We understand that when it pertains to relaxation, there is nothing quite like sinking into comfort. This comfort should allow for a quick snooze or a marathon reading session of a brand-new novel. A great way to relax is almost always a few moments on a designer sofa where you can sit and breathe in peace. These classic yet luxurious sofas can make you feel as though you are floating on cloud nine. This is largely due to high-quality sofas being crafted with comfort and sophistication in mind.
Purchasing a new sofa is more than browsing through a catalogue or heading to a showroom floor as you need to consider your taste and space. Before you start making plans to spend, have a clear idea of what you would like, including how it matches your personal style and home. This includes understanding what you require from the purchase, how it needs to look, the fabric used and the quality, to name but a few.
Excellent quality sofas are designed and crafted with you in mind, but you need to understand what a quality sofa is. For this, you need to evaluate the qualities of a sofa, in other words, create a quality sofa checklist. This checklist is crucial for your shopping experience as it highlights key elements such as the frame, the material used and more.
We have put together a handy checklist to ensure you invest in quality sofas. This is how you can determine if a sofa has the quality you expect:
A high-quality frame is one made out of solid wood and by expert craftsmen. Imitation or manufactured wood such as pressboard does not meet the standard. However, there are authentic woods such as oak and teak which are superb, durable and in some cases, water resistant. The preferred wood includes:
Ideal for sofas that will be lounged in moisture-rich areas. Mahogany is resistant to water damage.
What is a contemporary sofa without comfort? Cushioning is an important factor to consider when purchasing or designing a sofa. It is the one element that is concerned with relaxation. Materials that provide better cushioning include foam and feathers and in some cases, some manufacturers use a combination of cushioning to provide the best comfort.
Quality spring coils can be felt whether you have purchased a quality leather sofa or a quality fabric sofa, no matter the style quality coils are needed. The reason? It provides a softer sitting experience.
Upholstery is where you can get creative and express who you are. For example, leather lovers would choose a leather exterior that is soft to the touch. People almost always associate good-quality upholstery with leather and they are not wrong.
Since upholstery is the last step when creating your bespoke sofa, do not take this step lightly. Leather may be one of the preferred upholstery, but there are several other materials such as wool. Yes, wool-based sofas are completely luxe adding a decadent flair to an already stylish living room set-up.
You can’t always see the insides of your sofa and you’ll often have to rely on the words of the sales team for that. But what you can see on your own are the fine details. One look at a luxury, high-quality sofa will make your appreciate it’s finesse and quality. Clean lines, exceptional attention to detail and a luxe look that immediately draws your attention - quality sofas are very easy to identify.
Certain brands are also are known for these details and the quality of their sofas, Gamma and Dandy, Ditre Italia, Eichholtz and Laskasas being some of our personal favourites.
There is no long nor short answer and it can become quite complex due to several factors such as imitation brands. However, we are here to guide you, as we understand you require a sofa that matches your already established style and quality in your home. Before we explore the elements of a high-quality sofa, you need to understand how a luxury sofa is different from a mass-produced version. A good quality sofa is manufactured with solid wood frames, reinforced joints and coils and has the perfect balance of comfort in terms of cushioning. It also contains premium suspensions which adds that additional comfort one has come to expect from a premium sofa or sofa bed.
An in-person inspection of the quality of material used is ultimately the best way to determine the quality of a sofa. Look at the material used to manufacture it, is it solid wood or imitation? Then there is the overall material for the sofa itself, which is the fabric of higher quality in terms of touch and longevity. You can also consider the durability of said fabric and look at its susceptibility to decaying or being damaged by water.
High-quality sofas almost always come with some form of warranty that solidifies their status as good, quality sofas. Warranties and guarantees act as a further extension of a brand’s commitment to manufacturing superb furniture. It also indicates confidence and builds a level of trust, one has come to expect from certain brands. Manufacturers who offer extended warranties also display a level of confidence and belief in their sofas.
If you want to take it a step further in your quality inspection, there is a set of international standards all manufacturers should adhere to, but it is not a requirement by law.
The International Organisation for Standards or ISO is a regulatory body that provides a set of standards on how goods are manufactured. Furniture companies that choose to follow ISO are generally seen as trustworthy and prone to provide quality.
There is a misconception that leather is the only quality fabric for sofas, however, others have emerged as favourites, highlighting the need for a diverse range of materials. We have asked ourselves “What makes a material stand out?” There are several answers, but the most important one has to do with your taste.
Here at FCI London, we are committed to helping you find the perfect sofa that works for your style and your home. Whether you want a bespoke sofa or one already created, we are here to help you find a suitable sofa. Considering the size of the sofa you require, we can customise it based on your requirements. One of our designers can guide you on what will work best for your space. You can book an online consultation or visit our showroom to see some examples.
With over 35 years of furniture expertise, we pride ourselves on understanding what you would like to see and enjoy in your home. At our 30,000 sq ft London showroom, you’ll find a wide range of luxury sofas from some of the world’s best brands. We have done the research and have deconstructed, reworked and worked with several options so you do not have to. That is right, all you need to do is explain your requirements and we will do the rest.
In our experience, we have found that the difficult decisions often lie in the type of material to use. To help, we will discuss your material choice, colour and design in great detail so we can deliver on expectations. If you are feeling overwhelmed and cannot decide on what you would like, we are here to help ensure your sofa is ready and the perfect addition to your space.
From picking out functional modular units to layouts and customisation options, the FCI team is on hand to give you the best advice. Schedule an appointment to visit our spectacular 30,000 sq. ft showroom and we’ll gift you a free one-time sofa design consultation.
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