The most universal, integral piece of furniture is the sofa. It is installed in home interiors, offices, beauty salons, supermarkets. The sofa bears a huge load every day. The choice of this piece of furniture must be approached thoroughly. In this article, we will consider in detail how to choose the right sofa for home use.
Content
Varieties
To make their choice, home owners need to learn about the existing varieties of such upholstered furniture. It is usually divided by the transformation mechanism. Let's consider the existing types in the table.
View | Peculiarities |
Sofa bed | This is the most popular type. The sofa bed has a complex design. It has three sections equipped with legs, special "slats". "Slats" are usually made of durable fabric. They strengthen the structure, making it safe for frequent use. The sofa bed requires a certain amount of effort when unfolding. However, manufacturers are constantly modernizing and improving it. The sofa bed is usually inexpensive, offered in a wide variety of colors. |
Sofa bed | A standard, very familiar transformation mechanism. When buying it, you need to pay attention to the reliability and durability of all the parts of the structure. The sofa-book wears out quite quickly. With daily unfolding, the structure will soon become unusable and will require repair. This option is only suitable for daytime rest. Another disadvantage is the need for additional space behind the back. You need about twenty centimeters. This is not very convenient. |
"Roll-out" option | This option is suitable for organizing a sleeping place, just for rest. An additional plane in it appears from under the seat. The design includes special rollers. They make the transformation process easier. However, rollers can leave unsightly marks on the floor with daily use. The floor can only be protected with a rug. The "roll-out" option is more modern. A wide range of similar models can be found in stores in any city. |
Corner sofa: recommendations for choosing
The dimensions of the room do not always allow for the installation of standard furniture. If the number of square meters is limited, it is better to purchase a corner sofa. To choose a reliable, correct design, you should think about the key points in advance. One of them is the purpose of purchasing the item. It can be a sleeping place, or just a place to rest during the day. The necessary transformation mechanism depends on this. The next important point is the size. You need to take measurements of the room in advance.
The selected item should fit perfectly into the corner, not take up too much free space. A low structure will fit well into a small room. It will not visually reduce the room. Another selection criterion is functionality. It is better to choose models with numerous capacious drawers for bed linen. You can put bed linen, blankets, pillows, unnecessary things there. You can find models with built-in shelves in the armrests. This is a good option to carve out some space for accessories, books, small accessories.
General recommendations for selection
When asking yourself the question of how to choose a sofa, you need to answer several questions honestly. How much are you willing to spend on this product, what is it for, what kind of load is expected. In most cases, a sofa is the main item used for sleeping, relaxing, hanging out with friends. The load is huge, the period of use is planned to be long. For these reasons, there is no point in saving on the purchase. It is necessary to choose the best, high-quality from the assortment presented in the store.
When choosing a model, please pay attention to the following criteria.
- Aesthetic appeal. The atmosphere of the room, its interior depend on every detail. Beautiful furniture, maintained in the required style direction is the key to the aesthetic appeal of the apartment. It is important to consider the style of the overall environment.
Beautiful modern sofa in the living room - Cost. There is no point in focusing on this criterion. There should be no savings. The price should fully correspond to the declared characteristics and functionality.
- Anatomical comfort. Remember – the sleeping place should repeat the anatomical shape of your body. This will ensure healthy sleep and will help avoid many spinal diseases. You should buy a model that provides anatomical comfort. It is advisable to test the comfort of the item yourself. This can be easily done right in the store. No need to be shy. Lie down completely on the bed, evaluate your own feelings. Real comfort is felt immediately. You will not want to get up from such a bed.
Sofa-comfortable bed with orthopedic effect
Important! Many sofa beds are equipped with orthopedic springs. The number and type of springs may vary. Orthopedic models cannot be cheap. Budget products of this series are unreliable. Their springs break quickly and require repair. The cost of repairing the bed is quite high, the process itself is labor-intensive.
- Adaptability. Few people know that the soft parts of the structure must adapt to human movements. When lying down, they should sag, and after getting up, they should return to their original shape. If marks remain on the pillows for a long time after getting up, it is better not to buy such a product.
- Convenience of the transformation mechanism. Each type of mechanism has its own design features, weaknesses. It is necessary to test different types of mechanisms personally, choose the simplest one.
Mechanisms for transforming sofas - Dimensions. You should go to the store with approximate measurements already prepared. If the upholstered furniture will be used for night rest, its size should correspond to the parameters of a person.
Types of sofas for the living room depending on the purpose and type of room - Upholstery. Be sure to pay attention to the upholstery material. This is one of the main criteria. The upholstery must be durable, aesthetically pleasing, high-quality, and safe. The upholstery will bear the brunt of the load. Stains and crumbs will periodically appear on it. Today, sofas are covered with different fabrics. Genuine leather is considered the best option. It looks luxurious, is easy to clean, and lasts a long time. However, the cost of leather is very high. When buying jacquard, it is worth remembering that this fabric can only be dry cleaned. Microfiber is considered the ideal upholstery option. This fabric is easy to clean and has a dense structure. With proper care, microfiber can last a long time.
Furniture fabrics for sofa upholstery
Selecting a frame
The most important criterion is the frame. Its selection should be given special attention. The frame is usually made of:
- trees,
Sofas with wooden frames are durable and high quality - metal,
Sofas with a metal frame have an interesting appearance and are easy to repair. - wooden beams,
Frame of a folding sofa made of wooden beams - Chipboard.
The frame of the sofa made of chipboard is light, durable and affordable
These materials have different characteristics, prices, and performance characteristics. When furnishing an apartment, many people stick to the classic style. It is universal and never goes out of fashion. Wood is ideal for such a home. A wooden frame will create a pleasant atmosphere in the room. Wood adds coziness to the interior. Various types of wood are used for manufacturing. Coniferous trees are often used. They are common in our country. This reduces the cost of the finished product. Coniferous trees exude a pleasant aroma. However, the service life of the frame will be short. Low-quality needles. Birch, oak, and beech are reliable options. These types are highly durable and resistant to mechanical damage. The wood must be smooth and well-dried. Otherwise, there will be unpleasant defects on the product. Only red wood is used in the production of elite goods. Elite models are expensive.
Metal is a novelty. It is not often used to make sofas. This material can usually be found in high-tech models. The metal frame adds shocking, originality to the finished structure. The material is strong and durable. Metal can be easily repaired, the cost of the frame is low. Any upholstery will suit such a frame. Metal sofas-books are often purchased for office premises. This is due to the non-flammability of the material. They will also look great in a home interior.
Chipboard and wooden bars are often combined. This combination allows you to reduce the cost of the frame as much as possible. This is a budget option. Before purchasing such a frame, it is important to learn the features of its production. All elements must be treated with special paints. Paints protect a person from harmful fumes. You should not buy a frame made entirely of chipboard. It will not last long and has low performance qualities. Often, such products fall apart after a few months of use. This may be unsafe for a person.
Selecting a filler
Maximum comfort while relaxing on the sofa can only be achieved with the right choice of filler. The filler must meet several important parameters. It must be soft, elastic, environmentally friendly, dense. Density is a complex concept. The density coefficient must be different in different parts of the furniture. The seat, back, and armrests will differ in rigidity. The highest density will be in the seat. It is the seat that is subject to maximum load and wears out quickly.
Let's consider the features of different types of fillers in more detail.
- Foam rubber. Filler for cheap models. It is definitely not worth buying. In just a year, a cheap sofa bed will lose its appeal, will sag, and will not be able to perform its functions. If the furniture is needed for a summer house. You can buy foam rubber, but only a solid piece. Then the service life can be increased by several years.
Foam rubber for filling upholstered furniture - Polyurethane. Medium-priced option. Used by most manufacturers. It retains its properties longer than foam rubber.
The most popular sofa filler is polyurethane foam - Latex. Expensive filler. It is characterized by elasticity and durability. It is used in the process of manufacturing expensive, elite beds. Latex is elastic, perfectly adapts to the shape of the human body.
Natural sheet latex is an excellent filler for anatomical mattresses and upholstered furniture
It is not only the filler material that is important. Pay attention to the method of manufacturing the furniture structure. The ideal option is a multi-layered arrangement of the filler. Each layer has its own rigidity. The lowest one has high elasticity and is thicker. The top layer is thin and very soft. This makes rest more comfortable.