How to Choose a Sofa That Will Last

When you arrive at the part of your client’s project where you have to pick furniture pieces, you typically should choose pieces that provide the perfect blend of functionality, comfort, appearance, and durability. As you are often responsible for the entire design and realization of the project, you must know how to choose a sofa that will last.

Finding a durable sofa can be challenging if you don’t know what to look for or where to acquire one. To save you the trouble of suggesting furniture pieces that your clients won’t be satisfied with, we have some practical tips and tricks on how to recognize a piece of high-quality furniture.

How To Choose a Sofa That Will Last?

Sofas are one of the biggest and most important investments you will have to assist your client in making. They are the centerpiece of every living room that provides aesthetics and comfort. 

Since you are the one providing the client with expert advice, you must know how to choose a sofa that will last. In a nutshell, the qualities of the best high end sofa are:

• Stable and durable frame made from high-quality materials
• Solidly constructed joinery
• Spring filling and comfortable padding with high-density foam
• Top-notch craftsmanship
• Robust mechanisms (if any)
• High-quality fabrics that are easy to maintain
• Durable legs
• Tight armrests

Checking the sofa frame quality

To check the sofa frame quality, ask about the materials the frame is made of. Typically, high-quality sofa frames are made from premium hardwood like walnut, birch, oak, maple, and birch.

For enhanced durability, the hardwood should be kiln-dried or engineered. If the frame is from engineered wood, it should have at least seven layers of solid wood pressed together for durability. Sofa with a soft-wood frame may be more cost-effective at the time of purchase, but it’s far from durable. The soft wood may wobble after only a couple of years.

If you have the opportunity to see the sofa in person, you can perform a quick test to determine its sturdiness with a simple test. Pick one corner of the sofa and lift it. If it is heavy and solid, that is typically an indicator the sofa has a sturdy frame. On the other hand, if you notice the sofa is wobbly and light, chances are the sofa has a weakly constructed frame.

Asking about the types of joints

Generally, you can’t check the joints of the frame by yourself. Instead, it is best to ask us, as furniture manufacturers, and we will be more than happy to share to provide you with information on the frame joinery.

Some of the joint types that can be used when making a long-lasting sofa include:

• Mortise and tenon
• Double dowel
• Corner block reinforced
• Reinforced joinery
• Dovetail
• Box joints

Avoid offering your clients a sofa that’s only held by staples, nails, or glue. These materials are used as additional, not as main support. They won’t hold the sofa for long. 

Test the springs

Eight-way hand-tied springs are the hallmark of high end furniture. Springs are actually the foundational support for a sofa. They offer a variety of advantages such as enhanced resilience, personalized comfort, pressure relief, even weight distribution, sinking prevention, and much more. Make sure the sofa you offer your client has springs, and if you have a chance, do test it. Push the springs– if they are firm and close together then the sofa is of high quality.

Some springless sofas might also provide the same level of comfort. Some alternatives to spring filling are foam-based support and sofas made with webbing support.

Filling

If you are wondering how to choose a comfortable sofa and want to suggest furniture to your clients they will enjoy for years to come, the first thing you should check is the filling. There are various sofa fillings, with the most common being feather, fiber, and foam. In addition to these three basic types, some sofas can be made from hybrid fillings which are combinations of foam, feathers, and fibers.

Each sofa filling has its own pros and cons. Remember that it is up to you to match the client’s preferences with the characteristics the different sofa fillings offer. Here are some quick tips:

• High-density foam filling is ideal for people seeking well-supported seating and is commonly considered the most durable filling that doesn’t lose its shape
• Fiber fillings can be tailored to the preferences of the client, but they might lose shape and resilience with time
• Feather fillings are excellent for people who prefer a soft and plush seating experience but they require high maintenance as they tend to sag

High-quality fabrics

Another crucial step on how to choose sofa for living room, is checking the sofa materials, more specifically the upholstery fabric. The upholstery fabric is the padded covering of the sofa. The top choices for durability have the following characteristics:

• Resistance to abrasion and stains
• Colorfastness,
• Anti-pilling properties,
• Excellent thread count and fiber content.

With so many fabrics available, it might be hard to choose. So, which type of sofa is best for living room?

Generally, synthetics and synthetic blends are among the most durable upholstery fabrics. Some examples include polyester, nylon, olefin, and crypton. Other excellent choices for luxury materials are cotton, leather, and microfiber.

Top-notch craftsmanship

It can make a huge difference if the sofa is made for mass production or is handmade and crafted with care and precision by skilled craftsmen.

While we can’t speak for others, we can proudly say that our PERRY Luxe seating solutions are made from the most durable materials by skilled workers with years of experience. Our furniture is renowned for its exceptional quality, durable signature finishes, and superior craftsmanship. We are committed to providing great value for every client.

Mechanisms

The key step on how to buy a sofa that will last is also checking the mechanisms. This is applicable for couches that have additional features such as reclining sides, rocking mechanisms, sliding, storage space, pull-out/click-clack mechanisms, and much more.

No matter the mechanism type, they should be made from durable materials, preferably from metal components. In addition, the construction, installation, and operation of the mechanism can significantly influence the durability of the sofa as a furniture piece.

Durable legs and tight armrests

A long-lasting sofa should have sturdy legs and armrests. The shape, material, and construction of the sofa legs directly influence the stability and weight support of the sofa. Consequently, it’s best to choose ones designed to ensure sturdiness, preferably ones made from wood or filled metal.

The overall durability of the sofa also depends on the armrests. When you are picking a sofa, well-padded and sturdy armrests should be a priority. We recommend you lean on the armrests and check how tight they are. If they move or wobble, you should consider that as a red flag and look for another sofa.

Conclusion

If you are helping your clients choose furniture, you must know how to choose a sofa that will last. The crucial factors that determine the longevity of the sofa include the frame, types of joints used, filling, sofa materials, craftsmanship, mechanisms, legs, and armrests. If you desire furniture that checks all the boxes for durability, check out our seating offer and see what luxury furniture you can offer to your clients.