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Insider Tips for Upholstery Upholstered Furniture Sofas. Love Seats. Chairs. Chaise Lounges Comfort and Quality are determined by 5 basic things:         The frame determines how long the piece will last. The frame is critical to durability and comfort because it is the underpinning for the other components. Frames can be made of kiln-dried hardwood, steel, plastic, laminated boards or a combination of materials. How to test the frame: ü      Pick up one corner and both legs on that side of the piece should, be the same distance off the floor. If not, the frame is twisting and is not solid. ü      Frame is sturdy, doesn't creak or wobble ü      Frame sits squarely on the floor ü      Corners are braced and glued    The supporting foundation is key to comfort. This can be provided by webbing, sling straps, slats, or springs. The design, size and amount of support or softness determines which type is used. Springs can be single coil, double cone coil, or zigzag (sinuous S-type) and can be connected with twine, wire ties or clips. Eight-way hand-tied coil springing is the best, but also the most expensive. How to test the supporting foundation: ü Sit on it! Do you hear noise? If so, this is not a good sign. ü Does your weight feel distributed evenly, or do you feel like you're 'tilting'       in one direction?   Cushioning is critical to comfort and appearance. Cushioning materials include cotton or polyester, polyurethane foam, and down. Foam and polyester fiber/ill wrap are the most commonly used padding materials. These man-made materials are durable, resilient, mothproof, and mildew and fungus resistant. How to test the cushioning and padding: ü Is it comfortable to sit on and to lay on? ü Is it all new material? ü Frames and corners are well-padded? ü Backs are free of bumps and hard spots ü Cushions fit snugly and are resilient   Coverings must match use for durability. Natural fabrics include cotton, linen, silk and wool. Synthetics are acetate, acrylic, nylon, rayon and polypropylene. Fabrics with tighter weaves and durable fibers such as polypropylene or nylon stand up better to the hard use of an active household. Leather is a topic of its own, but is generally 4 times more durable than fabrics. How to test the cover: ü Check out the stitching: is it fraying at the seams? ü The highest quality pieces will have fabric patterns that line up and flow over the       entire piece of the furniture ü Generally the quality of the fabric underneath the seat cushions will reflect the       quality of the overall piece ü Is there a brand-name label underneath the center cushion? Higher       quality manufacturers will always put their name on it.   Ease of use is key to your satisfaction. Be seated. That's the only way to tell if the sofa or chair you're considering is the one for you. Be sure the height and angle of the back and depth of the seat are suited to your size or the person who will use the item most. How to test ease of use: ü Is it easy to stand up from a sitting position? ü Are the seats comfortable? ü Reclining/rolling mechanisms work easily (if applicable)