Choosing Upholstered Furniture

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Upholstered furniture can last for years with proper care. Mattresses will last longer too if maintained well. It is worth the time to develop habits that will keep your comfortable pieces looking and feeling good. The upholstered furniture in your house, from sofas and chairs to the mattresses on your beds are usually big-ticket household investments. For this reason it pays to understand the basics of furniture  fabrics and construction before you buy and to take good care of your furniture once you take it home.

Upholstered furniture is composed of three elements: frame, support system and fabric cover. Furniture pieces generally vary depending on the quality of these elements. Below are the options.

Frame

Furniture frames, also called the ‘carcass’ or ‘bones’ for top-of-the-line pieces are made of hardwoods, slowly dried in a kiln to prevent warping. Cheaper frames are made of softer wood and may be assembled in a less-than-durable construction.

Support System

Springs, webbing and padding are the invisible but critical elements of upholstered furniture. Traditionally, expensive furniture has been constructed with hourglass-shaped, individually-tied coil springs. Many manufacturers now use ‘zigzag’ or sinuous-wire springs or rubberized webbing strips which are less expensive but strong alternatives. The soft innards of upholstered furniture come from stuffing placed over the springs and padding under the outside fabric. Separate cushions on high end pieces use either down feathers or a feathers ‘plus’ combination though foam, covered with a layer of fiberfill is the most common cushion stuffing.

Fabric

Upholstery fabrics are tough as well as good-looking. Blends of natural and manufactured fibers, treated to block stains, make upholstery long-wearing and easy to clean.

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