Cómo elegir al rey del salón: el sofá

If you had to name a king of the living room, it would definitely be the sofa, because not only it is one of the most voluminous elements in the room, but also because it is one of the most used. In fact, this piece of furniture ends up becoming the core of the living room, which is why knowing how to choose it correctly contributes to giving the room its own personality, while improving our rest.

Precisely for this reason, in addition to the basic data such as the dimensions of the living room, it is very important to take into account its distribution. Moreover, another factor to take into account, which unfortunately goes unnoticed, is to take into account who is going to use the sofa and for what specific purposes.

The basis – the frame

A sofa is not something we renovate too often and, in fact, sometimes we opt for a re-upholstery instead of buying a new one. It is therefore very important to make sure that the frame is solid and strong. They are usually made of solid wood or metal (usually steel or aluminum) and it is very important that the legs are part of this structure. In cases where the legs are bolted, there is a risk of the screws loosening, making it more insecure.
On the other hand, another essential piece of advice, beyond the specific use we are going to give it, is to take into account that the system that supports the cushions be durable, whether it be webbing or zigzag springs. Likewise, we should not make the mistake of thinking that the padding of the seat and back cushions should be the same.

The most recommendable in the case of the seat is viscoelastic foam, which practically does not deform, provides a great sensation of comfort and, in addition, and given that it is one of the parts that suffer most, it is very resistant.

The backrest, on the other hand, has to provide another, softer sensation that adapts well to our back, which is why in these cases the options of feathers -especially goose and duck, although they are more expensive- or HR foam are very common, the latter being advisable its replacement every five years or so, in order not to lose density.

These materials have the added advantage of being very breathable, which is another quality that should be taken into account when choosing a sofa.

The skin of the sofa

Once we have taken care of what you can't see but feel, that skeleton that will have to support our weight for a long time, we need to look at the external appearance, i.e. the upholstery. Although some people pay less attention to this aspect because they are more in favour of adjustable covers with which to periodically change the look of the sofa and, with it, the living room, enjoying the feel and appearance of a good upholstery is unbeatable.

Each material has its advantages, with cotton being one of the most widely used due to its freshness, its wide range of colours and patterns and its elasticity. However, we have many other options, such as chenille with its iridescent effect; leather, which requires greater maintenance; or technical upholstery, very fashionable in recent times due to its ease of cleaning as it incorporates the Aqua Clean treatment.

As for colours or patterns, the simplest are neutral colours (white, beige or grey), which fit in with practically any decorative style in the room. Thanks to the flexibility that comes from playing with the addition of cushions, we can break this neutrality as often as we like. Patterns are always much more risky and, of course, it is better to opt for the more discreet ones.