Category: fabric

Upholstered furniture is a major investment, so picking the perfect pieces to enhance your home (and your comfort!) takes some careful consideration. The following tips will help you find the pieces that are just right for you!

1. Look for quality construction. The sofa of your dreams should last for years provided you look for the best construction within your budget. Avoid pieces that are simply nailed or glued together…they will not stand the test of time. Look for a kiln dried hard-wood frame, doweled and tied construction, or sinuous spring construction. Company C uses only sustainably sourced kiln dried hardwoods featuring double-doweled eight–way hand –tied construction. Sure, we have high standards for our design and construction, but this ensures we deliver the highest quality. One quick quality test is to lift the sofa about six inches off the ground. If both legs elevate off the floor evenly, you have a solidly built frame.

2. Sitting pretty or spreading out? Determine how you will be using your sofa and chairs to initially consider the right size. A more formal setting may require only sitting space for guests, but if you are going to settle in and nap or read, look for a sofa that is at least 84 inches long and 40 inches deep. Consider cushion count as well. People avoid sitting in groups on a sofa if the cushion count does not match the number of individuals to be seated. If your perfect piece is over 7 feet long, elect three cushions. If 6 feet or less, look for a single bench cushion.

3. Know your style personality when choosing fabric. Upholstered furniture is an investment, so be sure you pick an upholstery fabric that will serve you for years. Patterns are a great way to bring depth and texture into your living room, and we love to mix them at Company C for a custom and one-of-a kind look. If you are not especially daring, select a solid that works with your rug and wall color for a more monochromatic look. If you are somewhere in the middle, accent your solid-colored choice with nail heads and welting that contrast for added visual interest. No matter your style, remember decorative pillows can add the WOW and bring it all together.

4. Pick the right place. A new sofa can transform your room on its own, or as a part of a complete re-design with other upholstered pieces. Positioning the sofa across from a fireplace may make a room feel narrow, while placing it against the farthest wall will welcome you and your guests into the space. Rather than spreading all your new seating out, create intimate seating areas for conversation, or group for easy TV viewing in a family room.  Placement is a big consideration, so here is an easy way to prevent selecting the wrong size furniture, or worse….moving it multiple times to find the right home! Lay newspaper on the floor arranged to mirror the sofa’s dimensions. This will help you to visualize your perfect piece(s) to ensure you don’t select something to big or small before the heavy lifting begins.

Our room planner is also a great tool to use to help you visualize your space. You can select from pre-built room templates or build your own based on the dimensions of your room. Simply drag and drop the pieces of furniture into the space and then click on the products tab to select one of rugs to complete the look.