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Although they're meant for sitting, sofas wear many hats, at times serving as beds, dinner tables, even trampolines. To withstand all those greasy fingers, leapfrogging toddlers and jumpy sports fans, they need to be high-quality.
Identifying which couches are high-quality is the challenge - one made more difficult by changes in the industry and price tags that don't necessarily correlate with comfort.
"Most budget-friendly sofas are getting worse and worse in terms of quality," Frida Ramstedt, author of "The Furniture Handbook" and "The Interior Design Handbook," said in an email. "On the other hand, high-end sofas have become ridiculously advanced in terms of materials in recent years, yet many of them sacrifice comfort. Oddly enough, the best balance between quality and comfort is usually found in the mid-price range."
To simplify the shopping process, here's a primer on how you can differentiate the shoddy from the stellar, whether you're shopping new or used, plus a list of expert-recommended choices at various price points.
• Benchmarks of quality
"One of the biggest mistakes I see clients make when sofa shopping is to consider looks first, with construction second," Australia-based Sarah Brown of Dreamy Decor said in an email. "A well-constructed sofa may not always be the most glamorous option, but it's truly the craftsmanship and longevity that will make for a better investment." Good couch construction comes down to four elements: the frame, supporting foundation, cushions and fabric.
• The frame
"The backbone of any quality sofa is a solid hardwood frame, ideally made with kiln-dried wood," Brown said. Hardwoods are strong, while kiln-drying eliminates interior moisture, reducing the likelihood of warping or cracking. For responsibly sourced options, look for frames made with woods certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
That said, it's difficult to find couches with solid hardwood frames for less than $1,500, said sustainability expert L. Christina Cobb, founder of UrbisEco Home. Steel, engineered wood and hardwood plywood are also solid options (particleboard and softwood tend to be weaker).
Along with the material, construction is key. Generally, frames with mortise-and-tenon joints are strongest and most durable. But because most sofa frames aren't visible, you'll need to check furniture websites and ask salespeople to find this information.
What you can do is peek at a sofa's underside. Look for corners reinforced with glued-on or screwed-in blocks, another sign of strength. While you're down there, make sure legs are securely attached with "substantial hardware," Cobb said. Overall, if a couch is wobbly or lightweight, it probably lacks a substantial-enough frame and reinforced corners, she said.
• The foundation
If you've ever tried to sleep on a sagging pullout couch and felt coils digging into your back, you've experienced a shoddy sofa foundation. To avoid subpar support, investigate the substructure beneath the seating, typically coil springs attached to the frame. Because you won't be able to see this component, ask salespeople or search furniture websites for details. Ideally, the foundation will feature eight-way hand-tied springs or sinuous (S-shaped) springs.
• The cushions
When it comes to sofa quality and comfort, what's on the inside is just as important as what's on the outside. That's why you'll want to know which materials are in the cushion fill. To find out, read the tags on sofa cushions (or consult salespeople or furniture websites).
Although fill can include a mix of materials, polyurethane foam is most common. With foam, high-density is ideal because it helps maintain shape. (Low-density foam should be avoided because it will sag more quickly.) Natural latex is a durable, eco-friendly alternative. For a supportive yet luxurious and plush feel, consider a combination of down and springs, Phyllis Harbinger, a Connecticut- and Florida-based interior designer, said in an email.
• The fabric
"Often, when you see the price of a sofa jump, it's because the fabric is much better quality," Cobb said. Many high-end options are natural, like top-grain leather, 100 percent linen or wool. Full-grain, distressed leather "looks better with age and holds up to daily wear while developing a rich patina," Harbinger said. In quality and price, cotton and cotton blends tend to be middle-of-the-road; vinyl and polyester are lower-end.
If durability is a priority, look for removable, washable slipcovers and tightly woven performance fabrics. These materials (like microfiber, Crypton and polyester-linen blends) are engineered to resist water-based stains and fading. If you're concerned about toxins, seek out certifications, like Greenguard Gold, Oeko-Tex and Global Organic Textile Standard, or GOTS. Whichever fabric you choose, it should be sewn with double-stitched seams, which are less likely to rip. They're easy to spot: Just look for two parallel lines of stitches next to each other.
• Consider your comfort
Finally, reflect on which silhouette and proportions will best suit how you lounge, whether you sprawl out, sit upright or tuck into a corner, said Harbinger. "Look at the relationship between seat depth, backrest angle and seat height," said Ramstedt. "A wider backrest angle usually requires a lower seat height for balance, whereas a more upright sofa should have a seat height closer to that of a dining chair to support the whole body."
• 15 solid sofas
With the caveat that these figures are intended to serve as rough guidelines and reflect starting prices for standard sofas, here are expert-approved picks across the price spectrum. (Prices reflect the full price at time of publication and can vary depending on sofa size, style, fabric and features.)
1. Ikea Kivik ($750): Solid wood and composite frame, high-density foam cushions with springs and polyester. Removable, washable polyester cover.
2. Article Abisko Sofa ($1,200): Kiln-dried larch, plywood and brushed-aluminum frame. High-density foam and polyester cushions.
3. Burrow Arch Nomad Sofa ($1,360): Hardwood frame, galvanized hardware, firm-core cushions.
4. Article Sven Tufted Velvet Sofa ($1,500): Kiln-dried solid pine frame with solid rubber-wood legs, high-density foam cushions, polyester fabric.
5. Sabai Essential Sofa ($1,545): FSC-certified wood frame, nontoxic recycled fabrics, high-density foam cushions.
6. PB Comfort Modern Square Arm Slipcovered Sofa ($1,600): Engineered-wood frame with mortise-and-tenon joinery, removable solid rubber-wood legs, sinuous springs, poly-wrapped foam or down-blend cushions, removable and washable cover.
7. Crate & Barrel Lounge Sofa ($2,000): Benchmade hardwood kiln-dried frame, soy-based poly-foam cushions wrapped in fiber-down blend.
8. Medley Rio Sofa ($2,300): FSC-certified solid wood and engineered-hardwood plywood frame with corner blocks, cushions with natural latex or high-density low-VOC poly foam, eco-certified fabrics.
9. Maiden Home Ludlow Sofa ($2,625): Kiln-dried maple legs, sinuous springs, high-density foam core cushions with fiber wrap, topstitched seam.
10. Room & Board Metro Sofa ($2,200): Benchmade hardwood frame, down-fiber blend high-density foam cushions.
11. Sundays Movie Night Sofa ($2,700): Solid wood and foam frame, feather-fiber blend foam-core cushions, nontoxic removable and washable fabric cover.
12. Sixpenny Devyn Sofa ($2,700): Kiln-dried hardwood and plywood frame, solid rubber-wood legs, sinuous spring suspension, high-density foam-core cushions (with feather, down or vegan poly fill).
13. BenchMade Skinny Fat Sofa ($4,500): FSC-certified engineered-wood frame with reinforced, interlocking joinery. Standard or down high-density foam cushions.
14. RH Cloud Sofa ($5,000): Kiln-dried hardwood frame with reinforced, corner-blocked joinery, high-density foam-core cushions (feather, poly fiber and down), washable and removable covers.
15. Serena and Lily Slipcovered Norfolk Sofa ($6,100): Mortise-and-tenon frame with removable maple legs, eight-way hand-tied steel coil springs, spring-core cushions with poly foam and down.