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The quality of upholstered furniture such as this depends on the wood, the construction techniques and handling of the fabric.

^[2]We have at our finger tips a spectrum of upholstered furniture options available in a wide range of prices.  This makes it confusing to choose. Is an expensive upholstered chair or sofa a good choice or should you opt for the inexpensive version? Here are  some guidelines to consider when you buy your next upholstered piece.

The frame of the upholstered piece, which is hidden, is an important element. Only the finest upholstery makers still make furniture from kiln dried lumber. By using kiln dried wood, the pieces can be used in any part of the country because they have been removed of moisture. The benefit is that cracks or expansion in the wood do not occur before the reupholstery process. Lower-priced upholstered imports do not use kiln dried wood, meaning cracks can occur after it is upholstered. These manufacturers also  frequently make their frames from plywood. Plywood frames will shatter when the staples are removed, which means that they are not capable of being re-covered over time.

Time proven 18th century joinery techniques such as mortise and tenon, corner blocks and triple dowels continue to be used when making high end furniture. These construction techniques ensure the pieces will wear well over time versus lower quality pieces which only use a lap joint for construction.

Better upholstery utilizes the eight-way hand tied spring construction to build the inner framework of the upholstery. This ensures comfort and support over time. Another key place to spot better furniture involves the seat and back cushion options. For comfort look to a spring-down seat cushion with a back cushion of blend-down.  Lower end upholstered furniture strictly uses poly-dacron foam cushion which  add a much stiffer structure when anyone sits in them.

Fabric matching is another key characteristic of higher end upholstered pieces. By fabric matching I mean that the maker applies the pattern in a fabric to each surface so that it flows together and resembles the fabric’s appearance on the bolt before it is cut. Lower end upholstery applies the fabric without any regard to this. In addition, higher end upholstery can position the fabric motif not only on the inside back, seat and front of the piece but also on its arms and every surface so it is visible from any angle. Lower end upholsterers usually only position the fabric motif on the front.

In summary, upholstery with a low price will not be as comfortable and it will lose its shape over time. Any fabric with a pattern will not be evenly matched and placed on the upholstery. Additionally these pieces do not offer any custom options such as change in length or upgraded cushions. Finally because they are made from plywood they will not hold up well to reupholstery.

Teal Michel ASID, is a licensed full-service interior design firm specializing in residential interior design and renovation-remodeling design throughout the Carolinas. Teal has won awards from ASID for interior spaces and furniture design and from the Home Builder’s Association of Charlotte Excellence in Remodeling for remodel design and interior renovation. She has participated in HGTV’s “Designer’s Challenge” and her work has been featured in several books. www.tealmichelasid.com ^[3].