Leather or Fabric Sofa? How to Choose?

The heart of the living room: what to consider when buying a sofa

The sofa is the central element of the living room. Due to its versatile uses, buying a new sofa should be well thought out in advance. It serves not only as a place to sit after a busy day and enjoy the evening with a glass of wine and a good novel, but also as a great spot for peaceful conversations with friends. When purchasing a sofa, you should pay special attention to the upholstery, the shape, and the material to sit comfortably with family, take a little nap, or enjoy a thrilling movie with your partner and a bag of popcorn. In this post, we want to give you helpful tips on buying a sofa. From construction and design to upholstery and seat height, our furniture experts will be happy to assist you.

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1. The purpose of the sofa: buying tips for construction and design

When buying your sofa, you need to include your living conditions and preferences in the purchasing decision. You should ask yourself whether the new sofa should be more modern and representative, or if it should be more practical and easy to maintain. Especially young families with small children and pets should opt for a sofa that has plenty of space and an easy-to-clean surface. If you enjoy hosting friends at home, a corner sofa might be the best solution for you. With this configuration, you can sit in a relaxed posture facing your guests. For a simple apartment, a small sofa with a sleeping function could be the best possible variant. It is space-saving and can be converted into a sleeping place for a guest in no time.

3-seater sofa Natura Melrose
Natura Providence Long Chaise
2-seater sofa 7150 by Global
Natura Arlington Sofa 2 and 3 Seater
Sofa bed Maja by Global
Foundation Oviedo by Global

To ensure that the new sofa is optimally integrated into your living room, you should also pay special attention to the dimensions of the sofa. Since the sofa is dominated by its size in every living room, you need to measure the space. It is best to make a sketch of the entire room and plan for at least a meter more on the sides and behind the sofa. This step is often forgotten and can cause problems, especially if you choose folding armrests and backs. Tip: Arrange the seating of the new sofa with moving boxes. This way, you can visualize exactly what size the new sofa should and needs to be. Additionally, bring the sketch of your living room to the sofa buying consultation. This way, the furniture expert can make optimal suggestions during the purchasing advice.

Perhaps you already have an idea of what the sofa should have? What style fits best with your four walls? How about a British Chesterfield sofa, a cozy rustic sofa, a modern designer sofa, or a Scandinavian design sofa?

2. Inner values matter: the upholstery of the sofa

Particularly important is the upholstery of the new sofa. The right degree of firmness plays an important role, as it determines whether we like to sit on the sofa or not. Every person is individual, and thus tastes differ in the upholstery of a sofa. To find out which upholstery is comfortable for you, you can take a wide sample of seating on different sofas. Feel free to join us at Kemner Home Company in Bremerhaven and take a seat on the various sofas in our furniture store. Additionally, you will find many useful terms related to upholstery and their definitions in our materials glossary.

In principle, the structure of the upholstery can be divided into three different sections: the upholstery consists of a base suspension, a spring core, and foam:

2.1. The base suspension

Sturdy base for more support and elasticity
Nosac Springs & Straps

When suspending a sofa, nose springs and/or straps are most commonly used. Nosac springs are also known as steel coil springs or wave springs. They are extremely stable and provide the optimal support and elasticity for the sofa even after years of use. The straps, on the other hand, are used for the backrest to give the seating an optimal fit. The base suspension is then covered with linen or felt carpets, which protect against wear and noise.

2.2. The spring core

Spring cores for an optimal seating experience
3 types: cylindrical spring core, Bonell spring core, or pocket spring core

After the base suspension comes the spring core. The classic spring core is the cylindrical spring core. The twisted steel wire is particularly firm and is installed vertically on the seating surface. The Bonell spring core is considered a more advanced variant. In this type, the spring head is significantly larger and thus reacts more finely to movements. Another variant is the pocket spring core made of steel springs that are sewn into fabric pockets. The pocket spring core has good elasticity and thus gives back in places where pressure is applied. This spring core is therefore more ergonomic and economical than the cylindrical spring core and Bonell springs. Tip: Not only the type of spring core is decisive, but also the quality. The number of springs per seating unit, the strength of the respective wire, and the bends of the individual springs play a decisive role.

Construction of a sofa: 1. Cover, 2. Diolen wadding cover, 3. Foam, 4. Permanent elastic strap, 5. Nosagen suppressor, 6. Non-woven fabric, 7. Foam

2.3. The foam

Comfortable foam
Quality due to high density and compression hardness.

Foam is an important part of any sofa and is mainly made of breathable polyurethane foam. It can be used with additional spring cores or alone. Quality is also important when it comes to foam. It should be as high as possible and have an appropriate compression hardness. The higher the weight in kilograms per cubic meter, the more durable the foam is and the slower the upholstery deforms. Generally, foam with a density of over 30 kilograms per cubic meter is considered high quality. The compression hardness, on the other hand, indicates the degree of resistance of the foam and should be decided individually by the customer. The lower the compression hardness value, the softer the foam surface.

3. Frame, seat height, and functions of the new sofa

You should pay attention to the following when consulting for a sofa purchase:

Sturdy and durable frame.
Comfortable seat height and depth
Adjustment functions (optional)

Basically, the frame of the sofa can be made from three different materials: metal, solid wood, or plastic. A plastic frame is often the least expensive option and is used for sofas that are produced in large volumes. A metal frame with metal legs ensures a modern and stable design that is both lightweight and resilient. A solid wood frame with wooden legs, on the other hand, gives your living room a natural atmosphere. Since wood is a natural material, it changes over time, and each sofa becomes a unique piece. Solid wood frames are most commonly used because they are particularly robust and almost free of harmful substances.

To benefit from optimal comfort, the seat height and seat depth should be adapted to the user. An average seat height is about 40 cm. For elderly people, a slightly higher seat height is recommended, as it makes it easier to get up. In principle, elderly and taller individuals should choose a sofa with a seat height of about 55 cm.

To make your new sofa even more comfortable, you can also integrate various adjustment functions into your sofa. You can choose between manual or motorized functions, with which you can individually adjust the armrests, footrests, and/or backrest to your sitting behavior. For example, how do you like the MR 370 pattern ring with adjustable functions in the arms, legs, and back?

4. Upholstery cover: leather or fabric & many different colors

Nowadays, you can get almost any sofa in fabric or leather materials. Additionally, there is an almost unlimited choice of colors. Choose a comfortable fabric cover on which you can snuggle up with a cozy blanket, or opt for a leather cover that is particularly easy to clean and provides welcome cooling even in summer. You can also choose suede, which develops its own individual style after a few years of natural signs of wear. Think about which material suits you best and your needs, and let yourself be convinced by the advantages of the different materials during your personal purchasing consultation. In our article “Leather or Fabric,” we delve further into this topic.

Musterring MR 4810 Sofa with adjustable headrest

In the showroom 2,798.00 €— 3,596.00 €

plus delivery time: approx. 8-12 weeks Why so long?

Tip: Since the sofa is characterized by its size in any living room, you should choose an appropriate color for the sofa so that it integrates optimally into your living room. For large sofas, it is recommended to choose discreet colors such as beige or light olive green. If the sofa then seems too boring to you, you can decorate it with a few colorful pillows or cozy blankets. Smaller sofas in colorful colors such as red or yellow, on the other hand, stand out in the living room.

5. Accessories for your retreat

Additionally, you can add a matching ottoman to your sofa. This provides extra space to rest your legs or even a book or tray. Cushions and blankets can also provide a lot of comfort and a relaxed appearance. To make your new sofa even more functional, you can also use a suitable tray to select the armrest, which is made of wood, for example.

Global Cornella Upholstered Ottoman in Brown Fabric

461.00 €

plus delivery time: approx. 8-12 weeks Why so long?

6. Conclusion

Basically, your new sofa should be tailored to your needs and offer you an unparalleled seating experience. You should feel comfortable when sitting, and the sofa should be well integrated into your living room. To find your ideal companion for everyday life, you should think in advance about what is important to you. Our furniture experts will be happy to help you choose and find the perfect sofa for you. You can get an overview of our range in advance in our online store.

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