If your sofa would be used to host guests often, a firmer sofa would definitely be the better choice, as a soft sofa is much less durable. A firm sofa makes sitting upright and talking easier, as compared to sinking back on a soft seat, providing a comfortable talking environment.
Good springs should be firm and spaced close together for good support. You should not notice too much give when you sit on the couch. The frame and all the corners of the couch should be well padded. Run your hand over all corners to make sure you can't feel the edges of the frame through the upholstery.
Focus on firmness
As with mattress buying, you should find a sofa which gives you sufficient back support in every sitting position. While super soft sofas may look and feel comfy, they often mould too closely to the back, which can cause posture problems.
You get better value for money when buying a firm sofa than you would when buying a soft sofa that will quickly sag. These are likely to need replacing every few years. You get great support for your back and legs, as opposed to the comparative lack of support you might get from a soft sofa.
Most seat cushions used for residential furniture hang out in the 1.5 to 2.5 pounds per cubic foot, with the industry average at 1.8 pounds PCF. Foams that have less density are reserved for lower-end furniture or parts of the sofa or sectional that doesn't support as much weight, like back cushions or arm padding.
Polyurethane foam is the most common type of foam fill for sofas, and is also often used as “toppers” for mattresses. It is usually yellow in color and high-resiliency (meaning it bounces back quickly).
Mid-Range ($1,500 to $3,000).
You can find high-quality, mid-range sofas with polyester, velvet, and even leather upholstery for anywhere between $1,500 to $3,000.
Sofas soften with prolonged use, so getting a firm sofa will become soft over time. However, too firm a sofa can take away the joy of sinking into a comfortable sofa after a long day of work, so ensure that you strike a balance.
If your sofa's cushions are too hard, you can make them more plush with the help of new cushion inserts.
There are a few factors that can help distinguish the quality; for example, the overall weight, frame/foundation, spring system, seat cushion foam and upholstery fabric all play a huge role in the quality of a sofa or chair.
Add some stylish throw pillows and a blanket
A new sofa will always benefit from the addition of a range of comfort-boosting throw pillows and a cocooning blanket. Not only will cushions work to make a fine art out of lounging, they can also be an easy way to introduce color and pattern into a decor scheme.
Firm sofas provide structured, even comfort. Consider a firm sofa if you like more resistance and support in your seating. Jasper is a crowd pleaser. Its soft cushions and moderate seat depth and seat height mean that it's comfortable for most.
If you've got backache after lying on your sofa it's because the soft upholstery encourages you to lounge, leaving your spine in a 'C' shape. This can add an excessive amount of pressure on the vertebrae and overstretch the discs, ligaments and muscles that support it, which can eventually lead to chronic backache.
“A good rule of thumb is to make sure that your piece of art is two-thirds the size of your sofa [or headboard],” she says in her clip, noting that this makes it interesting enough to engage a whole wall.
This means your largest piece of furniture – for example, a sofa – should measure 2:3 of the area. Then work your way backwards from there. The coffee table should be 2:3 the size of the sofa, and so on. Once the bigger pieces of furniture are placed, it's easier to work smaller, decorative pieces around them.
a brand new sofa cushion with a hardness of 200 Newtons will be extremely hard on day one, however after several weeks of use you will find it start to soften off a little; after several years of use it will have softened considerable compared to when it was brand new.
Add two or three cushions behind you to support your upper back to prevent from slumping. Supporting your upper back rather than your lower will help to keep your pelvis and your spine upright and your head will also be better balanced which will then reduce pressure on the lower back.
Add Foam to Sofa Cushions
Adding extra foam is the easiest way to firm up sofa cushions. There are a few ways to do it. If your couch cushions have zippers it's very easy to add extra foam. Simply unzip the cover and add the desired amount of foam.
With regular use, you may find that the interiors used within your seat cushion can start to compress, making your seats begin to flatten. This is completely normal, and more common in ranges with softer seat interiors such as fibre filled cushions.
If you really hate the pattern/color on your couch, choose oversized throw pillows to help cover what you don't like. You'll be amazed at how much of a difference they will make! PS-check out my post on 40 Throw Pillow Combos! It's a great place to start.
Leather is a durable choice, as well as high-quality fabrics. Woven patterns will last longer than printed, and higher thread counts with tight weaves are worthy of consideration. If you have pets, microfiber fabrics are a great choice—they are stain resistant and will last a long time.
Unfortunately, for the life expectancy of a sofa, your beloved sofa won't come with a specific expiration date that informs you of when you are due an upgrade. However, the average life expectancy of a sofa of around 7-15 years, if it's good quality and has a structurally sound sofa frame when you purchase it.
If it is made from quality materials, it will last longer than others. The best high-end furniture is made from natural wood and steel. These materials will last longer than those made from MDF & aluminium. If the materials are cheap, you will likely find them peeling off or flaking after only a short time.