Looking for a recliner, sofa, rocking chair or other sitting staple for your lovely home? Shopping for high-quality furniture that fully provides for the unique needs of plus-size people may require a bit more time, patience and knowledge. Here are the vital things you should factor in when selecting your new piece of furniture.
Stability and Support are the fundamental furniture needs of people with or without curves. But being a bit heavier and larger, curvy people should opt for pieces that are robust and firm to safely carry their weight without any undue pressure, strain, or puncture on the furniture design. You don’t want to buy a wobbly piece of a sofa or one that easily loosens up around the joints making it precarious to sit on. Such pieces pose a great danger to your safety as they can easily bolt and send you crashing on the floor. You would want something that firmly holds you up for years to come, whether you are fully stretched upon it or just simply seated.
Interestingly, sofas are the highest in demand and the greatest of all investment when it comes to household furniture. Statistics show that they take up approximately 15-30% of all household furniture expenses. Given the enormous investment they require and the expectation that they should serve one for a longer duration of time, it is prudent to make a knowledgeable and careful purchase. The following are features which contribute to how much stability and support a piece of furniture, more specifically a sofa, can have:
- The frame
- The deck
- The joints
Let’s go over each.
The Frame
This is the internal woodwork of the sofa. This structure essentially is where every other part of the sofa ‘rests’ on. It dictates not only the strength of the sofa but also its structure and design. You should always inquire into the type of wood and the thickness of the wood used to construct it.
Frames made up of softwood such as plywood or particleboard are too fragile and will easily break or wear out faster. Frames made of hardwood such as kiln-dried Oakwood, are stronger and more long-lasting. They can stay for a decade or more with constant use.
The thickness of the frame is also an intricate component to ensure stability. Preferably the frame should be between 4 to 5 quarters of an inch thick. This ensures the frame is of requisite density and weight to support a larger individual. Avoid thin frames, even though made of hardwood, they will succumb to the constant pressure exerted by your weight. Gradually, the frame will bend or alter in shape after prolonged use.
The Deck
This is where the sofa cushions are placed. The deck should be strong enough to hold you up without sinking in. Decks are typically made up of springs tied together in a repetitive pattern. The best decks are those that utilize the pattern of the eight-way-hand-tied spring. In conjunction with the pattern, these springs ensure maximum consistency and robust support throughout the deck space. This guarantees, uniform support throughout the deck expanse. So whether you sit at the edge or more reclined to the right than the left on your cushion, your weight is firmly and evenly supported.
An alternative to the above is purchasing decks made up of sinuous springs which are designed to meander across the deck space. They are relatively cheaper than sofas that utilize the eight-way-hand-tied spring methodology. These springs also offer the requisite consistency and robust support. However, they may not be as long-lasting as the former.
The Joints
These are the points where the various pieces of wood intersect. Pick furniture that is joined with dowels or double wooden dowels, metal screws, brackets, or any combination of the above. Never pick a piece of furniture that is simply stapled or glued together. In the long haul, stapled or glued joints will loosen and thus produce irritating noises when sat upon. Consequently, these joints may detach leading to an odd-looking sofa.
Other Important Features to Consider
Aside from stability and support, other features that should inform your choice of furniture include aesthetics, durability, styling options and comfort. These features are hinged on the factors elaborated above and the sum total of quality padding, type of fabric, good tailoring and quality cushions.
Quality Padding – Padding contributes to the overall support and comfort of the seat. The padding used should be dense and of high quality. It should be thick enough to ensure that the internal woodwork is well cushioned so that it does not stick out through the finished sofa or press the user when they sit on it. Dense padding should be used throughout the structure, especially the arms and where you recline your back.
Fabric and good tailoring – The type of fabric influences the durability, comfort and styling options available for your furniture. When it comes to durability, leather is 4 times more durable than your average fabric. If you prefer leather sofas opt for one predominantly made up of top grain leather as opposed to split leather. Top grain leather is softer, breathable and more durable than split leather. It does not stick on your skin. However, if you are a fun of fabric opt for those mixed with synthetic or any version of ‘blended fabrics’. Blended fabrics last longer than natural fabrics. They do not fade over time with continued use or exposure to sunlight as natural fabrics do. Fabric sofas afford more versatility in styling as compared to those made of leather.
Quality Cushions – Cushions are all the rave when it comes to the comfort and styling of a sofa. The softer, lusher and bigger they are, the better. If you are going for a loose pillow cushion (detachable from seat), pick those that are dense but form-fitting. If you are going for tight pillow cushions (non-detachable), the best options are spring down cushions, cushions made of foam core and down wrap, or a foam core and Dacron wrap respectively.
In summary, you would want to stay away from furniture with:
- Softwood frames
- Poor quality/ non- durable springs
- Only Glued or stapled joints
- Non-dense padding
- Flimsy and non-durable fabric
Guide on How to Shop for High-quality Furniture Online: What Should You Look for?
The inability to physically examine the product before purchase is the stark challenge of shopping online. With the elaboration above, we are clearer on what we are looking for: Thick hardwood frames, screwed and dowelled joints, quality cushions etcetera. So how can we ascertain that these features are present at face view from a studio-perfected picture posted by the dealer? Here is a step by step guide and tips on how to purchase high-quality furniture online.
1. Measure your Space
Before you proceed to the internet, measure your space and establish the exact dimensions of the sofa you would want. Of course you don’t want to buy furniture that is too small or large for your floor space. You want it to fit perfectly, right? Do you prefer a short wide piece or a long narrow piece or selected variations in between? A trick you can use is to measure your space with the help of an already existing piece of sofa or chair. Do you want the new sofa to have the same fit? Or do you want it longer or wider? If so, how much longer or wider?
Another tip is to measure multiple spots where you can place the furniture. This allows you to have more options when it comes to styling as the sofa or recliner can fit cozily at various spots in your living room space.
2. Keenly Examine the Pictures and the Possible Styling Options of the Sofa
When you log into the requisite online store or website, keenly examine the pictures put up of your desired sofa. Don’t be in a rush. You will be amazed at how much detail you can garner from a picture. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Examine the legs, to see whether they are part of the frame or they are affixed. Examine the cushions; do they seem thick and dense enough? Is it very rigid or foam fitting? Examine the fabric – what kind is it?
A useful tip is to look through several photos of that specific piece of furniture that the company/supplier is tagged in. These are usually posted by customers as they review the products purchased. Seeing the sofa away from the perfect studio lights and in a real-life setting will help you better appreciate its features, its strengths, and possibly its faults. Additionally, this method helps you acquaint yourself with various styling options you may employ..
3. Read Lots of Reviews
This is extremely important. Despite not being able to physically examine the product, you can do so vicariously through other purchasers who reviewed the product. What are their sentiments on the overall quality of the piece? Is it robust enough, or wobbly? How is the fabric? Is it soft and breathable or abrasively tough? How do the pillows feel? Does the seat sink in too much when one sits? Reading lots of reviews, both compliments and criticisms, will help you more accurately gauge its performance.
Be knowledgeable about what you are looking for, pen down what will be pros and cons for your particular situation. With this in mind, go through the reviews one by one until you are satisfied with the information gathered. Deciphering what are your pros and cons are will help you a great deal. You may find that what one purchaser considers a weakness is a strength in your case.
4. Don’t Hesitate to Inquire Directly from the Supplier/Dealer.
If you have particular questions which the product specifications or the reviews do not address, feel free to inquire from the dealer. Particulars such as the type of joints or the springs used may solely be within their purview. Ask politely. A good company will be sure to furnish you with requisite details on the same.
5. Order a Fabric Sample
Once, you are certain about the sofa you would want to buy or are still dabbling between two or more options, request a sizeable fabric sample. In most instances, a sample can be sent to you for inspection for free or upon payment of a small fee. Make sure to ask if this is available. Upon ordering a fabric sample, you should examine its colour, texture, whether it is stern or foam fitting and any other detail you would like to go into.
6. Acquaint Yourself with the Company’s Return Policy
A company’s return policy can either make or break a deal. Being that the purchase is online, you would want a ‘window period’ where you can test out your sofa and see whether it fits your exact stipulations. If it doesn’t, you would want to send it back and get a refund without much fuss. Do not presume upon the company’s ads on how great a return policy they have. Read the policy yourself. Find out if other specifications need to be complied with or an additional fee to be paid when returning the sofa. You don’t want any rude shocks.
7. Bear in Mind the Shipping Costs
When picking a piece of furniture, factor in the shipping cost to the overall expense. You may find that some pieces of furniture are relatively cheap only for the shipping fee to nearly quadruple the purchase price! Make sure the price of the set, its shipping cost and actual delivery to your doorstep (if this is not included by your shipping agent) is within your budget.
Best Online Sites for High-Quality Furniture for People with Curves
Here’s a list of some of the top-ranked retailers where you can shop their websites and purchase high-quality furniture from:
Conclusion
Being curvy should not impede you from enjoying high-quality furniture. Several brands avail very robust and stylish pieces that are guaranteed to tickle your fancy and make you fall in love with several unique pieces. Be sure to always cross-check whether your selected piece of furniture fits the above stipulations and you will be sure to enjoy your purchase.
