Sofa So Good

An expert furniture buyer tells how to select the best seat in the house.

With so many styles, colors and materials to choose from, buying a new sofa can be overwhelming. Jennifer Litwin, author of Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever!, will have you sitting pretty.

1. Before going to a store, peruse online retailers to get a sense of the kinds of styles and materials that are available. Armed with research, you’ll feel more confident when shopping.
2. The frame of the sofa should be strong, preferably made of kiln-dried hardwood, such as oak, maple, birch or alder. These woods last because they are pliable, taking wear and tear extremely well. Other sturdy options include two types of plywood, hardwood and softwood, and steel. The sofa’s corners should be reinforced with wooden blocks, which provide additional support.
3. Inquire about spring count; the more springs, the cushier the couch. It will cost more, but you will be paying for quality and durability. Also, look for hand-tied springs as opposed to machine-attached springs, as the former are stronger and tend to stay in place better.
4. All cushion fillings, like foam, down, polyester, fiber, cotton or a combination of these, are comfortable. To see how a couch feels, sit on it without adding any extra throw pillows.
5. Linen, cotton, wool and silk are all popular natural upholstery options. New synthetic materials are also good choices: They are durable and stain resistant. Avoid a sofa that uses staples to attach fabric; these will loosen eventually. Hot glue is a much better option.
6. Above all, conduct a thorough test. Sit on the sofa, shake it, lie down on it, look underneath it. Remember: A good one should last at least 8 to 10 years.

The Lingo

• Synthetic fabrics: manmade upholstery materials like rayon, nylon or polyester
• Softwood: wood from trees like pine or cedar
• Hardwood: wood from trees like oak, cherry and maple
• Blocks: pieces of wood glued to the frame at various stress points to add strength

Hot Tip: To make sure a couch will fit through the door, measure doorways and elevators. Find out if it can be disassembled; inquire about return policy just in case.

Photography: (Portrait and book cover) Courtesy of Jennifer litwin; (still life) courtesy of C.R. Laine.