How To Test The Quality Of a Sofa?

When starting your sofa shopping journey, it’s important to know how to test the quality of a sofa.

This starts with what it looks like, but then extends further into the makeup of the sofa. This is why two identical-looking sofas can vary greatly in price.

What lies inside tends to be more important than what you can see on the outside. Different parts of the sofa - the frame, seating support, and filling - determine not only your sofa’s level of comfort but also its ability to retain its shape and stability in the years to come.

The sofa is one of the most important pieces of furniture in a home and should be chosen carefully

Your sofa will be the most hardworking piece of furniture in your living room and beyond. Most of your family moments will be shared on these seats so choosing one should not be a decision taken lightly.

You ideally want your sofa to stay in good shape for at least ten years, so pay attention to the type of upholstery and frame you select.

A good guide is to look at your lifestyle and then find a style that will seamlessly fit into it. An all-white couch would be a challenge in a house full of kids and pets, for example.

The best way to test the quality of a sofa is to sit on it and bounce up and down

You should always test the quality of seating support by sitting on a sofa before you buy it. It shouldn't sag, and it should provide good support in the seat and in the back.

The most common filling is high-density polyurethane. The higher the density, the firmer the cushion will be. Foam can be wrapped in softer material or cotton to make it softer.

Make sure that you are getting high-density foam because lesser-quality foam can start breaking down pretty quickly. This causes sagging, which makes the fabric less taut. 

Another way to test the quality of a sofa is to press down on the cushions with your hands

Your hands will also come in handy to test the quality of a sofa. Knead the frame along the back, rail, corners, and arms. If you feel hard or sharp edges, the padding is skimpy.

Additionally, you can press down on the cushion to test its softness. If you want a really soft seat, consider down cushions. These are considered to be the premium choice, and as you might imagine they are also among the most expensive.

High-quality cushions have down-proof ticking under the upholstery fabric to prevent feathers from poking through. Cushions filled just with down are high-maintenance and can need daily attention.

If you're looking for a sofa that will last, choose one with high-density foam

Most sofa manufacturers use medium-density foam. Depending on the quality, this type of foam can handle regular users of up to 90kg. However, for a durable sofa, you should insist on one made with high-density foam.

Homeowners often confuse firmness with density. Although low-density foam is generally very soft, and high-density foam harder, this isn't a rule.

Most high-density foam products used in upholstery are actually relatively soft to ensure the necessary comfort level.

Where possible unzip the cover to see for yourself what was actually used, this is also the best way to be sure of the weight of the cushion.

To make sure the sofa is comfortable, sit in different positions - upright, reclined, and stretched out

A sofa is made up of different parts and these should all be well-designed in order to produce a quality product.

Test all aspects of the seat including the cushions, backrest, armrests, and reclining function. Think of how you like to sit on your sofa and assume this position to see if you like the feel of it.

Feel free to stretch out on the piece if you know that you often lounge on your sofas back at home.

Make sure there's enough space between the back of the sofa and the wall so you can comfortably recline

When shopping for recliners like the Action Sofa by Naustro Nexus Collection, you should consider how much space you have in your living room.

You should be able to comfortably rest the back as far out as possible without hitting the wall. Similarly, the footrest should be able to extend forwards without your feet hitting against other furniture pieces.

Without this, your sofas will succumb to scratches and dents from constant collisions with other surfaces. And, you won’t be able to fully enjoy their functionality.

Here are some tips on how to test the quality of a sofa before making a purchase

Apart from the padding, pay attention to the frame. Press on the back rail and sofa arms, you shouldn’t feel any movement if it's all held together securely.

Go a step further and lift one corner of the sofa about 15 cm off the floor. The seat should not twist. Additionally, ask the store to remove the dust cover so that you can see the frame.

Look for corner blocks (to add strength) and neat, tight joints that are glued, stapled, or screwed in place. Kiln-dried hardwood and furniture-grade plywood can denote high quality, but the frame can still be poorly put together.

As for designs with springs, you shouldn't tip or sink in one direction when you sit down. If you do, springs probably aren't centred or properly attached to the frame. You definitely don't want to hear squeaks.

Check the seams to make sure they're strong and well-sewn

Finally, have a look at the seams. If these are carelessly sewn, you can’t expect good craftsmanship for the rest of the piece.

Every seam should be neat, strong, and sewn to last. Paying attention to stitching is a good indicator of a professional furniture manufacturer.

Italian sofas are especially known for having impeccable stitch work as seen in this Diamond Club 2 Sofa by Silvano Luxury.

In Conclusion

Testing the quality of a sofa goes beyond what the eye can see. Don't rush the process, but rather take time to examine every aspect of the seat.

Frame, cushions, fabric and stitching are usually good indicators of the attention paid to the making of the furniture. For quality sofas from top international brands, browse our extensive sofa catalogue that includes some of the best names in luxury sofas. For interior design inspiration, take a look at our interiors project portfolio and see how we've curated pieces of furniture in some of London's most beautiful residential homes. 

We encourage you to visit our showroom where you can test the quality of our pieces in person.