How to Be a Smart Sofa Shopper

Are you in the market for the perfect sofa? Whether you call it a sofa, davenport or couch, buying just the right one can be a major challenge for you. To select a quality, well-constructed and comfortable sofa, you will need to follow five simple steps.

Step 1: Sturdy Frame
A sturdy frame made of hardwood like oak may cost more, but it will last much longer. A frame made of softwood like pine may warp over time. Always avoid frames made of particle-board, plastic or metal as they may warp or crack. Legs should be part of the frame attached with screws and/or pegs. The legs should never be held on with glue alone.

Step 2: Secure Joints
The frame is only as good as the joints that connect the frame together properly. Secure joints and frame will give you a well-constructed sofa. Using wooden dowels, double wooden dowels, corner blocks or metal screws and brackets means a well-made sofa. Never purchase a sofa that is secured by staples and glue alone.

Step 3: Supportive Springs
Try out the sofa and test the springs through the upholstery. It is best when the springs are firm and close together for the most comfy feel. The serpentine springs are the most supportive and should last for years. Avoid sofas with webbing or mesh only and no springs as they are flimsy and uncomfortable.

Step 4: Cushion Care
The most easy care cushion filling is the Polyurethane foam. The Polyester fiber is inexpensive but in a short time will flatten. Goose Down cushions are more expensive and will require constant fluffing. Combining a high-density type of Polyurethane foam with a layer of Down gives the most comfortable feel.

Step 5: Durable Fabric Upholstry
For sofas that are used everyday, a durable fabric upholstry will be necessary. Cotton and linen fabrics work the best and are even better when the fabric has been treated with a stain resistant. Leather and wool upholstery has an elegant appearance, but is more expensive.

Use these five steps to help you make the best purchase on a well-constructed and comfy sofa and keep the ouch out of couch for years to come.

Sofa Beds - The Most Exciting Piece of Furniture in the House

Sofa beds are perhaps the most exciting piece of furniture in your house, bar none. There is nothing more amazing or more impressive in the furniture world. These wonders of design don't just sit there being pretty like a sofa or a bed. Oh no, they move, they are alive. And, they come in many shapes, sizes, and configurations. They also come in a wide variety of upholstery: all sorts of fabrics, leather, fur, vinyl, denim, micro fiber, or just about any other covering material you can think of.

So let's break this down a little bit. A sofa bed is really two pieces of furniture in one. A sofa and a bed. A sofa alone is functional. It serves as a resting place. People plop up and down on them all day long without much of a thought. They make a great place for watching tv or for reading a book. They even act as a refuge for hubby when he gets in trouble. He may even spend a night or two on it, but generally speaking, the sofa is nothing special. It just sits there, no movement or anything. I mean, couldn't it be more? Of course it can.

A bed, while certainly home to a wide variety of, uh, activities, and a really useful and needed piece of furniture, is nonetheless just a static piece that really doesn't do much. I'm not knocking beds, I just think sofa beds are such a great improvement that a regular bed just doesn't hold a candle to them on their own.

When you combine the sofa and the bed together you experience how one plus one can equal three. It's the best of both worlds. A place to sit and talk and a place to sleep all in the same place.

When you think of sofa beds, think variety and options. You can find more than just the traditional couch looking bed. Manufacturers actually make these in a lot of different sizes and configurations. On the large side of things, they are offered as part of sectionals, those large curved couches that usually have a recliner on one or both ends. These are great because the bed can be conveniently pulled out to use the floor space in front of the sectional. No need to have a completely separate bed set up. On the small side of things, you can get a convertible chair bed that is about the size of a single mattress. They also come in the popular futon style sofa beds. Overall, the sofa bed has come a long ways from the early days, they are much more comfortable and stylish.

If you want to save space, have an extra place for guests to sleep without setting up a whole new bed or having to have an extra guest room, or if you just want to experience the magic of the most exciting piece of furniture alive, then you owe it to yourself to experience what sofa beds have to offer. When you do, you'll never be the same again. Every time you walk into the room where your sofa bed lives you'll just get a little grin on your face. You may even find yourself talking to it and touching it just out of shear love and admiration.

Solid Wood Bedroom Furniture - All the Good in Wood

When you have a house of your own, you think you have everything until you put a home in it. To create a home, you'll need a family or friends or anyone you love enough to want to share a roof with. And then, you'll need furniture. You can't argue with the fact that apart from the human element of a good home, it's the furniture that takes care of everything else. Be it in your living room, dining room or your bedroom, furniture makes the difference between actually appreciating the time you spend there and simply feeling stuck. That's why furniture is always a good investment for anyone who wants to create great memories of home.

When you talk of furniture, wood is a good place to start. Put any wonderfully crafted piece in the right place and you'll be amazed what difference it makes. Be it pine, oak, or cherry, wood furniture creates an aura that breathes traditional royalty without isolating the newer trends. While other types come in fixed sizes and shapes, wood furniture can be custom built to suit your individual style and preferences. You can even create your own design and find a good craftsman to put it to life. Then you have an exquisite piece to take home with you without paying a fortune.

With its rich varieties and proven versatility, you simply can't go wrong with wood furniture. And while it works exquisitely in any part of your home, it has ways with your bedroom. Pine bedroom furniture makes a promise of strength that works great for beds and doors while leaving the regal touches to its distinct texture. Oak bedroom furniture is another favorite with its fullness and depth serving up some real good spice to your bedroom, whether as a bed, a door or a dressing table. And it survives years upon years of wear and tear. Of course, there's cherry wood bedroom furniture with its age-darkened charm that could very well be a family heirloom to be treasured from one generation to the next.

Wood bedroom furniture may come with intricate sculpture, metal pulls and decorative elements or it may be a bare naked thing of beauty. However you want yours to be, there's probably a way of getting it. If you're looking to buy a finished product, be thrilled by the amount of choices you have from sleigh beds to four posters to night stands and desks, headboards and foot boards in all sizes and even bookshelves. While reviewing the price tags, you might want to consider that though handcrafted pieces may be expensive, they're also often a good investment.

Decorating your home is mostly about self-expression, that's why you'll only want furniture that speaks of you while complimenting the rest of the family. The investment you make in your bedroom is a great way to express your philosophy of no compromise and your penchant for nothing but only the quality things in life.