SOFA S
DECONS T RUC TED
rowing up, you likely weren’t supposed to jump on it, build forts
with its cushions, or eat anywhere near it. Fun, as far as the sofa
was concerned, was not allowed. But nowadays, these oncesacrosanct pieces of furniture are just as often home to nachoshoveling sports fans and near-comatose Netflix marathoners
as they are to polite company sipping rosé. No matter how you use your
sofa, or which room you use it in, most of us agree: It should be pretty
and comfortable. Options abound, and sometimes overwhelm, so we’ve
put together this buyer’s guide—with a special emphasis on those
crafted in the South, the source for most upholstered furniture that’s
made in the USA—to help you find just the right one. Choose yours
carefully and it will reward you for years to come; invest seriously and
it might one day belong to your children.
G
EVERYTHING YOU NEED
TO KNOW ABOUT BUYING,
STYLING, AND MAINTAINING
THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE
BY DEB SCHWARTZ ~ PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAMES RANSOM
96
|
SOU T H ER N L I V I NG.COM
|
JA N UA RY 2017
JA N UA RY 2017
|
SOU T H ER N L I V I NG.COM
|
97
F INDING
T HE S OFA
F OR YOU
HOW MUCH SPACE
DO Y OU H AV E ?
CAMELBACK
CHESTERFIELD
WHAT’S YOUR
LIFEST YLE?
Featuring high, rolled arms that are level with a tufted back, the chesterfield has an old-fashioned
English Country look. Often upholstered in leather with the short legs left exposed, it has a
deep seat and high frame that give it a cozy feel just right for chats.
T HE RUL E A BOU T buying clothes for the life
you have—rather than the one you wish
you had—applies to sofas, too, so start by
assessing your needs. Are you looking
for a family room movie-night flop zone?
A laid-back sectional or anything with
low arms, a deep seat, and a relaxed pitch
(back angle), such as a Lawson style, might
be up your alley. Consider, too, a bench
seat, which does away with the crevice
perils caused by individual seat cushions.
If you’re in the market for a fancy,
“come over for tea” situation, think
about a traditional, tailored piece such
as a chesterfield, camelback, or cabriole
with a higher, shallower, firmer seat and
an upright pitch to enable guests to sit
comfortably and get up and down with
ease, even with a drink in hand.
Elegant and formal, this beauty gets its name from the sinuous shape of its tight back (meaning
the back is attached to the sofa itself), which curves down into high, rolled arms. A graceful
addition to a living room, it has a narrow seat, making it suitable for a bedroom or front hall.
ENGLISH ROLL ARM
HOW MUCH DO YOU
WAN T TO SPEND?
TUXEDO
Neither too formal nor too casual, neither too traditional nor too modern, this Goldilocks
choice works in a range of rooms and homes. Built with low, softly rolled arms and a relaxed
pitch, it typically has loose cushions and a skirt but also looks great skirtless and on casters.
Sometimes described as an updated chesterfield, the tuxedo has high, straight arms that are
set level with its back, giving it a trim, modern look. A little too closed in to work in a cocktail
party setting, this is a nap-friendly addition to a library or home office.
CABRIOLE
WHAT’S YOUR
STYLE?
KNOLE
BE FOR E YOU GO to the showroom (which we
recommend—there’s no substitute for a
test-drive), explore magazines, catalogs,
or online (searching “sofa” on Pinterest
should keep you occupied for several
lifetimes) to find shapes you like. Don’t
worry about finding the one—just get a
general idea. Do you like a tailored look
or something more casual? Are you
prepared to fluff your oh-so-soft down
pillows to keep them looking tidy, or do
you want something low maintenance?
Also, if you don’t want a sofa that looks
like everyone else’s, seek out a manufacturer that offers customizable upholstery
options like contrast welting, nailheads,
and finishes on exposed wood or allows
the use of the customer’s own material
(“COM” in industry speak).
98
|
SOU T H ER N L I V I NG.COM
|
JA N UA RY 2017
A S WI T H A N Y PIE CE of furniture, your
sofa should be scaled to fit the room it
occupies and work well with all the other
pieces around it—this is key to making a
room feel pulled together. You might
love a giant sectional in the furniture
showroom, but will it gobble up your
cozy den? Will that adorable little settee
look like dollhouse furniture in your
great room? Some manufacturers have
virtual floor plan tools (and others are
available online) to allow you to test out
a given sofa in your space.
Very French and traditional in feel, this pretty, petite seat features an exposed wood frame that
arcs downward into low arms—perfect for a fancy parlor or master bedroom.
Extremely regal and old-world, this design dates from the 17th century, when it was often
used as a throne. Tame its extremely high back by placing it against a wall in a big room.
PR E PA R E FOR S T ICK E R SHOCK . When it comes
to furniture, you get what you pay for.
“A sofa’s cost is the first eye-opener as to
how good the frame is,” says Claudine
Simone, brand director of Drexel
Heritage. Furniture cost reflects quality,
which translates into longevity in terms
of looks and function: Cushions keep
their shape; frames don’t bow, break, or
squeak; seats don’t sag; fabrics wear
better; seams don’t wander out of line.
A well-made sofa features quality
materials and supports highly skilled
American sewers, upholsterers, and
other craftspeople—many of them
clustered around North Carolina—
earning good wages. If you can make
the investment, a quality sofa can last
from 7 to 30 years. Depending on use,
cheaper sofas will last only a few years.
THE SOFA TEST-DRIVE
LAWSON
F EE L the bottom of the front, behind
and across the back, and over the arms.
Quality sofas have padding, not just fabric
over a frame. Underneath, you should
feel a heavy-duty suspension system
rather than empty space or webbing.
SI T like you would at home. If you’re
MID-CENTURY
With its clean, straight lines, this handsome piece is the epitome of statement-making cool.
While it’s just the thing to perch on with a cocktail, it’s a bit too stiff for cozy lounging.
illustrations by CAITLIN MCGAULEY
Possibly the most commonly found sofa style, this casual, comfortable American classic has
low arms—either rounded or square—and an appealing solidity. It is unassuming enough to
work in a variety of rooms.
looking for a nap spot, lie down; if you’re
going to use it to entertain, check to see if
you can get up and down with ease.
JA N UA RY 2017
|
SOU T H ER N L I V I NG.COM
|
99
WATCH OUR VIDEO
Meet the sofa’s makers
behind the scenes at Lee
Industries in High Point,
North Carolina. southern
living.com/leeindustries
BE S T
IN
S HO W
THE ENGLISH ROLL ARM SOFA
WI T H I T S L OW, nap-friendly, outward-turning arms (also called “scroll” arms), deep seat,
and plump cushions, this English roll arm sofa (1303-03 Sofa; leeindustries.com) is built
to please. Style-wise, it bridges the gap between modern and traditional, and while
it’s cushy enough for sprawlers, it’s also structured enough to support readers and
cocktail sippers. Here are eight timeless sofa tidbits you should know.
100
|
SOU T H ER N L I V I NG.COM
|
JA N UA RY 2017
T HE BE S T F R A ME S are warrantied for a lifetime,
but on average, the fabric of a heavily used
sofa will start to show wear after seven years
and the cushions after three.
CON T R A S T TA PING, which is on the sofa cushions
above, adds graphic interest and a custom feel
to a solid-fabric sofa.
T HE MOS T T R A DI T ION A L S T Y L E is a three-cushion
seat. A two-cushion seat is designed with
duos in mind, while a bench seat is built to
hold a crowd.
SOFA F R INGE , once considered old-fashioned,
is making a comeback. For a modern touch,
try white or another solid color.
T O W E LT OR NO T T O W E LT ? Some manufacturers,
such as Lee Industries, also offer the more
polished alternative of topstitching.
R E MOVA BL E CUSHIONS can be rotated, fluffed,
and re-covered to last longer, while having
nonremovable ones guarantees your kids won’t
use them as weapons or building materials.
R E ME MBE R , I T ’S NO T meant to be a dining room
table. If stains happen, attend to them quickly
or opt for easy-clean fabrics like Sunbrella.
SHOW YOUR SOFA SOME L OV E . Several times
a month, fluff and rotate the cushions and
vacuum the sofa, and always discourage
trampolining children and nest-making pets.
JA N UA RY 2017
|
SOU T H ER N L I V I NG.COM
|
101
LEARN
YOUR
L OOK
ANATOMY OF A SOFA
THE FRAME
The most important part of any sofa
is the frame. “You can’t always see or feel
that quality,” says Simone, “but without
that sturdiness, it’s going to start bowing
[dipping down in the front] and racking
[loosening up from side to side so the
arms move back and forth].” Most low-end
frames are made of chipboard, cardboard,
and thin plywood stapled, nailed, or glued
together. As the price goes up, you’ll find
better-quality plywoods and manufactured woods that are corner blocked,
dowelled, or possibly interlaced and
(at the high end) solid, kiln-dried
hardwoods crafted with mortise-andtenon joinery on sofas that come with
lifetime warranties.
S H A P E LY & BR I G H T
A N E A SY WAY to update a classic frame
style, like the English roll arm, without
sacrificing comfort is to choose a sofa
with a curved back or bottom. The deep
coral velvet one at right is in a cheery
color, but it’s also surprisingly neutral
and complements many patterns.
HEIRLOOM & ANTIQUE
THE SPRINGS
OL DE R SOFA S get a bad rap for being rickety
and uncomfortable, but that shouldn’t
be the case. Assuming the frame is
sturdy, you can freshen up the sofa with
clean white upholstery and a firm new
seat cushion. Then pile on an assortment
of down pillows to make it extra cozy
and just a little bit eclectic, like the one
shown at far right.
SHAPELY
HEIRLOOM
CLASSIC
CLEAN-LINED
CLEAN-LINED
& STRIPED
M A N Y PE OPL E overlook patterned uphol-
stery options because they think a print
will be too fussy to decorate around.
This tuxedo-style sofa (far right) sports
horizontal, tonal gray stripes, which
actually work to complement the sharp
lines of the frame. The narrow depth
and tight back and seat cushions make
this a great spot for setting down
shopping bags or putting on shoes.
It’s not made for lounging.
102
|
SOU T H ER N L I V I NG.COM
THE FILLING
TOP: LAUREY W. GLENN; STYLING: ELIZABETH DEMOS;
BOTTOM: LAUREY W. GLENN, STYLING: HEATHER CHADDUCK HILLEGAS
LIS T E N UP, COUCH PO TAT OE S: There’s no
reason to have a pleather sectional with
attached recliner in your family room.
Instead, opt for an extra-deep style,
like the English roll arm sofa at right,
covered in a snuggly but sophisticated
(and durable) chocolate brown velvet.
PREVIOUS SPREAD STYLING: ELLY POSTON; THIS PAGE TOP: BRIE WILLIAMS; STYLING: BUFFY HARGETT MILLER;
BOTTOM: LAUREY W. GLENN; STYLING: MATTHEW GLEASON
CLASSIC & HANDSOME
The second-most important construction
consideration is a sofa’s suspension
system. When you hear the words
“eight-way hand-tied springs,” which
refers to the method used to attach the
springs to the frame, you know you’re
getting a quality product. In terms of the
springs themselves, higher-end manufacturers offer individual coils, middle-grade
ones tend to use fabric-covered groupings
of springs known as Marshall units, and
budget makers use sinuous coils or Pirelli
webbing (picture folding lawn chairs).
The best springs ensure what the pros
call a “good sit” long term.
Generally, the softer the material, the
more relaxed the sofa will look and
the more fluffing will be required. But
remember, too, that cushions—along
with fabric—are the first thing to break
down as a sofa ages, and beware of
fiber-filled cushions, which clump and
sag quickly. Cushions generally come
in the following categories.
DOW N The softest option has a relaxed
look—and a feel to match. This is the
choice for those who really like to sink
into their sofas. It will never break down.
W R A PPE D DOW N An inner core of foam or
springs wrapped in down offers the fluffy
feel of down but is easier to maintain.
FOA M OR SY N T HE T IC FIL L Available in a
variety of materials and levels of firmness,
this option offers a clean, crisp look.
SOU T H ER N L I V I NG.COM
|
103