Home Upholstery Buying Guide - What to consider

Upholstery buying guide

Buying a new sofa or armchair is a big decision and a significant investment, so it's important to get it right. Whether you're wondering about fabric or leather, or extra features such as recliners, this guide will help you find beatiful new upholstery you'll love.

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What to consider before you buy
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What to consider before you buy

Measuring and sizes

It's important to make sure any new furniture fits, so be sure to figure out your room layour first. Decide where your furniture will sit and measure carefully before shopping.

Remember, your furniture needs to be in proportion to the room, to your other furniture and, in particular, to the height of the ceiling. Buying a sofa or chair that's too big for the space can make a room seem smaller and feel claustrophobic. See our measuring guide for help.

Think about the aesthetic of the room too - two small sofas might look better than one large one, for example - and consider modular seating. Highly flexible and available in different sizes, modular sofas can be easily reconfigured as corner sofas, and feature parts that can be added or moved around to suit the space. They're ideal if you see yourself changing your room layout or even moving house frequently.

Colour patterns

Your sofas and chairs will be part of your home for years, so it's important that you're happy with the colours you choose. Lighter colours feel fresh and modern, but darker colours won't show stains quite so easily. Think about your overall decor, and consider textures and patterns, too. Add splashes of colour to a neutral sofa or chair with cushions in complementary accent colours and bold designs.

Remember, some sofas and chairs come with removable covers so you can change the look in the future.

Frame and structure

A strong and sturdy frame is the foundation of a long-lasting sofa or armchair. That's why all frames at Furniture Village are only made from solid and sustainably sourced materials like oak, beech or ash, with strong joints either glued or screwed in place. You might not be able to see this from the exterior but it's vitally important for maximum sofa comfort and durability.

Comfort

Don't assume that the comfiest sofa or chair is the softest one. This can be a very personal choice depending on your comfort preference. And remember that family members and partners will be spending lots of time on your sofa or chair too.

Sofas and chairs range from firm to soft and how sinkable or firm they are depends largely on the springs suspension and fillings.

Springs and suspension

Our sofas and chairs have a variety of different spring and suspension systems, from traditional springs and webbing to coil, pocket or zigzag springs, providing comfort and support where it's needed most.

Here are some of the systems in our furniture:

  • Webbing
    Elasticated bands that go up and down and side to side. Often used for back suspension.

  • Coil spring
    Shaped coils of metal linked together with a wire to create a bouncy, supportive surface.

  • Pocket spring
    Coils of metal individually encased in fabric pockets for a more responsive feel.

  • Serpentine spring
    A shaped springs, for a firmer feel. See Zig zag spring.

  • Superloop spring
    Often used for back suspension, this type of spring has a slightly softer feel.

  • Fish mouth spring
    So called because they open and close, these springs create a softer sofa edge.

  • Zig zag spring
    Arranged in horizontal rows for a firmer, more supportive feel. Also known as "serpentine springs" and "S-shaped springs".

Fillings

The fillings of a sofa or armchair can be the last thing you think about after style, size, fabric and colour. However fillings make a big different to feel of a sofa and to how the sofa cushions retain their shape.

The most common filling options for sofa seats and cushions are:

Foam

Foam has a firm bounce and retains its shape best. You will find that more traditional furniture-makers tend to prefer foam fillings.

Fibre

Fibre is a term used to refer to man-made, synthetic fillings, usually wrapped in fabric. Fibre offers medium to soft comfort, depending on the density of the filling. Fibre cushions usually need to be plumped at least once a day to keep their shape.

Feather

Feather-filled sofas are on the soft end of the scale and provide a luxurious option and that 'sink-down' feeling. Again, feather cushions will need to be plumped daily. If you like the feather effect but are allergic to feather fillings, our sofa experts will help you find a soft alternative.

Mixes

Some of our designers use a mix of fillings - for example foam cushions with a fibre wrap, or feather cushions with a foam core. Make sure you try them all before making your decision.