Take a seat – on the right sofa

Consider the humble sofa – companion and comrade, participant in every casual Netflix binge or family reunion.  Beloved by all, the sofa is a ubiquitous home design staple, and the backbone of your living space.  No piece better represents true functionality, versatility, and endurance.  Where else would you turn for a cozy evening in with your favorite film on the TV?  Or a comfortable spot to settle in and work from home?

Suffice it to say, the importance of the sofa can’t be overstated — which means that your choice of sofa will have real impact on your space.  You want to be sure your sofa is perfect for you, your taste, and your day-to-day needs.  So in the interest of helping you figure out where you stand in the world of sofas, I thought I’d take a second today and talk sofa specs.

Choosing a well-constructed sofa involves three principle factors: the frame, the suspension, and the cushions.

The frame of the sofa is what holds the whole thing together — think of it as the skeleton, the bones that support the rest of the structure.  Because the frame does so much heavy lifting, it’s important to make sure your sofa frame is top-quality, both in terms of materials and in terms of construction.  Ideally, you want a sofa frame made of kiln-dried hardwood or engineered hardwood, which’ll ensure your sofa stands the test of time.  On top of material, the way that frame is put together is as crucial as the material itself.  A well-assembled piece — one that doesn’t just rely on screws and glue — is a piece that’ll last.  Keep in mind: a lifetime frame warranty is a sign of a good frame.  (At Woodside Home, all the sofas we’ll offer you have lifetime warranties on their frames!)

There’s also the sofa’s suspension to consider.  There are a variety of styles of seating suspension — eight-way hand tied, springs (both drop-in and pocket coil), sinuous springs, grids and webbings — each with their own unique facets.  For sofas in particular, you’re going to want eight-way hand tied suspension or any kind of spring suspension, as grids and webbings are more appropriate for things like seat backs.  Good suspension not only increases the comfort of your sofa, but also enhances its durability, especially since sofas are subject to a lot of wear-and-tear.  Sinuous spring suspensions are the most common sort you’ll find.

Of course, the part of the sofa you interact with most directly are the cushions.  Typically, cushions are either foam or down, and each option has its own benefits depending on your lifestyle and the lifestyle you expect from your sofa.  Down cushions offer a plush seat you can sink into — foam holds its shape and bounces back quickly after use.  A combination of the two — a foam cushion wrapped in down — is fairly common among manufacturers, and offers the comfort of down with the robustness of foam.

And there’s more to a cushion than the stuffing — there’s also the fabric to consider.  The color and pattern on your sofa — as well as the type of fabric — will set the tone for your living space, and can add a layer of durability to your piece.  When you opt for a custom sofa order, you might find yourself confronted with the thousands of fabric options available, each with their own style and strengths.  At Woodside Home, part of our job is optimizing your fabric options — we’ll narrow down that immense catalog to a curated selection of options for you to choose from, customized to your personal aesthetic and your day-to-day needs.

Purchasing a sofa is a big decision — it’ll change the face of your living space.  At Woodside Home, we’re here to help make that decision fun and stress-free.  After all, there’s nothing better than a fresh look for your home!  Interested in chatting about a new sofa, or a new living room entirely?  Send me an email — I’d love to hear your story, and help make your home yours.

At the end of the day, we should all be sure to show our sofas some love.  We’d be lost without them — or at least, a lot less comfortable.