How to choose a sofa?

The sofa is perhaps the most popular piece of furniture. He can stand in any room, and the appearance of the room depends very much on how he looks. With its help, you can give the interior more elegance, rigor, or, conversely, emphasize the lightness, elegance of the layout, expand the boundaries of the room and make it brighter, easier to read. But this truly universal item should not only be beautiful, but also convenient and durable. How to choose a sofa? This will be discussed in the article.

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Where will he stand?

The choice of sofas in furniture stores is quite large. From a variety of shapes and colors, it just ripples in the eyes. But how do you know if good sofas are offered in the nearest furniture salon or is it better to go somewhere else?

To begin, think about which room you will put the new thing on. The sofa can stand:

• in the living room;
• in the kitchen;
• in the nursery;
• in a large entrance hall;
• in a glazed loggia;
• on the balcony.

Important! Perhaps, only a bedroom can do without this item, and even then not always - many owners of small apartments prefer not to put a bulky bed in this room, but an elegant transformer sofa. Not to mention the inhabitants of small-sized apartments, for which a sofa is a place for sleeping, for playing with children, and for receiving guests.

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What is a sofa for?

Decide on the functions of the item that you are going to buy:

• Will you sleep on it?
• Is it necessary for the whole family to get together?

In the first case, it is better to choose a transformer, in the second - a sofa with a rigidly fixed back. The second option is also suitable for the office - a transformer is somehow useless there.

Important! Before ordering a sofa, measure the place where you plan to put it with a tape measure.

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What to look for?

Having dealt with the place and purpose, pay attention to the following options to choose a good sofa:

• the size;
• frame;
• filler;
• upholstery;
• mechanism.

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The size

Standard convertible sofas have only two sizes:

• double;
• triple.

Important! As for sofas with a fixed back, there may be options. For example, for the kitchen you can find a four-seater and even a five-seater “corner”.

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Frame

Having wondered how to choose the right sofa for the living room or the nursery, first of all pay attention to the frame. He can be:

• wooden
• from a wooden bar with chipboard;
• metal.

Products with frames made of different materials differ:

• different service life;
• weight
• strength;
• at the cost.

In most cases, for the assembly of upholstered furniture, it is still the tree that is used, so we will dwell on it in more detail.

Wood

The most popular type of frame is wooden. Thinking how to choose a good sofa, pay special attention to this material. It is characterized by:

• strength;
• hygiene;
• durability;
• beauty.

Wooden frames are used for the manufacture of furniture for a very long time, and so far manufacturers are not keen to abandon this material. The wooden frame is suitable for a room decorated in any style.

Important! There are several disadvantages:

• relatively high price;
• with improper care, the material loses strength.

However, the disadvantages are not so significant.Some wood species are not more expensive than chipboard, and the quality of the product made of them is significantly higher.

As for the care, it is not necessary to allow the sofa to constantly stand in a damp room - then neither rot nor fungus will appear on the frame.

Which breed should I prefer?

On sale you can find sofas with frames:

• from conifers;
• from hardwood.

Important! Coniferous wood is cheaper, but less durable. In addition, it secretes tar, which can be harmful to a person with a heart condition.

The advantage of conifers is that their products are quite light. So a small sofa for a kitchen or a loggia can be on a pine frame.

For the manufacture of stylish furniture, hardwood is used:

• birch trees;
• ash;
• oak.

Having asked the question how to choose a high-quality sofa, you can pay attention to the elite models from exotic breeds. But they are most often made to order.

Optimal options:

• The most budget option is a birch frame. Strong, beautiful, durable and relatively inexpensive.
• Products made of oak and ash look stylish; they can last several centuries, but they are heavy and quite expensive. However, such furniture testifies to the strength of the financial situation of the family.

Tree requirements

There are several points that you should pay attention to those who prefer a wooden frame:

• The tree must be well dried.
• There should be as few knots on the frame as possible.

Important! As for drying, raw wood furniture can cause a lot of trouble in the future. For example, when a spot suddenly appears on the couch for no reason. The owners are racking their brains where it came from, and the casket just opens. Excess moisture is released from the wooden parts and falls on the upholstery - and even, possibly, with drops of resin.

Knots do not decorate the look. In addition, a tree with a large number of such inclusions is usually less durable.

Metal

Metal frames appeared relatively recently, but have already gained popularity, especially among the followers of the Hi-Tech style. The advantages of a metal frame:

• any upholstery is suitable;
• ease;
• strength;
• simple and cheap repair.

Important! The main disadvantage is not suitable for any interior.

Chipboard

Frames of cheap models are often made of chipboard. But cheapness in this case is deceptive. This material is extremely fragile, and in a couple of years you will have to splurge on the sofa again.

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Mounts

Pay attention to the mounting frame. Different manufacturers use:

• bolts
• screws;
• glue.

What's better? - Everything is simple here:

1. The frame, which is glued completely, is extremely rare. If you still found a similar product - you do not need to buy it. This is the most unreliable type of fastening, the product will fall apart in a couple of months, and it will be problematic to fix it.
2. The best option is bolts. All quality furniture is bolted. If the mount loosens, it can be pulled up quickly. The screw that popped up cannot be driven back by any forces. In addition, screws leave cracks.

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Filler

It depends on the filler how comfortable your sofa will be and how long it will last. On sale you can find sofas:

• spring;
• foam rubber;
• polyurethane;
• latex;
• multilayer.

Spring mechanism

Spring sofas are not so common. But they have a lot of advantages:

• durability;
• possibility of repair;
• convenience.

Important! The type of spring mechanism and the number of springs are usually indicated in the passport. The principle here is simple - the more springs and the smaller they are, the better the sofa, naturally - more expensive.

Foam rubber

This is the cheapest filler, but also the most short-lived. Having bought a foam sofa, keep in mind that after a couple of years you will again have to run around furniture stores.In addition, over time, foam begins to disintegrate and secrete substances that are not at all healthy.

Important! If you have decided to dwell on this filler, at least try to keep your sofa full, not pieces, but a whole sheet.

Polyurethane

Good modern sofas are often made of polyurethane. Advantages of this material:

• elasticity;
• elasticity;
• durability;
• does not emit harmful substances;
• relatively low price.

Important! Sofas with polyurethane filling belong to the average price scale. They are practical and comfortable.

Latex

For the manufacture of elite upholstered furniture, latex is usually used - a high-quality material, almost eternal. The sofa does not lose shape for a long time. In addition, such a filler takes the form of a body, so lying and sitting on a latex sofa is very convenient.

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Upholstery

The interior of the room depends mainly on the upholstery. However, the furniture should be not only beautiful, but also:

• hygienic;
• pleasant to the touch.

For upholstery sofas apply:

• skin
• velours:
• shenill;
• tapestry;
• jacquard;
• microfiber.

Leather

Leather is a traditional sofa material. Its advantages are obvious:

• spectacular appearance;
• strength;
• durability;
• ease of care.

Important! The disadvantages include the fact that not everyone likes the skin by touch. In addition, this material is quite expensive. However, all kinds of leather substitutes are now used for furniture upholstery, which cannot be distinguished in appearance, and the price difference is considerable.

Shenill

Expensive quality sofas are often lined with chenille. The quality of this material is not inferior to the skin, but softer. It is easy to wash, so such sofas are often placed in the nursery.

Teflon Fabrics

For furniture upholstery, materials such as:

• tapestry;
• flock;
• jacquard;
• microfiber.

Tapestry, flock and jacquard have long been used for upholstered furniture. These are durable high-quality materials, quite wear-resistant. As for microfiber, it began to be used recently. This material is made immediately with Teflon impregnation, so it is resistant to moisture. Such impregnation is now used in other materials - do not forget to ask the seller about this.

Important! If the fabric is of high quality, an appropriate passport is attached to the certificate for the sofa.

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How to choose a sofa bed?

The requirements for transforming sofas are about the same as for the rest. Even if you can afford a separate bedroom with large beds, the extra bed in the living room has not hurt anyone. Thinking of buying a folding sofa, be sure to pay attention to the mechanism.

A lot of transformation mechanisms have been invented. However, the most common are a few:

• book;
• cot
• roll-out.

Book

This mechanism is just perfect for those who are going to constantly use the sofa as a sleeping place. Such products are cheap, durable and convenient. Parts can be made of different metals. The most practical is steel. This is indicated in the passport, as is the manufacturer of the mechanisms. The best are German models.

A kind of “book” is “click-clack”. It is convenient in that you can install and fix the back in two positions.

Important! Such a sofa will require a certain amount of free space between the wall and the back.

Cot

This is also a popular option. During the day, the berth folds three times and retracts under the seat. The reins are attached to the sections. To prepare a bed, it takes a little more effort than a “book”, and this is considered the main design flaw .. However, if you are not going to use it as a bed every day - it is quite good.

Retractable mechanism

A very simple and convenient option. The berth rolls forward. Pay attention to the wheels - they must be rubber, otherwise you risk damaging the parquet or laminate.

Important! Keep in mind that such a sofa is designed for a relatively large room - in any case, such that it can be rolled out two meters.

One of the varieties of the roll-out mechanism is popularly called the "accordion". This is almost the same thing, the difference lies in the position of the back - in the “accordion”, when unfolded, it becomes upholstered.

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How to choose a corner sofa?

When choosing a corner sofa, you must be guided by the same considerations as in all other cases, that is, pay attention to:

• frame;
• filler;
• upholstery;
• fastenings.

However, in this case, it is especially important to pre-select the place where he will stand, and how to measure it.

Important! The corner sofa is specially designed to occupy a free corner. It is very convenient, but requires special attention to the arrangement of furniture. Such products are with the same length sides or with different. In the latter case, be sure to see if the long side of the “corner” corresponds to the long wall.

If you buy a “corner” for the kitchen, make sure there are drawers of sufficient volume under the seats.

Important! For a corner sofa designed for the living room, additional pillows will be a nice addition - but only if the frame and other main parts are made with high quality.

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Stock footage

From this article, you have received an exhaustive amount of information to choose a good sofa for your home for any room. Carefully consider the selection of upholstered furniture, focusing on the knowledge you have acquired, then you will like it and will not require replacement after a year or two.