Home Decorating Furniture and
the Many Layers of Upholstery

Buying upholstery is different from other types of home decorating furniture. Most of the quality issues that make up the frame, springs and cushions are hidden beneath the fabric.

It is often tricky for shoppers to know the quality of upholstery they are buying.

The best frames for a quality sofa or upholstered chair will be made from a kiln dried hardwood such as oak, alder, birch or maple.

Kiln drying is a process that removes excess sap and moisture which keeps the wood from cracking or splitting when the humidity changes and can cause frames to warp.

Look for joints fitted with corner blocks that are double doweled and screwed. Better frames are securely glued and screwed together for the best stability so they won't come loose over time. Avoid frames that have been stapled.

Listen for creaks or thumps that indicate the springs are hitting the frame. Lift the piece from one end. It should feel heavy and solid.

Once the frame is constructed, a spring system is installed to support the seating. There are basically two different types of springs support systems. Standard sinuous springs and eight-way hand tied.

A system that is eight-way hand tied is the hallmark of fine home decorating furniture.

In an eight-way hand tied spring system the craftsman individually ties heavy gauge coils by hand to the neighboring coil eight ways, providing a wide range of movement with great support and durability. This technique is the most costly because of the time-consuming labor.

Nearly as fine of a result can be had in home decorating furniture from the sinuous “S” shaped springs.

Sinuous springs are made from a continuous piece of heavy gauge steel that is heat formed into an “S” shape. They are cut into lengths and affixed to the frame running front to back.

Both springs support system’s affix to the frame to support the seat deck and finished with a top layer of padding.

The cushion and pillow filling are important to the feel of upholstery.

Most cushions are made from a high density foam core, which is then wrapped with either Dacron polyester or feather and down for extra plushness. The denser the foam the heavier it is and the longer it will last.

Feather and down offers the maximum comfort and softness in cushions and pillows that most people seem to desire. Feather and down require more maintenance that polyester but they have greater resiliency.

Another costlier option are spring down cushions which have a core of springs wrapped in fabric then surrounded by feathers and down.

Cushions and pillows should be sewn into cotton cases to insure smooth upholstery.

Keep in mind that cushions will grow softer with time so a floor model that's been around a while will have softer cushions that the piece you order new.

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