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When Buying Upholstered Furniture

If there's one bit of advice to remember when shopping for upholstered furniture, it's BUY QUALITY. A high quality sofa will look as good and be as comfortable two, ten or twenty years from now as the day you buy it.

First and foremost, a sofa should be comfortable. Don't let a salesperson tell you that you'll get used to it. Remember too, that an interior designer can make you comfortable by combining different seats and backs.

Look at the type of wood used to construct the frame and the method of construction. The frame should be a hardwood and the heaver, the better. You should never see nails. Corners should be doweled. The frame should also go up into the padded arm. This allows the arm to hold its shape over time.

Next, look at the springs. They should be attached to each other and to the frame in eight places. Also, the front springs should be software to accommodate weight distribution.

A common mistake is to buy a fine piece that is not the proper scale for the room. It's crucial to take measurements to be sure that the scale is correct. If the sofa you like isn't the right size, ask your interior designer if it can be ordered in a different size.

Choose the sofa first, then the fabric. Too may people fall in love with a fabric that is hiding a sofa of poor construction.

What type of cushions should you get? Cushions can have springs inside, down, feathers, or a combination of the above. All down is soft, fluffy, and expensive. Down also constantly needs "fluffing up" - something those of you with small children might think about. Standard fare on a quality sofa is a polyfoam cushion wrapped with Dacron polyester. It sits firm and doesn't require constant fluffing. Be sure to insist on high-density or high-resilience foam.

A final word. Buying a sofa or fine chair is a major investment. View it as such and expect many, many years of pleasure from it. You may wish to work with an interior designer in order to get a better idea as to what is available. You also get the added benefit of having an expert explain the pros and cons of various options. The value of a service oriented, experienced interior designer gives you is only fully appreciated over time as you work closely with your designer.

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