expect to receive a high volume of wear through continuous usage. Patterned fabrics will retain their design much longer if the designs are woven into the material rather than printed or painted on.
