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Buyer's Guide to Sofas & Sleepers
In no category of home furnishings will you have a
greater selection of styles and qualities than that of sofas. And
while the aesthetics of the piece are certainly important,
ultimately, comfort should be first and foremost. In order to
simplify the selection process, you might find it convenient to
group sofas (and here I use the term to refer to sleepers and
sectional sofas as well) by the style of their backs. Arguably, no
other aspect of the piece has a greater affect on the way a sofa
looks and feels. You will find that all sofas can be grouped into
four back-style categories.
| Back Styles
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Tight Back
Tight back sofas have the firmest "seat" (sit the
hardest) as their sprung backs have no pillows for you to sink into.
As a result, you tend to sit upright in them more so than in other
styles. Camel Back, Channel Back and Tufted Back sofas are good
examples of this category. They tend to stay neat looking and are
"low maintenance" as they have no back pillows to straighten.
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| Attached Pillow Back
Attached Pillow Back sofas sit more softly while
still maintaining a tidy look. Pillows are filled and then sewn onto
the inside back to prevent them from shifting. On the down side, you
are not able to turn them around to hide that nasty stain |
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Loose Pillow Back
Loose Pillow Back sofas usually have the same
number of back and seat cushions, allowing for fabric matching of
stripes and plaids. In this case the back pillows are reversible and
can usually be unzipped for re-stuffing. The seating comfort is
moderately firm but, as with all styles, will vary based on the
depth of the piece and the quality of the filling in the
cushions.
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| Multi Pillow Back
Multi Pillow Back sofas also called Scatter Back,
have more back pillows than seat pillows. The pillows are tossed
randomly across the back for a more casual look. These sofas tend to
sit softly and are often deeper than other designs. The back pillows
can be arranged to accommodate people of varying heights, and are
unquestionably the choice of youngsters during pillow fights.
Other choices of a primarily decorative nature include the base and
arm designs. Base treatments include skirted, upholstered leg,
plinth base and bun feet. |
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Skirts
Dressmaker |
Boxpleat |
Kickpleat |
Base Treatments
 Upholstered Foot |
 Plinth
Base |
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Arm Styles
Arm styles are numerous with the classics shown
below. Keep in mind your usage of the piece. If you are inclined to
lie down on it, you may find a lower padded arm to be better suited
to your lifestyle than a high tuxedo-style arm. |
Roll Arm |
Charles of London |
Tuxedo Arm |
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After selecting your sofa style, a
fabric must be chosen. Here you would be wise to carefully consider
the manner in which the piece is to be used, as the cost of
reupholstering a sofa is close to that of a new one. In selecting a
fabric, the style and
fiber content
both come into play.
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