Sofas Deconstructed

What you need to know before you buy

By Jeff Schnaufer
CTW Features

Image courtesy Calico Corners

What's the difference between buying a luxury car and a luxury sofa?

You can check under the hood of the car.

When it comes to purchasing a sofa, most consumers don't look any closer than the price tag. Faced with a $5,000 sofa, a $2,500 version and one under $1,000, they don't know what to expect in their construction, quality and durability. But there's no reason they can't find out.

"Do your homework before purchasing," says Laura Heidorn, interior designer at Closson's in Cincinnati, which has provided fine furnishings and interior design services since 1866. "Ask questions about construction and fabric content and durability."

"A sofa costing $5,000 or more should have a kiln-dried hardwood frame, 8-way hand-tied coil spring base, steel-banded base support, heavy duty corner blocks, no sag back springs, solid wood legs (hand-rubbed finish, if exposed leg), a skirt matched on sides and back as well as other nice tailoring details, and premium seat and back cushions," Heidorn says. "Also, a lifetime warranty on the frame is a nice feature."

"Sofas on the higher-end will have feather-down seating, durable materials, fine fabrics of choice, steel springs for support and sturdy framing that will last several years longer then the cheaper versions," says Kristianne Watts, owner of kwDesigns in Del Mar, Calif.

At this price range, Watts recommends looking into sofas by Restoration Hardware, which she says offers classic designs and great quality. Heidorn suggests sofas by Baker, Southwood, O Henry House, Hickory Chair, Century Signature, Swaim, and Thayer Coggin.

"A $5,000 sofa is not that much different from a $2,500 sofa, as far as construction," Watts says. "For instance, the bigger difference would probably be with an Italian line like, Roche-Bobois. The high quality and attention to detail are noticed." Of the well-made $2,500 sofas, Heidorn recommends TCS Designs, Milling Road, Taylor King, Vanguard, Henredon Fireside and Century Elegance.

And what should consumers with a budget of $1,000 or less expect? This sofa, Heidorn says, is most likely constructed of pressed wood, poor quality fabric, low-density foam cushions with a very short life due to clumping, sagging, matting, etc. Expect limited fabric choices and possibly fiber-filled material, Watts adds.

"Often times you can feel the metal frame through the arms of the sofa because they are poorly padded," Heidorn says. "The spring systems generally don't offer much support and wear out quickly."

"It probably will not be the most comfortable sofa but should withstand the daily wear," Watts says. "I would check out the durability of fabric and the stitching to see how well the sofa is put together." Watts recommends seeking sofas on sale at West Elm and Crate & Barrel and checking local consignment furniture stores.

In the long run, Heidorn says, investing in a higher-end sofa can pay off. "It is better to get 10-15 years and possibly more out of a great, well-made sofa than to have to replace a poorly manufactured one every few years."

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