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When you really think about it, we use our living room sofas quite a bit over the course of our lives. We use them to unwind after a long day at work, binge-watch our favourite movies and TV shows, or bond with loved ones over snacks and drinks.
With so many activities you can do with a sofa, wouldn’t you want something that’s comfortable and lasts a long time?
Sometimes the quest for that perfect and affordable sofa can be hard, but it might also be a good thing to spend more, in order to truly enjoy something that’ll last a long time. That’s what we strive for in our customers at La-Z-Boy; showcasing that our furniture is good quality and comfortable.
As you may already know, our sofas are made with quality materials that will help prolong the life of your cherished furniture piece.
But, what are the key components that make a good quality sofa? What are some of the things to look out for or ask next time you’re shopping for a new furniture item?
This article will delve into 5 key factors that’ll help you tell what makes a good quality sofa.
In This Article…
- How Can You Tell If a Sofa is Good Quality?
- Quality of Wood
- Joining Techniques
- Fabric & Leather Materials
- Cushioning and Support of the Frame
- Brand Reputation and Warranty
- Who Makes the Best Quality Sofas in Ottawa?
How Can You Tell is a Sofa is Good Quality?
Before we get into specifics about the key factors, let’s talk generally about what makes a sofa good quality.
As said in the intro, sofas are used multiple times throughout the day. With the proper materials, the functionality of your sofa can outlast many others of its kind. Not only will a quality sofa provide you with great function and longevity, but it’ll also help with better comfort and support.
You may not know this, but there’s a whole lot going on inside your sofa. There’s a wooden frame, mechanisms, and spring systems that help hold everything together. There are also smaller details on the outside that you wouldn’t notice unless pointed out to you.
For example, there are many different types of upholstery materials and a vast number of techniques to weave them together.
And lastly, it is important to remember that cost is a considerable addition when investing in the comfortability of your sofa. For some, purchasing a sofa is only for the look and affordability. However, if you’re trying to get proper support and comfort, be prepared to spend a little bit more than an IKEA made furniture piece.
By investing more in your sofa, you can extend its lifespan, avoiding the need for a replacement in the near future. This not only means you'll enjoy your sofa for longer but also save money for other priorities.
To learn more about if La-Z-Boy Furniture is Expensive, take a look at this article.
1. Quality of Wood
The type of wood in a sofa can tell you a lot about how good quality it is. If you were to compare a furniture frame to human anatomy, the wood would be easily comparable to a skeleton. It holds everything together and is the backbone of any furniture piece.
With that being said, sofas can have varying degrees of wood in their structure that determines strength and longevity. Most furniture manufacturers use hardwood as the main source of wooden material.
Hardwood, as the name suggests, holds a higher density than softer woods which is why it makes it a popular material used in furniture pieces like sofas.
However, there are also some manufacturers that use uniquely engineered wood to help keep their products more durable. For example, La-Z-Boy uses specially engineered wood called OSB (Oriented Strand Board), which, in comparison to hardwood, is more immune to warping, cracking and splitting.
However, this does not mean that all hardwood should be avoided. La-Z-Boy also uses a combination of engineered and hardwoods to make our furniture pieces so durable.
If you’re curious about the quality of wood when shopping in a furniture store, do not hesitate to ask a salesperson what kind of wood is used in the construction of their sofas.
To learn more about the Quality of Wood at La-Z-Boy or to see a comparison between OSB vs Plywood, take a look at these articles.
2. Joining Techniques
Keeping on theme with the inside of the frame, the way furniture pieces are joined together can also define if it is good quality. Sofas that hold up well in the living room are less likely to suddenly break without warning.
There are many different joining techniques that furniture manufacturers can use to keep the integrity of their sofas structurally sound. Stapling pieces of wood together can be a good sign, but may not be as strong as adding dowel joints and corner blocks within the wooden frame.
At La-Z-Boy, one joining technique we use is dovetail joints, which is when the wood is shaped like a puzzle piece that connects with others. We then add corner brackets to the piece which helps strengthen it.
To tell if your sofa is of good quality, take a closer look at the corners of your frames on the inside (if possible). If the corners look like they were paid close attention to, chances are your sofa is good quality.
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3. Fabric & Leather Materials
The upholstery of your sofa isn’t just for looks but can also define durability in a furniture frame. Telling if a furniture has good fabric or leather might be easier to tell since you can actually see the differences between different upholsteries.
Because these materials are on the outside, however, they are exposed to every day surroundings more than any other material. Tightly woven fabrics with synthetic fibres tend to be the most durable since they can be more resistant to spills, stains and scratches.
There are also special treatments and finishings that can contribute to a fabric’s durability, for example, La-Z-Boy’s iClean fabrics use a protective coat that helps repel liquids from getting into your sofa’s frame.
The same thing can be said about leather. While leather can outlast fabric almost five times longer, the type of leather will determine if it can withstand peeling, cracking and fading.
The best high-quality leather sofas are often crafted from top-grain leather, known for its thickness and durability, making it resistant to damage
To learn more about our Leather Selections at La-Z-Boy, take a look at this article.
4. Cushioning and Support of the Frame
Cushioning and support in a good quality sofa is everything. After all, you wouldn’t want to feel uncomfortable when sitting down on your sofa.
To tell if a sofa has good quality materials in its cushioning is by doing what you always do when next to a sofa… sitting in it! If your feet touch the ground and your back feels properly supported, this can be a good sign.
However, if you see the cushion sagging in any way, chances are the foam padding inside isn’t properly secured.
Furniture manufacturers use different suspension systems, which help keep the cushioning secure and look full. Some popular techniques involve a sinuous spring system, which uses S-shaped springs to support the frame, or an eight-way hand-tied system, which connects each spring with strong twine from side to side.
While you may not be able to see these systems when just looking at the frame on the outside, it is important to familiarize yourself with what kind of systems other furniture manufacturers use.
To learn more about La-Z-Boy’s Seat Cushions, take a look at this article.
5. Brand Reputation and Warranty
Last but not least, two revealing aspects about a sofa, which you can assess without ever laying eyes on it, are the brand reputation and warranty.
Consider a warranty as a manufacturer's vote of confidence in their creation. It's like they're saying, "We're not just selling a sofa; we're offering you peace of mind." When a brand offers a comprehensive warranty, it signals its belief in the sofa's durability and its readiness to assist if anything goes wrong.
Now, let's take a closer look at a brand that epitomizes quality and longevity – La-Z-Boy. La-Z-Boy isn't just a furniture company; it's an institution known for producing pieces that are not only visually appealing but also engineered to withstand the test of time.
But why the emphasis on warranties? Well, warranties serve as a window into a sofa's resilience and overall build. A short or vague warranty may imply that the manufacturer didn't pour their heart and soul into crafting that sofa. In contrast, a generous warranty demonstrates the manufacturer's faith in the sofa's ability to endure the rigours of everyday life.
So, the next time you find yourself perusing sofas, keep these vital markers in mind. A reliable warranty and a brand's reputation are your companions in making an informed decision.
Who Makes the Best Quality Sofas in Ottawa?
Now that you’re aware of some essential key factors to consider when figuring out if a sofa is good quality, it’s time to ask yourself, who makes the best quality sofas?
Yes, you are now familiar with the components of a good quality sofa, but do you even know where to find one?
Ottawa offers numerous furniture stores, but higher-quality options are often found in privately-owned, non-brick-and-mortar shops.
They cater to a niche audience that appreciates their furniture pieces, while lower-quality stores offer a wider range of products with less specialization.
Some of these furniture stores include single-location stores like Polanco in Westboro, Ormes Furniture on Cyrville, and Blueprint Home on Wellington.
There are also some stores,such as La-Z-Boy Ottawa & Kingston, that are privately owned and have multiple locations. Upper Room is a great example of this, with locations in Nepean, Orleans and Kanata.
To learn more about these higher-quality stores, take a look at Where to Shop for Quality Furniture in Ottawa.
What's Next?
Taking into consideration everything that we’ve discussed today, you can now figure out what sofas out there might be better quality than others.
If you’re interested in what La-Z-Boy has to offer, check out our articles on the Best-Selling Sectionals and Best-Selling Sofas to see what ideas you can get from our furniture selection.
If you’d like to browse our furniture selection in person visit one of our La-Z Boy Ottawa & Kingston stores today or schedule a visit online before coming in.
Our design consultants are always eager to lend a helping hand. Not only are they trained in knowing the large variety of furniture offered at La-Z-Boy, but they are also experts in furniture fitting and design.
You can also take advantage of our complimentary interior design services to see how our living room furniture could fit in your home.
Related Links:
How to Disassemble a Reclining Sofa