If you must buy upholstered furniture "off the shelf"---how to shop for a quality piece that will not become "disposable" in times where more and more store bought furniture is becoming "disposable" when it comes time to decide on redoing or disposing.
- Test the seat for comfort, then bounce around a bit to listen for telltale squeaks or the sound of springs rubbing against the frame.
- Pick up one end of the piece and shake it. Good furniture is solid and heavy.
- If you're looking for a top-quality chair or sofa that will last, ask the salesperson if the frame is made from kiln-dried hardwood such as oak, alder, birch or maple. "All-wood" is not the same thing; particle board is "all-wood," too.
- Make sure all joints are doweled and glued...not screws or staples which will loosen in a short period of time.
- Make sure the frame follows the contours of the piece; curves should not just be filled out with padding.
- The best furniture has legs that are a continuation of the frame, not a screw-on addition. However, the latter may be handy if you're trying to get the piece through narrow doors or elevators.
- If the seat cushion is removable, pick it up and check the weight. Most cushions today have a polyurethane foam core; the denser the foam, the heavier it is and the longer it will last.
- If the fabric has a pattern, make sure it continues across seams and welts.
For more information contact:
Morris Mayer
Plaza Park Interiors
917-414-9244
Preview - Down & Feather Pillows by Plaza Park Interiors
