Sofas are not a product that can be joked around about when shopping for one — they’re expensive, and getting the wrong one can be a big financial mistake. That’s why it’s incredibly important to at least follow some sort of guide when it comes to buying a sofa to ensure that a checklist of features are on the sofa before purchasing it. Alair Homes, we work with some of the best home designers and decorators to help you find that piece to complete your living room renovation. In the meantime here are some valuable things to consider when going the task alone.

What to Look for in the Perfect Sofa

1. Frame

The most important thing on a sofa is going to be the frame, because this determines whether a sofa is going to be sturdy and durable or not. A flimsy frame doesn’t bode well for a sofa, and while the more durable frames (like reliable hardwood or well-made metal) are going to be a little pricier, it’s certainly worth it for a piece of furniture that’s going to be in the house for a minimum of a few years.

2. Cushions

If someone is shopping based on price, they’d want to go with a sofa that has high-resiliency foam as opposed to a higher-quality cushion. The high-resiliency foam cushions are still going to last an extensive amount of time, just as other cushions would, but they’re not going to be nearly as comfortable. Rather, if someone is shopping based on quality and durability, then something with an inner core of foam with a cotton batting or goose-down filled covers is a better option.

3. Springschoosing the right sofa tips

Next up on the list of qualifications a sofa needs before someone can purchase it are good springs. Not all sofas have springs — instead, some are made of simply webbing or mesh slings. Those are okay, but for the sofas that do include springs, it’s important to see what kind of springs are bineg used. They should be tight, close together, but they shouldn’t feel like they’re poking through the fabric. Making sure the fabric is thick enough to cover up any poking from the springs is also incredibly important, especially for comfort.

4. Joinery

The easiest way to find out if a sofa is worth someone’s time or not is by finding out what the frame is joined together by. Cheap materials like glue, staples, or nails are all going to lessen the quality of the sofa, and it’s likely that the sofa wont’ last as long with flimsy materials inside of it. Rather, a high-quality sofa has wooden or metal joints on the sofa that join the frame and the rest of the sofa together.

5. Fabric

Knowing the fabric of a sofa is important not just as a guide for buying a sofa, but it’s also important to assess the comfort levels expected from each sofa, and how nice it’s going to look. While leather has a very clean look as a fabric, it’s also fairly uncomfortable. Finding a fabric that fits both comfort and quality is a great way to find the necessary balance needed for this type of permanent furniture in a home.

Finding a sofa that meets the standards someone sets can be difficult, but certainly not impossible. Following this guide to check the sofa for a sturdy frame, durable cushions, the proper springs (or lack thereof), a high-quality joinery, and the right kind of fabric is the easiest way to finding a sofa that can last years in a home, up to decades.