What Makes a Sofa Durable?

Pictured above: Rio Sofa in Texture French Blue fabric

Nap spot, tv-binge locale, guest bed, desk, trampoline? However your sofa functions in your home, this high-traffic area needs good bones to withstand the rigors of daily life. 

Some drop serious bucks on this living room centerpiece without understanding what goes into well-made furniture, while others settle for low-quality pieces that need to be replaced every few years. We think that’s a bummer, so we put together some advice to make sure you’re investing in a high-quality, durable sofa (and not just an expensive one). The secrets lie in these five components: frame, suspension, filling, fabric, and finish work. If you ensure each of these are up to par, you’ve found yourself a keeper. Let’s explore.

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#1: Kiln-dried, hardwood frames

Let’s start with your sofa’s foundation: the frame. Rule #1: long-lasting sofa frames should be made of kiln-dried hardwood—oak, ash, alder, and beech all work. Drying the wood in a kiln removes up to 95% of the moisture, which prevents the frame from warping or bowing. Cheaper frames made from softwoods like pine can’t help but warp over time, and frames made of particle board, plastic, or metal are prone to cracking and deforming: avoid!

Joint construction also contributes to frame durability. Look for frames made of wooden dowels, metal screws, or brackets, plus “corner blocks” (these are extra pieces of wood placed at an angle and screwed into place on the sofa frame’s corners for extra stability). Staples or nails may be present for extra reinforcement, but never buy a sofa that's held together solely by staples, nails, or glue.

 

#2: High-quality suspension systems

Pictured above: a Medley builder installing a hand-tied spring system

The springs of a couch not only absorb shock, but also determine the comfort and firmness of the sofa seat. 

Medley's hand-tied, arch suspension system expands on traditional sinuous spring systems by using higher quality heavy gauge springs as a foundation. We then nod to traditional 8-way, hand-tied coil spring systems by using twine to hand-tie our springs together in a unique pattern, creating a suspension system that offers optimal support. Medley uses this proprietary technique on all our frames to provide a truly supportive, comfortable structure that prevents sagging and squeaking.

 

#3: Resilient cushion fillings

Foam: let’s get comfy and squishy (but not saggy) with it!

Many sofa seat cushions on the market are made of foam, but that foam varies greatly in quality. High-resilience foams are known for their comfort, responsiveness, and ability to retain shape over time. At Medley, we offer two versions of high-density foam: a poly foam certified by CertiPUR-US® (the cleanest synthetic choice we can find on the market) and GOLS-certified organic plant-based latex foam wrapped in wool for softness—keep reading for a breakdown on both types. 

CertiPUR-US®-certified poly foam is made from polyurethane, a porous synthetic resin with an open cellular structure that allows it to be flexible and lightweight. This foam is among the cleanest synthetic foams on the market, with low VOC emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million). It also consistently screened for relevant chemicals, including fire retardants, that are classified as carcinogens, mutagens or reproductive toxins and are harmful to human health. This material provides a medium-sit and holds its shape for the long term. 

GOLS-certified organic plant-based latex: The word "latex" sounds plasticky and artificial, but it’s one of the most natural, breathable, durable, and sustainable materials available for foam. It comes from the sap of rubber trees and features durable spring-back to maintain its shape for 20+ years. Sounds pretty good, right? The goodness keeps going: get to know all our other materials here.

Down + Feathers: Down filling is popular for creating a luxe look and feel. Keep in mind that it’s normal for down filling to shift, and that the cushions will need to be fluffed on occasion to keep their shape. Check that your sofa cushions are constructed with baffling, a design that uses vertical walls of fabric to regulate the movement of the down filling and help keep it in place. 

 

#4: Fabrics that can stand up to spills, stains, pets, and kids!