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Three tips when buying a sofa
Fabrics If you have children or animals, washable upholstery is a good idea so you don't have to worry about stains. Sofas in natural textile fibres can unfortunately be difficult to clean, but leather and polyester are easy to wipe clean. Ideally, the sofa’s covers should be removable and machine washable.
Remember that leather cannot withstand strong sunshine. In addition, it needs to be protected from moisture and be regularly treated. Cotton can fade in the sun and may need to be impregnated to become more stain resistant. In general, synthetic fabrics can withstand sunlight better, so if you living room faces south, it’s a good idea to consider these things.
Frame When it comes to the frame, wood has the very best durability, but chipboard or plywood are common. If the frame is made of the latter two materials, make sure they are layered for stability.
Invest in a sofa that lasts a long time. There are different tests that measure how much the sofa’s fabric can withstand:
The durability of the material is measured according to the Martindale Test. The higher the Martindale, the more resistant the sofa is before the fabric wears thin or develops loose threads. If you buy a sofa for your home, it should have a rating of at least 15,000 Martindale. But if it's going to be used in a public space it should have at least 30,000.
Pilling measures how susceptible the fabric is to pilling on a scale of 1–5. The higher the number, the lower the risk of pilling. Learn more about Pilling test at the Textile Study Center.
Light fastness measures how well the fabric can withstand sunlight. It's measured on a scale of 1–8, where 8 means the best possible resistance.
Cold foam provides high comfort, with long-lasting pads and cushions. On the other hand, it’s not as environmentally friendly as down and other natural materials.
A down sofa is soft and comfortable to sit on, but you need to turn the cushions and fluff them up occasionally to prevent them from sagging.