what’s in your sofa?

A sofa is one of the largest furniture investments you can make whether it’s for a home living area or commercial space. These hardworking pieces get a lot of use which makes their quality vitally important. Selecting the right sofa can be difficult; to help make this process even a little bit easier, we thought we’d share generally how sofas are made, the components within them and what you might consider when making your selection.

Generally speaking, sofas are made of the same main parts or pieces: the frame, a webbing, cushion or spring layer, the primary cushion layer and a cover.

1. Sofa Frame

Made of either metal or wood, a frame is the starting point for all upholstered furniture. The most common frame material is wood, but the type of wood can vary widely and dramatically impacts the longevity and durability of the entire piece. The best choice for a frame is a dried hardwood, which will mean the sofa is considerably heavier creating an extremely solid base with minimal adhesives or binders. Inexpensive, dried softwood is the next best choice. Solid woods enable superior joinery to other wood products, again contributing to a sturdy, lasting piece. Other common frame materials include plywood, medium density fiberboard (MDF) or particleboard. These are the least expensive, least durable and most suspect wood materials because they can contain harmful adhesives, chemical binders and formaldehyde which release volatile organic compounds into the air we breathe. Most mass produced, “fast-furniture” is built with these composite wood materials in order to keep costs low.

2. Webbing, padding or Spring Layer

Next, material is needed to cross and cover the frame to hold the cushions in place and give the sofa its remaining structure. Historically, this material was jute that would be woven back and forth across the frame to create a webbing. Some manufacturers that use natural materials, still use jute today, but it is far less common. More typically, it’s an elastic or polyester material that covers the frame. Above this thin layer is either a layer of springs or padding. Many high quality sofas employ individually pocketed springs and some manufacturers are even able to source them of fully recycled steel. Sometimes, instead of coil springs, wire is formed in an “S” curve across the frame and then a thin layer of foam padding placed on top. Knowing what this layer of your sofa is made of will be a strong indicator for how long it will last.

Images from left to right: Norell Look Sofa Cross Section, IKEA Finnala Sofa Layers, Cisco Home Sofa Construction

3. Primary Cushion Layer

This section is where you notice the immediate comfort of a sofa when you sit in it. Sofa cushions are most frequently made with some type of foam, but you can also find them filled with layers of down feathers, cotton, wool or synthetics. The density of the foam or cushion will help to determine how resilient and long-lasting the comfort will be. Materials like wool and down feathers, when responsibly sourced, are great choices for their natural resilience. They can be easily fluffed and re-shaped and can be comfortable for a long time.

The type of foam used in your sofa has significant health implications. Most foams are made of polyurethane which is inexpensive and very customizable. The foam itself will off-gas somewhat minimally, however, the chemicals combined to make polyurethane foam are extremely toxic to workers creating it. Adhesives are commonly used to join layers of cushions together and flame retardants are also frequently added to furniture foam. These adhesives and flame retardants off-gas considerably and pose significant risks for development and reproductive systems, exponentially so for vulnerable populations. Many manufacturers do not readily share information about the foam, but there are some that do. Look for sofas made with GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) Latex foam or brands that specifically use Certi-PUR foam. Certi-PUR-US is a third party, non-profit standard that certifies foam does not contain heavy metals, formaldehyde, toxic flame retardants, ozone depleting chemicals, phthalates or VOCs.

4. Cover

The sofa cover is the final layer on top. It can be made from a wide variety of upholstery materials, some of the best being wool & leather. Many covers are enclosed with a zipper to make them removable for cleaning which can be a great feature to increase the life and health of your sofa. When it comes to types of upholstery, sustainably tanned leather is a great choice for durability and a classic, timeless aesthetic. When a textile upholstery is preferred, look for natural materials like wool that are extremely durable. Most mass-manufactured sofas are covered with synthetic textiles, which in some cases, like nylon and sometimes polyester, can be very durable. Fibers like acrylic and rayon are much less durable and tend to pill over time. It’s important to also be aware of coatings and additives on your sofa cover. Flame retardants can also show up in your textile sofa cover which should be avoided at all costs. Some fabrics include antimicrobial finishes that claim to prevent bacteria growth, but their benefit is not proven by data and they are disruptive and harmful to the human body. Stain repellents are another coating that may sound beneficial but they can be toxic and are easily absorbed by the skin.

Breaking down the sofa into the four main layers above is, of course, a simplified version of everything that goes into making a piece. The process and components vary widely based on the design of the sofa and manufacturer creating it. Below are a few other considerations for your sofa search. 

General Considerations

• Seat depth & height (How tall are you? How do you want to use your sofa?)

• Warranty

• Lead time (How long are you willing to wait?)

• Width (How many people do you want to seat?)

• Comfort/ Softness (What style/ level of formality are you looking for?)

• Brand transparency: buy from brands that are willing to share information on how their product is made, where it is made and what’s in it

It is always our intent to bring awareness and provide basic information so you can make confident, healthy decisions for your space. We know that selecting and buying furniture can be overwhelming - don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help!