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Website design By BotEap.comCouches either make people very happy, or you curse it every time you see it in your living room. Who knew that this 300 pound bundle of wood, padding, springs, padding, wadding, and fabric could be the stuff that dreams or the bane of your existence are made of?
Website design By BotEap.comHere are 5 warning signs that you bought the wrong sofa.
Website design By BotEap.com# 1) It doesn’t fit in the front door.
Website design By BotEap.comYou laugh. But last week, we had to call a customer to tell him that the delivery truck carrying his furniture would be late. The reason was because they were held at the previous delivery site with a sofa that did not fit in the front door. Fortunately, none of my clients! Do yourself a favor and measure all entry points to your nest, to include the required 90 degree turns en route to the final couch destination. Do this BEFORE placing your order. A designer will know how to do this. If you are working alone and you know in advance that there might be a problem, here is the million dollar tip: Remember to ask if the legs can be removed to accommodate delivery.
Website design By BotEap.com# 2) It’s squeaking.
Website design By BotEap.comThere is no mouse infestation here. The culprit is structure problems. Just like your old bones creak and creak, the places where the pieces of wood meet, called “the junction”, are the weakest points on your sofa. The lower the cost and quality of your sofa, the lower quality “seams” likely were used when it was manufactured. In all likelihood, that squeak is telling you that your wood is warping somewhere and that your frame is weakening as a result. Most likely it is a union.
Website design By BotEap.com# 3) The seat cushions appear broken and are less than 3-5 years old.
Website design By BotEap.comAll you and I are to a couch is “a burden.” That is not an insult. It’s a no-brainer in the world of sofa engineering. The spring system inside your sofa works 24/7 to “spread your load”, and its poor cushions do the thankless job of cradling your dead weight. If your seat cushions are made of foam, over time they can compress. The cheaper the sofa, the lower the quality of the foam used in the cushions and, therefore, the sooner they will degrade. If your cushions are filled with down, you will need to beat them to pulp to revitalize the loft. I? I am a fan of heavy duty upholstery spring wrapped seat cushions. Here, each seat cushion contains a group of springs, which are then wrapped in foam and Dacron®, or feathers or some combination of these to cover the internal springs. Spring blend cushions cost more up front, but will retain their custom shape exponentially more than their non-spring cousins. Want some advice on how to extend the life of all your seat cushions? Flip your seat cushions at least twice a year (Thanksgiving and Mother’s Day for the forgetful) or every 2-3 months for softer cushions.
Website design By BotEap.com# 4) It’s awkward.
Website design By BotEap.comThis is a tough question. My best advice is this: don’t shop on the couch when you’re tired and sleepy. Go when you feel really alert. And when you’re testing out a sofa, sit on it for a few minutes. Try to recline. Know that it will break down a bit with time and use, but no more than a 10-15% spread. If you feel hard and stiff in the showroom or store, let it go. Also, beware of sofas that are too deep for you, as they will require pillows for adequate support and comfort, or your lower back may affect you.
Website design By BotEap.com# 5) It’s plain, old, ugly, or out of date.
Website design By BotEap.comI can’t help you here. However, instead of trying to liven up a take-out grass couch by shopping for new items in the room around it, know when to throw in the towel. Reupholster or replace. Nothing looks worse in a room than a worn, tattered, or ill-dated item. After all, there is a collector’s item, and then it is old, worn, or out of date. Keep trying to ignore a big bad item, like a sofa in a room, especially the scheme, and you’ll be wasting a lot of money after bad trying to get over the dead cow in the room.
Website design By BotEap.comHopefully, these sofa tips will help you keep you sitting pretty and comfortable for over 10 years. That’s the minimum amount of time I’d like your ideal sofa to look and feel great for you. Do you have a sofa that you love or hate? Send me a picture and tell me in 75 words or less why you love it or hate it. The best photo and essay response of 2014 will receive an award.
